HON. B. F. ALEXANDER, a native of Rutherford County, Tenn., was born January 20, 1849, and is the son of Madison H. and Catharine (Suttle) Alexander, natives respectively, of Tennessee and Virginia.  The father, who is a well-known and prosperous farmer, still resides in this county.  The mother, who died in this county November 23, 1877, was reared in the immediate neighborhood of Thomas Jefferson, and often spoke of that illustrious statesman in warmest terms of praise.  Our subject graduated Union University, Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1870, and a year later took the degree at the law school of Cumberland University.  He then practiced his profession for several years at Murfreesboro, editing the Murfreesboro Monitor in the meantime.  In 1878 he was chosen over four competitors to represent Rutherford and Bedford Counties in the House of Representatives, where he served in a faithful and highly efficient manner.  In 1880 he was nominated by acclamation by the Democrats of Rutherford County to represent his senatorial district in the Forty-second General Assembly, and although his party was divided he was elected by a handsome majority.  In 1881 he was elected temporary speaker of the Senate.  He was made chairman of three different committees and was appointed a member of a committee sent to New York to compromise with holders of Tennessee bonds, but declined on the ground that a sovereign State ought to settle her local concerns without dictation from her creditors.  Mr. Alexander always advocated the rights and worked in the interest of the laborer and producer of the of the country, and the people of his district manifested their approval by electing him without opposition to a seat in the Forty-third General Assembly, and although he had declared himself not a candidate for the position he was elected speaker after a few hours' balloting.  Mr. Alexander is a Democrat of the old Jefferson type, a man of affable and generous nature, and was reared in the Methodist faith, to which he still inclines.  He is unmarried and is engaged in agriculture, which is his favorite pursuit.
 

WILLIAM L. DAVIS is a native of Tennessee, born April 17, 1833, son of Charles L. and Elizabeth (Sanders) Davis, both of whom were born in Virginia.  The father came to Tennessee in 1825, where he became a well-to-do farmer.  His death occurred in 1874.  The mother died in 1841.  Our subject, William L., secured a common education, and at the age of twenty-one purchased a farm in Bedford County, on which he lived two years.  In 1860 he returned to Rutherford County, and took a half interest in his father's mill, of which he is not proprietor.  The mill was established at an early date, and is now classed among the best custom mills of the county, outside of Murfreesboro, having a capacity of thirty barrels per day.  Mr. Davis is always strictly accurate in his business transactions and accordingly controls the leading trade in his section of the country.  In 1856 he was united in marriage to Sallie Searsey, a native of this county.  They have this family:  Robert O., John; Mollie E., wife of Robert Bell; Ella, wife of Joseph Blake; and Samuel B.  Mr. Davis is a Democrat in politics, and he  and family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
 

MRS. JULIA A. HALL, a widely respected known and eminently successful land-owner, was born in Bedford County, this State, and is the daughter of Isaiah and Mary (Rainy) Gault.  The father was a gentleman highly respected as a kind neighbor and a warn friend.  His death occurred in the year 1852 and the mother, who was loved and esteemed by all who knew her, followed her husband to his last resting place in the year 1876.  They were devout Baptists and died in full fruition of all Christian hope.  The subject of this sketch was united marriage in the year 1858, to John L. Hall.  To this brief but happy union were born six children, five of whom are living:  Rainy L., John B., Albert S., Delphia C. (wife of James E. Floyd) and Thomas J.  Mr. Hall's death, which occurred in 1873, was a sad blow to his bereaved family and friends.  He was justly considered a moral, upright man.  Mrs. Hall is a worthy and consistent member of the Baptist Church and occupies a prominent position in the community in which she resides.

W. C. FROST, editor and proprietor of the Murfreesboro News, was born in Yazoo County, Miss., November 9, 1859, and is the son of William D. and Mattie L. (Brown) Frost, natives of Tennessee.  The father is a practicing physician of good standing in Bedford County to-day.  Walter C., our subject, was reared to agricultural pursuits in his boyhood days, securing a fair literary education, preparing himself for teaching, which profession he followed for about one year; then, at the age of twenty, he began the study of law af Fayetteville, Tenn., reading in the office of Holman & Holman, and at the age of twenty-one was admitted to the Lincoln County bar and entered into the practice of law.  There, in partnership with S. W. Carmack, and later at Columbia, Tenn., with John V. Wright and Lee Bullock.  In the spring of 1884 he removed to Nashville with a view to establishing practice there, but in September, 1885, he came to Murfreesboro and bought out the News of that city, and has since conducted the paper in a faithful and highly efficient manner.  Mr. Frost is an unswerving Democrat in politics, and his paper, which is devoted to the interest of this party, if free and fearless in proclaiming the principles and sentiments of the Democracy in Rutherford County.  Although comparatively a new comer in Rutherford County, Mr. Frost bears the respect and esteem of the entire community, and is justly recognized as one among the enterprising and successful young citizens of Murfreesboro and a efficient newspaper man.
 

