William Read Duffy, a resident of the First District of Sumner County, engaged in stock raising and farming, is a son of Michael and Cornelia (Read) Duffy, and was born in what is now Trousdale County, in 1849, being one of five children, three living: William R., Hon. Hugh C., living near Cynthiana, Ky., and Micha Ella. The father was a native of Ireland, and came with his father, Charles Duffy, to the United States when about six years old. They located in Sumner County where he was raised, and he commenced life as a merchant and general trader at Hartville with his brother, Pat Duffy, the firm being M. & P. Duffy, and they continued the business for many years. Our subject's father was a man of good business capacity, and at one time represented his county in the Legislature, and at the time of his death was tax collector. He died at Castalian Springs, in 1858. The mother was born in what is now Trousdale County in 1819, and was a daughter of Capt. William and Polly (Bledsoe) Read, and is still living near Hendersonville, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. She was married in 1860,to George W. Terry. Our subject was raised by his mother, but, during the war, was with his uncle, Frank Rogan, and was educated at the neighboring schools, finishing at Rural Academy. He commenced farming on his own responsibility when only seventeen years of age, and has since successfully continued, with the exception of a few years -- 1876 to 1879 -- spent in Texas and other Western States. Mr. Duffy owns 216 acres of a farm of 336 acres six and a half miles east of Gallatin, and it is one of the best farms in that section. He has been quite extensively engaged in stock raising in connection with his farming, and had met with success. Mr. Duffy's first presidential vote was cast in 1872 for H. Greeley. He is a most worthy citizen of Sumner County.