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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Hardeman 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 E. Kearney, a well known miller and farmer of the Sixth District, was born September 17, 1832, in Bolivar, Tenn., and is a son of Philip and Sarah (Ramsey) Kearney, both of Irish descent. They came to Hardeman County when quite young and here were married. To them were born three sons: William E., John H. and Philip; the last two mentioned are dead. The father, after making several moves, finally settled in Holmes County, Miss., where he died. He was a Democrat in politics. His widow returned to Hardeman County and married Robert H. Walton, by whom she had two children: Mary E., wife of D. E. Durrett, and Charles A. Mrs. Walton was a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church and died April 2, 1886. The grandparents came direct from the Emerald Isle. Our subject was reared in his native town, and received a very limited education. When about twenty years of age he began life for himself. After a year spent in Louisiana, and another in Kentucky he returned to Bolivar and with his brother in 1854, purchased a grist-mill, in which business he has since been engaged. In connection with the mill, which is the best in the county, he is largely interested in agricultural pursuits, owning about 1,500 acres of valuable land. The mill was burned once but was soon replaced by a better one. In 1865 Mr. Kearney married M. L. Davis, who was born in 1842. She was a most estimable woman and an earnest member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She died in 1868 leaving one son. Five years later Mr. Kearney wedded C. A. Harriss, who was born October 6, 1844. This union resulted in the birth of five children, four of whom are living. For over half a century our subject has lived in Hardeman County and is recognized throughout the entire section as a man of fine business capacity, and an honest, upright citizen. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 101 biographies included in the book,  The History of Hardeman County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Hardeman 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 Hardeman County, Tennessee family biographies here: Hardeman County, Tennessee

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