My Genealogy Hound
Below is a family biography included in The History of Williamson 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.
* * * *
JOHN McGAVOCK was born in Williamson County, Tenn., April 2, 1815, son of Randal and Sarah (Rogers) McGavock. The family are of Scotch-Irish descent, and Randal was born in Virginia and came to Tennessee in 1786, locating in Nashville, where he was clerk of the superior court and clerk of the land office. In 1825 he moved to Williamson County, and located near Franklin. He was married in 1810 and became the father of these four children: John, Mary, Elizabeth and James R., all being dead except our subject. Randal McGavock died in 1843 and his wife in 1850. They were pioneer settlers of Tennessee, and leave a name behind them that will remain green in the hearts of those who knew them. John, our subject, was educated at the University of Nashville and graduated from that institution in 1837. He has always been a farmer. In 1848 he wedded Miss Carrie Winder, of Louisiana, and two children were born to them: Winder and Hattie. In 1845 he was appointed colonel in the Army of the Tennessee by James K. Polk, and was made director of the Bank of Tennessee by Andrew Johnson, which office he held eight years. Mr. McGavock has always been a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren.
* * * *
This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Williamson County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Williamson County was included within The History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Beford and Marshall Counties of Tennessee
View additional Williamson County, Tennessee family biographies here
View a historic 1888 map of Williamson County, Tennessee
View family biographies for other counties and states here
Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.