William J. Featherston, a farmer of the Eighth District, was born in Virginia, in 1818; was one of thirteen children, six of them now living. The father, William Featherston, Sr., was of English ancestry, born in Charlotte County, Va., in 1793. His grandfather was a native of England, but came to America, and settled in Virginia. After receiving his education, our subject's father married Miss Sarah Vaughn, December 24, 1813, and acted as overseer until 1828, when he farmed as a tenant until 1837; he then moved to Dyer County and camped in the woods, until he built a cabin and lived for several years in it. He leased the land for seven years, then with his son, William, bought 255 acres, where he lived until his wife died; he then lived with William. He was a magistrate in Dyer County for years, and one of the earliest settlers. He died in 1870. Mrs. Featherston was of English extraction, born in Virginia in 1798, and died in 1868. William Featherston, Jr., received a limited education. January, 1845, he married Miss Willie Cauley, by whom he had three children, only one now living - Emma, wife of Thomas Clayborn of Arkansas. Mrs. Featherston was born in Smith County, in 1820, and died in 1876. December, 1883, he married Miss Minerva Davidson, of Rutherford County. Mr. Featherston commenced with 150 acres of land, and by good management and energy increased it to 800 acres, and still owns 600 acres of good land, seven miles southeast of Newbern. He was in the Confederate Army, in Company E, Forty-Seventh Tennessee Infantry. He is deeply interested in educational and religious interests, and is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, his wife belonging to the Christian Church. Mr. Featherston's first vote for President was for Martin Van Buren, and he is a life-long Democrat, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.