GEORGE M. PARK is one of six children and was born February 9, 1844, in Marshall County, Tenn.  His parents, Hill and Nancy (Hayes) Park, were born in Tennessee and after marriage settled on a farm in Marshall County, where they are spending their declining years.  Hill Park is a democrat.  George M. was educated in the common schools, and at the breaking out of the war between the North and South he enlisted with the Southern cause in Company H, Forty-first Tennessee Infantry.  He was captured at the fall of Fort Donelson and was imprisoned at Camp Morton, Ind., and Chicago, and was exchanged at Vicksburg and immediately re-enlisted in the service, but was again taken prisoner, at Jonesboro, Ga., and held until the close of the war.  During his four years’ service he was only twice wounded, once at Chickamauga and once at Jonesboro.  By his energy and good management he has become the owner of 150 acres of land, where he now lives.  He was married, in 1867, to Mary J. Alexander, by whom he is the father of eight children-six sons and two daughters.

MOSES PARK, an early settler of Marshall County, Tenn., is a son of Moses and Mary (Wier) Park, who were born in North Carolina, the father in 1780 and the mother in 1779. They came to Tennessee in 1804 and located in Williamson County first and Marshall County about 1812. They were the parents of eight children and members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The father was an old-line Democrat and a hatter by trade, but the greater part of his time was spent in agricultural pursuits. The mother died in 1859 and he in 1864. Moses, our subject, inherits Irish blood from his mother; he was born in the county March 16, 1818, and his days have been passed as a tiller of the soil. He attended the common schools, and while in his "teens" learned the cabinet-maker's trade. He worked in Missouri for some time, and then returned and worked at his trade until his shop was consumed by fire, and then engaged in farming. Eight children were born to his marriage with Mary A. Davis, which occurred in 1842. His son, Jerome, died from exposure at Fort Donelson. Mr. Park is a Democrat, and by hard work and good management has become the owner of 800 acres of good farming land. He has also been quite extensively engaged in raising fine stock.

HON. JAMES M. PATTERSON, M. D., a leading physician of Marshall County, is a son of James and Mary (Reed) Patterson, born in South and North Carolina in 1794 and 1791, respectively.  They were brought to this State when children, and after reaching years of maturity were married in 1818, and became the parents of nine children.  They resided in Maury County until 1833, and then came to Marshall County, where the father carried on farming and stock raising  on a rather extensive plan.  The father was a Whig, and served as magistrate many years.  He died in 1875, and his wife the year previous.  James M. Patterson was born in Maury County, January 8, 1829, and secured a good early education.  At the age of twenty-four he began the study of medicine under Dr. S. J. Rice, and about two years later entered the medical department of the University of Nashville, from which he graduated in 1858, among the first in his class.  He began practicing in Maury County, and during the war was part of the time engaged as physician and surgeon.  In 1860 he married Margaret S. Hardison, who was born November 10, 1836, and ten children were born to their union.  Dr. Patterson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and his wife of the Christian Church.  He was a Whig previous to the war, but has since been a Democrat.  In 1870 he represented Bedford and Marshall Counties in the State Senate, and filled that position very ably.  He came to Marshall County in 1864, where he has followed his profession, and also farmed for twenty-two years.

DR. THOMAS J. PATTERSON’S birth occurred June 13, 1828, in Marshall County, Tenn., on the farm where he now resides.  He followed the plow in his youthful days, and received an academical education.  He began the study of medicine under Dr. M. H. Scales after attaining his twenty-first birthday, and after reading about two years entered the medical department of the University of Louisville, from which he graduated in 1851.  He entered upon his practice in Maury County, and after two years moved to Marshall County, where he has since lived.  In 1856 he married Louisa H. Hardin, born December 29, 1832 in Maury County, and educated at Columbia, and eight children blessed their union.  He acted as assistant surgeon for about eighteen months during the late war, and since that time has been a Democrat in politics.  He is also a Mason, and the owner of 418 acres of land, well stocked.  He devotes the most of his time to farming , but still practices among his old patrons.  His parents, John and Sarah (Wilson) Patterson, were born in the Palmetto State. The father moved to Kentucky when young, and finally to Marshall County, Tenn., in 1820, where he was married about five years later.  The mother died in 1830, leaving two children, and the father wedded Sarah Lavender, who bore him four children, two daughters living.  The father was an extensive farmer of his day, and is now in his eighty-fourth year.  Our subject's wife is a daughter of Pleasant and Tabitha (Gentry) Hardin, born and married in North Carolina.  They moved to Maury County, Tenn., at an early day, and became the parents of six children, all girls.  The father died while in the prime of life, and after his death the mother and her daughters managed the farm.  She died in 1873.

