William McFarland
| William McFarland | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 1st district |
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In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 |
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| Preceded by | Roderick R. Butler |
| Succeeded by | James H. Randolph |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 15, 1821 Jefferson County, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | April 27, 1900 (aged 78) Morristown, Tennessee |
| Resting place | Emma Jarnagin Cemetery Morristown, Tennessee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy Turley McFarland (m. 1850) |
| Children | 8 |
| Alma mater | Tusculum College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
William McFarland (September 15, 1821 – April 27, 1900) was an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1875 to 1877, representing the 1st congressional district of Tennessee. He is one of only two Democrats to have won this district's seat since the Civil War. McFarland also served as a state court judge in 1869, and as mayor of Morristown, Tennessee, from 1882 to 1885. A Southern Unionist, he was a member of the Jefferson County delegation at the pro-Union East Tennessee Convention in 1861.
McFarland was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, the son of Robert and Mary Ann (Scott) McFarland. His grandfather, also named Robert McFarland, was a Revolutionary War veteran, and his father was a War of 1812 recruiting officer, militia colonel, and justice of the peace. While still a child, William moved with his family to Springvale Farm near Morristown in what was then northern Jefferson County, but is now part of Hamblen County. He was educated in the common schools, and attended Tusculum College near Greeneville.
McFarland initially worked as a salesman for a Tazewell businessman, but returned home to manage his family's affairs following his father's death in 1844. He operated a mercantile business and tannery throughout the 1850s. During this period, he began to take an interest in railroad construction, helping to raise funds for the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad.
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