{"id":12805,"date":"2013-12-26T16:39:23","date_gmt":"2013-12-26T22:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/?p=12805"},"modified":"2023-06-11T19:34:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T00:34:35","slug":"baxter-laura-lavender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/baxter-laura-lavender\/","title":{"rendered":"BAXTER, Laura (Lavender)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BaxterLaura\"<\/a>Mrs. Nathaniel BAXTER<\/strong>, the daughter of\u00a0James F. and Sarah LAVENDER<\/strong>\u00a0of Williamson County, Tenn., comes of patriotic and illustrious ancestry. \u00a0Her grandfather,\u00a0Nelson LAVENDER,<\/strong>\u00a0fought in the Mexican War under\u00a0General SCOTT;<\/strong>\u00a0enlisting at the outbreak of the war and remaining until hostilities ceased. \u00a0He fought in many important battles, among the number being Chepultepec, Cherebusco, and Monterey. \u00a0She is the great-granddaughter of\u00a0William LAVENDER<\/strong>, who enlisted in Virginia in the Guards\u2019 Corps, serving with such distinction in the Revolutionary War that he received a grant of land in recognition of his services.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mrs. BAXTER\u2019<\/strong>s mother,\u00a0Sarah HORTON<\/strong>, daughter of\u00a0William and Elizabeth Elliott KENNEDY<\/strong>, of Charleston, S.C., was a great belle and one of the most beautiful women of her day in a land celebrated for the beauty and grace of its womanhood.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the military annals of the \u201cup-country\u201d section of South Carolina \u2013 so called from having been populated with people from the provinces of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia \u2013 the names \u201cElliott\u201d and \u201cKennedy\u201d have always been\u00a0conspicuous. \u00a0The two families have for generations been among the most prominent and influential in that portion of the country. \u00a0This \u201cup-country\u201d section at the outbreak of the War of the Revolution was slow to take action; but when the troops of Cornwallis invaded their territory and perpetuated among their high-hauded cruelties, they rose\u00a0en masse<\/em>, and no people in the land gave more freely of their blood and means to the cause of American independence. \u00a0With officers of their own choosing and no pay but their patriotic sense of duty done, they achieved a series of brilliant victories that did more toward securing the freedom and liberties of the American colonies than anything else, unless it was the French alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mrs. BAXTER\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0maternal great-great-grandfather was the second son of\u00a0Lord KENNEDY<\/strong>, of Ireland, who was the owner of vast estates in the \u201cEmerald Isle.\u201d \u00a0This younger son emigrated to Virginia, and afterwards removed to the the \u201cPalmetto Sate,\u201d \u00a0Her maternal grandfather was\u00a0Rev. Henry Cato HORTON,<\/strong>\u00a0a minister of power and influence in the Methodist Church in Virginia and Tennessee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mrs. BAXTER<\/strong>, the subject of this sketch, was born and reared in Mississippi. \u00a0She was educated in Memphis, Tenn., at the Sate Female College, under the scholarly\u00a0Dr. J.T.C. COLLINS<\/strong>. \u00a0In the exclusive social coterie in which she moved, she reigned an undisputed favorite, and in her early girlhood exercised in no small degree the fine womanly influences which have been so characteristic of her. \u00a0She was married December, 1868, to Mr.\u00a0Nathaniel BAXTER<\/strong>, of Nashville, Tenn. \u00a0Mr. BAXTER<\/strong>\u00a0took an active part in the Civil War. \u00a0He enlisted when a lad only fifteen years of age, and commanded a battery of artillery at the age of eighteen. \u00a0He served four years with distinction, and surrendered with Gen. Joseph E. JOHNSTON\u2019<\/strong>s army at Hillsboro, N.C., in May, 1865, having been in forty-one battles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. BAXTER<\/strong>\u00a0has been eminently successful in his business, and has established for himself a most enviable reputation as a broad, conservative businessman and an able financier. \u00a0The\u00a0Daily News<\/em>\u00a0of April 27, 1902, said: \u201cMr. BAXTER<\/strong>\u00a0was one of the foremost figures in the organization and development of the great Tennessee Coal, iron and Railroad Company, which blazed the way for the establishment of the iron industry in Tennessee and Alabama. \u00a0For years he was its president, and directed its complex affairs \u00a0with a capacity which made him one of the famous iron masters of the country. \u00a0He has lately resigned that position to accept the presidency of the Cumberland Coal and Coke Company, which own vast properties along the Cumberland Plateau, traversed by the Tennessee Central Railroad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Since their marriage,\u00a0Mr. and Mrs. BAXTER<\/strong>\u00a0have resided in Nashville. Their residence on Spruce street is noted for the elegance of its furnishing, containing as it does many fine works of art. \u00a0Among them are Japanese bronzes of unusual size and rare workmanship, marbles, pictures, and plate. \u00a0In the spacious hall, drawing-room, library, and dining room are antique bronze candelabra of exquisite design and great beauty; and these rooms are hung with rich draperies. \u00a0One of the most notable entertainments ever given in the State had this elegant and hospitable home for its setting, when the gracious hostess celebrated \u201cFlag Day\u201d \u00a0– June 14, 1898 \u2013 she being at that time regent of the Cumberland Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. \u00a0The library was converted into a picture gallery; hung with the portraits of patriots, from Washington and Lee down to those of our own time; and many pictures of the heroes of our late Spanish-American War adorned the walls. \u00a0In a conspicuous place was hung a picture of Betsy Ross fashioning with deft fingers the \u201cStar-spangled Banner.\u201d \u00a0Flags of nearly every nation were artistically draped in every available space, making a gorgeous background for the representative guests assembled there from many parts of the State. \u00a0A\u00a0magnificent\u00a0silken United States flag of large dimensions draped the archway between the library and the dining room.<\/span><\/p>\n

