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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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Robert Bryson, a substantial farmer and stock dealer living in the First District of Sumner County, is a son of James M. and Harriet M. (Hodge) Bryson. He was born in Sumner County in 1847, and was the third of a family of four children, viz.: George G., Anna R. (wife of Richard Alexander), our subject, and lady. The father was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, born in Sumner County in 1811, and was a son of Peter and Jean (Gillespie) Bryson. Peter Bryson was a native of North Carolina, and moved to Sumner County, when quite young, where he married and engaged in farming and blacksmithing until his death. James M. was raised at home, receiving few educational advantages, but through his own efforts acquired a great deal of general information. He married in January, 1839, and settled in the First District, where he lived until his death in July, 1884. He was entirely a self-made man, and one of fine character. He was captain of the militia during the general muster, and a volunteer in the Seminole war. The mother was born near Gallatin, Tenn., in 1819, and died in June, 1877. Both parents were members of the Old School Presbyterian Church, and highly esteemed in the community. Our subject was raised at home and educated at Rural Academy, and has given his time to farming and stock raising; he lives at the old homestead, owning 215 acres of productive land, well improved, seven miles northeast of Gallatin. Mr. Bryson is a man of energy and good business habits. His first presidential vote was cast for H. Seymour in 1868, and he has always been an active Democrat, and is an influential member of the Old School Presbyterian Church.

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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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