HAYNES, HOLLOWELL & CO. are merchants of Murfreesboro, Tenn.  In 1882 the business was established by Thomas R. Hollowell (see sketch) and his brother George S., under the firm name of G. S. Hollowell & Co.  The following year Thomas R. assumed complete control of the business, and conducted it alone until the latter part of 1883, when Mr. G. C. Batey took an interest, continuing until January, 1885, when William R. Haynes purchased an interest.  They carry a large and select stock of general merchandise, and are doing a lucrative business.  William R. Haynes was born in Cannon County, Tenn., February 11, 1840, being a son of Ivy J. C. and Elvira (Fletcher) Haynes, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Tennessee.  The father came to Tennessee about 1823, and located in Rutherford County, where he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which  he followed until 1853.  He then engaged in the general merchandise business, but in 1881 retired to a farm near the city, where he now resides.  Our subject, William R., worked in his father's store, and in 1877 became a partner in the business.  In 1881 he retired from business, and two years later removed to the country, but in 1885 returned to the city and engaged in his present business.  In 1878 he married Miss Sophia M. Reeves, of Bedford County, Tenn.  Mr. Haynes is a Democrat.  In 1861 he enlisted in company C, Forty-fifth Regiment Tennessee Infantry, and served in the commissary department of the Confederate Army until its surrender.  He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
 

JOHN M. NAYLOR, a retired merchant of Rutherford County, was born October 6, 1848, in Bedford County, Tenn., and is the son of Wade H. and Hannah (McMinn) Naylor, natives respectively, of South Carolina and Bedford County, Tenn.  The father, a prominent farmer of this county, moved to Bedford County in 1827, and came to this county some years later, and settled on a farm where where he remained until his death, which occurred November 17, 1857.  Our subject was reared on a farm, and received a fair education in the common schools of the county.  At the age of fifteen he was left in charge of his mother's farm, where he remained until after the war, attending school until 1872, when he engaged in merchandising in Fosterville.  In 1885 he sold out and moved to the place where he now resides.  He has met with well deserved success, having a good farm of 120 acres.  January 20, 1876, he was married to Miss Jessie Robinson, daughter of Dr. George W. Robinson, an eminent practitioner of this county, and captain of a company of cavalry under Forrest; was killed at Richmond, Ky.  To Mr. and Mrs. Naylor were born three children:  Eugene B., William E. and Arthur T.; they also have an adopted child, Lavie M. Robinson, who was an orphan of his wife's brother.  Mr. Naylor is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
 

MOSES A. NELSON was born in Bedford County, Tenn., September 22, 1838, son of Benjamin A. and Agnes J. (Nelson) Nelson, natives also of Bedford County, and residents of the same.  Our subject's grandfather, Moses Melson, was one of the first settlers of Middle Tennessee.  The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in his native county, and received an ordinary education.  In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, eleventh Regular Tennessee Infantry, and served in the Confederate Army until the close of the war.  He was promoted during service, to first lieutenant, and paroled as such at Greensboro, N.C.  He then returned home, and in 1868 removed to Murfreesboro and engaged in the liquor and restaurant business, and has continued to the present time.  He keeps a strictly first-class house, and controls the leading trade in his line in the city.  In July, 1855, Mr. Nelson leased the opera house in Murfreesboro, and has managed it very successfully to the present time.  In 1866 he was united in marriage to miss Kate R. Melchar, a native of Arkansas.  They have six children living -- three sons and three daughters.  In politics Mr. Nelson is a Democrat, though he was raised a Whig and voted that ticket previous to the war.
 

WILLIAM P. PRATER, a prominent and well-to-do farmer of Rutherford County, Tenn., was born November 28, 1850.  His parents, Monroe and Caroline (Knox) Prater, were natives of Rutherford and Bedford Counties, respectively, and the father was a well-known farmer and Democrat, and he and wife were members of the Missionary Baptist Church.  Our subject's early days were spent on a farm, and his educational advantages were limited, only attending the common schools of the county a short time.  At the age of twenty years he began working for himself, and farmed two years on the old home place.   He then rented and in the Twenty-fourth District, and farmed one year.  He then returned to the paternal roof, and there resided until 1875, when he moved on his present property.  Mr. Prater has met with good and well deserved success, and now has a well improved farm of 100 acres.  In 1871 he was united in marriage to Lethie Pruiett, and their union has been blessed with four children:  Sallie C., D. J., Fannie P. and Mary L.  Mr. Prater is a stanch Democrat, and he and Mrs. Prater are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
 

DR. BARTLEY S. WHITE, a widely known and eminently successful practitioner, was born in this county August 16, 1841, and is a son of Burrell G. and Mary (Donley) White, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Ireland.  The father was an enterprising merchant and farmer, and departed this life October 31, 1884.  He was a consistent member of the Christian Church.  The mother still survives him and is a resident of this county.  Our subject is a graduate of the University of Nashville, and is one of the class of 1867.  He was married in May of that year to Sue Ransom, of Bedford County, and five children have blessed their union:  Walter M., Sallie W., William R., Burrell G. and Bartley N.  The Doctor took an active part in the late war, enlisting in May, 1861, in Company F, Second Tennessee Infantry, serving in the capacity of sergeant for three years.  He was captured July 20, 1864, at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., and was a prisoner nine months.  At the expiration of that time he was exchanged.  He was on parole for sixty days, and during that time the surrender of the confederate Army was announced.  The Doctor is a Democrat of the most pronounced class, and is at present a candidate for and will probably be elected clerk of the circuit court.  He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and are recognized as prominnent and influential citizens of the community in which they reside.