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Below is a family biography from the book, History of Kentucky, Edition 1 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1885.  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 S. BLESINGAM was born in Perry County, Tenn., October 17, 1844, and is one of ten children born to John and Jane (Bates) Blesingam, the former a native of ‘Alabama, and the latter of Tennessee. They were of Scotch and German descent, respectively. John Blesingam, when a young man, removed to Perry County, Tenn., where he was married and soon afterward engaged in steam-boating on the Mississippi River and tributaries, which he continued, in connection with farming, for a number of years. His death occurred in May, 1854, in his forty-fourth year. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. William S. Blesingam was employed on his father’s farm until he was twenty-two years old. He then engaged in the saloon business at Troy, Tenn., which he continued for two years; thence he removed to Moscow, Hickman Co., Ky., where he was engaged in the same business for some six or seven years. In January, 1878, he removed to Belmont, Mo., where he continued the saloon business until the spring of 1884. He then came across the river to Columbus, Ky., where he opened a saloon and is doing a good business. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, Ninth Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, Confederate service, and served under Gens. Forrest and Wheeler until the close of the war. Mr. Blesingam is a member of no church, but belongs to the I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 142 biographies included in the Hickman County, Kentucky section of the book, The History of Kentucky, Edition 1 published in 1885 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 1

View additional Hickman County, Kentucky family biographies here: Hickman County, Kentucky Biographies

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