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Below is a family biography included in The History of Fayette County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James Wilson, a pioneer farmer and resident of Fayette County, was born in Campbell County, Va., December 16, 1813, and is the only surviving member of a family of three sons and a daughter born to William H. and Agnes (Bayley) Wilson, who were both natives of Virginia, where they married; and in 1817 they moved to Maury County, where they farmed until they died in 1822. The father, in about 1810, before his marriage, moved to Giles County, Tenn., and for several years acted as deputy sheriff there. After the death of his parents, our subject remained at home with an aunt until twenty-one years of age, then in 1835 moved to Fayette County, locating in the immediate neighborhood of his present home, seven miles northwest of Somerville, his aunt accompanying him, and he has since then been identified with the agricultural interests of the country. He owns 550 acres of good land. In 1853 Mr. Wilson married Ann E. Hall, daughter of William E. Hall now an aged citizen of Brownsville but formerly a pioneer of Fayette County, where he located in 1832. A son and a daughter were born to this union, and are still living: William H. and Sidney. Mrs. Wilson and daughter are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Wilson was formerly a Whig, but is now a Democrat. From his long citizenship in Fayette County, he is well posted in regard to the history and progress of the county, and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

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This family biography is one of 77 biographies included in The History of Fayette County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Fayette County was included within The History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties, Tennessee

View additional Fayette County, Tennessee family biographies here: Fayette County, Tennessee

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