Anthony Van Leer

Anthony Wayne Van Leer (March 3, 1783 – July 9, 1863) was an American ironmaster and owner of the Cumberland Furnace in Dickson County, Tennessee. He was a member of the influential Van Leer family, the son of Samuel Van Leer, captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and nephew of General Anthony Wayne. The town of Vanleer, Tennessee is named after him. Biography Van Leer was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania on April 6, 1783, to Samuel and Hannah (Wayne) Van Leer. His father, Samuel Van Leer was a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Van Leer would join his family's iron business in Pennsylvania. On June 12, 1816, he married Rebecca Brady and together they had seven children but only 2 daughters survived to adulthood. In 1825, Van Leer began to invest in the iron business in Tennessee and purchased the Cumberland Furnace with partners from Montgomery Bell who was known as the "Iron Master of Middle Tennessee." Van Leer became one of the wealthiest ironmasters in Tennessee. By 1840, the Cumberland Furnace employed 114 slaves. Despite their status as slaves, men were paid on average $12 a month and women $5.