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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 M. Johnson, Esq., is among the old and respected settlers of Hardeman County. He was born January 29, 1819, in Williamson County. His parents were Andrew M. and Mary (Guthrie) Johnson. The father was born in 1794 in Brunswick County, Va., and came to Tennessee with his parents when a small child. He was married in Davidson County, 1816, and eight years later moved to Rutherford County, and in 1833 located in Hardeman County, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was of English descent; a farmer by occupation; a Whig in politics. He served gallantly under command of Jackson against the Indians and in the battle of New Orleans. His family consisted of seven sons and four daughters; five of the children are living. He died in 1851. He and his wife were both connected with the Methodist Church. Mrs. John son was of French-Welsh origin; born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1797. Her father was one of the earliest settlers, and first tinner and coppersmith of that place. Her death occurred in 1843. Our subject was raised on a farm. His educational advantages were limited. At the age of nineteen he began to learn the tinner’s trade, which he followed some six years, and then turned his attention to farming. He has met with a great deal of success. He began life with comparatively nothing, but by judicious management, enterprise and industry, now owns about 1,800 acres of valuable land. Previous to the war he was a Whig—an uncompromising Union man. He is an ardent and influential Democrat. In 1867-68 he represented Hardeman County in the State Legislature. He has been a resident of the county for more than a half century; a member of the county court for twenty-one years. He is recognized as one of the most enterprising, charitable and esteemed men in the community. In 1862 he married Mrs. Margaret Johnson, nee Lacy. She was born December 25, 1839. To this union three children have been born: Lou, Belle and Myrtle. Mr. Johnson and his daughters are Methodists. Mrs. Johnson has not united with any denomination. By her first marriage she had one child, Nettie.

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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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