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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W. T. Russell was born near Athens, Tenn., February 22, 1848, the son of Rev. J. S. and Maldonettie (Cate) Russell, natives of McMinn County. The father, a farmer and Baptist minister, is a self-educated man of more than ordinary mental abilities, both in business and public affairs, besides those of a literary character; and the mother, a woman of unusual intelligence and devotion. Our subject, the fourth of nine children, rounded his early farm and school life by graduation from Carson College, Jefferson County, in 1868, and with such success that the following year he became the professor of mathematics in his alma mater, which chair he held for twelve years. For a short time then he was editor of the Baptist Beacon, at Knoxville, and in August, 1882, he became president of the seminary for young ladies, now Newman College, of Mossy Creek. June 5,1871, he married Josie, a daughter of Temple Harris, of Dandridge, Tenn. He and his wife are Baptists, and for several years he was president of the East Tennessee General Association, of that church. The subject of this sketch still holds the position of president of Newman College, and is secretary and treasurer for the overseers of the ministerial educational fund, of Carson College.

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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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