F. M. Vance was born on the 27th of September, 1847, in Obion county, Tenn. The father was born in one of the eastern Southern States, and at an early day moved to Tennessee and here died in 1859. The mother is still living in the county. F. M. Vance is of German-Irish descent. He worked on the home place, to support his mother until he was twenty years of age; when he began tilling the soil for himself, and has very successfully continued up to the present time. In connection with his business, he has been engaged in the manufacture of spokes, since 1883, and has made this business quite a success. In September, 1868, he was engaged to Rosa Lee Osburn, daughter of Silas and Malinda Osburn. This union has resulted in the birth of two children: Malinda Jane and Vidia Viola. Mr. Vance is one of the prominent citizens of his section of the country, and has accumulated his property by dint of hard labor and perseverance. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Democratic party.

Everitt H. Verhine was born in Stewart County, Tenn., February 6, 1816; the eldest of eight children of John W. And Elender (Howell) Verhine, and is of German descent. John W. Verhine was born in North Carolina, about 1791, and there was reared and married. He soon came to Stewart County, Tenn., and later moved to Obion County, where he settled permanently. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died at his home, near Union City, August 7, 1846. His wife was born in North Carolina, about 1797, and died at her daughter’s (Mrs. W. A. Edwards) home in Obion County, Tenn., in 1873. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and has been a tiller of the soil, from boyhood. He has a good farm of 150 acres, on which he raises cotton, grain, tobacco and stock. He donated sufficient ground for a cemetery in which lies buried a Revolutionary soldier, by the name of Davis, who died at the age of 106 years. Mr. Verhine has been twice married, his first wife being Rebecca Carter, whom he married April 9, 1839. To them were born ten children: Ellen J., John P., James W., Samuel D., Augustus, William W., Everitt H., Henry H., Missouri B. And Susan C.   Mrs. Verhine was born in North Carolina, in 1820, and died January 2, 1864. Mr. Verhine was married the second time, to Martha P. Gwinn, March 8, 1865. They have four children: Robert C., Emma, Alvin and Luther. Mr. and Mrs. Verhine are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church south. He is a Democrat, and was a Union man during the war. His wife was born in North Carolina, January 25, 1841.

Christopher S. Voorheis was born in Pulaski, Giles Co., Tenn., August 8, 1847, the ninth of ten children born to Jacob and Margaret (Farrar) Voorheis. The father was born in New Jersey in 1794, and was educated in Princeton College. He was married in New Hampshire to Charlotte Cossett, sister of Rev. Fransway Cossett. After living for a short time in North Carolina, Mr. Voorheis came to Tennessee, and settled on the Cumberland River below Nashville. Here his wife died. November 21, 1826, he wedded Margaret Farrar, daughter of  Field Farrar, who served as county court clerk the greater portion of his life. Mr. Voorheis spent eighteen months in Mexico for his health, and after returning to Tennessee began merchandising at Charlotte. He represented his district in the State Legislature two terms. From 1846 until 1854 he resided in Pulaski, Tenn., after that in Obion County, Tenn. He went to Holly Springs, Miss., at the breaking out of the war, and there died March 26, 1862. His wife was born in Charlotte, Tenn., January 10, 1812, and is still living near the old homestead, revered by her family and respected by her friends. Christopher Voorheis received a common school education, and has made farming his chief business through life, and owns 181 acres of fertile land. September 11, 1871, he wedded Annie W. Jones, daughter of B. F. Jones, a prominent farmer of the county. They have six children: Koert, Geneive, Maney Bell, Jacob, Annie Lou and Maggie Prince.  Mrs. Voorheis was born in Murphreesboro, Tenn, February 8, 1852. She and her husband are members of the Baptist church, and he is conservative in politics.