From "Tennessee: The Volunteer State 1769-1923":
JAMES CALVIN RUSSELL McCALL

     James Calvin Russell McCall, a leading attorney of Nashville, was born at Clarksburg, 13th District, Carroll County, Tennessee, on the 7th of February, 1862, his parents being Dr. Henry and Rebecca Frances (Bowlen) McCall. His paternal grandparents, Andrew and Jane (Todd) McCall, lived in Henderson county, this state, where the former was among the first school teachers and also preached the gospel as a minister of the Primitive Baptist church. Mrs. Jane (Todd) McCall was born near Belfast, Ireland, and when still but a child was brought by her parents to the new world, the family home being established in South Carolina. Her brother, Dr. Patrick Todd, was a leading physician of South Carolina from 1840 until 1856. Three of the five sons of Rev, and Mrs. Andrew McCall became physicians, namely: Dr. Henry McCall, Dr. Patrick McCall and Dr. Joseph W. McCall. The first named, Dr. Henry McCall, was a native of Lexington county, South Carolina, but in early childhood was brought to Henderson county, Tennessee, where he later began reading medicine under the direction of Dr. Parker at Parker's Crossroads. Subsequently he was married and removed to Clarksburg, Carroll county, this state, where he remained an active and successful representative of the medical profession to the time of his death, which occurred May 2, 1880. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Frances Bowlen, was a daughter of William and Mildred Bowlen, residents of Mulberry, Lincoln county, Tennessee. Dr. and Mrs. Henry McCall had a family of five sons and three daughters who reached manhood and womanhood.

     James C. R. McCall, whose name introduces this review, received his early education at Mud Creek under Rev. Nathan G. Phillips, preacher of a church of the Primitive Baptist denomination, who conducted the school along the old idea of allowing the pupils to study their lessons aloud. This was a large school just after the Civil war and was attended by many young men who had served in the army. Nearly all who went into the war joined the Federal forces, as this was a Union section. Mr. McCall pursued his more advanced studies in the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science as a member of the class of 1882. He was twice an annual public debater and first editor-in-chief of the Chi Delta Crescent, the first school paper published at the University of Tennessee. Having qualified for the profession of law, he began practice in the courts of Carroll county, this state, in 1898 and throughout the intervening period of a quarter of a century has continued active as an attorney, being accorded a large and gratifying clientage. His long experience has greatly developed his powers, permitted the elimination of any possible weak points and strengthened the ability which he has displayed in the preparation and presentation of his cases. His public record has also been a most creditable one. He served as county court clerk of Carroll county, Tennessee, from September 1, 1885, until September 1, 1894, was chief deputy internal revenue collector of the state from 1906 until 1908 and occupied the position of assistant United States district attorney at Nashville from 1908 until 1913.

     On the 10th of October, 1895, at Hollow Rock, Carroll county, this state, Mr. McCall was united in marriage to Miss Eula Bomar, daughter of Dr. William Calvin and Selene (Compton) Bomar, residents of Gardner, Tennessee. Her father, a native of Manleyville, Henry County, this state, was the son of Herod and Mary (Walker) Bomar. The grandfather, Herod Bomar, came to Tennessee from South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. McCall have become parents of six children, as follows: Andrew, who is deceased; Henry; James Calvin Russell, Jr.; John and. Selene, twins; and Frank.

    Mr. McCall is a stanch republican and an active worker in the local ranks of the party. He served as chairman of the state republican executive committee of Tennessee for two years, was sent as state delegate at large to the national republican convention at Chicago in 1916 and represented the sixth congressional district of Tennessee as a delegate to the national republican convention at Chicago in 1920. His military record covers service as captain of a company of the State Guards which was organized at Huntingdon, Tennessee. At the time of the Spanish-American war he tendered his services to Governor Robert L. Taylor but was not called upon for active duty. He is a devoted and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias. His friends-and they are many-attest the sterling worth of his character, while the courts bear record of his ability in the line of his chosen profession.