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William Blair

Gardener

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

Scottish

Mr. Bonestead

Overseer or gardener

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

Unknown

Mollie Buford

Housekeeper

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

Black

Frederick Buhla

Common laborer

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

German

Heloise Cenas

Tutor

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

French Descent

Armstead Cheatham

Coachman

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

Black

Valentine Fisher

Gardener

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

German

Mary Fleming

Servant

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

Black

Leon Geny

Gardener

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

French

John Golden

Teamster

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

Irish

Henry Gray

Gardener

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

Irish or English

Mildred Haley

Seamstress

Occupation:

Ethnicity: 

Black

1 & 20 Belmont Landscape 1 & 20 GC_edited.jpg

Estate Employees

The Belmont estate covered 177 acres including both the mansion's formal gardens and an adjoining garden farm called Montvale. The interior of the mansion covered just under 18,000 square feet and included 36 rooms. All of this space, inside and out, required regular maintenance to keep everything in working order.

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The following list includes all of the research we have been able to uncover to the date about those who worked here as employees from 1849 to 1887. Year of birth and death are listed beside their name. After that, if known, is listed the individual’s race or nationality. Occupation refers only to title of the job(s) that the person did while employed by the Acklen/Cheatham family. These job titles are all based on 19th century language and may be uncomfortable to modern readers. If research indicates an individual was once enslaved by the Acklens, a note has been made in that individual’s record to refer you back to their listing under the enslaved people.

 

Please note that should new research come to light about any of these individuals, or should someone new be discovered in, then future editions of the text will be updated accordingly.

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