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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M. A. Roberts, general merchant at Talbott, was born in Knox County, Tenn., March 1, 1850, the son of Benjamin and Anivy (Rimmer) Roberts. The father, now of this county, was born in Knox County, Tenn., December 9, 1808, but the mother is a native of North Carolina, and has reared three sons and one daughter. The father was twice married, the first wife being Mary Berry. By his first wife he had two sons and four daughters, and by his second three sons and one daughter. Our subject is the youngest son, and lived on the farm until twenty-two years of age, and the county school was where he studied. The daughter of John Bettis, Lena C, became his wife October 4, 1870, and their children are Gretta, Eddie and Nellie. Since 1872 (in July) he has been engaged in his present business at Talbott. He has been very successful, but has sustained heavy losses by fire and robbery, losing by the latter over $400. Success rose above all this, however. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and of the Masonic order. For ten years he was Talbott’s postmaster, and holds to Republican principles.

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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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