Leon Geny

1826 - Birth year according to his gravestone in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

1858 - Geny family tradition states that in 1858, Leon Geny arrived in Nashville from Alsace, France to design the gardens at the Belmont Estate. While most likely Leon Geny became the gardener at Belmont soon after his arrival the gardens would have already been designed. Geny no doubt made changes to the design.

1859 – March 4 – In a letter, Adelica mentions Rutherford Brown visited Belmont and “told us of Geny the flowers, etc.”

1860 – April 8 – In a letter, Adelicia wrote that she wanted Mr. Geny to make sure that Mr. Storm hurried with his painting of the galleries and verandas.

1860 – In April, Leon is documented working at Belmont as the gardener. In June, the US Census lists him as age 35 born in France and living in the gardener’s house at Belmont with Robert Kunze.

1868 - Leon was elected to the Tennessee Horticultural Society at the Spring of 1868 meeting. [Republican Banner 4/5/68]. He also exhibited at the society's fall exhibition. On April 9th, Leon’s brother John Baptiste Geny arrived in Nashville. Also, a gardener he had hoped to teach French. He married in June of the same year and went into the florist business immediately. He opened his first green house at the corner of Warren and Jackson Street. This business continues today.

1870 – He is mentioned in the paper as a member of the French Aid Society in Nashville [Republican Banner 9/16/70]. The US Census listed him living close to Belmont age 54 with his wife Annie age 38. Annie Klein (sometimes spelled Anna) was born 1830 in Metze of the province of Loraine, France. The couple had no children but adopted her nephew Jacob Barot (1857-1907) known as Jaques who continued growing vegetables and flowers after the 1893 death of Annie.

1873 – September - Leon becomes the gardener again in September of 1873 and works for one year. His contract states Adelicia is to provide housing for Mr. Geny in the gardener’s house. She is also to provide the use of two horses or mules, one two horse wagon, one horse or express wagon together with the farming implements. Mr. Geny is to care for all the shrubbery and flowering plants in the green and hot houses and to the propagation of the same also to raising vegetables for home consumption of both parties and for sale in the market. Mr. Geny is to select housed one or more hands [workers] to assist him. Mr. Geny is also to supply ornamental plants for the grounds during the spring and summer. And, cut flowers or bouquets. Money made from the sale of plants, vegetables and flowers shall be split between Adelicia and Mr. Geny.

1873 - October 9 - Leon displays green house and hot house plants from Belmont at the 5th annual Tennessee Agricultural and Mechanical Association Fair. His display was "unusually fine." [Republican Banner 10/10/73]

1874 – While working at Belmont and with the Cheatham’s financial help, Leon purchased five acres on Hillsboro Pike adjoining Vanderbilt University on April 21, 1874. The family will sell vegetables and flowers from the Market House in downtown Nashville.

1875 – Adelicia Cheatham was engaged in a court case against Leon for a breach of contract likely stemming from his work on the property from 1873-74. It is decided he owes Adelicia $498.85.

1878 – January 24 - Leon died and was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery with Masonic rites from Cumberland Lodge, No. 8, F. A.M. of which he was a member. (Section 6 Lot 205)

1883 - October 3 - The Tennessee Supreme Court decided that Adelicia should receive $680.57 for Anna Geny (widow of Leon Geny) from money which she had loaned them in 1874.