James Darnall, farmer and stock raiser of the Second District of Sumner County, is a son of John S. and Elizabeth (Dassy) Darnall, and was born in Sumner County in 1827, being one of nine children, seven living. The father was born in Maryland in 1784; was raised in that State and married there in 1809, moving to Sumner County in 1819, and continued farming in that county until his death in 1852. He was a volunteer in the war of 1812. The mother was also a native of Maryland, born about 1782, and died in 1854. Our subject had limited educational advantages. October 19, 1854, he married Miss Amelia T., daughter of James and Jane Hamilton, both natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Darnall was born in Sumner County in 1836, and they had ten children, four sons and two daughters living: Ida, Taylor, Robert Lee, Ernest, Effie and William T. Mr. Darnall has been living on his present farm since 1859. He owns 205 acres of very productive land, pleasantly located three and one-half miles southeast of Gallatin. He has been a man of frugal and industrious habits. In politics [he] has been a life-long Democrat; his first presidential vote was cast for Gen. Cass in 1848. Mrs. Darnall is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.