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1-1-1915
Early settlers of Orange County, Florida
C. E. Howard
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Recommended Citation Howard, C. E., "Early settlers of Orange County, Florida" (1915). Text Materials of Central Florida. 100. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cfm-texts/100
OLD WORTHIES OF ORANGE COU:-;TY
The late Hon. 'vV. L. Palmer The late Gen. 'vil. H. Jewell The late Judge J. D. Beggs The late Capt. L. C. Horn The late Judge Cecil Butt The late Will Wallace Harney, Orange County's Poet The late J. P. Hughey The late Dr. J . N. Butt Hiram Beasley Bailiff of Orange County Court from the earliest clays to now EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA Reminiscent-Historic-Biographic 1915
C. E. HOWARD, ORLANDO, FLA.
PUBLISHER PREFACE
C. E. HOV{ ARD, PUBLISHER
C. E. Howard, native of Pennsylvania, came many of them gone to a just reward, many to Orange County, locating on Lake Jessamine, still living to er.joy the fruits of their early October, 1883. Sold to Dwight D. Porter, labors, a host of them not mentioned in this returned to Pennsylvania, came back in 1888 book, those who are, deserving a place in the and located permanently in Orlando in 1904. future archives of the county. Has followed publishing business and photog This little work is not intended as more than raphy. Edited Orlando Star, Orange County an introduction to a few of those worthy men Reporter, Reporter-Star, Sentinel, and for the who should not be forgotten by the living past five years owned and edited the Orange beneficiaries of their labors nor by posterity, County Citizen. Served as city aldermari and to whom they will stand debtor. twelve years, several terms chairman ; Secre Some time, some one will need material for tary Board of Trade for several years and is a history of the county and for some of it, at now chairman District School Trustees. least, he may turn to the facts contained in This volume is dedicated to the tried and the lives of those mentioned herein. true pioneers of Orange County, Florida, THE AuTHOR-C. E . Howard. ,/
The Early History of Orange County
THE DAYS OF LONG GO
By MRS. J. . WHIT ER SANFORD, Fi..ORIDA
COUNCIL OAK J. M. Alden, Artist.
Whatever of pride and enjoyment we citi shall be evolved from the shadows of the past, zens of ·Orange County may feel in her pres and recalled by patient efforts, we shall find ent day achievements, our sentiment cannot it is a part of that story of un urpassed trag be praiseworthy till we shall have paused and edy and romance, the story of the Seminole paid our tributes of respect and honor to those wars of nearly a century ago. of a generation ago, who, by their Christian For this reason Orange County contains faith and practice, their sterling characteris many places of interest, of which now we tics and ability, overcame primitive conditions have only a vague knowledge but when the and made possible within a lifetime the civ work is completed of compiling the Seminole ilization we now enjoy. war records from the archives at Washington, There is a duty-a privilege-sacred and we hope to obtain information which shall be binding, which devolves upon the few of us reliable. who are left, who have personal recollections Prominent among these places are the mili of the real pioneers, that can only be per tary graveyards of two wars, familiar to many formed by ourselves. The day is growing late persons and for their care appropriations might when if we would be their worthy successors be obtained from the United States Govern we must arouse and prepare for the use of ment. those who shall write our country's history, Some of the localities are well known, where reminiscent characteristic sketches of the men historic and otherwise prominent events have and women who laid so well the foundations occurred, where earliest settlements were made upon which we have built, of their traditions (many of these are sacred to us now) and and ideals, their manners, social life and re where the dead were laid to rest. Only after ligious habits, with incidents, anecdotes and the utmost care should data be accepted as facts relative to them. authentic, but when satisfactorily established When the earliest of our county's history the places should be marked even if at pres- 3 64-174J5V 4 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY ent in very simple manner, and the sentiment ment, and but for the greater force of artillery which time attaches to such will suggest ap over simple fire arms, the story. of the mas propriate and enduring memorials in tablets sacre would have been frightful to relate. and stone. With a desperate courage the Indians fought A peculiar pathos lingers around everything fiercely for three hours. Captain Charles connected with the Indians and all over our Mellen was killed. Fourteen others were country are traces of their neighborhood life, wounded. The Indi~ns' loss was twenty-five. and along the St. Johns River, which they It was said afterwards that ·the Indians be called Welaka, are many burial mounds. These came terrified at the roar of the cannon, with mounds, especially, should be preserved from twigs and limbs falling from the trees, and the hands of vandals. thinking that a thunder storm was raging, sent In 1750 the Creek Indians in Alabama sep . by the Great Spirit to aid the white men, the arated and many of them emigrated to Florida poor creatures gave up the attack and fled in under a chief name Secoffee and settled in terror to the woods. the western part of the peninsula, which they The military records state that after this called Alachua. These united with the native , attack the name of Camp Monroe was changed tribes of t~ peninsula and together they ab to Fort Mellen and became the most important sorbed many run-away negro slaves from and healthful inland state in Florida; as a base Georgia. Their descendants became the fierce for supplies and distribution for the many Seminoles and by the end of the century had forts and military camps which were scattered over-run the peninsula. ill ,over Mosquito Co., the territory of which This remnant of the once free, proud, red extended from St. Johns County on the north men, crowded back, and driven bdore the southward to Monroe, which then extended march of civilization, proved a formidable foe across the peninsula on the west from Alachua to any who dared encroach upon 1.he sunny to the Atlantic. strip lying between the ocean and the gulf, the A few of the names of these forts and last left to them of all the continent which by camps are still perpetuated in our county as Divine right of inheritance and posses~ion had · Fort Reed, Maitland, Gatlin and Christmas, all belonged to their people. ha~ing been the scenes of military life. The record of the Seminole War of 1836 At Fort Gatlin, now almost within the sub reported the establishment of Camp :Monroe urbs of the beautiful county site, Orlando, on the south shore of the lake which bears stands the bleached trunk and bare wide that name, thus opening the route by which spread branches of an immense dead live-oak. the United States army advanced int'J the in It is said that under this oak the red men ancl terior of the eastern half of the peninsula for the white met to hold a council. t this late the suppression of the Seminole Indians. The day, we can easily believe that the Indians' post was occupied by two companies of artil part in that council was but to listen to the lery, four companies of dragoons and some arbitrary sentence which would expel them Creek Indians. forever to the cold, bleak plains of the West, Can one imagine the indignant horror of the away from the fair land that they loved, from Indians at the sight of these