James Martin Moody was born in Dickson, County, Tenn., June 8, 1845. He is the son of William and Charity E. (Gardner) Moody. The father was born in Cheatham County, now Robertson, February 14, 1818, and was a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical College, and practiced his profession in Dickson County for over forty years, and died September 12, 1885. The mother was born in Sumner County, Tenn., November 25, 1826, and is still living, making her home with her son, Oscar N., at Gillem, Tenn. Our subject entered the Confederate Army at the age of seventeen, joining the Tenth Tennessee Calvary in Company E., and participated in a number of engagements. Ill health compelled him to leave the army in 1864, and returning home he entered his father’s store at Gillem and remained there about three years, when he went to Texas and engaged at saw-milling. Two years later he returned to Tennessee. He was married to Maggie Blanks, of Dickson County, December 22, 1869, and to them have been born seven children: Florence, Claudie Lee, William Augustus, Elma, Alexander, Eugenia, Gulnah, Benjamin Franklin and Walker Edwards. After his marriage he engaged in farming, which he has successfully followed up to the present time. He was elected magistrate of the First District in 1874, and served three years when he resigned. At present he is acting as agent of the Tennessee & Chicago Land Company. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a Democrat.