My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of East 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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G. W. Fagala, was born in Georgia, December 6, 1853, and is the son of David and Penelope F. (Randies) Fagala. The father was born in 1811, in Sevier County, Tenn., and was reared in that county. He was a farmer and blacksmith. He removed to Georgia soon after the Indians were removed from that territory. He came back to Tennessee, and died in Jefferson County, in 1866. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder, and was also a member of the Masonic lodge, at Dandridge, and was buried with Masonic honors. He was a man generally esteemed for his good qualities and sterling work. The mother was born in Sevier County, Tenn., in 1822, and is the daughter of William Randies. She is now living in Sevier County, though makes her home among her children. She is a pious, Christian lady, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject was reared on the farm, and acquired a practical education in the schools of Jefferson County. He has followed farming as a vocation, though in early life he learned and followed the boot and shoe trade. He now owns and cultivates a fine river farm in the Fourth District, and is making a success of life. He is public-spirited and progressive, and always lends a helping hand to all laudable enterprises which tend to the benefit of the rising generation, and is always found on the side of public schools and education, as, having had only limited educational advantages, he appreciates the need of education for his and other children. He is a man of good character, and stands well with his neighbors. He was married September 25, 1873, to Mattie C. Mitchell, who was born in Jefferson County, in 1852, and was the daughter of W. H. Mitchell. To this union five children were born, one of whom died. The wife was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and died April 2, 1879. He was married a second time, in October, 1880, to M. A. Hays, who was born in Jefferson County in 1844: To this union two children have been born. Both our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Church South, of which he is a local minister.

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This family biography is one of 938 biographies included in The History of East Tennessee published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: History of East Tennessee

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

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