David E. McCorkle, attorney at law and superintendent of the public schools of Dyer County, was born August 19, 1858, and is a son of Samuel S. and Margaret B. (Wharey) McCorkle. The father was of Scotch-Irish extraction, born in Middle Tennessee in 1826, and a farmer by occupation. He was brought to Dyer County when about six months old, and there married in 1850. He soon purchased 50 acres of land, but sold out in 1852 and bought a farm of 111 acres. In 1871 he removed to Gibson County and there now resides. He is one of the oldest citizens of the county, and has always led a quiet and useful life. His wife was born in Rutherford County in 1834 and became the mother of eight children: Mary L., Leona J., James L., David E., Fannie V., Louella T. (Mrs. Joseph Pope), Adolphus L. and Susan A. Mary, James and Louella have been teachers by profession and were very successful in the work. Our subject was educated in the common schools and Union Seminary at Newbern, and resided with his parents until twenty years of age. He began teaching at that time and continued the same for upward of four years, and after his first two terms was assistant principal and principal in the male and female college at Dyersburg. In 1881 he went to Cotton Wood Point, Mo., and had charge of an academy at that place two years. During this time he became a disciple of Blackstone, and September 11, 1883, was admitted to the bar. He then returned home and in January, 1884, located in Dyersburg and formed a partnership with L. D. Hamilton in the summer of the same year. They dissolved partnership in 1885, and in February, 1886, he and J. N. Parker became partners. In January of the same year Mr. McCorkle was elected by the county court as county superintendent of the Dyer County schools to fill the unexpired term of T. C. Gordon. His work in this capacity has given universal satisfaction and he is a young man of excellent habits and morals. He is a Democrat and a member of the Christian Church. His grandfather, Jehial M. McCorkle, was a North Carolinian, and at a very early date immigrated to Middle Tennessee, and in 1826 came to Dyer County. He was a member of the first county court and died about 1849.