William M. Gupton (Nashville, TN)

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William M. Gupton (date unknown)

William McNeal Gupton (September 17, 1870 – August 12, 1957)

Biography

  • Name: William McNeal Gupton
  • Birth: September 17, 1870 Bowling Green, KY
  • Death: August 12, 1957 Nashville, TN
  • Spouse: Daisy Dean (Mason) Gupton (1870-1945) (Married 1890)
  • Mayor of Nashville 1917-1921.
  • Nashville Postmaster 1933-1948.

William McNeal Gupton was born September 17, 1870, in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  He moved with his family to Nashville in 1875 and was educated in the public schools there.  His first employment was as a teenager driving a delivery wagon for a downtown grocer, and he got to know many of the upper crust citizens that lived in downtown Nashville at the time.  He became bookkeeper and shipping clerk for the American Steam Food Company in 1889, and since he did not know bookkeeping, he enrolled and graduated from the Jennings Business College in Nashville.  The owner of the food company died in 1896 and Gupton was able to purchase the plant at the estate auction.  He kept the plant the rest of his life, and employed his two sons initially, then later in life gave them 1/3 shares each.

William was elected Mayor of Nashville in 1917 and served until 1921, when the city council decided to remove him.  He then served on the Nashville Board of Education from 1923-1930, including 5 years as President.  He owned Gupton Undertaking Company from 1912-1918, Gupton Shoe Company from 1916-1919, and he was appointed Postmaster of Nashville in 1933 and he held that position until 1948.

William was elected President of Broadway National Bank of Nashville, charter 9774, on March 29, 1930.  He had for several years been on the Board of Directors of the bank.  He resigned in November, 1933 to become Nashville Postmaster.  William began experiencing a few heart ailments in 1957, and on August 12, 1957, he had a heart attack and died in the office of his physician.  He was 86 years old.  His death certificate was signed by Thomas Frist Sr, father of former Tennessee senator Thomas Frist, Jr.  William Gupton was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, in Nashville.

Bank Officer Summary

During his banking career, Wm. Gupton was involved with the following bank(s):


Serial Number 1 Series 1929 Type 2 $5 note with printed signatures of C.C. Potter, Cashier and Wm. Gupton, President.


References

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