He is believed to be the son of James C. McFarland and one of his wives. This has been supported through Y-DNA evidence and autosomal DNA evidence.

Oral history collected by Mabel Harvey Thornton and Edith McFarland Westmoreland, has descendants telling that Richard's mother dying when he was about five (ca. 1843) or seven (ca. 1845). He recalled to his descendants that he had brother named James (most likely James Evans McFarland) and an uncle who lived in Knoxville.


After his mother's death Richard was fostered out to Alexander Miller Atkinson and his wife Rebecca. It is unknown what if any relation Alexander Miller Atkinson. Richard's brother Wesley McFarland married an Elizabeth Atkinson who is possibly Alexander Miller Atkinson's sister. He later recalled to his children that he had visited Louisville, Kentucky before he was twelve (ca. 1850) on a wagon.

In the 1850s the Atkinsons moved from Fentress County, Tennessee to Murray County, GA.

He married Mary Walker on 11 September 1856 in Murray County, Georgia.

On 16 May 1862 Richard joined Company E, of the 3rd Confederate Cavalry Regiment. He stayed with it until he deserted on 8 July 1864 at Atlanta, Georgia. He was captured on 22 July 1864 in Murray County, Georgia. He was sent to Nashville, Tennessee and arrived there on 26 July. On 31 July 1864 he was released at Louisville, Kentucky after signing an oath of allegiance and agreeing to stay north of the Ohio River for the remainder of the war.

During the war something happened to Mary that caused her health to be "shattered for life." It was believed that Mary's half sister Delilah Caroline Law had become separated from her parents during the war. The specifics are unknown. What is known is that after the war Richard started having children with his wife's half sister Delilah. He would later marry Delilah after Mary's death. They married on 17 May 1888.

In May 1890 Richard's foster mother Rebecca Atkinson died. She left all of her and her late husband's property to Richard for the kindness and services he rendered to them during their lives.

After Delilah's death Richard married a third time on 22 December 1898 in Gilmer County, Georgia to Catherine Curtis.

Richard died without leaving a will.

Richard worked as a farmer, wheelwright, and a blacksmith.

By the 1960s, trees had grown up all over Richard's unmarked grave.

Children by Mary Walker:
1. James Marion McFarland (20 June 1858 - 29 October 1940)
2. George Wesley McFarland (29 Sep 1860 - 7 May 1946)
3. Alex Miller McFarland (4 Mar 1862 - 2 Mar 1942)
4. Thomas R McFarland (13 June 1864 - 27 Jan 1929)
5. William Riley McFarland (1868 - after 1892)

Children by Delilah Caroline Law:
6. Henry Bently McFarland (9 May 1870 - 15 Apr 1950)
7. Jane Lambert McFarland (1872 - before 1950)
8. Tolbert Wheeler McFarland (18 June 1873 - 11 Apr 1952)
9. Andrew Jackson McFarland (1876- 1891)
10. Anderson Law McFarland (1877 - before 1880)
11. Noah McFarland (14 Sep 1878 - 1943)
12. Miranda Adeline McFarland (15 Sep 1881 - 19 May 1950)
13. (Infant Daughter) McFarland (1883 - died young)
14. Grover Cleveland McFarland (4 Dec 1887 - 17 Jan 1932)

Children by Catherine A Curtis:
15. William Edward McFarland (10 Mar 1897 - 8 Jan 1964)
16. Fentus Lowery McFarland (14 June 1898 - 21 Dec 1993)
17. Virginia Mae McFarland (28 Nov 1899 - 13 May 1990)
18. Etta E. McFarland (6 Jan 1902 - 1 May 1971)
19. Richard Clay McFarland (4 Feb 1904 - 15 July 1979)