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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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W. HUGH BROWN, farmer, was born in Maury County. Tenn., December 11, 1843, and is the eldest son of James W. and Jenette M. (Dobbin) Brown, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Tennessee. The father came to Maury County about 1816 with his father, Hon. Col. Hugh Brown, of North Carolina, and his brother, Rev. Duncan Brown, who was a well-known preacher of this county. James W. Brown followed the occupation of a farmer to a considerable extent and was very successful. He died June 1, 1885. The mother still survives him. and is living with her son, John S. Brown, on the old homestead. Our subject was reared on the farm and received a good practical education. In 1861, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Spring Hill Company, Third Tennessee Regiment, under the command of Capt. Pointer. He remained with the above company about six months and then joined the cavalry command and remained with this company until the close of the war. He then returned to this county and began farming on his father’s tract. In 1870 he removed to his present farm, where he has been steadily engaged in farming and stock raising ever, since. In 1870 he wedded Laura B. Cheairs, a native of this county, and to this union was born one child, Nora. Mrs. Laura Brown is the daughter of Col. Martin T. and Martha (Bond) Cheairs. The father was born in North Carolina, May 19, 1804, and is the son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Rush) Cheairs, natives, respectively of North Carolina and Maryland, Nathaniel died in 1816 and his wife followed in 1858. Martin T. Cheairs was reared on the farm and secured but a limited education. At the age of thirty-four he went into the mercantile business with his brother, John Cheairs, at Spring Hill. Eleven years from that time he gave up the mercantile business and engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1837 he was married and became the father of nine children, only three of whom are living, viz.: Mary F., Nannie R. and Laura B., the wife of our subject. Mr. Brown is a Democrat, and himself and family are members of the Old School Presbyterian 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

View a historic 1888 map of Maury County, Tennessee

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