DAVID B. PHILLIPS is a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., born February 11, 1842, and after having passed his youth on his father's farm, obtaining a common school education, he, in 1861, enlisted in Capt. Walker's company of Third Tennessee Infantry.  During four years’ service he was in over fifty battles and skirmishes, but was not wounded during his entire service.  He was one of the defenders of Fort Donelson, and after being captured there was imprisoned at Chicago.  Having bribed a guard with $5, he made his escape and rejoined his command at Granada, Miss.  After the close of the war he engaged in farming, and in 1866 was united in marriage to Nancy V. Gordon, by whom he had two children, only Hallie now living.  He owns ninety-four acres of land in the most fertile portion of Marshall County, Tenn., and is considered one of its prosperous farmers.  His parents, John H. and Elizabeth H. (Parham) Phillips, were born in Montgomery County, in 1828, and there resided until 1852, when they came to Marshall County.  They became the parents of three children and were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  The father was a Whig, but later became a Democrat.  He followed blacksmithing and farming and continued the latter occupation until his death in 1876.  The mother has since resided with her children.

DAVID B. PICKENS, farmer, is a son of William H. and Hannah (Moore) Pickens.  The father was born in South Carolina, in 1792, and when young came with his parents and settled on the farm where David now lives.  The mother was a native of Kentucky, born in 1795.  They were both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he was a Democrat in politics.  He died in 1872 and after his death the mother lived on the old homestead until 1882, when she too passed from life.  She had been blind for nearly twenty years.  Our subject was born August 9, 1816, on the farm where he now lives; while growing up he received a very limited education, and at the age of twenty-three he began working for himself.  In 1842 he led to the altar Mary A. Meador, a native of Williamson County, born August 14, 1824, and nine children blessed this union; all with the exception of two are married and settled in visiting distance of home.  Mrs. Pickens is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Pickens is a Democrat and one of the most successful farmers of this county.  For seventy years he has been a respected and honored resident of what is now, Marshall County.

JOHN N. PORTER, the youngest son of Thomas N. and Mary F. (Hardin) Porter was born in what is now Marshall County, Tenn., September 24, 1847.  While a youth his opportunities for obtaining a schooling were exceedingly limited, owing to the breaking out of the war.  At the age of sixteen he volunteered in Company C, Ninth Battalion of Cavalry, and was perhaps the youngest soldier that went out from Maury County.  During eight months’ service he was neither  wounded nor captured.  After the war he rented land for about four years and then purchased a farm of his own, which now consists of 454 acres.  Mary R. Rucker became his wife in 1868.  She was born June 13, 1851, in Hickman County.  Their children's names are as follows:  M. Frances, Melville E., James R., Emma P., Lucy A., Thomas H., John A., Hardin Q., and Tabitha G.  Both husband and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Porter is a Democrat.

THOMAS M. PORTER is a farmer and native of Marshall County, Tenn., born December 8, 1845.  He attended school and assisted his parents on the farm, and in the latter part of the war, although only eighteen years of age, volunteered in Company A, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and although in many severe engagements, was not wounded or captured.  Since the war he has made agriculture his chief business and is the owner of a well stocked farm of 225 acres.  He is a son of Thomas N and Mary F. (Hardin) Porter, who were born in Rutherford and Williamson Counties, Tenn., in 1820 and 1827, respectively.  They were married in Maury County, but the greater part of their days were spent in what is now Marshall County.  They became the parents of two sons-our subject and John N.  The father was a Whig and died in the prime of life.  His widow returned to Maury County and married E. H. McLean, by whom she had seven children.  After his death she married William Reagen, who also died.  She is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is fifty-nine years of age.

WILLIAM N. PYLAND, farmer, is a son of Hardin and Nancy (O’Neal) Pyland.  The father was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., in 1813, and  the mother in Marshall County, Tenn., about 1826.  The father was a blacksmith by trade till the breaking out of the war, after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits.  Both are members  of the Missionary Baptist Church and both are still living.  Our subject was born March 15, 1842, and received his education in the common schools.  He inherited English blood from his father and Irish from his mother.  At the age of nineteen he volunteered in Company D, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and remained in service nearly four years.  He returned home and engaged in the free and independent life of a farmer.  In 1867 he wedded Elizabeth Bills, a native of Marshall County, born August 29, 1848, and the fruits of this union were an interesting family of five children.  Mr. Pyland is a stanch Democrat and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.  Mr. Pyland has been quite successful in agricultural pursuits, owning at the present time 233 acres of good land.  For thirty-four years he has been a resident of this county and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

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