McNAIRY COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - J. T. Barnhill ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping, with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic Pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Douglas H. Prather douglas-memphis@worldnet.att.net =============================================================== The Goodspeed History of Tennessee McNairy County page 871 HON. J. T. BARNHILL Hon. J. T. Barnhill, one of the native citizens and prominent farmers of District No. 14, is the son of John N. and Elizabeth (Chambers) Barnhill. He was born in McNairy County in 1848, and is one of ten children, three sons and two daughters now living. The father was born in North Carolina about 1811 and was of Scotch ancestry. His father, William Barnhill, removed to this county from Alabama about 1826, and afterward to Texas, where he died. John N. Barnhill received a good practical education and cane to this county about the same time that his father did. He was married when about the age of eighteen or nineteen, and was a life long tiller of the soil. He was a man of good business capacity and led a public life for a number of years in various capacities; was also one of the pioneers of this county, having settled here when the country was dense forest and the settlers were few and far between. He died in 1881. The mother was a native of Alabama, born in 1809, and is still living in this county. Her parents were Samuel and Elizabeth Chambers, also early pioneers of McNairy County. Our subject was reared at home on the farm where he was born and where he now resides. His rudimentary education was received at the common schools, but he subsequently graduated in the law department of Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tenn., in January, 1881. He has quite an extensive law practice in connection with his farming interest. He owns about 1,500 acres of land in the vicinity of Chewalla. His home farm, one mile north of that village, is under a high state of cultivation and is in a desirable locality. Although Mr. Barnhill is comparatively a young man, he is already one of McNairy County's most efficient and promising farmers, active business man and politician. In 1884 he represented McNairy County in the Lower House of the State Legislature, being elected by a large majority, and served during the term with commendable distinction. He is a Democrat in politics and cast his first presidential vote for H. Greeley. He is and active member of the Masonic fraternity. February 22, 1880, he married Miss Docia Rosson, a native of this county, born in 1859, and a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. She is a refined and much esteemed lady, and is the daughter of Joseph T. and Charlotte Rossom.