William R. Kearney, a well known miller and farmer of the Sixth District, was born September 17, 1832, in Bolivar, Tenn., and is a son of Philip and Sarah (Ramsey) Kearney, both of Irish descent. They came to Hardeman County when quite young and here were married. To them were born three sons: William R., John H. and Philip; the last two mentioned are dead. The father, after making several moves, finally settled in Holmes County, Miss., where he died. He was a Democrat in politics. His widow returned to Hardeman County and married Robert H. Walton, by whom she had two children: Mary E., wife of D. E. Durrett, and Charles A. Mrs. Walton was a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church and died April 2, 1886. The grandparents came direct from the Emerald Isle. Our subject was reared in his native town, and received a very limited education. When about twenty years of age, he began life for himself. After a year spent in Louisiana and another in Kentucky, he returned to Bolivar and with his brother in 1854, purchased a grist-mill, in which business he has since been engaged. In connection with the mill, which is the best in the county, he is largely interested in agricultural pursuits, owning about 1,300 acres of valuable land. The mill was burned once, but was soon replaced by a better one. In 1865, Mr. Kearney married M. L. Davis, who was born in 1842. She was a most estimable woman and an earnest member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She died in 1868 leaving one son. Five years later, Mr. Kearney wedded C. A. Harriss, who was born October 6, 1844. This union resulted in the birth of five children, four of whom are living. For over half a century our subject has lived in Hardeman County and is recognized throughout the entire section as a man of fine business capacity, and an honest, upright citizen. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”