My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of East 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.

* * * *

Andrew M. Felkner, clerk of the circuit court, was born in Jefferson County September 4, 1860, the son of Alexander and Anna (Goan) Felkner. The father was born in Jefferson County October 12, 1818, the son of James Felkner, a native of Hawkins County, Tenn. Phillip, the great grandfather, a native of Germany, came to Philadelphia, and then became a pioneer of Hawkins County. The father, Alexander, was the eldest of eleven children reared on the farm, and is now a most respected farmer of the Twelfth District. He and three sons joined the Federal Army, John L., himself and William, joining Company C of the Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, and Shadrack J. becoming a member of Company M, First Tennessee Cavalry, and being captured in Georgia and imprisoned for fifty-two days in Andersonville, where his health was considerably impaired. They are all now farming in Jefferson County. Our subject left the farm at eighteen, and entered Oak Grove Academy, Jefferson County, and after twenty-five months’ attendance here, spent ten months in Cedar Grove Academy. He taught five months, and in 1881-82, attended the college at Athens, Tenn., and in 1883 entered Goodman’s Business College, Knoxville. Then, after two years of teaching, in February, 1885, he began the study of law under G. W. Pickle, present attorney-general of Tennessee, and was admitted in 1887. He was elected to his present position in August, 1886, and is a young man of considerable promise. He is a Mason of Morristown Lodge.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 938 biographies included in The History of East Tennessee published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: History of East Tennessee

To view additional Jefferson County, Tennessee family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.