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Below is a family biography included in The History of Rutherford 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 L. CANNON, attorney at law, was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., April 29, 1835, son of Alanson and Elizabeth (Sharp) Cannon, natives of Rutherford and Sumner Counties, Tenn. The father, who was an active and successful farmer, is now living a retired life with our subject, who received a good literary education and graduated from the literary department of the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn., in 1858. In 1859-60 he took a course in law at the same institution and then located at Shelbyville, where he opened a law office. Owing to the war he was compelled to abandon this, and in 1862 enlisted in Company C, Eighteenth Regiment Tennessee Infantry, and served until the close. He began practicing law in Murfreesboro in 1865, and has met with good success. During 1872-73 he was a partner with J. W. Burton. October 9, 1860, he married Margaret, daughter of Richard Beard, D.D., and to them were born eight children seven now living: Alanson B., Elizabeth E., Annie W., Minnie, Nellie L., Franklin B. and Sarah L. Mr. Cannon has always been a Democrat and has been temporary judge of the court, also chancellor by appointment numerous times. He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Rutherford County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Rutherford 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 Rutherford County, Tennessee family biographies here
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