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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Haywood 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 P. Whitelaw, citizen, farmer and native of Haywood County, was born November 30, 1849, and is the son of James and Mary (Owens) Whitelaw, who were both natives of Virginia. About forty years ago our subject’s grandparents came to Haywood County, and settled on what is known as the Grassy Spring Place where they made a large purchase of land. Our subject’s father engaged in the mercantile business at Brownsville, the firm being Winfield & Whitelaw; he sold goods in Brownsville up to 1863, then went back to his farm, but in 1867 he again moved to Brownsville and kept a boarding house at the Baptist Female College, at the same time being engaged in the stave trade on the Mississippi and Forked Deer Rivers. He died in August, 1871. James P. Whitelaw was educated in the county, and when only fifteen years of age he entered the Confederate Army and remained until the war was over; his youth did not prevent his making a good soldier; he enlisted in the Sixteenth Tennessee Regiment. He is in politics a sound Democrat, and is a member of the Christian Church, and has given his time to farming. February 16, 1869, he married Miss Bettie Whitelaw, a native of Haywood County, born November 8, 1850. Of seven children born to this marriage five are living: Eutrachan S., born December 12, 1869; Mary L., July 22, 1872; Thomas O., January 22, 1875; Julia, March 29, 1876; Anna, March 1, 1878; James, February 1, 1881 and Bernard, July 18, 1883. Thomas O. died March, 1875, aged two months, and Julia died October 17, 1876. Mr. Whitelaw is an energetic, useful citizen.
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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in the book, The History of Haywood County, Tennessee published in 1886 by Goodspeed. The History of Haywood County was included within The History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Lauderdale, Tipton, Haywood, and Crockett Counties, Tennessee
View additional Haywood County, Tennessee family biographies here: Haywood County, Tennessee
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