Debie Cox, history genius, has looked more into the history of the land upon which Hadley Park sits — and she has indeed found a white Hadley on it. More than that, remember how — in my post about how a local activist wants to rename the park for Malcom X — I was all, “Well, you can’t be mayor of Gallatin and live west of Nashville. That’s just physics”? Well, three guesses as to which Hadley it was. Here is my crow. I am eating it.
Cox writes:
The property where Hadley Park is located was purchased in January 1837 by William Hadley. Hadley was at one time, Mayor of Gallatin, Tennessee. Around 1836, William Hadley moved to Nashville, having been recently widowed. In 1837 he purchased from John Nichol, 178 acres of land situated where Hadley Park is located today. His neighbors, mentioned in the deed were Matthew Barrow, Beal Bosley, and Boyd McNairy. In 1838, Hadley married for a second time to Mary Hull Barry. In 1840, Mary gave birth to a daughter, who was also named Mary. While little Mary was just a toddler, her father died in 1842. William Hadley left his all of his property to his wife and his daughter. He made a provision for his slaves to be emancipated if his daughter should not attain the age of 15.
Her whole post is stuffed full of fascinating details, so go over there and read it.
In the end, she comes to a conclusion similar to mine:
This indicates that the park was named for an ancient landowner who had been dead for seventy years and also for Dr. W. A. Hadley. It was controversial that the city had purchased land for a park for the exclusive use of African-American citizens. It was believed that it was the first municipal park in the country to be dedicated as such. If the intention had been to name the park for Dr. Hadley, the fact would have been hidden to prevent further dispute.
But she got there with better facts, so I want to be sure you have them as well.
