My Genealogy Hound

W. J. Burnett, farmer and tobacco dealer, of Palmersville, Tenn., was born in the Old Dominion in 1850, and is a son of William and Ruth H. (Giles) Burnett, both born in the same county as our subject, the former in 1829 and the latter in 1832. The father was a farmer and was married in 1849. He died in 1850, and in 1860 his widow married E. P. Hodges, and came with him to Weakley County, Tenn., in 1866. Our subject came with them and immediately on his arrival began fighting the battle of life alone. He worked as a day laborer on a farm for two years, and in 1869 he and G. L. Brooks formed a partnership in the grocery business in Palmersville and continued the same until 1872, when they added dry goods to their stock. In 1877 Mr. Brooks died and Mr. Burnett sold his interest. Two years later he resumed the dry goods business, his partners being C. O. Gaitwood and T. J. Collier. Three years later our subject sold his interest, and in 1881 purchased 305 acres of land near Palmersville, where he located and has since resided. In December, 1870, he married M. C. Ridegway, who was born where she now resides in 1851. They have six children: Effie Almo, Bolivar Bates, Birch C., Severe Bell, Blanche and Brooks. Mr. Burnett gives considerable attention to stock raising, and since 1883 he and F. G. Eanes have been partners in the tobacco business, carrying on the same on an extensive scale. Mr. Burnett is a man of good business ability. He owns 640 acres of land, the best farm in northern Weakley County. He is a Democrat and served as magistrate of his district four years. He is a Mason and member of the I. O. O. F.