John J. Burrow, farmer and one of the pioneer settlers of Carroll County, was born in North Carolina, November 22, 1806, and is one of a family of eight children. The father, Banks M. Burrow, was born in North Carolina, January 4, 1781, was reared and married in his native State, and then moved to Georgia, where he remained until 1812; at that time he came to Tennessee, located in Bedford County, and in 1821 emigrated from there to Carroll County. He came to this county at a very early date, even before the county was organized, and engaged in farming. He was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was magistrate and a trustee of the county for a number of years; he died in 1851. The mother, Mary (Blanchard) Burrow, was born in Gates County, N.C., in 1786 and died in 1856.
Our subject was reared at home, and received most of his education in Bedford County, at the district schools, but afterward completed his education at the University of Nashville. In 1832 he married Eliza Snell, a native of Rutherford County, born in November, 1808, and the daughter of Roger Snell. By this union were born two children; George H., who died February 4, 1880, and Harriett E. (Mrs. J. W. McKelvy). After marriage Mr. Burrow located near McLemoresville, and remained there until 1845, when he moved to the place where he is now residing. He is a Democrat in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years, and he and Mrs. Burrow are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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.