GEORGE W. READ was born in Dyer County, Tenn., November 29, 1824, and is a son of Robert an Elizabeth (Gentry) Read.  The father was born October 28, 1796, in Virginia. and immigrated to Tennessee about 1802.  He remained in this State up to the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1883.  The mother was born in 1802 and died about 1841.  Our subject's educational advantages were rather limited, but, notwithstanding, he is considered a man of sound judgment and good sense.  September 30, 1846, he wedded Ann E. Brooks, of Rutherford County, Tenn., and the result of this union was the birth of eleven children:  Sarah E., Robert C., Mary J., Martha W., Ann E., James C., John B., William L., Lou H., Aldorla and George S.  The five eldest died within ten days of each other, of scarlet fever.  The tenth died in early childhood.  Mr. Read has been very successful in his business transactions.  He is scrupulously honest and honorable in every particular.  He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  He is a Democrat in politics.
 

J. C. READ was born February 3, 1859, in this State.  He is the son of G. W. and Eliza (Brooks) Read.  (For further particulars of parents see sketch of G. W. Read.)  Our subject was reared on the farm and assisted his father until he was twenty-two years of age.  In 1882 and 1883 he was sight seeing, traveling over Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama and Kentucky.  Upon returning home he engaged in agricultural pursuits and this he continued until 1885 at which time he engaged in the merchandising business at Center Grove, in partnership with his brother, W. L. Read.  December 18, 1881, our subject wedded Callie J. Bullock, of this county, and to them were born three children:  Richard L., Robert A. and George W.  Mr. Read is an energetic and active young business man, and has the power and determination to make his mark in the world.  Politically he is a Democrat.
 

ROBERT REAVES, a farmer and stock raiser, of the Twenty-third District of Bedford County, was born November 14, 1833, and is the son of Isom and Rachel (Morgan) Reaves.  The father was a native of North Carolina and when a young man immigrated to Bedford County, Tenn., and settled in the Twenty-third District.  He was a farmer and stock raiser, and was successful in all his undertakings.  He was worth considerable property at the time of his death, which occurred January 1, 1871.  He was the father of five children: Benjamin, John, Robert, Frances M. and Jane.  Isom Reaves was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Chaney Coggens; three children were born to them, all dead but one, named William.  Our subject was reared on the farm and received a limited education in the common schools.  In 1855 Miss Martha Morgan became his wife and this union resulted in the birth of five children: Bettie F., Mary J., Robert A., Dulcenia and Emmet.  Mary J. died in 1869 and Robert A. died the same year.  When the war broke out our subject acted as escort to Gen. Forrest. He was under Capt. Little and participated in all the battles in which his command was engaged.  He owns a fine track of land and is one of the leading citizens of the county.
 

L. H. RUSS was born in Lewisburg, Tenn., March 3, 1843.  His father, James Russ, was a printer and publisher.  He came to Bedford County in 1847 and established a newspaper and continued to publish papers until his death in 1869.  The mother was Margaret E. Laird.  She died in 1857.  Our subject was reared in Shelbyville and learned the printer's trade.  In 1869 he, with a brother, established the Shelbyville Commercial and published that paper one year.  He then engaged in the grocery business a short time.  From 1870 to 1873, he was not settled in any regular business.  In 1873 he established the wagon and buggy manufactory which he yet runs.  He manufactures the New South wagons, buggies, carriages, etc.  He has a stock of about $6,000, and does about $12,000 annual business.  He was married in October, 1869, to Theodosia H. Hobbs, daughter of George W. and Sarah Hobbs, residents of this county.  Five children have been born to this union, three of whom are now living: George H., James L. and Lucy E.  Those who died were Harry L. and Thomas B.  Mr. and Mrs. Russ are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Russ is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F.  He was one of the "boys in gray," serving in Forrest's escort from 1863 till December, 1864, when he was captured and held a prisoner till the close of the war.  He was fourth corporal of the escort.
 

ROBERT COLUMBUS RUSS, editor and proprietor of the Shelbyville (Tenn.) Commercial, was born in Fayetteville, N. C., September 5, 1824, being one of twelve children -- six boys and six girls -- born to James and Eunice (Steeley) Russ, both natives of North Carolina; the former being born June 29, 1790, and the latter October 17, 1791, and both of whom died in Shelbyville, Tenn.  Our subject's paternal grandparents were William and Hannah Russ, the former being a native of Russia, and the latter of Scotland; and his maternal grandparents were William and Lexy Steeley.  Only three of the twelve children born to our subject's parents are living, viz.: our subject, his brother, A. J. Russ, and his sister, Mary Jane Fausett.  Our subject set in to learn the "art preservative" in 1840 with his brother James and William L. Berry, in Fayetteville, and began editing and publishing a paper in Shelbyville in 18--, find has continued in that capacity to the present, having published eight papers altogether.  Our subject was married to Euphamie M., daughter of John Crawford, at Cedar Springs, Marshall Co., Tenn., December 14. 1848, and to them have been born twelve children -- six boys and six girls -- all of whom have died except four boys and one girl.  The Commercial is the oldest newspaper in Shelbyville, is Democratic, and wields considerable influence as a local and party paper.
 

