JOHN W. THOMPSON, chairman of the county court of Bedford County, is a son of Newcom and Amy (Fisher) Thompson, natives of North Carolina.  The parents moved to this county in about 1809.  The father was a carpenter and he built the first houses of Shelbyville.  He afterward engaged in fanning two and one-half miles west of Shelbyville and there raised his family and became wealthy, but the war involved him.  He died in 1879 at the age of seventy-five.  The mother died at eighty-one, in 1886.  Our subject was born January 8, 1831, and was reared on a farm.  He remained with his parents till April, 1846, when he engaged at clerking in a store.  After several years he opened a family grocery trade which he continued until the war.  During the war he was engaged in the Adams Express office at Nashville.  In 1857 he was elected recorder of Shelbyville and held the office till 1866.  In that year he was elected register of Bedford County.  In 1868 he was appointed deputy circuit court clerk, which office he held till 1882.  He was elected magistrate in 1870, and in 1882 was elected chairman of the court.  He was mayor of Shelbyville from 1872 to 1877, having been an alderman for five years previous.  He was elected recorder of Shelbyville, in 1885, without his knowledge or consent, and now holds that office.  He was united in marriage, in December, 1849, to Miss M. J. Pannell; a native of this county  Five children have been born to this union, four of whom are now living.  For thirty years Mr. Thompson was a member of the I. O. O. F. He is now a member of the K. of H. and A. O. U. W. fraternities.
 

GEORGE W. THOMPSON, one of the old and highly respected citizens of Bedford County, was the oldest son and second child of Newcom and Amy (Fisher) Thompson.  He was born February 1, 1823, near Shelbyville, and was reared on a farm, his father being a wealthy farmer and manufacturer.  At the age of eighteen he engaged in the tanner's trade, and continued till he was married, when he moved to Shelbyville and served as constable, then a lucrative office, for two years.  He then ran a saw-mill for four years and also bought a large tract of timber land.  He then returned to Shelbyville and served as constable or collecting officer again for four years.  He then engaged in the family grocery business till 1861.  During the war he was a Union man and was not engaged in any special avenue of business.  In 1866 he was elected to the Legislature and attended the regular and call sessions of 1866 and of 1868.  During this time, and ever since, he has been a farmer.  He was married, May 18, 1843, to Martha M. Cannon, who bore him five children, three of whom are now living, viz.:  Amy F., the widow of C. A. Warren, Sr.; Letitia, the wife of C. A. Warren, Jr., and Mollie G.  Mrs. Thompson departed this life July 14, 1874.  Mr. Thompson is a member of the Masonic fraternity and I. O. O. F.   Politically he is a firm Republican, and he is and always has been an enterprising and energetic citizen of Bedford County.
 

THOMAS C. THOMPSON was born February 8, 1848, in Bedford County, Tenn., son of W. F. and Harriet P. (Hall) Thompson.  The father was a native of North Carolina, born September 9, 1816, and of English descent.  The mother was of Irish descent, and by her union with W. F. Thompson she became the mother of four children.  She died in 1850, and in 1857 the father married Mrs. Mary Muse, a native of this county.  To this union were born four children.  The father was a tiller of the soil.  He died in 1865 and his widow is still living.  Our subject was educated in the country schools, and assisted his father on his farm until December, 1861, when he enlisted in the Twenty-third Regiment, Tennessee Confederate Infantry, and served with that command nineteen months.  The principal battles in which he was engaged were Shiloh, Perryville and Murfreesboro.  In 1866 he married Miss Achsah King, a native of this county, and a daughter of C. B. and Mary C. King.  To our subject and wife were born the following children:  Mary B., Hattie V., Charles F., James B., Sarah E., Robert E., Thomas E. and George E., all now living with the exception of Sarah E.  The mother of these children died May 9, 1882, and in 1885 Mr. Thompson married Miss Maggie A. Rankin, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Rev. Alexander F. and Mary Rankin.  Our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and at present is a magistrate of his civil district. He owns a farm of over 200 acres, all under a good state of cultivation.  Himself, wife and four eldest children are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat in politics
 

