The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-09
HON. JERE BAXTER'S VIM
A TENNESsEEAN OF WHOM HIS Eel.
LOw-CITIzENS ARE PROUD.
Incidents in the Life OF Man of Progress
sive Ideas-Enterprise He Has SUPP
ported Maplewood and It's Charms
A Magnificent Breeding Farm.

past five centuries that has so shown the
irresistible energy and recuperative power
OF the Anglo-SaXon race as the rise and
progress OF the South during the past
twenty years. Especially is this due to
the young men OF the South, men who
but for the changed condition of things in
duced by the war; would have never been
able to have shown what was in them, and
OF what the Anglo-Saxon blood was capa-
bic. ''The physiognomy OF the years
make up the face OF the century," and the
young men OF the South have formed the
physiognomy of the past two decades.
There are many such men scattered
throughout the broad Southland, OF whom
Tennessee has her full share. Standing
very prominent among these is one whom
! am proud to number among my true
friends, and who | am sure will pardon
me ii ! take him and his results as a model
from which to pontthe moral to be enforced
from the foregoing remarks, the Hon.
Jere Baxter, of Nashville. He is now
nearly forty years OF age, in the prime Oh
life, with his best years yet before him and
n past record which any man might be
proud to show at the close OF three score
years and ten. AS the basis OF all his
growth and progress and the cornerstone
OF his prosperity is unilinching honesty,
strict integrity and generous liberality and
kindheartcdness. A prominent gentleman
OF large knowledge OF human nature who
has known him from child, says Of him:
81 regard him as the most promising man
on n large scale the South has" After
completing his education he travelled a
year in Europe, cultivating and adding TO
an Inherited taste culture and refinement.
He returned in 1874 and did q little edi-
torial work, then studied law and was adj
mitted TO practice, and shortly after became
State reporter, which position he retained
long enough TO publish nine volumes Of
recognized authority. His early enter
priscs were not particularly successful, and
lie knew more OF the downs than the ups
OF business life being at one time $50, 900
behind, with wife and two children 10
care for. lie did some hard thinking. in
practical vein, and rs result his re-
sources have been added 10 for the past
ten years ut the rate OF $50, 600 a year.
Last year, by practical thinking and
practical application of that thinking" he
realized S23G, 900. His money is nearly all
invested in productive real estate in and
about Nashville, some Of ii producing dol
lars and some comfort aud satisfaction
10 him and his loved ones. About
ten years ago he commenced dealing in
railroad stocks in New York and outside,
commencing with Memphis d Charleston,
which hc 50 successfully manipulated MS
10 obtain virtual control of that line, aud
was elected president OF that company,
being the youngest railroad president IN
the world. At this time he also inyentcdt
the city of Sheffield AMI conducted ia
affairs TO the entire satisfaction Of himself
and his associates. lie has built two mt
blocks in Nashville, the first one, "laX.c
Block" on Union street, when he had I'd
money, commencing and completing IL
purely on bis credit, and which has proved
a very fair investment the other, "BlNter
Court" on lower Church street, one Of
the best appointed and most comfortable
business blocks In the South, and a solid
specimen Of his most prominent trait,
full and ample thor0ughncss eyen4
TO the smallest detail The grcat
pleasure OF Mr. Baxter life, toward which
his heart turns, and the Ultima Thule Of
the results Of all his investments is Ills
home, four miles from Nashville, on The
Galalin pike, the line OF travel from lOuis-
vile through Nashville 10 the South in lie
old days Of the stage coach. Maplewood
is his home and his pride. Here are Ill
the treasures OF the genuine home life, to
/ which lac is 80 deeply attached. II Is one
Of thc very finest, and probably the most
luXuriou, and best In all iis appointments
aud details OF any OF the grand old homes
OF the South. There arc 1000 acres, 600
ol which are IN grass, with fine spreading
| forest. lovely lawns and abundance OF all
variety OF fruit the climate will permit.
| The home residence is an elegant and
substantial brick, built very early in
the century by Josiah Williams,
one OF the rich men % his time,
and has always been famous and fashion.
able residence. When Mr.. Baxter pur-
/ chased aud commenced 10 overhaul il he
! found the walls and foundations without n
crack or flaw, aud the ash iloors, with each
plank extending the whole length Of tho
room. sucn even after n wear OF eighty
/ ycars. as be- could not duplicate. The in-
| icror furnishing OF Maplcwood Is all that
refined taste aud culture, assisted by abun-
dance OF money, could procure, with
nothing oyefdOne or that the purust taste
could critici.c The collection OF arlI..cs
| Of artistic and historic value and interest,
rare old books, coins, plate and household
material Of revolutionary times or con
ncctcd with the perilous period iist
witnessed the birth u the nation are ALBUMS
| dani, many Of them OF priceless worth,
/ not the least priced among which IN tho
| spinning wheel Of MIR. Baxter's create
grandmother. One Of his pcculinrilics &
| In having no oycrccr, but directing cvcry-
| thing In his own way. II he goes away
| Tor a month he leaves careful dircciions|
with each man what 10 do, and not IN
hour OF rain or sunshine Is wasted. Al
! large share oi credit for all this success ia
due 20 the rare good sense and sound
! Judgment Of Mrs Baxter. In completes
I ncs oi convenience aud supply Maple
/ wood N q model Each man has his par-
/ ticular work, and does that and n'thiug
else. The MaplcWood farm is one Of lilo
! richest and best stocked In Lie
/ whole country, and everything Il
| done under the most perfect SYSTEM,
| Mr. Bakers busInCfs habits pcryndinx
/ everything. There arr agricultural imple-
mcnis enough for iair-sizcd store, ~
! thoroughly cared Tor. There are thirty
1 i've sets oi harness, tWCniy.cight hydmnts
| on the place, and over Two miles OF wutcf-
/ pipe. with windmills 10 DO the most Of Tho
! pumping There arc over 200 horses and
| thoroughbred cattle that wear MI lax
| tcf's collar, each having its own stall and
prrtinaciously claiming h.. The horses are
mostly perchcf0ns aud Normans, With
large number OF thoroughbred troitlng
mares. Tho cattle llolsicins aud Jcuef9
many VI them imported and OIL th0fouff-
bed. Tho sheep are souihdOwn and
I Lincolnshire. There II an abundancc
! of fancy and ornamental Ioulfrv