William McFarland (September 15, 1821 - April 12, 1900) was Morristown's second mayor after the Civil War. In all, he was elected to four one-year terms of office, first in 1869, and then in 1882, 1883, and 1884.) He also served several terms as alderman, and handled the city's legal affairs in the days before city attorneys were appointed. He married Nancy Turley ( August 25, 1829 - February 23, 1883.) The McFarlands had ten children:
William McFarland was born in Dandridge, Tennessee. He was the son of Robert McFarland (III), who served with distinction in the war of 1812. William was the grandson of Robert McFarland (II), who was one of the original settlers in the area that is now Hamblen County. William McFarland lived at Springvale, Tennessee and was a merchant there for some years. The house he lived in at Springvale was notable for several strange, ghost-like sightings that were made there, over the years. It burned down, I believe, sometime after the turn of the century. McFarland became an attorney in the late 1850's. He was a staunch Union supporter during the Civil War, and seems to have held strong anti-war views. Also one source states that during the war he attempted to keep the peace between the then divided and embittered families of the area. After the war he moved to Morristown, serving for a few years as a judge, before being elected mayor. At this time he lived on the corner of First North Street and Cumberland Street, where there is currently a parking lot, due south of the Methodist Church.
He ran for U.S. Congress and was elected in 1874, defeating R.R. Butler and being the first Democrat elected to that office from the heavily Republican post war 1st District. He was defeated for reelection in 1876 by James Randolph of Cocke County. He lived at that time, and for many years thereafter on Second North Street in the former home of George Folsom, and I am told that house was torn down some years ago and now also is a parking lot. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
McFarland practiced law after the war in Morristown, first with the firm Barton, McFarland and Evans. Later he was senior partner of McFarland and Dickson. His early experience as a merchant caused him to specialize in business law. Also, late in life, his firm was McFarland and Yoe. He also built the McFarland Opera House, which was on the north-east corner of Cumberland and Main Streets. McFarland was active as stockholder in a number of local businesses and was active for many years in a variety of community-oriented projects. In his day he was a powerful force in Morristown politics. His son, Robert, and his son-in-law, Will Dickson both became mayors of Morristown.
During a depression in the late 1890's, McFarland was devastated financially. He died in 1900 and was originally buried at the Morristown City Cemetery, but may have been removed by his daughter, Evelynn, to Emma Jarnigan Cemetery, where a monument there bears his name.