W. THOMPSON, one of the numerous members of the Thompson family of Bedford County, is a farmer living about four miles west of Shelbyville.  He was born August 20, 1842, in Bedford County.  His father, John F. Thompson, was born in Bedford County, being a son of one of those Thompsons who came to Bedford County from North Carolina in the very early settlement of this part of the State.  He was a farmer all his life, his death occurring August 23, 1883.  The mother is now living five miles northwest of Shelbyville.  The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm.  At the age of twenty-two he married and continued farming, which he has successfully followed ever since, now owning 300 acres of good land well improved.  He was one of the boys in gray, serving from July, 1861, till June, 1862, in Blanton's company of the Twenty-third Tennessee.  At the battle of Shiloh he lost a leg and in June, 1862, returned home.  He was married in 1864, to Hulda B. Wilhoite, the results of this union being ten children, seven of whom are now living, viz.:  Eunice, Richard, Lydia, Warner, Charles, Purdey and an infant.  Mr. Thompson is a Democrat in politics.  He, his wife and eldest daughter are members of the Missionary Baptist Church..
 

W. E. A. THOMPSON, A. B., a native of Bedford County, Tenn., was born Nov. 28, 1848.  His father was a licensed preacher in the Methodist Church, but having an affection of the throat was obliged to give up his ministerial duties and engage in farming.  His mother was Ellen C. (Williams) Thompson.  Our subject remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, attending school when he could be conveniently spared from the farm.  In the fall of 1869 he taught school at Mount Zion, Bedford County, and in 1870 clerked in a dry goods house at Unionville.  The spring of 1871 he spent in school at Chapel Hill and spent the fall at Unionville in the same manner.  Early in 1872 he entered the Tennessee University, where he graduated in 1874 with the degree of A. B.  He chose teaching as his profession and began work at Unionville, his native village.  In the summer of 1875 he left Unionville and taught five months at Middleton, Rutherford County.  In the spring of 1876 he accepted the principalship of the Center Grove High School, where he is engaged at the present writing.  December 26, 1876, he wedded Nannie Floyd, of this county, and by her became the father of four children:  Benjamin H., Mary G., Annie E. and Ellen F.  Our subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is a man of good social standing and influence in this section.
 

ZACH THOMPSON was born July 7, 1844, at Lebanon, Wilson Co., Tenn.  His father, Col. Robert E. Thompson, is a native of Bedford County, Tenn., born in 1822 and of Irish descent.  He moved to Williamson County with his parents when a small boy and subsequently was educated at Lebanon, Wilson County, and began the practice of law at that place.  He bas been a member of the Legislature several times and is a prominent lawyer of Lebanon.  He married Miss Mary Tolliver, a native of Lebanon, and to this union nine children were born, of whom the subject is the eldest.  Zach Thompson was educated at Cumberland University, Lebanon, and upon passing sixteen years of age he enlisted in the Seventh Tennessee Confederate Infantry.  He served in that regiment about eighteen months and was then transferred to the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry and with that command served until the close of the war.  He then returned home and read law and practiced at Lebanon until 1873.  November 21, 1872, Miss Lettie Cannon, a native of Bedford County, became his wife.  To this Union were born two children:  Robert E., and Mary L., both living.  In 1873 they moved upon the place where they now reside, which is about six miles northeast of Shelbyville.  The farm consists of 820 acres, all under a good state of cultivation.  In connection with farming Mr. Thompson has run a distillery for the last three years.  In politics he is a stanch Democrat.
 

