HOUSE, 54th and 55th General Assemblies, 1905-09; representing Montgomery County; Speaker of House in 55th; Democrat. Born in Dickson County Aug 12, 1877; son of John Talley and Minna Cunningham. Attended elementary and high schools at Clarksville, Montgomery County; Southwestern Presbyterian University, Clarksville; graduated with LL.B. degree from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Davidson County, 1899. Married at Clarksville Nov 21, 1907, to Sarah White, daughter of James S. and Chloe Tulitha (Eddins) White, of Clarksville; children – Chloe Northington, John Talley, Jr., Sarah Brothers, and James C. Practiced law at Clarksville, 1899-1918; judge of criminal court, Clarksville, 1918-45; engaged in farming; president Eastern Dark Fired Tobacco Growers Assn. 1932-45; helped promote bridge across Cumberland River at Clarksville. Member board of stewards, Methodist Episcopal church, South; Free and Accepted Masons; Order of the Mystic Shrine; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Kiwanis Club International; Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Died at Clarksville Dec 8, 1945; buried in Greenwood Cemetery. Father of James C. Cunningham, sometime member TN General Assembly.

Sources:  Information supplied by son, James C. Cunningham, Clarksville; Gillum, Prominent Tennessee, 47; Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, 407; Montgomery County Tombstone Records, 64; Beach, Along the Warioto, 89, 325.

Biographies submitted by Jill Hastings-Johnson, Montgomery County Archivist