Broad, William A. 1829-1867, Tinner and City Trustee

WA Broad building 300 W MainWilliam A. Broad was born in England about 1829 and when he was only 14, departed Liverpool, England for the Port of New York and came to the United States on board the Adirondack arriving in New York City on October the 24th, 1844. He was listed on the ship manifest as a laborer and it appears that he was traveling alone, since there was no other person named Broad on the passenger list of that trip. Continue reading

Adams, James L. 1836-1917, Multi-term Marion Alderman and Civil War Veteran

James L. Adams was born in Dickson County, Tennessee on February 8, 1836 and came with his parents to Randolph County, Illinois, when but three years old. His parents were John Adams (1811 – 1855) and Martha Kennedy (1812 – 1900), who were natives of Caswell County, North Carolina but came to Tennessee while young and married there. Continue reading

Dunaway, Samuel M. 1809-1876, Pioneering Merchant

Samuel Dunaway headstoneSamuel McNight Dunaway, Williamson County pioneer, real estate tycoon, and business man, helped settle the village of Bainbridge in Williamson County and became an early land owner of more than 50 parcels of 40 acres or more.   Buying and selling this land, along with his other business interests which included everything from merchant to railroad president, made him the richest man in the county by the middle 1800’s.  Continue reading