COL. LEWIS TILLMAN (deceased) was born in Bedford County, August 18, 1816, being a son of John and Rachel P. (Martin) Tillman, natives of South Carolina.  Both parents immigrated to this county when young.  The father was born February 5, 1786, and came to Bedford County about 1810.  He was a farmer, and was one of the prominent early citizens of Bedford County.  He was a member of the State Legislature of Tennessee in 1820, but would never accept further political honor.  His death occurred October 3, 1854.  The mother was born May 16, 1789, and attained the age of ninety-two, dying in 1881.  Both the grandsires of our subject were soldiers of the Revolutionary war.  Col. Lewis Tillman was reared on a farm, and secured but a limited early education because of the rude accommodations of the schools in his boyhood.  At the age of twenty-five he married, and settled where he pursued farming till his death.  In 1836 he served in the Florida war in the campaign against the Creek and Seminole Indians.  He has held the commission of major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel in the Sixty-first regiment of State Militia of Tennessee.  From 1852 to 1860 he was clerk of the Circuit Court of Bedford County, and for a few years immediately following the war he was clerk and master of the Chancery Court of Bedford County.  Throughout the war he was a firm Union man.  In 1868 he was elected to represent the Fifth Congressional District of Tennessee in the Forty-first Congress of the United States of America, without any solicitation on his part.  Since then he never would accept any public office.  He was married, in 1840, to Mary Catharine Davidson, daughter of James Davidson, one of the early citizens of the county.  Mrs. Tillman's mother is still living, aged eighty-two years.  Mrs. Tillman was born March 1, 1823.  Col. Tillman's married life was blessed in the birth of eleven children, seven of whom are now living, viz.:  James D., a prominent attorney at Fayetteville; Lewis, a prominent attorney of Knoxville; Samuel E., professor of chemistry, mineralogy and geology in the West Point Academy, of New York; George N., United States marshal of the Middle District of Tennessee; Hattie A., residing with her mother; Edwin H., in the United States Naval service on the coast of Japan, and Abram M., a law student and clerk in the Internal Revenue Department at Washington, D. C.  Col. Lewis Tillman's private and public career was one of unimpeached integrity, undismayed energy and unsurpassed hospitality.  The poor, especially, received bountifully from his hand, and no charitable institution went unaided by him.
 

JOHN C. TROXLER was born January 5, 1840, in Tennessee.  His parents, Anthony and Sarah (Cortner) Troxler, were born in North Carolina in 1802 and 1810, respectively.  The father came to Tennessee about 1817, and died in 1843.  The mother's death occurred in 1886.  Our subject has followed farming from early boyhood.   In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service and remained until 1863, when he was captured while making a visit home, was paroled, and never returned to the service.  He was constable of his district two years, and served as deputy sheriff one year.  In 1866 Mr. Troxler was married to Mrs. Margaret A., widow of Gilbreth Chambers.  She was born in Tennessee in 1848.  Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Troxler, named George R., born in 1867; William T., born in 1870; Nancy D., born in 1872; Sarah, born in 1874; John A., born in 1876; Daniel M., born in 1878; Edward, born in 1880; Polly, born in 1882, and Ambrose, born in 1884.  In March, 1876, Mr. Troxler was elected justice of the peace in his district and has held the office up to the present time.  He owns 126 acres of land, and is a member of the K. of H.  He and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he is a Democrat politically.
 

MICAGER TROXLER is a native Tennesseean, born January 25, 1839, and is residing in the home of his birth, where he owns 110 acres of good land.  In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army under Bushrod Johnson and served until December, 1863, when he was taken sick and captured.  He was paroled and sent home but never returned to service.  November 20, 1860, he married Mary A. Shofner, who was born December 3, 1842.  She was a daughter of Frederick and Mary (McKaig) Shofner, and died April 11, 1864.  Mr. Troxler then wedded, in 1865, his second wife, Mary A. Dean, a daughter of John and Sarah (Shofner) Troxler, who were born in 1791 and 1796 and died in 1871 and 1869, respectively.  Mrs. Troxler was born October 20, 1838.  Our subject is a member of the K. of H., and is also a member of Freemason lodge No. 308.  He and Mrs. Troxler are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and he is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles.  His parents, Isaac and Elizabeth (Payne) Troxler, were born in North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, in 1803.  The father was brought to Tennessee by his parents in 1810, and November 2, 1825, he wedded our subject's mother and became the father of ten children.  His death occurred March 15, 1866, and the mother's June 20, 1848.
 

KESTER L. TUNE, farmer, of Bedford County, Tenn., was born in this State December 6, 1829.  His parents, John and Mary (Cooper) Tune, were born in Virginia and Tennessee in 1791 and 1797, respectively.  They were married September 12, 1816, and fifteen children were born to their union.  The mother died in August, 1853, and the father in 1881.  After attaining his majority our subject began the battle of life on his own responsibility, and by industry and economy became the possessor of 465 acres of well cultivated and fertile land.  He gives considerable attention to stock trading also.  September 1, 1858, he was united in marriage to M. C. Wells, born May 8, 1838, and died January 13, 1862, having borne two children:  Joseph E., born April 27, 1860, and died November 1, 1861, and Susan E., born October 13, 1861.  For his second wife Mr. Tune married Eliza J. Landers, born October 19, 1835.  They have three children:  Thomas O., born December 29, 1865; John C., born November 14, 1868; and William S., born March 28,  1872.  Mrs. Tune's parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Thomas) Landers, who were born in North Carolina and Tennessee in 1812 and 1814, respectively.  They were married December 20, 1834, and became the parents of twelve children -- eight daughters and four sons.  The father died May 5, 1879.  Mr. Tune's first wife was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  His present wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.  Mr. Tune was a Whig until the death of that party; and since that time has been identified with the Republican party.
 

