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.

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This is a cenotaph. View burial and family links at ACTUAL BURIAL HERE.