My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Lincoln 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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W. R. SMITH, a prominent citizen of the Eighth District, and also a farmer and butcher, of Fayetteville, was born in Lincoln County July 20, 1838. He was one of three children born to John N. and Nancy B. Smith. The father was born in Georgia in 1816, and was of German lineage. He died August 19, 1859. The mother was born in North Carolina in 1806, and now resides with her son, W. R. Our subject received the rudiments of his education in the schools near home, and subsequently completed his education at the Sulphur Springs Institute. In 1859 he married Martha E. Koonce, a native of Lincoln County, born March 1, 1843, and the daughter of Needham and Burdotta Koonce. Mr. Koonce was a well-known and much respected citizen of Lincoln County. He was a brick-mason and contractor, and helped lay the foundation of the State penitentiary, at Nashville, being a young man at the time. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born eight children: Mary E. (wife of John Monday), Lizzie B. (wife of O. P. Gray), Anna (wife of Charles McCloin), Robert A., Willie R., Burrell, Roscoe and Nannie B. In 1866 he purchased eighty acres of land in the Eighth District of Lincoln County, where he soon located and has since resided. He now owns 275 acres in the Eighth District and 280 in the Twenty-first District. Besides conducting the farm, he and his cousin J. H. Smith, have a meat market in Fayetteville, and also have the stock-yard at that place. Mr. Smith has on his place a fish-pond, and has for a number of years past been engaged in raising fish, mostly of the carp species. Mr. Smith has been extensively engaged in handling cattle, and for some time past has been making a study of their diseases. Mr. Smith has given his children the advantage of a good English education, and gives his support to all laudable public enterprises, especially educational institutions. He is conservative in politics, and is considered one of the county’s best citizens. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 137 biographies included in The History of Lincoln County, Tennessee published in 1886.  The History of Lincoln County was included within The History of Giles, Lincoln, Franklin & Moore Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Giles, Lincoln, Franklin , Moore Counties of Tennessee

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