Orion Hill's story began in 1830 when Alexander Donelson arrived with a new wave of settlers and their slaves. Alexander, grandson of John Donelson, co-founder of Nashboro, now Nashville, and a nephew of the 7th president, Andrew Jackson and Rachel Donelson Jackson, was one of the first settlers in what is now Arlington. Before 1844, he built his home as an exact replica of the Hermitage, calling it Orion Hill. The site has many of the original Eastern Cedar, Loblolly Pine, Osage Orange, Magnolia, and Pecan trees that were planted between 150 to 200 years ago. Several generations of the Donelson family lived and farmed in this area until the house burned sometime after 1923. The original house, as is the current home, was located at the top of a small hill and took the name of the constellation Orion. In addition to being a planter, Donelson was also a successful merchant and opened the second store in Arlington.