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. N. Newman, farmer, was born near Mossy Creek, Jefferson County, August 27, 1813, the son of Joseph and Catherine (Cate) Newman. The father, born in Guilford County, N. C., November 8, 1778, was the son of Isaac Newman, also a native of North Carolina, who served in the Revolution, as an American, and came to Tennessee in 1791, and settled at Mossy Creek, one of the earliest pioneers, where he was connected with the old iron works, and later on he became a prominent farmer. He died during the “thirties.” Joseph was also a leading farmer, and died October 21, 1861. The mother, a daughter of W. Cate, of North Carolina, was born in Tennessee, November 5, 1780, and died March 23, 1821, a devoted member of the Baptist Church. Our subject lived on the home farm, with the advantages of a practical education gained in the country schools, and when of age became a brick-mason’s apprentice, and worked for about six years at that trade. Since then he has farmed. He is now one of the trustees of the Newman Female College of Mossy Creek. In 1844 he married Susan S. Duncan, who was born in 1826, in Jefferson County, the daughter of Maj. John Duncan. She was an amiable, Christian woman, and died June 3, 1884, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had no children, but our subject has, to a great extent, educated at least twelve children, and is a generous and respected man.

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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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