My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Sumner 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.

* * * *

Maj. M. S. Elkin (deceased) was a legal practitioner of Gallatin and a native of Scott County, Ky. He was born in 1840, and was the son of Robert and Lucy (Quisenbery) Elkin. The father was a native of Kentucky and came to Sumner County about 1848, where he has since resided. His wife was a native of Kentucky, and of French descent; she died in 1863. After her death Mr. Elkin married Mrs. Lucy Morris nee Prestage, of Virginia. To the first marriage were born five children, our subject being the eldest. He was but eight years of age when his parents came to Sumner County. He was educated at Gallatin and at Cannelsburg, Penn., where he attended school two years. When the war broke out between the North and South he abandoned his studies and entered the army. November, 1865, he married Miss Mattie C. Moore, a native of Logan County, Ky., born in 1845, and the daughter of Josiah and Mary S. Moore. This union resulted in the birth of four children: Willie Conn, Lucy, Mary S. and Milton S. Immediately after the war Mr. Elkin commenced the study of law under Col. John W. Head, and in 1866 was admitted to the bar. He then commenced practicing and for a number of years was a law partner of Maj. W. S. Munday. Maj. Elkin rose very rapidly in his profession, and soon became an able lawyer and an eloquent speaker. The last fifteen years of his life he ranked as one of the best advocates of his profession in Sumner County. He was logical in his arguments and convincing in his manner of speech. He died December 27, 1884, while yet in the prime of life. When Mrs. Elkin was two years of age she was taken by an uncle and aunt—W. B. Conn and wife. Mr. Conn was a native of Burford County, Ky.; he died November, 1860, aged seventy-eight. His wife, Martha (Herndon) Conn, was born in Scott County, Ky., in 1821, and is now living with Mrs. Elkin. Maj. Elkin was a member of the K. of P., the K. of H., also member of the Masonic fraternity, being Worshipful Master. He was city attorney of Gallatin for one term. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which his wife is now a member.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 115 biographies included in The History of Sumner County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Sumner County was included within The History of Sumner, Smith, Macon & Trousdale Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Sumner, Smith, Macon and Trousdale Counties of Tennessee

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.