W. H. Magness, Jr., merchant, was born in De Kalb County May 15, 1856, the son of Rev. Perry G. and Martha J. (Webb) Magness, both of Irish origin, and natives of what is now De Kalb County. The father was born in 1826 and died in De Kalb County September 29,1877. The mother, born in 1831, is still living in Warren County. The father’s ancestors came from North Carolina. He was a prominent Primitive Baptist minister, and was county clerk of De Kalb eight years atter the war. Receiving a liberal education at Water’s & Walling’s College, McMinnville, in 1876 he established a general store at Magness’ Mills in De Kalb County. In 1880 he came to Sparta and has since been in the merchandise business. January 31, 1878, he married Florence Crowder, who was born in White County March 20, 1859. Three children were born to them — one son and two daughters. He is a Democrat politically, and is a member of the church to which his wife belongs, the Primitive Baptist.

Source:   Goodspeed Pub. Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of the Counties of White, Warren, Coffee, DeKalb, and Cannon, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Original Observations, Reminiscences, Etc., Etc. Nashville: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1887.