forerunners of its shady hammocks of moss-draped cypress the army of their pursuers entering the gate and magnolias, its winding rivers overhung way of their retreat? And they would claim with palms and willows and oaks, red hybiscus even this! and white · lilies, its grassy prairies stretching Leaders arose, stimulated perhaps to a off into rolling forests of lofty pines, dotted greater degree of daring by slight trace of the here and there with clear blue lakes and the blood of white men in the veins of some of wide stretch of the waters in her inland seas, them. These poor savages in their extremity the happiest hunting ground that Indians ever arose to the white man's conception of the dwelt upon, where a variety of game roamed loftiest heights of valor for the defence of in abundance and the rigors of cold were their wigwams and their hunting grounds. scarcely felt~ White men had need of this Under the connsel of Oceola, and the leader peerless land, and a council was called to in ship of King Philip and Coacoochee, son and form the red men of the plans for their de grandson of the old chief Secoffee, four hun parture on the ships to be in waiting for them dred braves made a bold and desperate at at Tampa, and our fancy suggests that what tack upon Camp Monroe on the 6th of Feb the children of the forest heard that day ruary, 1837, a few weeks after its establish- broke the heart of the tree. The Indians are EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 5 gone. Some went to the West, a few were persons (in proportion to the standards of the permitted to remain beyond a line which the time) grew wealthy. white men drew and their descendants still 1866 ushered in the first glow of a new era. lodge in the swamps of the Everglades. In the great readjustment which was taking But the Council Oak stands, her white arms place in the states north of us, as if by a simul held aloft, a silent protest against the injus taneous impulse attention seemed fixed upon tice of war, a ghostly presence lamenting her Florida. The world heard of her orange children, a memorial of them, which time~ nor groves and her balmy climate. Many families storm has expelled in all the years since then. in other southern states, disturbed and unset A very beautiful picture has been painted of tled in the plantation life in which they had the Council Oak by a talented member of this been reared, turned to new scenes. Accus association, Mr. Alden, of Orlando. We may tomed to agricultural pursuits, fruit culture find no proofs, but tradition of the story of seemed natural and attractive and the result the oak and the council, but the legend is was the removal from those states to this coun sweet and we will pass it on. ty of a class of persons who had many of Before leaving the subjects which will be of them lived on the same soil since their fore interest to our historians, we would particular fathers came to America in the early colonial ly emphasize the type of the people whom we days. Those from the north sought health, have called Orange County's pioneers, as dis climate or investment, each representing a more tinct from the adventurous spirits who usually refined and cultured type than is usually found inhabit new countries. among the early settlers of a new territory. Orange County was populated at two dis This is a meagre outline of the causes which tinct periods, her earliest settlements were a led to the displacing of the original inhabitants consequence of the Seminole wars, and the of peninsular Florida, and the rapi CAPTAI B. M. SIMS CHARTER PRESIDENT ORANGE COUNTY PIONEERS' ASSOCIATION CAPT. 13. M. SIMS Capt. B. M. Sims, of Ocoee, is a Tennessean, a citrus nursery, which was probably the first educated at Hiwassee College in that State. mercantile citrus nursery in the United States. Served through the Civil war. Came to He has kept that business up to the present Florida in 1865 and found Orange County time, furnishing trees for almost all the large about 120 miles long by 60 miles wide, with 75 old groves in this part of the State, and ship voters; no railroad nearer than Jacksonville, ping a great many to California, and has at and no postoffice in the County. the present a large, fine nursery. He taught school the first year, which was He is probably the only man living who was the first school ever taught in Orange County. selling oranges and trees from his own rais He built the first frame courthouse in the ing in 1870. county-the old courthouse being a log house He was the only man owning a ten-acre with a dirt floor. bearing grove at that time. In 1893, when A few years previous a little colony of the "big freeze" came, he owned 6o acres of wealthy men had settled on South Apopka. bearing grove, after having sold 30 acres for The little colony owned over one hundred thirty thousand dollars. negroes, and cleared up several hundred acres At that time he owned stock in the Citizens' of rich hammock land for raising Sea Island National Bank of Orlando, and was one of the cotton and sugar cane. Some of the names of directors. The freeze caused the bank to the little colony were Hudson, Pigue, Roper, break, and the stockholders had their stock Dr. Stark. doubled on them and lost it all. He was one When the war came on, most of the settlers of the first men to ship vegetables to the left, the negroes being freed. Capt. Sims North. rented fifty acres of Dr. Stark's plantation and He has never held office except County planted cotton and corn. He raised 2,000 Commissioner. He is the oldest Freemason in pounds of cotton and one thousand bushels of the county, and was once District Deputy corn, selling the cotton for $2,000. While he Grand Master for the State. was cultivating the crop he bought a piece of He has four children and is able to start wild hammock land on Lake Apopka with them on ten thousand dollars' worth of prop wild orange trees. He cut the wild trees oft erty apiece. He says he has done his best, and put sweet buds in the stumps, and planted has fought a good fight and got licked. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 7 J. WALTER SIMS J. WALTER SIMS J. Walter Sims, son of Captain B. M. Sims, he fancied he was a bit too cramped in Ocoee, is an "Orange County boy," for the very good hence he emigrated, "Westward, Ho!" But reason that he was born in Ocoee, where hi s he found it wild and woolly and not at all in boyhood and youth were spent amid the orange groves, gardens and native Florida woods. keeping with good old Orange County, and It was not surprising that, as he studied after giving it a fair trial, he shook the dust the map of the United States and noted the of it all off his feet and returned home to live vast expanse of the great western domain that and when done living, to die in Dixie. 8 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY DR. EDGE IE 0. SIMS Doctor Sims has a right to be called an old he went there to practice dentistry, remammg settler in that he first saw the light of day two years, moved to Brunswick, Georgia, two at Ocoee, Orange County, Fla., June II, 1867. years, removed After attending the public schools of that to Atlanta for day until twelve years of age, he was sent to two years and the Tullahoma, Tenn., public schools and from in 1898 went there went to Burritt College, Spencer Coun to Honduras ty, Tenn., where he graduated. for a year and Deciding upon dentistry as his profession, he in Cuba two went to the Baltimore College of Dentistry, years, finally returning to from which he graduated in 1890. 