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Below is a family biography included in The History of Obion 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 F. Harper is a native of Obion County, Tenn., born March 12, 1841, and is one of four sons and four daughters born to Benjamin K. and Margaret E. (Smith) Harper who were born in York and Lancaster Districts, S. C., July 31, 1812, and June 20, 1820, respectively. The father immigrated to Tennessee February 2, 1825, and the Smith family came April 18, 1832. They were married February 2, 1838, and have ever since been prominent farmers of Obion County, and are among the oldest pioneer families. Joseph F. Harper resided with his parents until the commencement of the war, when he joined the Ninth Tennessee Infantry, and served until wounded at Atlanta. He was under hospital treatment for twelve months then returned home, and, with the exception of six months spent in Haywood County and a few months in California, made his home with his parents until February 3, 1876, when he married Dell Farris, of Obion County and by her became the father of two sons: Howard F. and Isaac Knox. In 1868 Mr. Harper came into possession of his present farm, which consists of 108 acres near Rives. He belongs to the Presbyterian and his wife to the Christian Church.
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This family biography is one of 179 biographies included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Obion County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee
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