WILLIAM RUSSELL, editor of the Bedford County Times, was born April 27, 1852, being the son of B. L. and Ermine (Clark) Russell, natives of Kentucky.  The father is a retired citizen of Shelbyville, Tenn., and during active life was a merchant tailor by avocation.   Mr. Russell is a practical printer, and has held positions on the following papers:  The American Union, American Reserve, Commercial, Gazette, of Shelbyville, and on the Rural Sun, of Nashville, the Clarksville Tobacco Leaf, Pulaski Citizen, Fayetteville Express and Chattanooga Times.  The Bedford Times was established in February 1886, and is in a flourishing condition.
 

JOHN W. RUTH, the clever and enterprising jeweler of Shelbyville, was born February 27, 1839, in Shelbyville, being a son of George W. Ruth. The father was born in Granville County, N. C., in 1799.  A short time before George Washington died, when on his last Southern tour, he passed by the house where George W. Ruth was born only a short time before.  He stopped and lifted the infant in his arms, and then and there it was named George Washington Ruth in remembrance of the incident and of the great man.  The father came to this county in 1822.  He married, lived and died here, being a jeweler by occupation.  He was a very prominent citizen of the county, and for many years was a magistrate.  He was mayor of Shelbyville two terms, and was identified with the public interests all his life.  He was a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years was a steward.  Politically he was a Democrat.   His death occurred in August, 1858.  His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.  The mother of John W. was born in Baltimore County, Md., and came to Shelbyville when quite young.  She was born in 1804 and died in 1863.   The ancestry of John W. were of Scotch-Irish descent, predominating in Scotch blood.  The immediate subject of this sketch was reared in Shelbyville and learned his father's trade, which has been his life time business.  He is also joined by his son in the business now, the name of the firm being John W. Ruth & Son.  He was elected to the office of mayor of Shelbyville in 1873, and served till 1875.  In 1885 he was re-elected to the same office, and is now the incumbent.  He was married, in 1865, to Miss Fannie E. Newton, who bore him three children, viz.: Albert H., Anne C. and Weakley D.  Mr. Ruth and his two oldest children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.  He is a Knight Templar Mason and a Knight of Honor.  Politically he is a Democrat, but conservative in his views.  He is a popular, genial and enterprising citizen of Shelbyville.
 

JOHN W. RUTLEDGE, SR., one of Bedford County's farmers, was born January 12, 1823, in Bedford County, being a son of John and Sarah Davenport Rutledge, natives of South Carolina.  The parents were married in their native State and came to Bedford County in the very early settlement of the county.  John W. was reared on a farm and secured but a common school education, the schools then being in an undeveloped condition.  He began farming for himself when grown, and at the age of twenty-seven married.  He continued to farm and deal in live-stock extensively.  He now owns 108 acres of land, with seventy-five acres under cultivation.  He was married November 22, 1849, to Eunice M. Warner, daughter of John and Eunice (Dixon) Warner, natives of North Carolina.  They came to Sumner County, Tenn., when small, and thence to Bedford County, where they lived and died.  The father was born in 1783, and the mother in 1792; they were married November 11, 1810.  The father was a sheriff of Bedford County for many years; he was a farmer by occupation.  He died May 17, 1834, and the mother died October 2. 1852.  Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge are parents of four children, viz.:  John G., who died young; Warner G.; Eunice M., the wife of Thomas L. Thompson, and John W.  All the family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and all are Democrats in politics.  Warner G. Rutledge was married December 4, 1874, to Miss Julia L. Phillips who died January 16, 1876, after becoming the mother of a child, Julia L., who also died July 16, 1876.  He is store-keeper and gauger in the revenue service in the Middle and West Divisions of Tennessee.
 

