HON. THOMAS B. HARWELL, a retired physician of Giles County, is the son of Gilham and Annie Harwell, natives of Virginia, who immigrated to Tennessee when quite small. They were married in 1820, and this union resulted in the birth of seven children: Sarah E., Thomas B., Samuel G., Annie W., Alfred F., Mary A. and William G. The father died in 1838, and the mother is still living. Our subject received his education in the Wurtenburg Academy, at Pulaski. In 1844 he commenced the study of medicine with I. J. Pepperson, of the above town, and in the fall of 1844 entered the Louisville Medical College, and attended one course of lectures. In 1850 he commenced the practice of medicine, and was engaged in this profession until 1867. He then abandoned his practice, and has since been devoting all his time to agricultural pursuits on the farm where he now resides. He has 600 acres of excellent land, all well improved, which is six miles south of Pulaski, near Harwell’s Station. He has been a rather successful man in all his undertakings, and is regarded as a prosperous and industrious farmer. In 1875 he was elected to the Legislature from Giles County, and was re-elected to the same in 1879, representing Giles and Lincoln Counties. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the F & A. M. fraternity, and is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He has also taken an active part in educational affairs of Tennessee, and is one of Giles County’s leading citizens.

Source: Goodspeed’s History of Giles County, 1886