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Below is a family biography included in The History of Bedford 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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RICHARD HENRY STEM, Esq., was born February, 11, 1822 in North Carolina, Granville County. He immigrated to the State of Missouri in the fall of 1843, where, he remained about fifteen months. He then came to Tennessee, and settled a mile and a half east of Unionville. He was the son of Jacob and Mary (Primrose) Stem. The father was born about 1763 and died about 1828. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and moved to North Carolina in his juvenile days, where he lived until the time of his death. The mother was born about 1788 and died about 1865; she was a native of North Carolina. In July, 1839, our subject wedded Sallie Garrett, of North Carolina, who was born February, 1822. On his arrival in Tennessee Mr. Stem engaged in agricultural pursuits and about ten years later engaged in the cattle trading business in connection with farming. He was elected magistrate of the Tenth District in this county a number of years ago, and has served every term since. He was elected as chairman of the county court in 1874 and served in that capacity four years, and was also associate justice two years prior to this election. He is now officiating justice of peace. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, professing faith about 1856. Mrs. Stem is also a member of the same church. Our subject is a Master Mason and is also a Chapter member. He is a Democrat in politics and since his childhood days has traveled over these different States: Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Bedford County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Bedford 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 Bedford County, Tennessee family biographies here

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