"Col. T. F. Murchison was born in Madison county, Tennessee Feb. 9, 1828. He was raised in Marshall county, Miss. He came from Mississippi to Texas in Feb. 1848, settling at Crockett, Texas. He resided there until June 29, 1855 when he came to Athens, which has been his place of residence ever since. His first work in Athens was selling goods for Dr. Collins for whom he worked three years. He engaged in the mercantile business for himself in 1859, at which he was very successful. At the breaking out of the Civil War, he in company with Capt. Warren, raised a company of cavalry for the Confederate service. The company was dismounted and Col. Murchison came home. While he did not see service in the field, he was in the service of the Confederacy during the whole War in various positions with the rank and pay of captain.

In 1885 he engaged in the banking business in which he is still engaged, being president of the First National Bank of Athens, one of the solid financial institutions of the country, and which does a good business." (Athens Weekly Review Aug. 2, 1901 via http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txhender/bios/tfmurchison01.htm)

"Col. Murchison married Miss Mary Royall Dec. 1, 1857." (Athens Weekly Review Aug. 2, 1901 )

With the exception of Clinton Murchison, T. F.'s grandson, the first three generation of Murchison men employed the practice of going by their initials.