Stephen Hillenmeyer Landscape Services HistoryFrancis Xavier Hillenmeyer (1814-1893) FOUNDER:
Francis Xavier Hillenmeyer
(1814-1893),
a native of Alsace - Lorraine,
he received his certificate of
apprenticeship from Baumann
Nursery Company in 1836
where he was trained in
practical nursery work,
greenhouse management,
and landscape gardening.
He first came to America
and visited the Philadelphia
area, then went down the
east coast to Texas where
he served in the Army of
the Republic of Texas under
President Sam Houston.
Having finished his tour of
duty with the Army he went
to Savannah, Georgia where
he completed his first
horticultural work designing
and building a park in the
center of town. He came to
Lexington, Kentucky and
settled on Spurr Rd. just north
of Lexington. Many of you
will identify the location as
being immediately adjacent
to Linlee School. Shortly
thereafter he returned to
France where he married in
July of 1840. He purchased
his first nursery stock in
October of the same year
and returned to Lexington
with his new bride. It was
in the spring of 1841 that this
shipment of small fruits and
fruit trees arrived in
Lexington marking the
beginning of the Nursery
as we know it today.
In 1846 he purchased 20
acres of land which was
part of Sanders Garden,
owned by Col. Lewis Sanders,
son-in-law of George Nichols,
Dean of Law at Transylvania
University and author of the
Constitution of Kentucky.
It was here that Francis X.
Hillenmeyer developed test
orchards, vineyards, and
nursery plantings. It was from
the knowledge and strength
of this man that the
wonderful heritage we
enjoy today was begun. 
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