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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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John L. McLean, county trustee, was born in this county December 4, 1840, the son of Samuel D. and Elizabeth C. (Wasson) McLean, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Indiana. Samuel D. when a boy came to this county, in 1817, locating at McLean’s Spring, three miles east of Lawrenceburg. Here the grandfather, Samuel, raised a family of five sons and four daughters, and followed the occupation of farming until his death, in 1850. The father of John L. was reared in this county, married here and reared his family on the old homestead. He was a useful citizen, his death occurring in 1880, and his wife’s in 1884. John L. was reared a farmer, securing a limited education. At the age of twenty-four years he began farming for himself on his father’s farm. In 1872 he bought land in the Eighteenth District, where he resided until 1880, when he moved to near Lawrenceburg. Mr. McLean is a Democrat, though his ancestors were Whigs. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Third Tennessee Confederate Regiment, and served until the cessation of hostilities. Twice he was seriously wounded. At Raymond, Miss., his leg was broken by a bullet, and at Jonesboro, Ga., he was wounded in the face and head by a minie-ball. He was also slightly wounded at Fort Donelson and at Powder Spring Road, Ga. In 1871 he was made deputy sheriff, and in 1884 was elected county trustee. In 1870 he married Miss Rachel C. Norman, who died in 1874, leaving two children: Coda and Thomas. In 1881 he married Mrs. Dora I. Carter, who has borne two children: Walter and Burgie.

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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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