My Genealogy Hound

Hon. David A. Nunn, ex-secretary of the State, and attorney at law of Brownsville, Tenn., was born in Haywood County July 26, 1833, son of David and Alice (Koonce) Nunn, both natives of North Carolina. The father came to this county in 1827, and located in the northern part, where he followed farming successfully for the remainder of his life. He died in Brownsville. David A. was reared on a farm in his native county, attended West Tennessee College of Jackson, Tenn., and here received a good English education, also a general knowledge of classics. In 1851 or 1852 he began the study of law with a view to making it a profession, and entered the Lebanon Law School soon after, from which he graduated in 1853. He then began to practice in Somerville, Fayette County, and at the end of two years came here, where he engaged regularly in the practice of his profession. This he continued till 1866, when he represented this county in the State Legislature. In 1868 he was elected congressman of the United States to represent the Memphis District. In 1872 he represented the Ninth Congressional District in the United States Congress, and in 1881 was elected to the office of secretary of State, serving in this important office in a faithful and highly efficient manner one term of four years. Immediately after the war he was elected State Senator, but declined to serve on account of the chaotic state of the polls at that time. Since retiring from public office Mr. Nunn has resumed the practice of his profession at Brownsville. He was originally an old line Whig in his political views, and since the war has been a stanch Republican, and as such has been elected to the various high and responsible offices he has held. He is chairman of Haywood County, representing the executive committee, and has been a member of the State executive committee. In 1853 he married Mary E. Thompson, who died about 1873, leaving three children, two now living: Cordie (wife of Maldin Poston), and Minnie G. Two years after his wife’s death Mr. Nunn was united in marriage to his present wife, Miss Tennessee Whitehead, of this county, and three children resulted from this union: Carl, Frank and Coe. Mr. Nunn is an ancient Mason and a K. of P., and is held in high esteem as one among the public spirited and enterprising citizens of Haywood County.