0 co e e, re And now, having an education and a pro mained a year, fession, one of the mo t important as well as and in 1912 most profitable, he had all the world before opened an of him to choose where best to locate for the fice in Winter good of the people, as well as for himself. Garden. Thus, Of course they needed him right in his own he holds den county and near to his own home and the tal certificates time would come when he would consent to of Florida, such an arrangement, but first there was the . G e o r g i a, whole v,:orld beckoning to him with enticing South Caro hand. lina, Maryland, The state of Texas held out inducements and Texas, Cuba. DR. EUGENE O. SIMS MURRAY S. KI G Pennsylvania tioned are the Robt. Dhu MacDonald residence contributed in Winter Park, the beautiful Tiedkie mansion Murray S. on Magnolia avenue, the Astor Hotel, the King to Or Grand Theatre, Yowell-Duckworth department lando, in 1904. building and the Presbyterian church. Surely a man who adds to the permanent, For several habitable, business and religious buildings of a years he fol city is a citizen worth while, and Florida has lowed building long looked forward to the time when men of and contract sufficient foresight would see that her peculiar ing and when climate calls for a style and quality of archi the time tecture differing in many essentials from that seemed ripe, of the frigid and temperate zones, besides the took up his fact that the very environment gives oppor profession as tunity for many departures into the Spanish architect. Mission, Greek, Roman, Indian and other Many of the types, which fit suitably into it with particular best buildinas suitability. in the city and Mr. King's personal fitness has won for him county stand recently an appointment to the Florida State as monuments Board of Architecture, of which he was made MURRAY S. KING to his !'kill president, and he is also a charter member and and creative director in the Florida Association of Archi genius. Among those that might be men- tects. ?IONEER TELLS HO LAKES LUCERNE AND TLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 9 EOLA WERFNAMED C. A. BOONE NAMED ONE AND OBERT L. SUMMERLIN THE OTHER C. .BOOE How La-ke Lucerne and I.,ake Eoia =------ Teceived their names was interesting ly rme,terl t i mommllJ?-;-,:~~-•.. ;, Tax 'oll <·tor C. A. Boon , Orange county' re 1 pioneers. "as in 1875 that hey reeeived their 1·esent name . "In l 75 I was working in the office of my father-in-law, James R .Hughey, who waH clerk of the court," said )1 r. B one. "A Swiss draftimrnn cam~ throu~h the country one day and difl , ·om platting in the section about 1 L.i ke Lucerne. At that time the lake I had no name. We simply c lled it 1 'th lak .' 1 asked him th names of the lakes of Switzerland and he told I ·ound of Lucerne and o I told him to me a long Ii t of them. I liked the 1 _tmt down that name on th map an LAKES LUCERNE AND I TLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 9 EOLA WERFNAMEO : I o ector C. A. company did a flourishing business, as about r earliest citizens of Or this time Orlando and the prosperous ection lando- There are at this writing four of these thereabout began to take on its first wonder first citizens still residents of the city. ful growth. In 1893 he sold his hardware He came from North Carolina to Orange business. He was elected Mayor of Orlando County, Florida, in 1870. First he taught in 1883. He also served as City Councilman school. In 1872, the first public school was in the earlier days and was one of the original established in Orlando; the photograph of the incorporators of the city in 1875. original building is found elsewhere in this From 1893 to 1907; he conducted an exten book. sive dairy and nursery business, the latter Mr. Boone was proprietor of the only hotel occupying much of his personal attention. As in those early days-The Lovell House. He an orange grower, he was successful, Boone's was one of the original merchants, having a Early Orange being one of his productions. general store with W. A. Patrick as partner. From 1907 to 1914 he was successively elect In 1875, Mr. Boone went into the County ed to the office of City Clerk and Assessor, Clerk's office and held his position until 1881, and under the new Commission city govern when he again entered the mercantile field, ment he holds the position of Assessor and the hardware business, his old partner, W. A. Tax Collector. Mr. Boone has thus lived a Patrick associating with him under the firm busy and honored Ii fe among his townspeople name of C. A. Boone & Co. This hardware from the very beginning of the city. IO EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY FRA K H. DAVIS The native one of the very first settlers of Apopka, was place of Mr. the oracle of wisdom on all matters pertaining Davis was to fruit culture; Judge Mills, who figures so Manchester, prominently in land titles in this section, did N. H. Born the surveying; the Sims Grove on Lake Apop on April 5th, ka was the ne plus ultra of orange groves in I 8 5 4. His the county, and Judge Speer, of Oakland, was father, Dr. E. quite prominent in county affairs. H. Davis, was The life of the early settler was replete with a physician varied and trying experiences. Everything and surgeon was crude, and there were many deprivations. and practiced At times the one store in the settlement was medicine in without flour, sugar, butter, and other indi Ma nche,ster spensables of the present day, but there were for more than no fickle appetites, and hog and hominy was thirty years ; not frowned upon if the delectables were lack was surgeon ing. Social gatherings gave zest to life, for in Fifth New the first settler always found time for fun, Hampshire and then there was the old,- fashioned camp Regiment in meeting, where all repaired once a year to be the Civil war. regaled with explosive exhortations, and inci FRANK H. DAVIS He graduated dentally with sweet potato pie and other inter- from the Man . esting accessories. The virgin pine forests, un chester High School in 187 4; being anxious to touched by turpentine or mill men, were the take up the business activities of life at once, special charm of Florida in the old days, he did not continue his studies as he was through which the roads and trails were well privileged to do, but went to Boston, where defined and accordingly easily followed. Alas he secured a position in the counting room of the change! With the passing of the timber a wholesale house on Summer Street; was came obliteration of old trails, and consequent there about two years. His attention was confusion as to roads and courses and one of first directed to Florida in 1876 through let the most interesting f ea tu res of the old Florida ters from a friend who had settled in this has gone from us. State near Apopka. He came South in The first railroad was built through Apopka October, 1876, and joined this friend. For in 1885 and it was during that time that Mr. many years he lived the life of the aver Davis opened a real estate office and continued age first settler; early took up a homestead in that business, in connection with orange and set about clearing · land for an orange growing, since that time. Latterly he has had grove. trucking interests at Winter Garden, making During those years he occupied bachelors' a specialty of lettuce and cucumbers on sub quarters and roughed it with the rest. At that irrigated lands from artesian well. time Apopka had one mail a week and on Sat urday, which was mail day, the one little store He met with great reverses in 1895 in com in town was the Mecca toward which all steps mon with so many others in Florida, and for were tending; no boxes in those days, the mail a time it seemed that he might be compelled was distributed directly from the bag. San to make change of base. He concluded to ford, or Mellonville, was the base of supplies, stick, however, and now is getting a good and the mail and al! goods were brought by share of his income from groves that were team from that point. Later freight and pas killed down at the time of the Big Freeze. senger service ·was furnished via the W ekiva Mr. Davis has been prominently identified River. Apopka proper was early known as with public affairs in Apopka. He has served "The Lodge," so called from the old established as councilman many times; was active in the Masonic Lodge. The Apopka district com organization of the Apopka Board of Trade, prised all the country around Lake Apopka and was its first president, holding this office and included Oakland, Ocoee, Winter Garden, for two terms. He took the oath of office of and Apopka of the present day. Dr. Mason, 1\1'ayor in January, 1915. