Born in Germany in 1800, George Frederick Gerding became a successful businessman after moving to New York. He was decorated by Belgium King Leopold I for establishing the first ship line between Antwerp and New York. He served as U.S. Consul to Baden-Baden from 1845 to 1847. After acquiring 300,000 acres of land, he established the East Tennessee Land Colonization Co. for Swiss, German, and French immigrants. In 1844 he founded Wartburg and gave land for the town square, a church, and a cemetery. He died in 1884.