My Genealogy Hound

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.

* * * *

William L. Bodkin is a son of John Bodkin, who was born in the “Emerald Isle” in 1788, and when two years old was brought to North Carolina, where he afterward married Jane Nail, a native of North Carolina, born in 1790. Of their four children two lived to be grown. After the mother’s death the father married Mary Sanford, by whom he had ten children. They came to Gibson County in 1832, and here spent the remainder of their days in agricultural pursuits. John Bodkin was a farmer and died in 1862. William L. Bodkin was born in Mecklenburgh County, N. C., October 25, 1812, and owing to the demand for his services at home, received a very limited education. After attaining his majority, he worked for others for about five years, and then purchased fifty acres of land with the money he had saved. He kept gradually increasing in wealth until he now owns 260 acres of land. He was a Whig before the war, and has since been a Republican. He was married, in 1847, to Fannie C. Alexander, who was born in Mecklenburgh County, N. C., February 4, 1824, and was brought to this county by her parents when a small girl. Their union resulted in the birth of ten children—five sons and five daughters. Mrs. Bodkin is a Presbyterian.

* * * *

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

To view additional Gibson County, Tennessee family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.