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY I I A. SPEER A. SPEER AND WIFE A Speer, the subject of this sketch, was cattle to Ft. Myers for the Spanish army dur born at Augusta, Ga., October, 1852. His ing the ten-year war. father, Judge J. G. Speer, moved to Florida In 1874 he took a homestead near Oakland in 1854, when the son was two years old, when and began clearing land and setting out an Orange County was almost an unbroken for orange grove, which he later sold. In 1877 est, and the highways were little more than he married Miss Alice Roper, by whom he cow-paths. Almost his earliest recollection had a son, W. E. Speer, of Dania, Fla., who was the moving of the last of the Indians from is engaged in buying and packing fruits and this state to Indian Territory. His father was vegetables. His wife dying in the third year living at Ft. Gatlin, when the present county after their marriage, on the fifteenth day of site was located. His parents moved to the March, 1882, he married :Miss M. C. Kin present site of Oakland when Mr. Speer caid, of Murphy, . C., by whom he has two was a very small boy, and when there children, Gertrude K. Speer and James P. were just a few settlers with miles of forest Speer. The former has been teaching in the between them, when the woods were alive Sanford High School (8th grade) for 8 or 9 with all kinds of game, such as bear, panther, years. His son, Jas. P. Speer, is a promising wildcats, deer and turkeys, not leaving out young lawyer, located at Comanche, Okla., and the wolves, which howled within hearing of is at present a member of the House of Rep his home every night and morning. When a resentatives from Stevens County, Okla. deer or turkey was wanted all one had to do A. Speer has lived at Oakland almost con was to take his gun (always the rifle) and tinuously, built and kept the first store at go get it. After the civil war he went to Oakland, later engaging in farming and fruit South Carolina to school. growing, has been a justice in the Oakland After returning from there he assisted his district for twenty-odd years, and is still hold father and brother in buying and driving beef ing do,rn the job. 12 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY JUDGE J. G. SPEER Judge J. G. Speer was born in South Caro and before the people. He was in the conven lina, June 23, 1820. His ancestors were sturdy tion that gave the state its present constitution, Scotch-Irish. His grandfather, William Speer, and was the author of Article 19 of the consti came from County Antrim about the beginning tution, regulating the liquor business. He was of the Revolutionary war, espoused the cause living at Ft. Gatlin, near Orlando, when the of the colonies, fighting through the war in question of locating the county site came up. General Picken's command. Judge J. G. Speer This was a three-cornered fight: Ft. Reid, was a staunch defender of the right, though "The Lodge" ( so called because here was lo it might be the weaker side, and was independ cated the only Masonic Lodge in the county), ent of popular opinion in taking a stand against now Apopka City; and Ft. Gatlin, each place what he conceived to be wrong and would being championed by its settlers. A distant never buy success by compromising principle. cousin, Dr. Sidney Speer, led the Ft. Reid Coming to Florida at an early date (1854) forces; Isaac Newton led the Lodge crowd, he became widely known and deservedly es and Judge Speer led the Ft. Gatlin settlers, teemed. He took an active part in the or and Ft. Gatlin won. At once the question of ganization of the county, which at that time a name came up and was named "Orlando" included a large part of Osceola, also a large by Judge Speer for one of Shakespeare's char part of Lake and all of what is now Seminole. acters. He was repeatedly called to places of honor He was County Judge for several years, un and trust, serving one term in the lower House til he moved to the section now known as of the Legislature and two terms in the State South Apopka. In 188o, he took charge of the Senate. At one time he was a candidate for Apopka Drainage Company, for the purpose of the U. S. Senate, lacking only one vote of draining the muck lands on the north of Lake election, causing a deadlock for ten days, at Apopka. which time he withdrew his name. Two years In 1886 he induced the Orange Belt Railroad later he wa$ a candidate before the gubernato to come by way of Oakland on its way south, rial convention for governor of the state and ( the road was to have gone some miles south hung that body several days when he "·ithdrew of Oakland), giving the railroad company a in favor of Honorable Francis P. Flemming, half interest in two hundred acres of land who was elected. on which the town of Oakland is located. When duty called him to antagonize a pow His life and Christian character will leave erful and unscrupulous interest, he did not the most enduring impress on those who knew hesitate. The liquor traffic felt and remem him best. He died October 31, 1893. bers the blows he gave it in the legislature EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 13 HO J. WILLIAM R. O'NEAL WILLIAM R. o'NEAL No one man has been so prominently en when he came South, and for years he has gaged in the up-building of Orange County, been foremost in the councils and conventions in so many varied ways, as William R. O'N eal. of his party. As such he was the nominee of Everybody "hands it to him" when it comes to his party for congress, for governor and for that vital touch that has left an imprint in the superintendent of public instruction and was business, fraternal, religious, educational and in 1898 appointed postmaster of Orlando, re political life of not only the city and county, taining the office with great satisfaction to the but the state, as well. people until the appointment of his democratic An Ohioan, born of Virginia parentage, he successor in 1915. became a law student and made a specialty of For many year he was a city alderman and insurance in his native state. was president of the city council when, during An opportunity opened for him to become the hard, constructive period of the city's his manager of the Ford estate, which brought tory, he labored industriously for the best in him to Orlando, Orange County, in 1886, later terests of the people. engaging in the business of insurance, rentals, He is at this time president of the Apopka collections, real estate and adjustments of es Bank, a director in the State Bank of Orlando, tates. The firm was known at that time as secretary and treasurer of the Seminole Hotel Curtis, Fletcher & O'Neal, and later Curtis & Company of Winter Park, secretary of the O'N ea!, and included a profitable book busi Fair Association and a valued officer in vari ness. ous other business enterprises. Mr. O'Neal became connected with the edu He is prominently identified with several fra cational interests of the county at an early ternal organizations, notably, the Knights of date. In 1887 he became a trustee and secre Pythias, Masons, Commandery, Odd Fellows tary and treasurer of Rollins College, and as and Elks. such he has become vitally connected with the education of many young men and women of He is now serving his third term as Supreme the state and elsewhere, not a few of whom Representative of the Knights of Pythias, and are making their mark in the world at this is a member of the Board of Control of the time. Insurance Department. He was for a long time the chairman of He is Grand Commander of the Knights the Orlando school trustees and was a positive Templar of Florida, Deputy Grand Exalted factor in the promotion of local educational Ruler for the Southern District of Florida, for interests. