City: Knoxville
PARHAM, William Thomas, woolen manufacturer; born Knoxville, Tenn., Feb. 5, 1833; English and Scotch-Irish descent; son of Edwin Nelson and Mary Ellen (Dunn) PARHAM; father’s occupation, harness maker, general dry goods merchant; paternal grandparents, Edmund and Mary (Bearden) PARHAM, maternal grandparents, Thomas and Ellen (Chambers) Dunn; born in poverty, and had to go to work early at harness trade, peddled product of the harness shop throughout each county in East Tennessee, until 1854, clerked in father’s store until 1861; began business for self in Knoxville, Tenn., after the civil war; moved to Maryville, Tenn., and engaged in woolen mill business until 1900, when he removed to Knoxville, Tenn.; married twice, first Mary Jane Susan SNODDY June 22, 1858, second, N. Marinda RUTHERFORD, Oct. 9, 1884; member of Sons of Temperance, Masons, served in all offices of subordinate lodge, Representative to Grand Lodge; former Mayor Maryville, Tenn., also Alderman of same; former Justice of the Peace in Blount Co., Tenn.; member of M. E, Church.
