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.

* * * *

Samuel N. Fain, one of the oldest and most prominent farmers of the Ninth District, was born in Dandridge, October 1, 1821, the son of John and Amelia Sanford (Gillespie) Fain. The father was born in Washington County, April 30, 1778, the son of Samuel Fain, whose birth occurred July 20, 1753. Nicholas was the next ancestor, and was born about 1730, in Ireland, a descendant of the Fain family, driven from France in the sixteenth century by religious persecutions. About 1752 he married Elizabeth Taylor, an English lady, and soon after came to Pennsylvania, and then to Washington County, Tenn. Five of their eight children served in the Revolution, at the battle of King’s Mountain. The father, John, was a merchant, and in 1810 moved to Dandridge, and at an early date represented his county in the Legislature; he died in 1852. The mother was born in Wash County, in 1794, the daughter of Thomas Gillespie, and died in 1864. Our subject was reared and educated in Dandridge, and when twelve years of age entered the store of his father; still, after his father’s death, he remained with his mother until 1860, when he moved to his present farm, where he and his brother established a cotton factory in 1851. He conducted both mill and farm until 1870, when his health caused him to suspend the operations of the mill. His title of colonel came from holding that position in the militia of Tennessee. For several years he was a trustee of Maury Academy, Dandridge, and for ten years of Rogersville Female College. He is an enthusiastic agriculturist, and always attends the East Tennessee Farmer’s Conventions. He is a Mason, Royal Arch, and Knight Templar, of Mossy Creek, Morristown and Cour de Leon Commandry, Knoxville, respectively. June 6, 1867, he married Sallie Gammon, who was born February 10, 1838, and five children have been born to them. He and his wife are Presbyterians.

* * * *

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.