My Genealogy Hound

Thomas A. McCall, a prominent citizen and farmer of the Thirteenth District, was born four miles southeast of Rome, August 25, 1841. The youngest and only living of two children born to Dr. John and Mary T. (Allen) McCall. The father was of Irish descent; born in North Carolina on November 6, 1803, a son of Alex. McCall, who was a native of Ireland, and immigrated to America when a young man, soon locating in Stokes County, N. C. He was married to Mary Armstrong about 1803. He moved to Tennessee. After spending some time in Jackson, Sumner, Davidson and Wilson Counties, he finally settled in Lincoln County, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1833. Four of his sons were prosperous and able physicians. Dr. John was raised in Smith County; educated in the common schools. He graduated in medicine at the Transylvania University in 1829, at Lexington, Ky., and immediately began to practice in Rome and that vicinity. For thirty years he was one of the most successful practitioners of the county. He was a man of intellect, literary accomplishments and keen judgment. He was a close observer and accurate reader of human nature. He died in 1884, on his farm near Rome. His wife was born in Trousdale County near Dixon Springs, February 23, 1818, and died in 1842, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and her husband of the Christian. Our subject was raised by his grandmother McCall, receiving his literary education at Rome, Franklin College, and Lebanon, completing his course at Bethany College, Va. In 1868-69, he attended the law department of the Cumberland University at Lebanon, but did not enter upon the practice of his profession. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fourth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate Army. He took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Drewry’s Bluff, Va., and numerous severe skirmishes. He was captured at Perryville and retained four months. He was exchanged and rejoined his command in September, 1864. His attention has been always given to agricultural pursuits on his present farm, which contains 474 acres of land; it is located two miles south of Rome. He also owns sixty acres in Obion County, and 100 in Trousdale. He is a man of high cultivation and literary attainments, and devotes a great deal of time to reading and study. He was formerly a Whig, but affiliates with the Democratic party, although he has never cast a vote at a general election. He has been a faithful and consistent member of the Christian Church for nearly a quarter of a century. October 20, 1875, he married Miss Tobitha B., daughter of the eminent Dr. F. H. and Catherine C. Gordon. Mrs. McCall was born at the Old Clinton College farm, and educated partly in Smith County, and finished at the Cumberland University.