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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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WILLIAM L. DAVIS is a native of Tennessee, born April 17, 1833, son of Charles L. and Elizabeth (Sanders) Davis, both of whom were born in Virginia. The father came to Tennessee in 1825, where he became a well-to-do farmer. His death occurred in 1874. The mother died in 1841. Our subject, William L., secured a common education, and at the age of twenty-one purchased a farm in Bedford County, on which he lived two years. In 1860 he returned to Rutherford County, and took a half interest in his father’s mill, of which he is now proprietor. The mill was established at an early date, and is now classed among the best custom mills of the county, outside of Murfreesboro, having a capacity of thirty barrels per day. Mr. Davis is always strictly accurate in his business transactions and accordingly controls the leading trade in his section of the country. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Sallie Searsey, a native of this county. They have this family: Robert O., John; Mollie E., wife of Robert Bell; Ella, wife of Joseph Blake; and Samuel B. Mr. Davis is a Democrat in politics, and he and family are members of the 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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