Anthony Wayne Van Leer facts for kids

Anthony Wayne Van Leer (born March 3, 1783 – died July 9, 1863) was an important American businessman. He was known as an "ironmaster," which means he owned and managed large iron factories. He owned the famous Cumberland Furnace in Dickson County, Tennessee. The town of Vanleer, Tennessee is even named after him! He was part of the well-known Van Leer family. His father, Samuel Van Leer, was a captain in the American Revolutionary War. His uncle was General Anthony Wayne, a famous military leader.

A Life in Iron

Anthony Wayne Van Leer was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on March 3, 1783. His parents were Samuel and Hannah (Wayne) Van Leer. His father, Samuel Van Leer, was a brave captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

On June 12, 1816, Anthony married Rebecca Brady. They had seven children together. Sadly, only two of their daughters lived to become adults.

Becoming an Ironmaster

In 1825, Van Leer started investing in the iron business in Tennessee. He bought the Cumberland Furnace from Montgomery Bell. Bell was known as the "Iron Master of Middle Tennessee." Van Leer soon became one of the richest ironmasters in Tennessee. By 1840, the Cumberland Furnace used the labor of 114 enslaved people to operate.

During the American Civil War, the furnace stopped working in 1862. Unlike other iron factories in the area, the Union Army did not destroy the Cumberland Furnace.

Anthony Wayne Van Leer passed away on July 9, 1863, in Nashville, Tennessee. After his death, his grandchildren, Vanleer Kirkman and Mary Florence Kirkman, took over the ownership of Cumberland Furnace.

His Lasting Legacy

The town of Vanleer, Tennessee was named in his honor. This shows how important he was to the area.