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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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William Boydstun, an enterprising farmer of Lauderdale County, was born in Campbell County, December 1, 1816. His father, Thomas Boydstun, was born in North Carolina, and came to Tennessee before the organization of the State, settling in the eastern part. He was married in North Carolina to Elizabeth Newport, daughter of Rev. Richard Newport, a farmer and a native of Virginia. Five sons and six daughters were born to this marriage, our subject being the tenth child. He is of English-Irish descent. His mother was born in Virginia, and died in Lauderdale County, March 6, 1862; his father was a Democrat and a farmer, and died March 21, 1885. Our subject was raised on a farm, and received only a limited education in the country schools, but by persistent application has since acquired a great deal of general information. Mr. Boydstun was married in this county, August 29, 1888, to Mary Lusk, a daughter of James Lusk, a farmer and school teacher. Two sons and three daughters were born to this marriage; only one is living now, Priscilla E. (Monroe). Mrs. Boydstun was born in Warren County September 1, 1820, and died at the present homestead, December 21, 1853, and Mr. Boydstun married again, in the same county, September 21, 1862, Mrs. Eliza P. Pierce, a daughter of J. N. Medder, and one son and two daughters were born to this marriage; only one is now living, Martha P. (Moore). The mother of this family was born in Williamson County, January 11, 1839. Our subject is a State’s rights Democrat, and used his influence to aid the Confederacy. He enlisted in H. C. King’s battalion (infantry), afterward in the First Regiment of Cavalry, as first lieutenant, and was in the battle of Paris, Tenn., and after a service of one year, resigned on account of ill health. The Boydstun family was represented in the Confederate Army by ten members in active service. Our subject has a farm of 312 acres, four miles north of Ripley, and is an enterprising, progressive farmer.

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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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