John Barrett Broadfoot was born in Fayetteville (Cumberland County) on August 31, 1860. Broadfoot spent most of his adult life in Fayetteville, where he worked as a banker and insurance agent. He also served as a major in the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry. He owned a summer home in Black Mountain (Buncombe County), where he spent his retirement. He died in Asheville on May 10, 1931.