The son of John Tayloe III, took over Mount Airy in 1828. Its enslaved population continued to increase, even as depleted soil led to crop shortfalls and declining profits. He and his brothers responded in part by acquiring cotton fields in west-central or Black Belt region of Alabama.
The son of John Tayloe III inherited Mount Airy in 1828.  This inheritance was accompanied by a growing enslaved population, which was exacerbated by declining agricultural yields due to depleted soil and resulting crop failures. The brothers responded to these challenges by acquiring cotton fields in the Black Belt region of Alabama.