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically, Mr. O' ea! is a republican, one Deputy Grand High Priest of Grand Lodge of the kind who loyally stuck to his colors R. A. M. GREENWOOD CEMETER TOl BY HON. SAMUEL A. ROBINS ··PIONEER This morning at 10 :30 o'clock fun AND eral services will be conducted fro1, 1' VALUABLE on the name which we proposed. the Presbyterian church for the lat. c ORLANDO As you have asked me to give yo~ Mrs. S. A. Robinson, who died Sun- THE RE- the history of the aforesaui cemetery day at Eureka, California. The re -STAR I will reply by giviug you a brief mains reached Orlando laet yester,a· and the interment will be in Gree porter-Star: outline of the situation from 1876 to the present time. wood cemetery. me since, Mr. C. A. Boone Mrs. Robinson is survived by o are the only original stock- In 1875, the Town of Orlando was in• husband, Hon. Samuel T. Robin <·orporated. It took all of the twenty two daughters, Miss Alice Beaucl , of the Orlando Cemetery Com. five voters living in the two miles Robinson, and Mrs. w. P. Pillans, who now live in Florida, pett- square, to legally incorporate. The im a granddaughter, Laura Beau· dd the Honorable City Council of portance of a large burial ground was Pillans; the two latter living i • iando to name said cemetery not contemplated and interments were land, Florida; also by one sister ~reenwood." made in many places in this vicinity. Elmer Cooley, of Bellvue, Mic After the publication in the news Some were taken to Conway, some and two brothers, Herbert A. B papers of a request that names be sent also to Powels', south of Orlando, and B~ttle Creek, Michigan, and C to the council for consideratiOll.. the some to the Beasley plot six miles Bird, of Los Angeles, Californi Honorable Council finally MAJ. WM. BRIGHAM LYNCH Born in Orange break of the civil war, enlisted in the Con County, N. C., Jan. federate service and became captain of his 19, 1834, died at company. his home, Orlando, In the army he developed the very highest Orange Co., Fla., qualities of the citizen-soldier, ·true to the July 30, 1911. At highest ideals through all the hardships and the early age of toil, and endeared himself, as a commander, to nine he entered the all his men. famous Bingham At the close of the war, he became co-prin School of North cipal of the Bingham School and held it for Carolina, thence to sixteen years. the State Univer For health considerations he disposed of sity, graduating his interests and moved to Sanford, Orange with distinguished Co., Fla., in 1882, giving attention to orange honor in the class growing and teaching. In 1897, he was elected of 1859, delivering Superintendent of Public. Instruction for Or the Latin saluta ange County and served three consecutive tory oration and terms of four years each, being elected with was tendered a out opposition, the highest testimonial to his professorship in efficiency and faithfulness. the same universi In his long service as superintendent of the ty. but preferred county schools he brought to bear a scholarly MAJ. W. B. LYNCH to accept th e chair mind and a polished, agreeable disposition, of Greek in Davidson College, N. C. This co-operating gladly and faithfully with officials position he filled with ability for three years, and teachers and students for the highe t in leaving to organize a company upon the out- terests of education. DEXTER C. THOMPSON The subject of this sketch was born in For these and a few other reasons the Brockton, Mass., in 1859. Educated in the lumber business -engaged his attention. From public schools of that city he early entered a modest beginning his interests increased so business life, coming to Orange County, Fla., that he finally be- in 1881, and located in Sanford, where the came president of terminus of the St. Johns River navigation and The Warnell Lum the South Florida Railroad enterprise opened ber Company, with up wonderful opportunities for business activ mills and factories ity. in several locali Mr. Thompson was possessed of more than ties, still success ordinary busines talent and foresight, added fully running, as to great capacity and executive ability. Be evidence of his sides, he knew conditions and had a keen in business ability. sight into men and understood the use of Mr. Thompson "Time and Tide." was a citizen of He looked over the field and there was the very genial parts. inevitable opportunity in the rapidly increasing He, for some years demand for building material, as Sanford it prior_ to his death self improved, besides the many towns on the lived on Lucerne river and the opening up of the new country Circle in the city southward over the lin·e of the South Florida of Orlando. His railroad steadily building to Tampa. health failing, he All the crude orange box material was at sought relief in that time sent down from Maine and the in New Mexico, creasing orange industry held out promising where, on Sept. 12, profit. 1907, he died. DEXTER C. THOMPSON 16 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY LOUIS C. MASSEY LOUIS C. MASSEY Among the professional and political men Florida Statutes, shortly after he had been of Orange County and the State of Florida, one of the commissioners of the county, later, Senator L. C. Massey stands the peer of any. when he was appointed by Governor Mitchell In the up-building of the county, financially a state commissioner on uniformity of legis and legally and in the councils of the State, lation, and still later when appointed counsel history will record much more of him than can to the State Railroad Commission. be noted in this brief record. He was elected City Solicitor of Orlando Mr. Ma sey is a Pennsylvanian, having been and State Senator of the 19th Senatorial Dis born in Philadelphia, receiving his education trict, serving with distinction and credit, as a in the public schools and the University of Senator and lawyer always to be depended Pennsylvania. upon, and bringing distinguished honor upon After studying law he practiced in his na his district and city. tive city until he came to Orlando, Orange Since 19n he has given increas~d attention County, Florida, in 1885. Soon after, he to his practice, in addition to the somewhat opened a law office in the county town of arduous duties thrust upon him as City So Orange, first with Massey. Keating & Willcox, licitor under the new order of commission then Massey & Willcox, and finally under the government in Orlando. present firm name of Massey & Warlow. Fraternally he has been Grand Master of His legal attainments 'have always been the Masonic Lodge, Grand Commander of rated among the highest, recognized by Gov Knights Templar, Grand Master of the Royal ernor Fleming, when he appointed him a com and Select Master Masons of Florida, and is missioner for the revision of the General a member of the Elks. I EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 17 JOHN T. CHAPMAN A native of He then went into orange growing and soon Crawfordville, Ga., became a member of the County Board of educated at Mer Commissioners and then a member of the cer University, Ma Florida State Legislature for two