RUTLEDGE & THOMPSON, dealers in a general line of groceries and provisions in Shelbyville, do a leading business in the town.  The firm is composed of John W. Rutledge, Jr., and Thomas L. Thompson.  John W. Rutledge, Jr., was born July 20, 1860, being a son of John W. Rutledge, Sr.  He was married, December 26, 1884, to Katie Nease, the result of this union being one son, John H.  Mr. Rutledge is captain of the Shelbyville Hook and Ladder Company and an enterprising young business man.  Thomas L. Thompson was born August 4, 1850, to the marriage of Thomas Thompson and Tranquilla Stephens.  Both parents were natives of Bedford County, the mother being of North Carolina ancestry.  The father was a farmer and Thomas L. was reared on a farm. He was married, February 25, 1875, to Miss Eunice M. Rutledge, daughter of John W. Rutledge, Sr.  Four children have been born to this union, viz.: Thomas L., Mary A., John W. and Hiram S.  The firm of Rutledge & Thompson was established October 24, 1878.  They were burned out October 22, 1885, and are now preparing to build a commodious brick building.  They also deal in mules and fine horses.
 

ALBERT P. RYALL, M. D., son of Thomas C. and Elizabeth (Scudder) Ryall, was born March 30, 1840.  His father was a native of New Jersey, born in April, 1809.  Eight children were born to him, viz.: Johnston S., Albert P., Walter S., Thomas, Henry C., Elizabeth R. (deceased), Juliet S. and William (deceased). Mrs. Elizabeth Ryall died in August, 1856.  She was a worthy member of the Episcopal Church.  Thomas C. Ryall, our subject's father, had the advantage of a good education, and in early life began the study of law.  He entered the law school at Trenton, N. J., and graduated from that institution.  He then began the practice of law at Freeholm, N. J., but remained there but a short time, as his health was failing.  He then traveled extensively in South America, and is now living in Bedford County, and is one of its most highly respected citizens.  Our subject had the advantage of a good education in Shelbyville, and in 1860 began the study of medicine.  The war coming on broke into his studies, as he enlisted in the Confederate Army in the Twenty-sixth Tennessee Regiment, and was assistant surgeon of that regiment, which position he held thirteen months. He was then assigned surgeon in the hospital at Montgomery. Ala., where he remained ten months.  From there he went to Columbus, Ga., in the same capacity.  After the war he returned to his county, and in 1865 entered the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, graduating with honors from that institution in 1867.  He then went to Augustine, Fla., and began the practice of medicine.  At the end of two years be came to Bedford County, and has been practicing his profession here ever since. He has an extensive practice, and is one of the progressive and leading men of the county.  He now owns a finely improved farm of 400 acres, find is quite successful in a financial sense.
 

THOMAS C. RYALL, JR., son of Thomas C. Ryall, Sr., was born October 5, 1843, in Bedford County.  He was reared on a farm.  At the age of sixteen he enlisted in the Forty-first Tennessee Regiment in the late war.  He was in the service about three years, making his escape from Camp Morton prison, Indianapolis, Ind.  He then returned home and remained for three or four years.  He then lived in Alabama for about three years, engaged in farming and merchandising.  He then returned to Shelbyville, where he has been engaged in merchandising and the brokerage business.  His main line of brokerage is in tobacco.  He was married, January 11, 1881, to Miss Mattie Baldwin, of Canton, Miss., the fruit of this union being one daughter -- Ellie.  Politically he is a Democrat, and, as are the other members of the family, he is highly respected for his enterprise.
 

THOMAS C. RYALL, SR., a prominent retired citizen of Bedford County, was born April 19, 1809, in Trenton N. J., his parents being natives of New Jersey, and of English descent.  He read law and at the age of twenty-one began the practice of that profession, which he continued in New Jersey for five or six years.  He then, on account of his health, accepted an offer from Post Capt. David Deacon, United States Navy, who was ordered to command of the United States Frigate "Brandywine," to accompany him on a cruise three years to the Pacific Coast.  In this expedition he served as captain's clerk, judge advocate on court martial and officiated pro tempore as secretary to Com. Wadsworth, the commander of the squadron.  On his return, in reward for his services, he was presented with a written request signed by all the officers of the squadron to the proper authorities, to procure a partnership in the naval service, but in New Jersey he met Miss Elizabeth Scudder, of Nashville, and granddaughter of Dr. John Scudder, the famous East Indian missionary.  He soon came to Nashville and married her.  He has ever since lived in Tennessee and followed farming until about 1880, when, on account of his age, he retired from active business life.  He owns about 800 acres of land and a very fine fruit orchard.  Mr. Ryall's married life was blessed in the births of nine children; six of whom are living, viz.:  Johnston S., a farmer and merchant in Alabama; Dr. A. P. Ryall, a physician, of this county; Walter, growing oranges in Florida; Thomas C., merchandise broker, of Shelbyville; Henry C., lumberman, of Shelbyville; and Juliet, wife of Brom R. Whitthorne, cashier of the National Bank of Shelbyville.  Mrs. Ryall departed this life August 13, 1857.  Politically, Mr. Ryall was a Whig, but is now a Democrat.  He is now one of the prominent and highly respected citizens of the county.