Anthony Wayne Van Leer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony Wayne Van Leer
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| Born | March 3, 1783 |
| Died | July 9, 1863 |
| Occupation | Ironmaster |
| Parent(s) | Samuel Van Leer Hannah Wayne |
| Relatives | Bernardhus Van Leer (grandfather) Isaac Van Leer (brother) Anthony Wayne (Uncle) VanLeer Polk (grandson) George Howard Earle Jr. (grandnephew) Florence Van Leer Earle Coates (grandniece) |
Anthony Wayne Van Leer (a.k.a. Anthony Van Leer) (March 3, 1783 – July 9,1864) was an American ironmaster and owner of the Cumberland Furnace in Dickson County, Tennessee. He was a member of the influential Van Leer family, the son of Samuel Van Leer, captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and nephew of General Anthony Wayne. The town of Vanleer, Tennessee is named after him.
Biography
Van Leer was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania on April 6, 1783, to Samuel and Hannah (Wayne) Van Leer. His father, Samuel Van Leer was a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
On June 12, 1816, he married Rebecca Brady and together they had seven children but only 2 daughters survived to adulthood.
In 1825, Van Leer began to invest in the iron business in Tennessee and purchased the Cumberland Furnace from Montgomery Bell who was known as the "Iron Master of Middle Tennessee." Van Leer became one of the wealthiest ironmasters in Tennessee. By 1840, the Cumberland Furnace employed 114 slaves. During the American Civil War, the furnace operations ceased in 1862 and unlike other furnaces in the area, was not destroyed by Union Army.
He died on July 9, 1863 in Nashville, Tennessee and the ownership of Cumberland Furnace passed to his grandchildren Vanleer Kirkman and Mary Florence Kirkman.
Legacy
The town of Vanleer, Tennessee is named in his honor.
