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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.
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J. E. Gillespie resides in the Eleventh District, and was born in Lauderdale County, July 28, 1842, and is a son of James and Minerva (Nelson) Gillespie, who were both natives of South Carolina, though his father was raised in North Carolina. Our subject is of Irish descent, and was raised on a farm and worked for his father until twenty-six, years of age, when he commenced farming for himself, and in 1867 he engaged in the cotton-gin business in connection with farming, and still successfully continues both. Mr. Gillespie was married, April 14, 1869, to Miss Jennie Lewton, daughter of William and Martha Lewton. They have five children: John May, Laura J., Florence Ella, Thomas B., Rilla Adell. Mr. Gillespie is a man of strict integrity and generous disposition. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in good standing, and of good social position. His school advantages were limited, but he has always manifested a ready willingness to support and assist all enterprises for advancing the cause of education. Politically Mr. Gillespie is a Democrat, and he is a worthy citizen of Lauderdale County.
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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
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