Gallatin in Sumner County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Isaac Franklin

1789-1846

— Fairvue Plantation —

Isaac Franklin Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 29, 2022

1. Isaac Franklin Marker

Inscription.
Born in Sumner County, Franklin and his business partner John Armfield became wealthy by trading in slaves and cotton. In 1832, he built the mansion at Fairvue Plantation and in 1839 married Adelicia Hayes. They had four children; none survived to live as adults. He died in 1846 and was buried at Fairvue in a handsome stone mausoleum. The limestone blocks of Franklin's ruined tomb are part of the main entrance gates to Fairvue Plantation.

Image credit: Courtesy of Tennessee State Library and Archives Image has been altered from the original

Erected 2014 by Fairvue Plantation Ladies Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.

Location. 36° 20.638′ N, 86° 29.122′ W. Marker is in Gallatin, Tennessee, in Sumner County. Marker is on Isaac Franklin Drive north of Plantation Way, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1170 Isaac Franklin Dr, Gallatin TN 37066, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Blacksmith Shop (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ellen Stokes More Wemyss (approx. half a mile away); Fairvue Mansion (approx. half a mile away); Mare Barns

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(approx. ¾ mile away); Asher's Trace (approx. one mile away); Grasslands (approx. 1.2 miles away); Fairvue Plantation (approx. 1.3 miles away); Volunteer State Community College (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gallatin.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Isaac Franklin. Wikipedia entry on the plantation owner, who built his fortune on slave trading before shifting to other business interests in the late 1830s. (Submitted on May 30, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. They were once America’s cruelest, richest slave traders. Why does no one know their names?. Isaac Franklin and John Armfield committed atrocities they appeared to relish. Among them was raping — and sometimes impregnating — enslaved women. (Hannah Natanson, The Washington Post, posted Sept. 14, 2019) (Submitted on May 30, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Belmont Mansion History. Mansion website entry (Submitted on October 31, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 29, 2022

2. Isaac Franklin Marker

Isaac Franklin (1789-1846) image. Click for full size.

Charles Sneed Williams via Tennessee Portrait Project (Fair use)

3. Isaac Franklin (1789-1846)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 292 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 30, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.