years. con, Ga. Joined the Confederate All this time he was a busy man, having army in 1861 and direct charge of eighteen orange groves in was mustered out the vicinity of his home in Plymouth. in 1864, after hon His family consists of Mrs. Chapman, who orable service, hav was Miss Meadows, of Herd County. Ga., and ing been shot three eight children: E. G. Chapman, William A. times and a leg broken. Chapman, Miss Mattie P. Chapman, Mrs. In 1877, Mr. Rachel E. Overstreet, Dr. John C. Chapman, Chapman was a Mrs. Annie B. Wiggs, Thomas A. Chapman, member of the l\Irs. E. Judson Rawls. Georgia Legisla- Full of years and with the ripe results of a ture. This, in busy and useful lifetime to his credit. Mr. brief, is his history before coming to · Chapman now enjoys the peace and tranquility Orange County, of a happy Florida home life in the favored JOHN L. CHAPMAN Fla., in 1882, when section of Orange County known as Plymouth. he taught school at respected and loved by all his neighbors and Apopka as introductory to his residence here. honored by the citizens of the county. HON. GEORGE W. CRAWFORD Mr. Crawford is a native of Tennessee, and elected a member of the Florida Legislature prior to moving to Florida was a clerk in in 1901, holding this distinguished position the store of Harry Loveless, at Como, Tenn. through 4 succes He came to Conway, Orange County, Fla., sive terms to 1907. in 1873, and immediately took up the fav Among the im orite occupation of orange growing and farm portant bills passed ing, including stock-raising, and has long been and in which he known successful in this honorable occupation. was proud to serve His soldier life was served with honor in his people was that the Confederate Army, 5th Tennessee Infan empowering the try, and out of a roll of thirteen hundred County Commis he was one of thirty who were left to sur sioners to plant render under Gen. Joseph E. Johnson at Sauls shade trees on the bury, N. C. public highways. But it is as a citizen-farmer that he is best Respected and known in Orange County. loved for his ster- 1ing qualities, this He was the ·very first Florida farmer the old gentleman is a writer met upon entering the State and his type of the old quiet, practical presentation of farming and settler who has fruit-growing possibilities is vividly remem made good for bered as a prophecy of what has come to pass. himself, and par His public life in Florida was ser·:ing as ticularly for his Justice of the Peace for two years and was neighbors. HON. G. w. CRAWFORD 18 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY DR. WASHINGTON KILMER W. KILMER, M. D. Doctor Kilmer has been a resident of Flor agriculture and horticulture he was a lecturer ida since 1872, and his way of coming here is for this grange, as well as of the Fruit Grow rather unique compared with this clay of fine ers' Association of that time. parlor cars and many automobiles. In 1887 yellow fever broke out in Tampa, Born in Schohant, N. Y., in 1838, he is as and there was a hurried call for physicians. finely a preserved man as there is in the State, Dr. Kilmer was the only one who responded and yet he walked from Ironton, Ohio, in 1872, and for five weeks faithfully worked in that a trip of 1,453 miles, on account of a physical stricken city and when he was about to return breakdown. he was taken down and barely escaped death. He undertook this interesting trip as a cor Upon his return to Orlando the people of respondent for the Cincinnati Commercial, this city presented him with a gold watch and Murat Halstead, editor, and traveled over the chain, containing this inscription: "Presented mountains of West Virginia, coming out at to Dr. W'ashington Kilmer by the citizens of Wakalla, S. thence through Georgia and C., Orlando in appreciation of his services in the Florida. perfectly restored in physical vigor. yellow fever epidemic at Tampa, Fla., Nov. 25, After a short time spent North, he returned in 1887." March, 1873, and located at Altamonte, to For fifteen years the doctor was surgeon for which beautiful spot in Orange County he gave the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, and has prac the name it is now known by. Here he became active in educational mat ticed in Orlando for thirty years. He has ters, serving on the County School Board for seen the building of three successive court eight years, helping to lay the school system of houses and practically every house in the city the county and assisted in inaugurating the for many years past. first teachers' institute. There was a grange The doctor has two daughters, his wife dy in the county in 1875 and being interested in ing December, 1906. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 19 L. F. TILDEN L. F. TILDEN AND WIFE In the early days of 1877, Mr. L. F. Tilden lection became more and more apparent, and left Grundy County, Ill., and journeyed to now this entire region "blossoms as the rose" Apopka, Orange County, Florida, where he and is "flowing with milk and honey." The purchased 16o acres of land, built a house roses are literal, and the milk and honey con and lived for two years. The great possibili sist of vast orange groves and truck gardens ties of South Lake Apopka impressed him with as delightful a place to live as the world even in those early days and later buying 561 affords. acres on the lake, having a frontage of a mile Mr. Tilden is now eighty years of age and and a half, he removed to this part of the his wife is seventy-four. For fifty-five years lake and entered into orange growing, planting they worked together. Four children lived and cultivaf ng groves. within a half mile and twenty-four grandchil As the years passed, the wisdom of his se- dren live to call these fine old people blessed. 20 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY JUDGE T. PICTON WARLOW J GDGE T. PICTON w ARLd;f ,. The legal and judicial conditions obtaining Warl~w, which became the prominent law in Orange County must be typed by the char firm in this part of the State. acter of the men of that profession. In 1907 he was appointed county solicitor, Only a few of the earlier lawyers of the and in IC)II, upon recommendation of the county remain to give poise to the bar and the County Democratic Executive Committee, he courts of today. Among them must be con was appointed judge of the County Criminal sidered Judge T. Picton Warlow, a man with Court, to which he was in 1912 elected. judicial temperament, caution, fair-minded, but With Senator Massey, he assisted in the withal positive, a man well suited to the hon organization of the State Bank of Orlando orable position of Judge of the criminal court and is its vice-president. His business rela of the county. tions and capabilities brought him into promi nence in the Orlando Board of Trade, upon T. Picton Warlow is of English parentage, which he served as president and as a member though born in India. of the Executive Committee. He was educated in France and Switzer His fraternal association has been with the land, and in 1884 arrived in Orlando, Florida. Masons and Elks, of which he is a very promi • He decided upon the profession of law and nent member, having been deputy grand master was admitted to the bar in 1888, going into for the 13th district of Florida, F. and A. M., the office of Massey & Willcox. In '94 he grand high priest of the Royal Arch Masons, became a partner in the firm of Massey & and exalted ruler of the Orlando B. P. 0. E. