JOHN H. NUNNELEE. The sons of Tennessee are well represented in Ripley County, Missouri, and they hold conspicuous places in many pursuits which make that county a substantial star in the galaxy of Missouri’s many interesting counties. John H. Nunnelee is one of the prominent residents of the same and was recently solicited by the Democratic party to accept the nomination for collector. He was born in Columbia, Tennessee, July 22, 1858, to the marriage of James M. D. L. and Lucy Jane (Fowlkes) Nunnelee.
The father was a native of Hickman County, Tennessee, and the son of Edward Nunnelee, who was born in the State of Virginia. The latter, when a boy of thirteen, ran away to join the army and was under the command of Lafayette all through the Revolutionary War. He afterward entered the Missouri Medical College, came out a surgeon and physician and practiced his profession in Hickman County, Tennessee, until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-seven years of age. He became quite wealthy and was honored and respected by all who knew him. This esteemed citizen of Hickman County was a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge at Nashville, Tennessee, and held many positions of trust in his county. The father of our subject was born January 17, 1826, and died September 3, 1876, in Hickman County, Tennessee, where he had made his home nearly all his life. He followed farming in his younger days and later became assistant superintendent of schools, filling this position for two years. After this he was salesman for a time, then in the patent right business, continuing in the latter until his death. During the Civil War he was captain of a company, Eleventh Tennessee Infantry, but was subsequently in cavalry service. He was taken prisoner at Nashville, Tennessee, but soon after made his escape. He had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, from the age of seventeen until his death, and was an influential member. He was a Mason fraternally, and a Democrat politically. Mrs. Nunnelee is still living and makes her home with her children, five of whom are now living, although fourteen was the original number.
Of these our subject was one of the youngest. He spent his school days in Hickman County, at Centerville Academy, and when sixteen branched out for himself as a farmer there. In 1881 he came to Missouri and was on the Gulf Railroad for some time. He then engaged in farming again, also the timber business, and still later sold goods. He has had charge of Doniphan Lumber Company’s stock for two years, and is a most successful and capable business man. He was recently nominated by the Democrat party as collector of Ripley County by the largest majority of any one on the ticket. Mr. Nunnelee was married in 1884 to Miss Priscilla Jeffries, of Howell County, and they have two children: Edward M. and John F. In politics Mr. Nunnele is a Democrat, and socially a K. of H. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church.