John Wood Dodge

Born in New York City, dodge was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1832 on the basis of his miniature portraits. Dodge and his family moved to Nashville in 1840, where he painted miniatures, including some on ivory of Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay. In 1845, the family bought this tract of 5000 acres in Cumberland County, constructed a log house and planted thousands of apple trees, naming this estate Pomona. He continued to paint, completing four large painting covering two hundred square fee of canvas. One was a scene of New York, another was the interior of St. Peter's in Rome. At the beginning of the Civil War, Dodge feared for his family's safety and moved to New York. In 1889, the family returned to Cumberland County and built several houses in Victorian styles. Dodge continued to paint portraits, landscapes, and miniatures. He died in 1883 and is buried in Cumberland County.