William Dunn was born September 26, 1870, in Butler County, Alabama, the son of Thomas Dunn and Simmes Adams Dunn, said to be “pioneer” Butler county citizens.
William married Annie Elizabeth Dees, also known as Lizzie, who was born March 4, 1874, the daughter of Charles H. Dees and Siddie Wilson, both of Butler County.
William and Lizzie made their home in Greenville, and for the last thirty years of his life lived in the home on West Commerce Street across from Magnolia Cemetery, next to the Liberty National office. This home remained in the family until the 1970's. They had a total of five children: Ruth, born July 4, 1898; Little Brother, who was born July 1, 1900, and died November 14, 1901; Sidney Wilson, born 1902; Esther, born October 28, 1904; and Mary, born November 7, 1906.
William operated a soft drink bottling plant in Greenville. The business was located on what is now Posey Street, just West of Confederate Park. Several people still have some of the old "Wm Dunn Bottling Co." bottles. There was a great story in the Montgomery Advertiser in about 1924 about how Mr. Dunn had participated in an "experiment" around the turn of the century. A company from Atlanta was trying to market its product in a more broad fashion. The Bellingrath brothers had purchased the rights for the Montgomery and Mobile areas and had offered Mr. Dunn the rights to the Greenville area. He purchased $100 in syrup and tried to market it to the Butler County residents. Too many of them, however, seemed to turn their nose up at the drink; and Mr. Dunn was very happy when Mr. Bellingrath offered to buy back the unused syrup. This was a pretty interesting story in 1924, and would probably qualify for a Paul Harvey "Rest of the Story" episode. Of course, if Mr. Dunn had kept the syrup and persevered with the "experiment," one of his daughters would probably not have been attracted to the son of a poor, Fort Deposit blacksmith. You see, by the 25th Anniversary of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, most of the local bottlers had become very wealthy as the popularity of the soft drink grew.
For many years William served on the Butler County Democratic Executive Committee, as did his brother, Henry O. Dunn. Shiny on top with a ring of white hair around the back, William was known affectionately by his grandchildren as "Big Daddy." His oldest grandson, Ralph Norman, Jr., always wanted "hair like Big Daddy." He got his wish, and it seems to have even been passed down to his son (not the wish, just the hair, or rather, the lack thereof). William died after a heart attack on December 16, 1941. Lizzie, also known by her grandchildren as "Granny Dunn," died July 23, 1952. They are buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Greenville, Alabama.
Ruth Dunn was educated at Livingston Normal School and Peabody College. She became Supervisor of Elementary Schools of Jefferson County, Kentucky. She retired in 1968 and moved to Fort Deposit. Ruth Dunn Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky, was named in her honor in 1970. She died on June 17, 1976, and is buried near her parents in Magnolia Cemetery, Greenville, Alabama.
Sidney Wilson Dunn, referred to by his sisters as "Brother," married Annette Ray, born 1901. They had one child, Sidney Wilson Dunn, Jr., born December 1936, who was usually referred to by his aunts as "Little Brother." Sidney died in 1941. Annette died in 1979. They are buried near his parents in Magnolia Cemetery, Greenville, Alabama.
Esther Dunn, 1909?
Esther Dunn Norman, 1955?
Esther Dunn was educated at the State Normal School, now called Troy State University, receiving her diploma June 2, 1924. She married Ralph Reynard Norman of Fort Deposit on September 1, 1926. They made their home in Fort Deposit and had six children: Ralph Reynard Norman, Jr., born March 11, 1928; William Alexander, born September 4, 1930; David Waterman, born February 6, 1936; Siddie Mae, born November 18, 1937; John Charles, born September 23, 1942; and Peter Dara, born May 27, 1944. All of these children lived to adulthood and received college degrees, and four of their sons made their homes in Fort Deposit. Ralph and Esther also had twin daughters, Mary Esther & Annie Elizabeth, who died as infants in 1932. Ralph died June 7, 1976. Esther died August 2, 1982. They are buried by his parents in Myrtlewood Cemetery, Fort Deposit.
Mary Dunn was educated at the State Normal School, now called Troy State University, receiving her diploma in 1926. She taught in the elementary schools of Butler County for many years, living in her childhood home until 1963, when she moved to Fort Deposit to live with her sister Ruth. She taught Second Grade for a few years at Lowndes County High School in Fort Deposit, before retiring in 1972(?). She died August 31, 1984, and is buried by her sister Ruth in Magnolia Cemetery, Greenville, Alabama.