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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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William Johnson was born in Louisa County, Va., June 22, 1824, and is a son of Thomas I. and Martha H. (Cocke) Johnson, both natives of Virginia. The father was born in March, 1800, and died in Fayette County in 1870. The mother was born in May, 1806, and died in 1868. They married in Virginia in 1823; the father was of Scotch descent, the mother, it is thought, of English. In 1838 they moved to Fayette County, locating nineteen miles southwest of Somerville, on Wolf River, in the Eleventh District. The father was always a farmer; both parents were members of the Christian Church. Our subject is the oldest of ten children. He had fine educational advantages, having graduated at the University of Virginia, and after completing his literary studies there, entered the law department and attended one term; then returned home and two years later married Miss Margaret V. Tate, born in Alabama in 1832. Six sons and three daughters were born to them; one son and two daughters are dead. They married May 30, 1848. Mr. Johnson has resided in Fayette County since he was fourteen years of age, with the exception of the time passed in college in Virginia. In 1848 he came into possession of a farm and turned his attention to farming. In 1871 he moved to Macon, on account of the high school for his children, and lived there five years, but running his farm also. In 1876 he moved back to his farm. He now owns over 700 acres of valuable land in Fayette County. In 1858 he was elected magistrate, and has filled the office ever since, except during the war. July 18, 1873, his wife died; she was a devout member of the Christian Church, though was formerly a Methodist. April 13, 1875, Mr. Johnson married Miss Sarah E. Blain of Fayette County; no children have been born to this marriage. They are both worthy members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat.

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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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