My Genealogy Hound

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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James H. McKey was born in Alabama, in 1838, son of Charles and Eveline (Fisher) McKey. Charles McKey was born in the Palmetto State, and moved to Alabama with his parents about 1810, where he first married Eliza Cauthen. She died about seven months later, and he then married Miss Fisher, who bore him two children. The father was a farmer and served in the late war under Col. Murphy, being a Federal soldier. During his service he contracted a disease which resulted in his death, in September, 1877. Our subject received a good education in the country schools and resided with his father on a farm until 1857, when he wedded Martha A. Fondren, born in 1839. Dovey E., Charles A. (deceased), Elizabeth S. (deceased), and Edward T. are their children. Mrs. McKey died in 1870, and in September, 1871, Sarah F. Earnest became his second wife and the mother of the following family: Alice C., Taylor H., Luther A., Pink L. and Rufus B. Mrs. McKey was born in 1854, and is the daughter of Moses and Mary Earnest, of Alabama. She died in 1882, and a year later he took for his third wife Sarah A. Jones, daughter of John and Mary A. Jones. They have one child. Rob Roy. Mr. McKey served as sheriff two years and was United States deputy collector one year, and has held various minor offices. He fell heir to 265 acres of his father’s estate, and has added to it until he now owns 500 acres. His farm contains rich ore beds, and he also has a bluff of fine variegated marble, and a good deposit of fine sandstone that will rank with the best known. In 1880 Mr. McKey was admitted to the Lawrenceburg bar, and has given the most of his attention to his profession since that time. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is a Democrat. In 1862 he enlisted in Company H, Sixth Tennessee Cavalry, and served until the surrender, participating in many of the principal battles. He served in the Federal Army and was a true and tried soldier.

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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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