JOSIAH BUTT was born in Bedford County, Tenn., February 6, 1832, son of Nathaniel and Rebecca Butt, who were born in this State.  Nathaniel Butt was the son of James Butt, who came to this state from the "Old Dominion" and settled in Davidson County about 1814.  The mother, Rebecca Butt, was a daughter of Joseph E. Cook, who came from Noth Carolina to this Statein teh early part of the ppresent century.  The parents of our subject were married about 1828, and to their union were born five children -- three sons and two daughters:  Arthur, Josiah, Mary, Rebecca and Nathaniel.  Our subject was educaiton in the comon schools, and in 1866 located on his present farm, where he has followed tilling the soil, wagon-making and blacksmithing, and is the owner of 175 acres of valuable farming land.  By the sweat of his brow he has acquired his present property, and deserves much credit thereof.  January 19, 1854, he wedded Martha Jackson, daughter of John J. Jackson, a native of North Carolina.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Butt are members of the Missionary Baptist Church at Concord.  To them were born nine children:   Porterfield, Theodore, Clara, Joanna, Willie, Georgiana, Ada, Olive and Nettie.  Mr. Butt is a member of the Democratic party, and the family are of German-Irish descent.
 

COL. N. N. COX was born in Bedford County January 6, 1837.  C. and N. Cox, his father and mother, moved from North Carolina about 1811 and settled in Bedford.  When our subject was about nine months old his father died, leaving thirteen children, our subject being the youngest.  The mother, with some of the younger children, moved to Arkansas, and from there to southwestern Texas, in 1847.  She located in Seguin, near San Antonio.  Her son, N. N., spent his early years on the frontiers of Texas and was in several scouts and fights, protecting the settlers from the Indians.  He left Texas, in 1857, to enter the law school at Lebenon, Tenn., and graduated from the law department in June, 1858.  He located in Linden, Perry County, and commenced the practice of law.  In 1860, being quite young, he was placed on the electoral ticket representing Breckenridge and Lane.  He enlisted in the army in 1861 as captain in the cavalry service.  At the organization of the battalion to which his company was attached he was elected major, and when the battalion was organized into a regiment, just aftet the battle of Shiloh, he was ordered to organize another command, which he did.  This command was placed under Gen. Forrest.  At the battle of Parker's Cross Roads, in West Tennessee, Maj. Cox was captured, with a number of his men.  He was confined in Camp Chase for some time.  During his imprisonment his troops were organized into the Tenth Tennessee Cavalry, and Maj. Cox, while in prision, upon the recommendation of Gen. Forrest, was appointed colonel of the regiment, by War Department at Richmond.  He contined to command the regiment until the close of the war.  He then located in Franklin, Tenn., and resumed the practice of law.  In 1872 he was one of the electors of the Democratic party again for his district.  In one of the hottest contests ever known in Tennessee for congressional honors he was one of the contestants.  He was twice rewarded for gallantry by Gen. Forrest, and was made a full colonel without his knowledge.  He has never held a civil office, and at this writing is still engaged in his profession.
 

JAMES T. WILHOITE was born January 19, 1846.  His father, Young Wilhoite, was born in Tennessee January 5, 1817, and was reared on a farm but left it in early boyhood and began merchandising, which might be termed his life-long occupation.  The subject's mother, Eliza (Dunaway) Wilhoite, was born in Tennessee July 14, 1817, and by her union with Young Wilhoite became the mother of nine children, three of whom are dead.  The mother died in 1852.  December 25, 1866, the subject wedded Anna H. Hume, who was born in this state October 24, 1848.  She was the daughter of Alfred and Mary Hume.  To the subject and wife was born one child, Annie E., who was born November 7, 1867.  His wife died December 21, 1867.  He then married for his second wife Miss Bettie E. Johnson January 31, 1871.  She was born in this state April 6, 1850, and was the daughter of Joshua and Minnie T. Johnson.  By the Subject's last union he became the father of five children:  Jimmie Y., born November 7, 1871; Minnie P., born May 17, 1875; Willie, born December 28, 1882, and two boys, twins, not named, born February 20, 1886.  The subject was born in Shelbyville, Tenn., and was education in the best schools of that town.  When sixteen years of age he lived four years on his father's farm near Shelbyville.  In 1865 he came to Allisona and engaged in the mercantile business, where he remained about ten years.  He returned to Shelbyville and engaged in the grocery business, where he remained two years, after which he again returned to Allisona and engaged in agricultural pursuits.  In 1879 he engaged in the mercantile business and continued to do so until 1883.  Since that time he has directed his attention to farming.  He has 200 acres of good, level land.  He has been a considerable stock raiser and trader, and his fine farm is situated in the southwest corner of the county and has a good pike road running by it.  He is a Mason, a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and a stanch Democrat in politics.