During Mrs. BAXTER<\/strong>\u2019s recent regency of Cumberland Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, a very handsome sword was presented to\u00a0Gen. Joseph WHEELER<\/strong>\u00a0by this organization. \u00a0The occasion was made one of importance and prominence throughout the State. \u00a0The presentation took place at the State Capital in the presence of a vast concourse of people, addresses being made by the Governor of the State,\u00a0Hon. Benton McMILLIN<\/strong>, and\u00a0Hon. Joseph E. WASHINGTON<\/strong>. \u00a0General WHEELER and his daughters were guests of the BAXTERS at their Spruce street home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Four children were born to\u00a0Mr. and Mrs. BAXTER<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Miranda Louise, Lollie Lavender, James Sharpe<\/strong>, and\u00a0Nathaniel East<\/strong>. \u00a0The boys died in childhood. \u00a0The elder daughter married\u00a0Robert F. JACKSON,<\/strong>\u00a0youngest son of\u00a0Dr. Alexander JACKSON,<\/strong>\u00a0of West Tennessee, and brother of the late\u00a0Judge Howell E. JACKSON,<\/strong>\u00a0of the Supreme Bench of the United States. \u00a0Mr. JACKSON<\/strong>\u00a0is a prominent lawyer of the Nashville bar. \u00a0Mrs. JACKSON<\/strong>\u00a0is a beautiful, attractive, and brilliant woman. \u00a0She has fine literary acumen; wields a graceful, facile pen; and is State historian of the Colonial Dames of American in the State of Tennessee. \u00a0Lollie LAVENDER<\/strong>, the younger daughter, has a most charming presence. \u00a0She married\u00a0Mr. Robert F. MADDOX<\/strong>, a cultured gentleman and successful young banker, of Atlanta, Ga. \u00a0His father,\u00a0Col. R.F. MADDOX<\/strong><\/span>,<\/strong>\u00a0was a public-spirited man and leading citizen of that State, having filled many positions of trust and honor. \u00a0He was distinguished for positions of trust and honor. \u00a0He was distinguished for bravery as a colonel in the Confederate Army. \u00a0Mrs. MADDOX<\/strong> has a very fine musical education, and was welcomed to her adopted city as quite an acquisition in musical circles. \u00a0Though a social leader in the \u201cGate City,\u201d the handsome residence on Peachtree street being frequently the scene of brilliant entertainments, she engages actively in charity and church work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mrs. BAXTER has never been abroad. \u00a0She desired first to visit the scenes and beauties of her own country. \u00a0She has traveled extensively in California, Mexico, and Canada, and has spent many summers at Bar Harbor, Newport, Saratoga, Cape May, White Sulphur Springs, and other resorts. \u00a0She is interested in numerous charitable organizations and does much, in a quiet, unostentatious\u00a0way, to assist the needy. \u00a0She is a charter member of the Tabernacle Circle, which has done so much toward building one of the largest and handsomenest auditoriums in the United States. \u00a0The Vanderbilt Aid Society, of which she is an active member, was organized in her home. She also belongs to the Philharmonic Club, the Craddock Circle, the Epworth Leagues,\u00a0and\u00a0the Young Women\u2019s Christian Association. \u00a0Her serene, engaging manner; her culture and aesthetic tastes, secure for her hosts of friends; and one of her chief charms is her entire sincerity, which impresses all who know her. \u00a0A member of the Methodist Church, she takes an active interest in the varied branches of its work, and is a fine\u00a0example\u00a0of the highest type of noble, Christian womanhood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Source:\u00a0Gilchrist, Annie S.\u00a0Some Representative Women of Tennessee<\/i>. Nashville: McQuiddy Print. Co, 1902.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mrs. Nathaniel BAXTER, the daughter of\u00a0James F. and Sarah LAVENDER\u00a0of Williamson County, Tenn., comes of patriotic and illustrious ancestry. \u00a0Her grandfather,\u00a0Nelson LAVENDER,\u00a0fought in the Mexican War under\u00a0General SCOTT;\u00a0enlisting at the outbreak of the war and remaining until hostilities ceased. \u00a0He fought in many important battles, among the number being Chepultepec, Cherebusco, and Monterey. \u00a0She is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[162,4064,4066,4405,232,634,4419],"tags":[607,942,1647,4391,912,2540,115,4396,771],"class_list":{"0":"post-12805","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-davidson","7":"category-representativewomen","8":"category-state-female-college","9":"category-surname-b","10":"category-williamson","11":"category-woman","12":"category-x_featured-image-no","13":"tag-baxter","14":"tag-collins","15":"tag-horton","16":"tag-jackson","17":"tag-kennedy","18":"tag-lavender","19":"tag-maddox","20":"tag-scott","21":"tag-wheeler","22":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12805"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12805\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12808,"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12805\/revisions\/12808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/whos-who\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}