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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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HON. LEWIS METCALFE, the oldest living member of the Franklin County bar was born in Lexington, Ky., February 22, 1818. His father, Barnett Metcalfe, was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, and when young went to Kentucky, where he married Letitia Martin, a native of Jessamine County, of that State. The father was a farmer and merchant. He removed to Huntsville, Ala., in 1822, and afterward to Fayetteville, Tenn. There Lewis began the study of medicine. He afterward attended Medical College at Lexington, Ky., graduating in that institution. He then engaged in the practice of medicine for ten years in Franklin County, Tenn., and in Mississippi. Returning to Franklin County from Mississippi he read law, and in 1852 was admitted to the bar, and since then has practiced law in Franklin County, having attained prominence in his profession. He is highly educated. He was elected to the Senate of Tennessee, in 1884, and has held that office one term. He was married, in 1843, to Miss Sarah A. Stamper, a native of North Carolina, who came to this county when young. This union was blessed in the birth of one daughter. She became grown, graduated in the Mary Sharp College, and died on April 9, 1865, at the very hour of Lee’s surrender. Mrs. Metcalfe is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Metcalfe was a Whig before the war; since then he has been a Democrat.

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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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