THOMAS A. WHITE, farmer, was born May 15, 1819, and is one of seven children born to the union of Thomas and Margaret (McGarrah) White. The father was born in Jefferson County, Va., in 1780, immigrated to Tennessee and settled in Maury County. He remained there until 1825 when he moved to Shelbyville and followed the hatter trade. He also kept hotel in Shelbyville several years. In 1801 he was married and became the father of these children:James R., Joseph, Elizabeth, Nancy, John, Susan and Thomas A. Thomas White, Sr., and wife were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The former died in 1846 and the latter in 1850.
The subject of this sketch was born in Columbia, Tenn., and is of Scotch-Irish descent. He received a limited education in the Bedford County Schools, and in 1841 was married to Miss Ary A. Williams, a native of this county. Five children blessed this union: Mary, Robert, Isaac H., Margaret and Julia. Three of these have died: Robert, Margaret and Julia. Mrs. White died in 1853, and in the same year Mr. White married Margaret Dryden, of Bedford County and to this union were born nine children: Ary (deceased), Julia, Lula, Thomas C., William D., James L., Anna, Walter C. and Susan. Mr. White was a tailor for twenty years of his life but in 1853 turned his attention exclusively to farming. He owns 200 acres of land, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.