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Below is a family biography included in The History of Smith 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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Thomas J. Mabry, a prominent agriculturalist of the First District, was born in 1841, in Overton (now called Clay County), Tenn. He is one of a family of nine children born to Thomas and Minnie (Creed) Mabry, both parents of Irish descent and natives of North Carolina and brought when small to Tennessee by their families. The father was born in 1805, and the mother in 1810. After their marriage they went to Illinois; two years later they returned to Overton County, settling on a farm where the mother died in 1883, leaving three children. The father departed this life in 1884 at his son’s home in Smith County. Our subject was educated partly in the common schools of his native county, and Tompkinsville, Ky. When eighteen years old, he entered the Confederate service, Company A, Eighth Tennessee Regiment, at Celina. At the reorganization of the company he became lieutenant, and served in that rank until the close of hostilities. He took an active and gallant part in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro and Chickamauga. He was with Johnson all the way to Atlanta, and in many skirmishes. At Perryville he received a rifle-ball shot in the arm, and at Peach Tree Creek, near Atlanta, June, 1864, he was wounded in the knee. He was honorably discharged in 1865 at Macon, Ga. He returned home and began farming on his father’s place. In 1867 he married in Monroe County, Ky., Mary A. daughter of Hamilton and Freelove (Martin) Savage. Mrs. Mabry was born in Jackson (now Clay) County, Tenn., in 1843. The fruits of this union are ten children: Minnie Freelove; Sarah Rebecca; Willie Jeff; Hamilton Savage; Martha Bell; Davis Winfield; Jay; Mary Beulah and Ginla Cathaline. For several years Mr. Mabry lived in Clay County and in 1883 he moved to the farm he had previously bought in Smith County, which is one of the finest places in the vicinity; it contains 427 acres, well cultivated and highly improved. He has obtained his property and means by continued industry and careful management. He is a demitted member of the Masonic order, Celina Lodge, No. 398, and a stanch Democrat; his first presidential vote was given for Horatio Seymour in 1868. Mrs. Mabry and eldest daughter are members of the Christian Church.

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This family biography is one of 62 biographies included in The History of Smith County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Smith County was included within The History of Sumner, Smith, Macon & Trousdale Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Sumner, Smith, Macon and Trousdale Counties of Tennessee

View additional Smith County, Tennessee family biographies here: Smith County, Tennessee

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