http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/manuscripts/findingaids/89-046.pdf

Michael Dunn (1770-1853) married Elizabeth Rains (1781-1837) and raised a large family there in the early 1800s.

Col. Michael C. Dunn, built the Grassmere home in 1810

He was Presbyterian and was one of the first elders in the 1st Presbyterian Church of Nashville. He was also the sheriff of Davidson County, TN from approx 1807-1815.

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/VAWYTHE/2007-07/1184903728 --------------------

Elizabeth Rains, daughter of Capt. John Rains and Christiana Gowen Rains, was born about 1781 probably in Davidson County.  She was married there September 26, 1801 to Michael Carnes Dunn, according to Davidson County Marriage Book 1, page 39.  He was born in Albemarle County, Virginia in 1770. 

Michael Carnes Dunn was elected sheriff of Davidson County in 1808 and served for eight years. She died November 11, 1837 in Davidson County and was buried in the Gressmere family cemetery. Michael Carnes Dunn died at Nashville in 1853, according to Mary Hamilton Haile of Savannah, Georgia in her DAR membership application

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gowenrf/Gowenms044.htm

http://www.tn.gov/tsla/history/manuscripts/findingaids/89-046.pdf

Five generations of the same family lived and farmed at the homestead called Grassmere, located five miles south of Nashville on Nolensville Road. Michael Dunn (1770-1853) married Elizabeth Rains (1781-1837) and raised a large family there in the early 1800s. The Dunn’s daughter Margaret (1811-1852) married Lee Shute (1797-1879), to whom the property was sold in 1846 for the sum of $10,000. The Shute’s son, William Dickson (1834-1916), was deeded the farm in 1859.

William married Lavinia Hilliard (1837-1872) and they produced four daughters: Margaret, Kate, Leila, and Lavinia. Kate (1865-1925) married William Croft (1860-1938) and their two daughters, Margaret (1889-1974) and Elise (1894-1985), were the fifth generation to live at Grassmere. They are both buried in the family cemetery behind the house, along with many of their ancestors.