My Genealogy Hound

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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WILLIAM COLLIER is a son of Lockey Collier, who was born in Virginia about 1770 and died about 1840. The father came to Tennessee about 1789. Our subject was his only child and resided with his father until twenty-one years of age, and afterward followed the occupation of farming. He is a self-made man and is worth between $8,000 and $10,000, which he has made by his own exertions. He was married, in 1820, to Mary B. Garrett, who bore him twelve children, six of whom are dead. Those living are Martha (Mrs. W. W. Pennington), Nancy J. (Mrs. L. Madison), Don, Eliza F., Mary A. (widow of Morgan Drydaw) and Richard R. Our subject’s son, Don, was born August 21, 1832 and was married March 28, 1854, to Martha Billington, who bore him one child that died in infancy. In 1854 he moved to Arkansas, where he lived until 1881, when he returned to the old homestead to provide for his father until his death. Both father and son are influential citizens and Republicans. Don and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

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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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