My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886.  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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JOHN M. KELLY, justice of the peace and postmaster at Sherwood, was born in Franklin County, Tenn., in 1846, being a son of William and Angeline (Prince) Kelly. The father was born in Franklin County, Tenn., was a farmer all his life, and died in 1851, his father being John M. Kelly, Sr., a very prominent early settler of the county. The mother is a daughter of Squire William Prince, who is now among the very oldest citizens of Franklin County, and yet resides near Sherwood, and has been justice of the peace for about twenty years. The mother of our subject is now living. The immediate subject of this sketch was reared on a farm. He enlisted in May, 1861, in Company I, Seventeenth Tennessee, remaining in that command throughout the war. After the war he engaged in farming, which he continued until about 1882, when he was elected justice of the peace, and has since lived in Sherwood. He was appointed postmaster in 1885, and now holds that office. He was married, in 1867, to Elizabeth Garner, the fruits of this union being five children, four of whom are still living: Jennie, Annie, Tina and Willie. The mother of these children died in 1880, having been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as is Mr. Kelly. Mr. Kelly is a member of the Franklin Democratic Executive Committee.

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This family biography is one of 83 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Tennessee published in 1886.  The History of Franklin County was included within The History of Giles, Lincoln, Franklin & Moore Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Giles, Lincoln, Franklin , Moore Counties of Tennessee

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