David C. Tunnel, farmer and lumber manufacturer, was born near Van Hill postoffice in this county, October 29, 1847, the son of Wesley and Rebecca (Ball) Tunnel, the former born about 1807, and died in February, 1872. The father was a successful and wealthy farmer, and for several years was magistrate and deputy sheriff. He was well educated, and was a Republican and a Baptist. The mother was born in Russell County, Va., March 10, 1810, and now lives at Van Hill, also a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject, the ninth of eleven children, worked at home, and went to school at Fall Branch until twenty-two years of age, since when he has been at this present location, excepting three years in the Eighteenth District where he owned 300 acres. He now owns 400 acres and a flour and saw mill at Slide post-office. He succeeded in establishing the post-office in 1883, and was made Postmaster. He has been a magistrate, and in politics is a Republican. He has been in the mercantile trade the last four years. Mary E., a daughter of Edward and Mahala Ball, became his wife in August, 1869. She was born in this county march 31, 1850, and educated at Goldshill, and is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Ella C., Joseph O., Charles E. and Maggie are their children.

Transcribed by Betty Mize from Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1886.