| |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Land
Speculator
|
|
After Tennessee became a state in 1796, hostilities with Indians
subsided and the area experienced immense population growth. A minority
of settlers, like John Overton, achieved great wealth through buying, selling, and developing
land. By 1800, Overton held title to
at least 65,000 acres of land. The exact size of his holdings will
probably never be known because he frequently used “agents”
to make deals and advocated “those important rules in business:
secrecy and dispatch.” While the majority of his holdings
were rural tracts scattered over Middle and West Tennessee, he was
also involved in Nashville’s development. He owned all or
part of 28 lots in Nashville and several large parcels of land on
the city’s edge, including his 2300-acre plantation, Travellers
Rest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
| |
Law Student |
|
Tax Collector |
|
Land Speculator |
|
Judge |
|
Memphis Founder |
|
Banker |
|
Husband |
|
Advisor |
|
Planter |
|
|
|
|
