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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Hardeman 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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Joseph L. Lax, farmer, is a native of the county where he now resides, born February 3, 1837, a son of Berryman and Virginia O. (Farmer) Lax. Both were of English descent and natives of Halifax County, Va. They were married in their native State and soon after immigrated to Tennessee and stopped in Bedford County for two years and then moved to Hardeman County and were among its first settlers. The father was born about the year 1792. In 1858 he immigrated to Arkansas where he died in 1874. He was a Whig in politics and he and wife were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. The mother died in Hardeman County, June 27, 1853. Joseph L., after securing a good education, began farming and has always made Hardeman County his home excepting the time spent in the war and two years spent in the States of Arkansas and Mississippi. In June, 1862, Mr. Lax enlisted in Company C, Forty-second Mississippi Regiment Infantry; was received in Gen. Heath’s division, participating in the battles of the Wilderness and others. He was captured at Cold Harbor and was sent as a prisoner of war to Point Lookout. In 1865 he returned home and resumed farming, and now owns 700 acres of land. December 7, 1859, Mr. Lax married Miss Ann E. Cook, born in Montgomery County, N. C., August 20, 1837, a daughter of William and Martha Cook. Mr. Lax is a believer in Christianity, but not a member of any church. Mrs. Lax and her mother are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 101 biographies included in the book,  The History of Hardeman County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Hardeman County was included within The History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Fayette and Hardeman Counties, Tennessee

View additional Hardeman County, Tennessee family biographies here: Hardeman County, Tennessee

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