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 21 JOHN EILL SEARCY The paternal an but owing to ill health commanded it but for cestor of the sub a short time. Lieutenant Robert Sweeney ject of this article then took command until the siege of Vicks emigrated from burg, where he was killed. The command Italy to England then fell to Captain Edwin S. Walton. He from there to was severely wounded, but recovered and re North Carolina. tained command until they were paroled at His maternal an Gainesville, Ala., May, 1865. Those who were cestors came from in the siege at Vicksburg can fully appreciate England and Ire and sympathize with the hunger and suffering land before the of the Belgians, as they could easily eat their Revolution. His three days' rations at one meal without appeas maternal great- ing hunger. They found mule meat very good grandfather, Col. and quite "filling." After the fall of Vicksburg Matthew Martin, they were under General Forest until the sur moved from South render and were paroled May 12th, 1865, at Carolina to Bed Gainsville, Ala. He has his parole framed and ford County, Mid hung up over the mantle-a priceless souvenir. jle Tennessee, in After the war his father moved back to Bed the ea.:rly settlement ford County, he remaining in Bedford County of that county. until March 17th, 1873, when he started to JOHN NEILL SEARCY Both of his grand- Florida, came up the St. Johns River on the fathers fought un steamer Starlight, landed at Melonville on the der General Jackson in the war of 1812. His 23rd, went out to Fort Reid after dark. ext grandfather, Robert Searcy, was clerk of the morning he looked out at the palmetto flats Federal Court in Nashvill e, Tenn., and the and thought to himself, have I left good old second Grand Master of Masons. His father, Tennessee to starve in this desert? He start Dr. James Searcy, was born in Nashville, Dec. ed to Maitland, met a good old Georgia 8th, 1812. He married Miss Sarah Clay Neill, Cracker who persuaded him to stop with him. daughter of Col. J no. L. N ei11. They raised He homesteaded land near the town of Long even children to manhood and womanhood. wood. He had good sport with the Cracker, John was born near the village of Fairfield, hunting deer where Longwood now stands. Bedford County, March 15th, 1842. His When E. VI/. Benck built the railroad from father moved with his family to Panola Sanford to Orlando, he was with the survey County, Miss., in the fall of 1855, He was ing party. On the second day of February, living there when the Civil war began. His 1.885, he married Miss Eva L. Muzzy. Three oldest brother and he, in May, 1861, joined boys were born to them, one of whom is now the Pettus Artillery, commanded by Capt. Al living-Charles Blanchard. His wife was born fred B. Hudson, who was killec at the battle in Gardner, Maine, but was raised in Middle of Shiloh. They changed the name of the Tennessee. She is the daughter of Eden company to "The Hudson Battery," James L. · Muzzy, whose wife was Miss Sarah A. Waller Boole then took command of the company, field, of Gardner, Maine. 22 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY JUDGE WILLIAM MARTIN William Martin elected County Judge, which office he has held is a native of North for sixteen years. Carolina and came Judge Martin is a fraternal man of a num to Orange County ber of organizations, known and liked by all in 1884, locating at his associates. Apopka, then the When one visits the courthouse he naturally best known place gravitates to the County Judge's offices, the in the county, and second door to the right of the entrance, and where a number of he generally sees seated at his desk a quiet citizens of Orlan unassuming gentleman who will greet one and do first located. all pleasantly and yet with a certain resene, After practicing which is the outer door left ajar to the good law until 1887, he and generous heart of a man who is not given moved to the to exclamation points, but who holds his county seat, Or friends closely and attends to his duties with lando, and went extraordinary fidelity. into the office of It is because of these traits of character that Abrams & Bryan, Judge William Martin has held the office he Judge Bryan being fills for so long a period as sixteen years and his close friend. JUDGE WILLIAM MARTIN P:obably will continue to hold as long a he In 189o he was wants it or can be prevailed upon to keep it. elected Justice of the Peace and later was HON. A. B. NEWTON Mr. Newton is a Mississippian, having been was invariably used for the general good of the born in Itawamba County, that state, in 1864. people. He is regarded as a man of poise and He received his education in the common courage in his section, a busy business man, schools and academies of that county. having held He was first married to Miss Minnie Odella the position Harrison, at Tilden, in 1887. In 1892 he came of agent for to Orange County, Fla., locating in Winter the Coast Garden. His wife died in 1893, and in 1898 Line and the he married Miss Alice Bennett Carothers, of Tampa & Gulf Shannon, Miss. railroads, en Mr. ewton is a man whom his fellow citi gaged in or zens regard so highly, in whom they have so ange buying much confidence that they insist he must serve and pc!. c! Since his twenty-fifth year, Mr. T ewton has the "Richo- held a number of public offices. At that early chet," and age, he was elected Superintendent of Public later owner Instruction in hi home county. In 1904 he and editor of was a presidential elector on the Parker and "The Orange Davis ticket. County Citi In 1909 he served as a member of the Flor zen," which he ida Legislature and was instrumental in fash sold to C. E. ioning several important measures. Howard. Also In 1915 he was again elected to the Legis carried on a lature, where his influence was always on the large mercan HON. A. B. EWTON right side of public questions and his influence tile business. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 23 SHERIFF C. M. HAND C. M. Hand is Here C. M. Hand engaged in the livery busi now the sheriff of ness and general contracting for several years, Seminole County, was deputy sheriff of Orange County, elected Fla., but before chief of police of the city, and also mayor. Seminole was born Upon the division, which created Seminole of Orange County, County out of Orange, he was appointed by he was an old citi the Governor, Sheriff of Seminole and in the zen, having landed first election was elected Sheriff, which, at m Melonville in the time of this writng, he holds. 1879, locating at Sheriff Hanel was one of the enthusiastic Fort Ried. Sanford men who believed in home rule for His father, Hen his city and thought a division should be made ry Hand, opened a of what is now Seminole County from Orange. blacksmith's and He is a hustler and it is said of him that he wagon shop at this makes a good officer and is very satisfactory place, one of the to his constituents. first in the -county He is a great lover of sport, and if there is and later took up anything doing in ball games he is sure to be a homestead on the somewhere within sight of the diamond. The Wekiwa River, boys think Charlie Hanel is a right hand man near Longwood, because of his convival and jovial tempera SHERIFF C. M. HAND where he made an ment, and while the law-breaker may fear ar orange grove, rest at his hands, he well kno,Ys that here is which the "great freeze" destroyed, necessitat a sheriff who can do his duty and remain ing the removal of the family to Sanford. humane in his treatment of a prisoner. J. W. MATCHETT Here is a man who wrestled with Nature store of Albert Thompson, being appointed and made her divulge the secret of giving up postmaster of Pine Castle at this time, holding the best of her fruits. He marked out a line the office for eight around Lake Conway, dammed it up and told years. Six years the lake to come no farther, dug a deep well of school teaching for flowing water, drained his muck land to followed and then serve for d_rainage and irrigation. he engaged in cit Mr. Matchett is a born Floridian, his birth