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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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John Y. Barbee, one of the leading and most enterprising merchants of Ripley, is a son of Allen and Susan Y. (Taylor) Barbee. His father was born in 1808, in Orange County, N. C., and his mother in 1815, in Mecklenburg County, Va. They had nine children-two boys and seven girls-all of whom lived to be grown; both parents were Methodists. The father, an eminent physician, graduated at the Philadelphia Medical College, after completing his literary education at Chapel Hill University, North Carolina. In 1827 he moved to Haywood County, Tenn., locating in Brownville, and was the first physician to use quinine in that county. His first professional call was a case of chills, which he cured and laid the foundation for his later success. Mrs. Barbee’s family moved near Brownsville in 1824, and they were married in 1832. Dr. Barbee was a Democrat all of his life. In connection with his professional duties, he farmed extensively. His wife died in 1868, and he died in 1878. Our subject was born August 20, 1840, in Haywood County, was raised on a farm and educated by private teachers. When sixteen, he went to Memphis as a clerk in a dry goods store, where he remained three years. In 1861 he volunteered in the Confederate service, in Company D, Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, and was in active service until close of the war. After the war he farmed a year, then moved to Ripley and engaged in the mercantile business. In 1864 he married P. M. Read, who was born February 25, 1843, and they have been blessed with ten children, four sons and four daughters living; both parents and four of the children are Methodists. For nineteen years he has been one of the most successful merchants of Ripley.

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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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