Notable People Historical Markers
Neil S. Brown 1810-1886
Located 125 yards north is the site of Idlewild, home of Neil S. Brown, native of Giles County and fourteenth governor of Tennessee, 1848-1850. The only governor to live in East Nashville, he is credited with naming the city of Edgefield. Appointed United States Minister to Russia in 1850, and in 1870 was a member of the State Constitutional Convention.
Location: 809 Main Street
Capt. Alexander Ewing "Devil Alex"
Early settler of N.W. Davidson Co. Served in Revolutionary War as Aid-de-Camp to Gen. Green. Wounded at Guilford. Earned nickname and 2666 acres. Built and owned first brick plantation house in area, 1/4 mile East. Later built Ewing Mansion on Buena Vista Pike. He and his wife Sarah are buried directly across in Ewing Plantation cemetery.
Location: Ewing Drive at Knight Road
Timothy Demonbreun
Jacques-Timothe De Montbrun, born on Mar. 23, 1747, in Boucherville, Quebec, was the first white man to live in the Nashville area. Beginning in 1769, he spent several winters here trading for furs. He served as Lieut. Gov. of Illinois Country, 1783-86. He became permanent resident of Nashville in 1790, operating store and tavern. Died at home on this site, Oct. 30, 1826.
Location: Broadway and Third Avenue, North, wall marker
Mrs. John Donelson
After Col. John Donelson was killed in 1785, his widow and family continued to live here in a log house. In 1789 lawyers Andrew Jackson and John Overton boarded with the Donelsons. Here Jackson met Rachel, the Donelson's youngest daughter. They married in 1791 and lived here until they acquired their own home across the Cumberland in 1792.
Location: Madison, Gallatin Road and Two Mile Pike
Edmondson Home Site
Will Edmondson, born about 1883 of former slave parents in the Hillsboro area of Davidson County, worked as a railroad and hospital laborer until 1931, when he began his primitive limestone carvings. Working without formal training, he produced some remarkable sculptures which won high praise in exhibits across the nation. He died in 1951.
Location: 1450 Fourteenth Avenue, South
Major Wilbur Fisk Foster 1834-1922
Chief Engr. Army of Tenn. C.S.A; Construction Engineer on first R.R. Bridge in Nashville; City Engineer of Nashville and member of American Society of Civil Engineers; Director of Works at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, 1897, and Co-Founder of Foster & Creighton Co.; Elder, First Presbyterian Church; 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.
Location: Centennial Park, by Lake Wautauga
Julia McClung Green 1873-1961
Dedicated educator who served Davidson County public schools 57 years as a teacher, the first Supervisor of Elementary Education 1911-1944 and Director of Character Education, Miss Julia oversaw schools countywide. A progressive, she pioneered school hot lunch and health programs for children, local affiliation with national education organizations, and the local PTA movement.
Location: 3500 Hobbs Road
Adolphus Heiman 1809-1862
Born Potsdam, Prussia. Came to Nashville 1838. Lived in home on this site, Architect, Engineer & Builder. Designed Univ. of Nash. Main Bldg., Central State Hosp. Main Bldg., Suspension Bridge over Cumberland River; Masonic Leader; Adj. U.S. Army Mexican War; Col. 10th Tenn. Inf. Reg. C.S.A. Civil War. Buried in Confederate Circle, Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Location: 900 Jefferson Street
John Trotwood Moore 1858-1929
Tennessee novelist, poet-co-author, four-volume history, "Tennessee, the Volunteer State"; publisher, "Trotwood Monthly"; author of short stories; breeder and judge of livestock; teacher, lecturer; beloved companion and raconteur; President, Tennessee Historical Society; State Librarian and Archivist, 1919-1929; lived in his home Arden Place on this site.
Location: 4425 Granny White Pike
James Carroll Napier
James C. Napier (1845-1940), Nashville Negro lawyer, educator, member of the city council, delegate to four Republican national conventions. Registrar of the U.S. Treasury, 1911-1915, was a trustee of Fisk, Howard, and Meharry; advocate of public schools; and founder of the One-cent Savings Bank, later the Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Co.
Location: 648 Claiborne Street
Note: Napier resigned as Registrar of the U.S. Treasury in 1913.
General Thomas Overton 1753-1825
Gen. Thomas Overton served in the Revolutionary War and as Inspector of Revenue in N.C., the same position held by his brother Judge John Overton in Tenn. He was one of Gen. Jackson's seconds in duel with Chas. Dickinson. This grave plot was a part of his homeplace, "Soldier's Rest," where he lived from 1804 until his death in 1825.
Location: Old Hickory, Donelson Avenue
Note: Thomas Overton died in 1824. His will was recorded on September 3, 1824.
Captain John Rains
On Christmas 1779 he led his family and livestock across the frozen Cumberland and settled in this vicinity. In 1784 he built a fort that enclosed the spring 75 yards east. At James Robertson's orders he often led a company of scouts against Indians. His home was on this hill until he died in 1834, age 91.
Location: Rains Avenue and Merritt Street
Cardinal Stritch
Samuel Stritch, born Aug. 17, 1887, southwest corner Fifth and Madison, entered Assumption School at age 7. Ordained when 22, he sang his first Mass here, was priest in Memphis and Nashville, Bishop of Toledo, Archbishop of Milwaukee, Archbishop of Chicago. Named Cardinal in 1946, he was called to Rome in 1958 to head Catholic missions, thus became first American member of the Roman Curia.
Location: 1227 Seventh Avenue, North
Frederick Stump 1724-1822
Frederick Stump, an early settler in the Fort Nashbrough area, came from Pennsylvania by way of Georgia. He was a Revolutionary War soldier and noted Indian fighter. He owned a larger plantation along Whites Creek where he operated a mill and inn and rented land to other settlers. This log house is reputed to have been his home where he operated the inn.
Location: 4949 Buena Vista Pike Note: Frederick Stump was born in 1723.
William Walker
Born May 8, 1824, Walker moved to this site from 6th Ave. N. in 1840. In early life he was doctor, lawyer, and journalist. He invaded Mexico in 1853 with 46 men and proclaimed himself Pres., Republic of Lower California. Led force into Nicaragua in 1855; was elected its Pres. in 1856. In attempt to wage war on Honduras was captured and executed Sept. 13, 1860.
Location: Fourth Avenue, North and Commerce Street
Samuel Watkins, 1794-1880
Brick manufacture and builder, who at the age of 15 fought under Gen. Jackson in the Creek campaigns and at the Battle of New Orleans, left at his death in 1880 this site and $100,000 as an endowment for a school later called Watkins Institute. A pioneer school for adult education, it has been in continuous operation since 1885.
Location: 601 Church Street, wall marker
Note: Samuel Watkins' tombstone indicates that he was 88 years old when he died in October 16, 1880. He would have been 20 during the Creek campaigns of fall 1813. Although Watkins institute was organized as early as 1885, classes did not begin until 1889.