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Below is a family biography included in The History of Gibson 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 H. Banks was born in Smith County, Tenn., October 9, 1831, being one of three children born to the marriage of Elijah Banks and Ermenilda Chambers. The father was born in Virginia and came to Smith County, Tenn., when quite young. Here he married, the mother being a native of that county, and followed farming till 1854, when he came to Gibson County, locating near Gibson Wells. The father died in July, 1860, and the mother in September, 1870. James H. remained with his parents, and after his marriage, in January, 1859, to Melissa Hopkins, continued to make his home with them until the father’s death. After that his mother resided with him. In 1862 he enlisted in the Forty-seventh Tennessee Infantry, remaining with the same a few months, then returned home, and has since followed farming and stock raising. In 1870 he located on his farm of 250 acres near Gibson Wells. He also has two other farms in the county. To him and wife were born three sons and three daughters. Two daughters are now dead. Mrs. Banks in the only surviving member of a family of five children born to Isaac and Jane (McLeod) Hopkins, of North Carolina nativity, and Scotch-Welsh descent. Mrs. Banks and family are members of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Banks is a Democrat.
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This family biography is one of 242 biographies included in The History of Gibson County, Tennessee published in 1887. The History of Gibson County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee
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