260 Cotton Grove Rd. Jackson, TN
Circa 1830s. Burned 1930 & 1933 rebuilt as 2 story Colonial Revival in unique fireproof construction
Adam Huntsman (1786-1849) was a pioneer settler and lawyer. His life is remarkable for living in all three sections of Tennessee (and leaving his mark in each) as well as becoming a formidable criminal defense attorney and Jacksonian Democrat in Jackson. He wed three times: Elizabeth Huntsman (?-1813); Sarah Wesley "Sallie" Quarles Huntsman (1798-1825); and Nancy Waller Mosley Huntsman (1789-1858). Sallie's parents were Lieut. William P. and Nancy Ann Quarles of Virginia and East Tennnessee. Quarles earned land grants of over 5,000 acres near Putnam Co. for his Revolutionary War service and was a prominent planter and judge in the area. Evidently the family history went far back in English history and was close to the royalty. He was also the founder of White Plains, TN near Cookeville where his grandson later had a home by the same name. Nancy was the widow of John S. Mosley and was a prominent member of Clarksville, TN society. She had inherited over 850 acres in Montgomery and Madison Counties from her marriage. The couple actually signed a prenuptial agreement - which was smart of Nancy.
After studying law ; he built his home in the 1830/40s on nearly 460 acres. Huntsman helped write the Tennessee Constitution of 1834 and was a U.S. House of Representative from 1823-27 and 1835-37. He was powerful as a Andrew Jackson ally in West Tennessee and never lost an election. Evidently, Huntsman was a bitter political enemy of David Crockett. When he defeated Crockett, Crockett cussed out the crowd with a "to hell with you" and left for Texas - and the Alamo - and was dead months later. The farm was east of downtown Jackson. After Huntsman's death, his huge debts were discovered, and he left no will. The bank took his property - and Nancy's assets were untouched.
A Huntsman descendant Malone family resided at the home during the Civil War. At some point, Robert L. Hill and Fannie Hill became owners of the property.
In 1923, the Hills sold several hundred acres including the home to William Collier. Collier had lived at the J. F. Hurt House on North Royal St. when it burned down and escaped with injuries from it. Five years later, in 1929, the old Huntsman home burned down. William Collier had a new larger home reconstructed in a unique fireproof manner with 14-18 inches of concrete and a brick veneer and called The Cedars. A large lake was made on the property. The Cedars name derived from the cedar trees lining the driveway. Collier had purchased and lived in the first home prior to the fire.
Collier designed Marathon autos and manufacturing in Tennessee. In 1906, he worked in Jackson for Southern Engine and Boiler Works. Collier designed prototype automobiles. His designs were successful and production began in 1907. A Nashville investor bought Southern Engine and moved to Nashville to the vacant Phoenix Cotton Mill site. It expanded until 1915 when Indianapolis-based Herf-Brooks Corp. bought the company and moved it to Indiana. Marathon was thought to be the only automotive company based in the South until the 1980s.  Sadly, because of poor finances, Collier never completed constructing the home.In 1942, a bank foreclosed on the home, and the home was owned by several families.
In 1945, Robert Arthur Caldwell (1908-1987) and Angelyn LeFlore Caldwell (1913-2011) purchased a 100 acre portion of the lands. Caldwell was president of Jackson Packing Company, a director of First National Bank and a farmer.
Two years, in 1947, Roy Monger purchased the home and the reduced ten acres.
John Van Den Bosch, Jr. (1931-2011) and Yelena Mae Lane Van Den Bosch (1945-1994)owned the home in 1988. They wed in 1981. He was a Jackson attorney.Â
In 1999, Roy H. Callahan (1943-2015) and Peggy Hurst Callahan owned the home with 10 acres. He was an electrician. NR 1999
Sources:Â
Jackson & Madison County-A Pictorial History, E. I. Williams M Smothers, M. Carter, 1988, p. 26