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Below is a family biography included in The History of Sumner 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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Cullen E. Douglass, a farmer of the Ninth District, was born May 29, 1825, in the district where he now resides. He is the fifth of six children born to William Howard and Sarah (Edwards) Douglass. The father was born in 1782 in Sumner County of Scotch descent; a farmer and at one time an extensive slave trader. He died July, 1834. His wife was born October 4, 1788, on the farm upon which our subject lives. Her father came to the county at an early day. Mrs. Douglass departed this life March 5, 1865. The subject of our sketch married Miss Harriet Newell Bain April 4, 1848. Their union resulted in the birth of ten children, Henry E., Sarah E. (now Mrs. Brinck), William A., Eliza B., John R. B., Nannie, Delia, Juliet Glass (now Mrs. Zdanowitz), R. Edwards and Sophia. Mrs. Douglass was an estimable and energetic woman. Her death occurred December 20, 1862. Our subject wedded Miss Mary E. Estes. Eight children were born to this union: Robert Estes, Harriet B. (deceased), J. Glass, Cullen E., Mary, William E., David and Irene. Mr. Douglass has been a school director, magistrate and commissioner for the poor for the past twenty years. For a number of years he has been an elder and deacon in the old school Presbyterian Church, to which his family all belong. He is a strict temperance man and never uses tobacco. He is a successful and enterprising agriculturist. His farm contains 260 acres of the most productive soil. On his place was originated the noted Douglass peach. The farm is known all over the country as Variety Grove. Mr. Douglass was originally a Whig, casting his first vote for Henry Clay. He is conservative, but takes most interest in the Prohibition party.

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This family biography is one of 115 biographies included in The History of Sumner County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Sumner 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 Sumner County, Tennessee family biographies here: Sumner County, Tennessee

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