Thomas F. Burroughs, a prominent citizen of McMinnville, is a native of Tennessee; was born in what was then Franklin County, but is now Coffee County, November 25, 1831, the eighth of ten children born to Dr. Peter and Elizabeth P. (Atkinson) Burroughs, both natives of Amherst County, Va., where they were married November 26, 1816, and in 1825 they immigrated to Tennessee and settled in what was then Franklin County, where they spent the remainder of their days. The father was born April 11, 1796; he served in the war of 1812, a volunteer at the age of sixteen years; was a practicing physician and made life a fair success. He was a Whig in politics and died in 1840 in Coffee County. The mother died in the same county in 1837.

Thomas F. secured a good education and after its completion was for seven years engaged in the mercantile business at Livingston, Overton County.  In 1859 he moved to Increase, Warren County, and here he established a store of general merchandise in connection with farming. In 1870 Mr. Burroughs came to McMinnville and opened a grocery and hardware store and continued in this until 1881. In the meantime in 1875, in partnership with Charles Ohlenmacher, he established a spoke and handle factory at McMinnville and later another partner, J. E. Hughes, was added to the firm, but in August, 1881, Mr. Burroughs became sole owner of the factory, which is valued at $45,000, and is now running it with good success. He also owns a fine house and lot in McMinnville. November 5, 1857, he married Miss Nancy A. Smallman, a native of Warren County, born June 27, 1838. To this union have been born three children: John S., born September 16, 1858; James M., born August 14, 1862, and Mattie E., born January 12, 1865. Mr. Burroughs is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South for about twenty-two years and a steward in the church for the last twelve years. Mrs. Burroughs is a member of the same church.