J. H. Bessent is an enterprising farmer of the First District, and was born in Dyer County, June 5, 1858; was one of a family of two children. His parents were P. R. and Martha Bessent. His father was born in North Carolina in 1833, and moved to Dyer County with his parents when five years of age. His father was a farmer and died in 1868. His mother was born in Dyer County, and was about two years younger than his father. She died in 1866. After the death of his parents, J. H. Bessent lived with an uncle until sixteen years of age, when he became dependent upon his own exertions. He received most of his education at Friendship, Tenn. In 1881 he married Mary E., daughter of E. T. and E. F. Smith. Mrs. Bessent was born in Dyer County, November 28, 1859. They had two children: P. E. and J. F. Bessent. Mr. Bessent then located on his farm of 126 acres of valuable land, nine miles east of Dyersburg, and engaged in farming; but after the death of his father-in-law, he moved on his farm, one mile west of Friendship and has since resided there. Mr. Bessent has always been industrious and successful in farming, and is known as a man of strict integrity and generous impulses. His wife and himself are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.