This is not a duplicate of the memorial located in the Turley Section of the Cemetery for John C. McLemore Sr. This headstone is located in the Chapel Hill section with other McLemore family members.

Land Surveyor and Speculator. Though not as well known as his counterparts, McLemore was one of the original founders of Memphis playing a large, if not larger role, than John Overton, Andrew Jackson and James Winchester. At the age of 16, he moved to Nashville and began clerking as a land surveyor. Five years later he was appointed surveyor general of the military district by the Tennessee State Legislature, a job formerly held by his uncle, William Christmas. In 1815 McLemore married Elizabeth Donelson, a niece of Andrew Jackson. Jackson and McLemore partnered together and enjoyed great success in land deals in Alabama and Tennessee. The two owned a great deal of land in Memphis, and when Jackson ran for the office of United States President, he traded his 625 Memphis acres to McLemore in exchange for land in Madison County, thus making McLemore one of the largest land holders in Memphis. In addition, he had land holdings throughout the state, mostly in West Tennessee, and at least two towns were named for him, McLemoresville and Christmasville. McLemore moved to Memphis in order to promote the town, sell lots and make money. He placed his name on the 1828 deed giving public access to the Memphis river front including Court Square, Market Square, Auction Square and the riverfront promenade. Through his land deals McLemore became extremely wealthy, but his gamble on the failed Memphis and LaGrange railroad drained him most of his wealth. The project was an abject failure and a financial panic in 1837 decimated his holdings further. In an attempt to make a financial comeback, McLemore went to California in the 1849 gold rush. He stayed there for about 12 years returning to Memphis before his death. Of all four founders of the City of Memphis, John Christmas McLemore is the only one buried in Memphis.

Elmwood Cemetery Biographical Sketches 1874
John C. McLemore was born in Orange County, North Carolina, January 1st, 1790, died February 20th, 1864. he became a clerk in the Surveyor General's office, at Nashville, in 1806. On the death of his uncle, Col. Wm. Christmas, Mr. McLemore succeeded to his office, and was retained in it by the Legislature many years. He married the daughter of John Donelson, and , rich in gold and popular confidence, wielded unexampled influence, especially in the central and western districts of Tennessee. There was never a citizen of the State so thoroughly cognizant of all facts affecting the value of land in all portions of Tennessee. Generous in giving information, and never misleading those seeking his assistance, he was the guide-book to migratory populations from older States. He bought Gen. Jackson's share in the John Rice grant, on which Memphis stands, and, as landed proprietor, was generous to the last degree. He was only too confiding, and lost heavily by endorsing the notes of his friends. He designed a monument to his life-long associate, President Jackson, intended to be erected on the summit of the great mound at Fort Pickering. With Gen. Gaines he planned, and aided in the partial construction, nearly forty years ago, of a railway to LaGrange, designed to be extended to Charleston. Even then he discussed and defined the route of a road to the Pacific, across western plains and prairies, and, in old age, when the scheme began to assume practical shape, no one evinced keener interest in its consummation. he was of courtly manner, of most benignant expression of face, tall, slender, graceful in bearing, and always well dressed. Admirable gentlemen were John C. McLemore, M.B. Winchester, Charles Lofland, John Pope, and many like them, who made truth and honor the only touchstones of respectability and social recognition in the olden time.