Jere Baxter

Jere Baxter
Jere Baxter, c. 1900
Born	February 11, 1852 Nashville, Tennessee
Died	February 29, 1904
Resting place	Mount Olivet Cemetery
Education	Montgomery Bell Academy
Occupation	Businessman

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

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

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

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

References

1. Col. Jere Baxter Dead, The New York Times, March 1, 1904, page 9
2. 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.