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Below is a family biography included in The History of Lawrence 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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David C. Legg was born in East Tennessee January 4, 1814, and is a son of William Legg, who was also born in East Tennessee in 1798. After attaining his majority he married Nancy Coffman, and soon moved to Jackson County, Ala., where he remained about five years. He then moved to Limestone County, and there resided until his death in 1880. The mother was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1800, and died in Limestone County, Ala., in 1880. David C. Legg was educated in the common schools and chose the free and independent life of a farmer as his calling through life. At the age of twenty-three he began working on his own responsibility, and in 1837 moved to the Lone Star State. The Indians were very troublesome, at this time, to white settlers, and he assisted the Texans in their war against them, and for his services received 320 acres of land. Besides this, he took land to the amount of 1,280 acres, and if these claims can be established, they will result in a handsome fortune to Mr. Legg. To his marriage with Mary Halbert, in 1835, two children were born: James A. and Susan S. Mrs. Legg died in Texas in 1840. In 1845 he wedded Mary J. Carlisle; and William W., Eliza J., Joel E., Rufus E., Theodocia, Emily E., Celestia and Emma Clarinda are their children. Their mother died October 14, 1882. Mr. Legg married Mrs. Keziah Basshan, daughter of James Roper, September 24, 1884. Our subject is a Democrat and Mason, and he and wife are members of the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal Churches, respectively.

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This family biography is one of 79 biographies included in The History of Lawrence County, Tennessee published in 1886.  The History of Lawrence County was included within The History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman & Lewis Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman and Lewis Counties of Tennessee

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

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