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Below is a family biography included in The History of Maury 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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JOSEPH W. ALEXANDER, merchant and citizen of Spring Hill, Maury Co., Tenn., is a native of this State, born March 20, 1844, son of Randolph and Elizabeth (Sharber) Alexander, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and Tennessee. The father was one of the early settlers of Rutherford County and was a tiller of the soil in the above named county. In 1830 he removed to Henry County, West Tenn., where he resided until his death which occurred in 1854. The mother followed in 1863. Our subject, Joseph W., was reared on the farm and remained with his parents until he was fifteen years of age, at which time he came to this place and residing with his uncle attended school. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Third Tennessee Regiment Infantry, serving as a high private until he was wounded in the right lung at Jackson, Miss., July 14, 1863. He was afterward put on post duty at Selma, Ala., and was captured there by Wilson’s troops. He was paroled at Selma and in 1865 returned to Spring Hill, where he attended school for some time and received a good education. In 1868 he began in the mercantile business, clerking about six months. After moving about for some time in 1872 he established his present business. December 12, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Mattie D. Crump, a native of this State. They have six children, Charley R., Annie L., Bessie W., Joseph B., Blanch and Marcus O., all of whom are living. Mr. Alexander has been postmaster at Spring Hill since 1878. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, a Democrat, and himself and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Maury County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Maury County was included within The History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Beford and Marshall Counties of Tennessee

View additional Maury County, Tennessee family biographies here

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