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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lauderdale County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1886.  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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Capt. Champ C. Conner, a farmer and lumber dealer, of Lauderdale County, is a son of Champ C. and Ann E. (Slaughter) Conner, both natives of Virginia, the father born in 1811, and the mother in 1819. They married and lived in their native State until 1836, when they moved to Lauderdale County, then to Haywood County, and then to Hernando, Miss. Two sons and four daughters were born to them. The father was an earnest and able minister, commencing when still a boy to labor in the Master’s cause, and for over fifty years was actively engaged as minister in the Missionary Baptist Church, being a man of rare pulpit oratory and of fine ability, his attainments being the result of his own efforts and application. For many years he was president of the Mississippi Female College, at Hernando, Miss., at the same time continuing his ministerial work, and preaching often three sermons a day. After the college burned, he gave all of his time to his church work, and, after zealously working in this cause, died at the age of sixty-four, and in 1883 his faithful wife died. Capt. Conner, our subject, is of Irish, English and Welsh descent, and the only surviving son; he was born April 21, 1841, in Lauderdale County; was educated at Madison College, at Brownsville, and the University of Mississippi. In 1861 he volunteered in a company of college boys, known as University Grays, and after the first battle of Manassas he was transferred to the Army of the West, raised Company K, Fourteenth Tennessee Cavalry, and was appointed captain, serving in that capacity until the close of the war. During four years’ faithful service, he was twice wounded­ first at Lafayette, Ga., and at Athens, Ala., his horse was shot from under him, and he was severely wounded at Sulphur Tressle, Tenn. Capt. Conner has, since the war, engaged in farming and merchandising, and in 1870 married Tillie Stephenson, and they have had four children: Hammett S., Champ C., Phillip B. and Hallie E. Capt. Conner is a Missionary Baptist; Mrs. Conner a Presbyterian. In politics he is an ardent Democrat. As a business man he has been very successful. For thirty-five years he has been a resident of Lauderdale County. He is a man of fine social standing and business qualifications.

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This family biography is one of 116 biographies included in the book,  The History of Lauderdale County, Tennessee published in 1886 by Goodspeed.  The History of Lauderdale County was included within The History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties, Tennessee

View additional Lauderdale County, Tennessee family biographies here: Lauderdale County, Tennessee

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