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Below is a family biography included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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Herman Dietzel, hardware merchant of Union City, Tenn., was born in Germany, September 1, 1848. His parents J. H. and J. S. (Plarre) Dietzel, were born in Germany in 1800 and 1817 respectively. The father died in his native land in 1862. Our subject is the sixth of sixteen children and was educated in the Hohenleuben schools in Germany. When thirteen years of age he began learning the blacksmith’s trade and came to America in 1869 and soon afterward settled in Union City, and here carried on his trade for nine years. Since 1876 he has been engaged in the hardware business and is the oldest hardware merchant in the city. By many years of patient labor and economy he has built up an extensive trade. He is a thorough business man and is connected with some of the leading manufacturing interests of the city. In 1878 he was married to Miss S. P. Cloyes, who was born in 1862. They have three children: Charley, Herman and Edward. Mr. Dietzel is a Democrat and a member of the city council. He is also a member of the K. of P.

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This family biography is one of 179 biographies included in The History of Obion County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed.  The History of Obion County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee

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