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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John Vance, a farmer and stock raiser, was born in Jefferson County, June 2, 1837, the son of Samuel and Mary S. (Kennedy) Vance. Jefferson County was the native place and home of the father, who was a successful farmer, and died July 30, 1866, at the age of sixty-three. The mother, a daughter of James Kennedy, was born in Knox County. Our subject is the third child of three sons and one daughter, and was reared on the farm, receiving, besides the ordinary studies of country schools, a high school education at New Market. He then returned to his father’s farm, and June 14, 1860, married Martha J., a daughter of John P. Mathes, M. D., of Jefferson County. Their children are James K., Jennie R., Samuel N., Eva, Minnie, Hugh L., Mary S. and Fred W. Mr. Vance began with little capital, but now owns and cultivates three farms aggregating over 450 acres of fine land. He is a Master Mason, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
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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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