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Below is a family biography included in The History of Wilson 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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JOHN PALMER, one of the old settlers of Wilson County, Tenn., was born in that State April 13, 1804, and is the eldest of thirteen children born to William and Sarah (Rankins) Palmer. The father was of English extraction, born in North Carolina in 1777, and immigrated to Tennessee in 1804. At the time of his marriage he was living in Sumner County, Tenn., and followed the occupation of a farmer during his entire life. He died in Wilson County in 1858. The mother was born in North Carolina, in 1782, and died in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1859. The subject of this sketch passed his early life in assisting on the farm and in securing an education. In 1826 he was married to Mary Reese, daughter of Thomas B. and Margaret Reese. Mrs. Palmer was born in Wilson County in 1803, and by her union with Mr. Palmer became the mother of five children: Margaret A. (wife of H. W. Robb), Louisa (wife of J. S. Chambers), Richard H., Henry Clay and Ella. In 1828 he bought 154 acres of land in Wilson County, where he commenced the occupation of farming, and is at present the owner of 1,600 acres of land, the principal part being in Wilson County. Mr. Palmer is one of Wilson County’s oldest citizens. By his energy, industry and close application to business he has accumulated gradually from year to year and at present is one of the wealthiest farmers in the county. He is always obliging and kind to the poor, and is highly esteemed as an honest and useful citizen. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Christian Church.
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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Wilson County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Wilson 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
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