My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lauderdale County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886.  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.

* * * *

Alonzo Dunavant, a prominent farmer of Lauderdale County, was born in Williamson County, Tenn., July 12, 1826. His father was born in Amelia County, Va., and when eighteen years of age came with his parents to Tennessee. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in the battles of Horse Shoe and Emuchfau and New Orleans; was married about 1818 to Miss Margaret T. Giddings. She died without children, and he married Miss Sarah B. Ried, and twelve sons and two daughters were born to them, our subject being the fourth child. A portion of this family were born on Little Harpeth River, where the father settled a few years after his second marriage, and moved to West Tennessee in 1883, settling near Double Bridges, where he died in 1869. The mother of our subject was born in Sumner County, Tenn., in 1802, and died in1856. Alonzo Dunavant was raised on the farm, and secured a common school education, and has made farming his chief business. He married in Lauderdale County, November 30, 1853, Mary E. Mitchell, daughter of Zachariah Mitchell, a prominent farmer. Five sons and a daughter were born to them, four now living: Margaret, Eudora, James F., John V. and William A. D. Mrs. Dunavant was born in Middle Tennessee January 2, 1832, and died January 1, 1886. Mr. Dunavant belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, as his wife did also. He is a stanch Democrat; cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Taylor. He owns 380 acres of land and raises grain, stock and cotton. The farm is near Double Bridges, eleven and one-half miles north of Ripley, Tenn., and has a splendid residence on it. Mr. Dunavant is one of Lauderdale’s substantial citizens.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 116 biographies included in the book,  The History of Lauderdale County, Tennessee published in 1886 by Goodspeed.  The History of Lauderdale County was included within The History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties, Tennessee

View additional Lauderdale County, Tennessee family biographies here: Lauderdale County, Tennessee

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