J. C. McCollum, prominent citizen and successful farmer of the Twenty-first District, was born in South Carolina in 1828, received his education in the schools near home, and in 1852 married Mary E. Chements, a native of South Carolina, born in 1839, and the daughter of Calvin and Cynthia Chements. Mrs. McCollum died August, 1871, leaving a family of seven children: A. C. H., D. A., R. G., Lucus B. (Mrs. J. M. Roberts), M. I. (Mrs. Dr. G. W. McKinney), C. C. (Mrs. W. R. Crossett) and M. L. D. Mr. McCollum lives at the old home place where his father settled in 1839. He owns 300 acres of. very desirable land quite well improved, and one and a half miles south of Atwood.
In 1873 Mr. McCollum married M. C. Giles, a native of Carroll County, Tenn., born January 10, 1842, and died April 6, 1885, leaving five children: Hugh L. W., C. C., S. F., E. C. and Jo. Our subject has given his children the advantages of a good English education, and has always been one to aid and support all laudable public enterprises. He is a Democrat in politics—was formerly a member of the Whig party—a Mason and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His parents, Aaron and Sarah (White) McCollum, were both natives of South Carolina, born in 1778 and 1788, respectively.. The father was married and reared his family in his native State. In 1839 he came to Carroll County, and engaged in farming. He died here in 1853. The mother died in 1865.
Transcribed by David Donahue
Source: History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Carroll, Henry and Benton Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Original Observations, Reminiscences, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978.