James N. Cunningham was born in Dickson County, Tenn., February 24, 1864, being the son of Eliz and Harriet (Tally) Cunningham. The parents were natives of North Carolina. The father was a physician, having graduated at the medical college in Philadelphia in the year 1824. He practiced his profession in Dickson County until his death, which occurred in 1870. The mother is still living at the age of fifty-three years, making her home in Clarksville with one of her sons, she having three sons there who are engaged in the mercantile business. Our subject is about twenty-two years of age, and a young man of considerable energy. His life has been an eventful one, also one of hard labor. His father having died when he was but five years old, his educational advantages were rather limited, having received only a common school education. Practically he is a Democrat. His grandparents were some of the oldest pioneers of Tennessee.