Jere Baxter

Jere Baxter
Jere Baxter, c. 1900
BornFebruary 11, 1852
DiedFebruary 29, 1904
Resting placeMount Olivet Cemetery
EducationMontgomery Bell Academy
OccupationBusinessman

Jere Baxter (February 11, 1852 – February 29, 1904) was an American businessman, lawyer, and politician. He was the founder of the Tennessee Central Railroad.

Early life[edit]

Jere Baxter was born on February 11, 1852, in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] His father, Nathaniel Baxter, was a politician and judge.[1] After graduating from Montgomery Bell Academy, he studied law.

Career[edit]

Baxter went into legal publishing, issuing The Legal Reporter, the nine-volume bound compilation of which came to be commonly known as Baxter's Reports.[1]

Baxter founded the Tennessee Central Railroad and helped found the communities of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, and Sheffield, Alabama.[1][2] He served in the Tennessee State Senate,[2] and unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party nomination for governor of Tennessee in 1890.[3][4]

Baxter had a very public argument with Whitefoord Russell Cole over the Tennessee Central Railroad in the early 1900s.[5]

Death and legacy[edit]

Baxter died on February 29, 1904. Baxter, Tennessee, is named for him.[2] He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Col. Jere Baxter Dead, The New York Times, March 1, 1904, page 9
  2. ^ a b c Jere Baxter in the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture
  3. ^ Buchanan Leads the Vote; Tennessee Democrats Meet at Nashville, The New York Times, July 16, 1890, page 1
  4. ^ Buchanan for Governor; Tennessee Democrats Choose Him on the Twenty-fifth Ballot, The New York Times, July 19, 1890
  5. ^ Burt, Jesse C. Jr (January 1954). "Whitefoord Russell Cole: A Study in Character". The Filson Club History Quarterly. 28: 28–48.
  6. ^ "Imposing Funeral. Vast Concourse Pays Respect to Hon. Jere Baxter. Services at the Tabernacle. Between 4,000 and 5,000 Persons Gather in Large Auditorium--Many Beautiful Floral Designs Contributed--Laid to Rest at Mt. Olivet". The Nashville American. March 2, 1904. p. 5. Retrieved May 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.