WILLIAM T. TUNE (deceased) was a son of John Tune, one of the first settlers of Bedford County, Tenn.  He was born in 1818, in Smith County, and was reared on a farm.  He was married, in 1844, to Miss C. E. Morton, and thirteen children were born to them:  Mary A., James C., Mattie J., Eliza F., Sallie., Charles W., Emma S., John M., Will R., Thomas C., Louis T., Horace G., and Bettie E.  Mr. Tune was a farmer of Bedford County for many years.  He died March 5, 1871.  Mrs. Tune is still living at her residence, "Cottage Home," and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  William R. Tune, fourth son of William T. Tune, was born October 12, 1860, and spent his boy- hood days on a farm.  He finished his education in the schools of Shelbyville, and then took a traveling tour over the greater part of the United States.  At present he is living with his mother and he is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
 

JAMES L. TURNER was born July 8, 1823, in Sussex County, Va., son of Littlebury and Mary (Winn) Turner.  The father was born April 28, 1788, and died June 18, 1869.  The mother was born September 28, 1787, and died February 25, 1879.  Our subject's educational advantages were not of the best, but, notwithstanding, he is considered a fine mathematician, and has acquired the major part of his education without a teacher.  At the age of twenty-one he engaged in the farming interest with his father, and so continued until about 1851.  Previous to this, in 1848, he was elected to the office of constable, which position he held for about eleven years.  In 1850 he wedded Margaret N. Murphy, who was born August 12, 1830, and to them were born nine children:  Sarah J., James W., William F., Margaret F., Elizabeth A., Nancy F., Tennessee M. (deceased), Joseph H. and Lavinia.  Mr. Turner was elected to the office of deputy sheriff in 1858, and held that office one term, and again in 1868 he was deputized to fill the same office.  In 1876 be was elected magistrate of the Eleventh District, and has held that office up to the present time.  He has also carried on his farming interest, and has been quite successful in that occupation.  He is a Republican in politics.
 

FELIX TURRENTINE is a Tennesseean, born May 12, 1811, son of James Turrentine, who was born In Virginia In 1773.  The father came to Tennessee in 1807.  His wife, Eleanor Neily, was born in North Carolina.  Our subject has always been a farmer. May 12, 1842 he married Martha Ann Orr, who was born January 26, 1822.  To them were born seven children, all of whom are dead except David A. and Eleanor F.  Mrs. Turrentine died February 1, 1882.  Mr. Turrentine was an old-line Whig, but since the war has been a Democrat.  His son, David A. Turrrentine, was born February 14, 1847.  Up to June, 1880, he was a farmer.  Since that time he has been engaged in the merchandise business at Hall's Mills.  February 24, 1875, he married Mollie F. Shearin, who was born October 21, 1851.  To them were born four children:  Alice R:, Sallie A., Lucy J. and Felix.  Mr. Turrentine has been prosperous in his business enterprises.  He is a Democrat, and was elected to the office of constable in 1878, and served about ten months.  He has also been a delegate to the Democratic Convention from his State several times.  William H. Stephens, partner in the merchandise business with David A. Turrentine, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., February 24, 1840.  He was reared on a farm, and when twenty-one years of age entered the Confederate Army, enlisting, in Company G, Forty-fourth Tennessee Infantry, and participate in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and others.  He served throughout the war and was not wounded.  After his return he engaged in farming and has followed that occupation to the present time.  In connection with this he has been in the merchandise business since 1880.  In February, 1886, he was married to Martha Ray, born February 8, 1838.  They are the parents of Robert H., Etta, Thomas and Pearlie Lee. Mr. Stephens and Mr. Turrentine are doing a good business in the mercantile line. Mr. Stephens is a very firm Democrat in politics.