James House, banker and merchant of Gallatin, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., in 1832, a son of James, Sr., and Ann (Baker) House. The father was born in 1795 in Burtee County, N.C. When sixteen years old he came with his father, mother and six brothers to Sumner County, locating in the Third District, near Pilot Knob. He learned the tailor's trade, but after his marriage, in 1829, he began farming. He settled on a hundred-acre tract of land, two miles north of Gallatin, which was given him by his father-in-law, Isaac Baker. Mr. House was one of the most successful agriculturalists in the county, and became possessor of 500 acres and considerable wealth. His first wife, and mother of our subject, was a native of South Carolina. She died in 1834. Three children were the fruits of this union. The second wife was Nancy Crenshaw, who bore him seven children. Her death occurred in 1856. Mr. House departed this life March 4, 1866. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common and high schools of Gallatin. In 1849 he became an apprentice to the tinner's trade, at which he worked three and a half years. He then went to Murfreesboro, going into the stove and tin business with F. G. Mackey. Sixteen months later he sold his interest and returned to Gallatin and established a grocery store, continuing in that line two years. In 1858 he again engaged in his regular trade, to which he has almost exclusively given his attention. With the exception of Messrs. Jo. Natcher and J. Nickelson, our subject is the oldest continuous businessman in Gallatin. In 1860 he married Miss Eunice R., daughter of Rev. Luke P. Allen. Mr. House is a native of Sumner County and father of Emma L., wife of Robert G. Connell; James B.; William H.; Annie; Ernest B.; L. Allen; Walter T. and Rufus M. In 1862 our subject enlisted in Company D, Duke's regiment, Morgan's command, and was assistant forage-master, a position of the time. He participated in the battles of Woodbury, Bradyville and Chickamauga; was in the Kentucky raid in 1862 and in the Kentucky and Ohio raid in July, 1863. He, with a company of men under Capt. Davis, was at Bardstown, detached from the main command to make a demonstration on the Louisville & Lexington Railroad. While Morgan was crossing the Ohio River at Brandensburg nearly the entire detachment was captured on Twelve-Mile Island, twelve miles above Louisville. He made his escape back into Kentucky, thence out to the Confederate lines with a few comrades, traveling in the night and lying by in the woods during the day. January, 1864, he returned home on account of feeble health. In 1884 he was elected president of the Gallatin Bank. He is a life-long Democrat, an old member of the I.O.O.F. and K. of P. He and his wife have been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church South since 1865. Mr. House has been a church officer since 1866. He is a thorough gentleman and a worthy, esteemed citizen.