The Head family has been prominent in Sumner County for several generations. The original founder of the Tennessee branch of the family was Henry Head, who was born in Albermarle County, Virginia in 1770. His mother descended from the same family as Chief Justice John Marshall of the Supreme Court of the United States. He married Elizabeth Sanford and removed to Sumner County about 1812 and settled near Cairo. A few years later he bought a farm near Bledsoe's Lick, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1853. His wife, who was of Scotch descent, was also born in Albermarle County, in 1777, and died in Sumner County in 1873. They had twelve children, ten sons and two daughters. John W., the youngest of the twelve, was born in 1821. He studied law and became one of the most prominent members of the Gallatin bar, noted at that time for its men of talent. In 1858 he was elected Attorney General and Reporter, and served until the breaking out of the Civil War. He published three volumes of "Heads Report." In 1873 he was a member of the Court of Arbitration. In October, 1874, he was elected a member of Congress, and died one week after his election, October 10, 1874. Mr. Head married in 1822, Evaline Brooks of Smith County. She survived him many years. Their sons, Charles R. and Lee Head, both became prominent lawyers. Charles R. married first Sophia Childress of Nashville, who died in 1870, leaving a daughter, Adrian C. In 1874 Mr. Head married again. Alice Burford, a native of Smith County, born in 1849. They had six children: John W., David, Lee, Elizabeth, Allen and Alice. Lee was born in 1849; he received a classical education, studied law and practiced in Gallatin. In 1873 he was elected a member of the Legislature and re-elected in 1875. In 1878 he was elected Judge of the Sumner County Court, which position he held for a number of years. In 1881 he married Nannie Gillespie, a native of Sumner County, daughter of R.G. Gillespie. To them were born two children, Graham and Charles. R.

Dr. James M. Head Sr., was the eleventh of the twelve children of Henry and Elizabeth Head. He received his education at old Rural Academy at Bledsoe's Lick, then studied medicine with Dr. Sharpe; then took a course in Transylvania Medical College at Lexington Ky. In 1841 he married Berthenia P. Branham, who was born in 1825 and died in 1885. Eight children were born to them, of whom two died in infancy. Milton E. married Elizabeth Yager in 1868. Florence married Dr. J. L. Vertrees in 1869. Dr. John B. married Virginia Perkins in 1871. James M. married Minnie Cherry of Nashville, in which city he has since had his home, and of which he served two terms as Mayor. Alice married a Mr. Simpson. Lucy, the eldest, married Matthew Johnson of Sumner County. Penelope, the youngest, married William A. Lauderdale of Sumner County. Clara married J.Y. Robb of the same county, and who was Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court for many years. To them was born five children: William S. Robb of Gallatin; Joseph who died in infancy; Nellie, who married Dr. B.P. Gilbert of Louisville, now of Nashville; and Bessie, who married Dr. A.H. Holder of Gallatin. Lucy, the youngest daughter of William and Penelope Lauderdale, married Dr. Thomas Kennedy of Louisville, who at the time of their marriage was practicing medicine at Castalian Springs. Of the other members of the Head family no record has been obtained. Dr. Head entered the Confederate army in 1861 as surgeon of the Thirtieth Tennessee and served two years.