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Below is a family biography included in The History of Macon County, 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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Pryor W. Carter, a farmer in the Twelfth District, and postmaster at Hillsdale, is the eldest child of William S. and Nancy Carter, and was born April 24, 1823, in the house where he now resides. He was educated in Smith now Macon County, and helped clear the farm where he now lives from the woods. He served about one and a half years in the last war, at the end of which time, under the conscription act, he was discharged on account of being over age. When twenty-five years of age he began working for himself. He went to West Fork, Goose Creek, and purchased the first land he owned, the money being-earned by trading, hard work and flatboating to New Orleans. He made thirteen trips to New Orleans and the dangers and adventures he encountered would alone make a book. By his energy and activity he has succeeded in making himself quite comfortable, owning 450 acres of land on Carter Branch, seven and a half miles southwest of La Fayette. On December 13, 1865, he married Miss Mary A. Pursley, by which union three children were born: Margaret H. (deceased), William S. and James D. Mrs. Carter died July 24, 1884. Mr. Carter has filled several positions of note. He was appointed by Gov. Marks as commissioner to the Yorktown Centennial celebration, and was also appointed assistant commissioner of Macon County to the World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition at New Orleans, and besides has served his people of the Twelfth District for many years as magistrate and postmaster. In 1886 he was urged by a delegation of the most prominent citizens of Clay and Macon Counties to contest for the nomination as representative. He entered the race and the result was an active and exciting contest. He was only beaten for the nomination one vote, by the present member-elect. Mr. Carter measures six feet, eight inches in height “with his boots on,” possesses a rugged constitution, has an excellent command of language and a very retentive memory.

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This family biography is one of 24 biographies included in The History of Macon County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Macon County was included within The History of Sumner, Smith, Macon & Trousdale Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Sumner, Smith, Macon and Trousdale Counties of Tennessee

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

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