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.

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J. M. Ashmore, an old and prominent citizen of Mossy Creek, was born in Jefferson County, May 12, 1821, the son of David and Mary (Shadden) Ashmore. The father was born in Tennessee about 1795, the son of Hezekiah Ashmore, a native of South Carolina, of Irish stock, and who came to Tennessee at an early date. The father followed wagon-making several years, and then became a carpenter. He was a Presbyterian, and died in 1882. The mother was born in Jefferson County, about 1798, the daughter of James Shadden, and died in 1879, a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject grew up with country school advantages, and when of age worked with his father at carpentering for several years, and then for about seven years was engaged as a blacksmith. Then for five years he was a passenger conductor on the East Tennessee & Virginia Railway. Then for about twenty years he was depot and express agent at Mossy Creek, and from 1863 to 1886 filled the office of postmaster there, and was known as “the best postmaster Mossy Creek ever had.” He has been a school commissioner, and for twenty years a magistrate. In 1844 he married Mary J., daughter of James McCuistian, and born in 1823, in Jefferson County. Four of their eight children are living. In 1871 his wife died, and May 6, 1873, he married M. C. Weldon, who was born January 6, 1833, the daughter of Henry Weldon. One of their three children is living. Our subject and his wife are Presbyterians.

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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

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