rus fruit culture place being Eureka, Marion County, in 1863. an cl vegetable He came to Pine Castle, Orange County, a boy, growing, which has in 1874 and attended the public school, such as been successful. it was, and on arriving at manhood clerked He was elected in the store of J. M. Blitz for a year. Feeling justice of the peace the need of a business education, he attended three times, serv Moore's Business College io Atlanta, Ga., a ing twelve years. year, and returned to Pine Castle and engaged In 1895 was elected with C. R. Tyner as clerk and bookkeeper. Superintendent of Later, he filled the same position in C. R. Pine Castle Sunday Tyner's general store at Plant City, having School and has general charge of the business. held this place for Returning to Pine Castle he taught school at twenty years, being Oak Ridge, of which Taft is now a part. also Deacon and Within two years he was again engaged in Clerk of the Baptist merchandising, superintending the general Church. J. W. MATCHETT 24 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY L. J. DOLLINS SECRETARY ORANGE COUNTY PIONEERS) ASSOCIATION L. J. DOLLINS The subject of this sketch was born on a 14th of August, 1876. Here he resided five farm in franklin (now Moore) County, Ten years, dividing the time between school-teach nessee, on February 24th, 1851. He moved ing and farming. Was appointed Deputy Clerk with his father and family to Coffey County of the county under Mr. J. P. Hughey in Sep about 1857-8. Here the lad with his older tember, 1881, and served one and one-half brother, Hugh, and sister, Mary, attended such years. His wife died in May, 1882, leaving him schools as the time and country afforded, the with one child four years olc. He studied family removing to Saline County, Illinois, in law and was admitted to the Bar in 1885. 1863. In 1883 he was married to Miss Kellie Rush Having abandoned everything in their Ten ing, of Arkansas, with whom he lived until nessee home in troublous times, they arrived December, 1893, when she died, leaving the in their new home at the beginning of husband with five children, four of her own winter with only ten dollars, and he and and one by former marriage. These children his brother Hugh engaged in rail splitting, are: Mrs. W. S. Jones, of Orlando; Mr. Hugh while the father, being a skilled farmer, got D. Dollins, of Washington, D. C.; Thomas A. employment assisting the neighboring farmers Dollins, of Roanoke, Va., Mrs. John W. Jones, in farm work. A farm was in the meantime of this city, and Lieutenant Carl W. Dol purchased, and business of home-making lins, of Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Dollins started. The children attended the country after remaining single for nearly seyen years, schools. As the lad advanced he entered the was married to Miss Alice J. Roberts, a former Harrisburg High School, where he graduated school-mate, of Hillsboro, Tenn., with whom in 1872-3. By this time he had begun teaching he is living. For several years, he retired to school. In 1873-4, he went to Lebanon, Ohio, his farming interests, but in 1902 he opened where he took a Normal course, after which an office for the practice of law, and did a he returned to his home school and taught small real estate business. He has straight his fourth term in the five years. His health ened out many kinks in titles and estates, and failing in December, 1875, he came to Orange rendered many knotty problems, that hindered County, Fla., arriving at Lightwood Camp, progress, easy of solution. He built the Dol kept by A. C. Miller, on the 29th day of Janu lins block in 1887. He built for himself and ary, 1876. Was married in June following to others several fine homes, and now resides at Miss Alice Strickland of his home town in his elegant home place at 728 West Central Illinois, and settled on a homestead on the A"enue. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 25 WILLIAM P. BLAKELY Mr. Blakely is a most citrus grower of the county, learned all native of Tennes the secrets of this fascinating business, and see, the city of there was much to learn, as nearly all the old ashville, and de groves were clumps of trees planted about cided to go to the houses of the early settlers or budded on Florida when he sour wild trees found in the woods. The few finished his educa men, like Captain Sims, who followed orange tion in the High growing for profit, had it all to learn-the School of Colum soil, its needs, fertilization, the best trees to bia and Carson select, the nature of the tree, the enemies and and Newman Col the friends of the fruit. lege, Jefferson City, Tenn. After two years of this employment he, in Casting about 1883, accepted the position of school teacher, for a suitable lo as that part of the county began to grow, and cation, he selected held this position during twelve terms. In Orange County, the meanwhile he devoted attention to bring upon the recom ing up an orange grove and had a fine pros mendation of W. pect of bearing groves when the destructive G. White, the mer cold of 1905 wiped them out. While working chant prince of to resuscitate his trees, he conducted the mer WILLIAM P. BLAKELY Orlando at that cantile business bought of John Hughey, and time ( 1881). Up served as postmaster from 1907 till 1915. He on locating at Ocoee he was employed by Cap held one county office, that of Justice of the tain B. M. Sims, and with him, as the fore- Peace during 1885-88. MRS. C. V. CALDWELL Mrs. Caldwell came to Orlando, Florida, old-time faces-among them Major Marks, from Danville, Pa., in 1887, and securing the Doctor Foster Chapman, Hardy Garrett, Ed Summerlin Hotel on Lake Eala, converted it bert Allen, Willis L. Palmer, Walter Smith, into a select tourist house and all the years Seth Woodruff, Major Bradshaw, Dr. Kilmer, s~nce she has made of it a resort to which pa Dr. Porter, Edward Hudnal, Jerome Palmer, trons delight to come. and many others, some of them now in the In the old days this hotel was the headquar world beyond, others still active in the affairs ters of many politically inclined and if walls of Orange County and elsewhere. had as many tongues as they are said to have The newer places of resort spring up all ears, the dining room of this old place could about us, but Mrs. Caldwell's "Summerlin tell many a story. House," so long as it stands, will linger fondly As it is, a mere step onto its shaded porches in the minds of the older settlers of Orange brings into fond remembrance many of the County. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY J. B. CLOUSER J. B. Clouser was South Florida Railroad was then under con born in Perry struction, having been completed as far as County, Pennsyl Orlando. The rolling stock consisted of one vania, Oct. 15th, coach, one flat-car and a diminutive little en 1838, was raised gine called "The Seminole." But it was a sur on a farm, chose prise to see the thing speeding along through the trade of a car the wilderness of Orange County. There was penter, at which he no telegraph connection with the outside world worked until he till the year after. entered the army Orange culture was then in its infancy. No of the North in school houses. Schools were held in private the civil war. Was houses, or rather, shanties. Now, there is a a member of the good school house and public library, several ro4-9th P. V. Co. D. churches, hotel, good residences with modern ("Buck Tails") ; improvements, good roads, hard surfaced was discharged at some with clay, some brick. the end of the war The freeze of 1895-6 was a hard experience, and resumed his but pluck and perseverance bridged over the trade, and was hard places and proved a "blessing in disguise." married \in Nov., When he arrived in Longwood in 1881, the 1865. He bought only hotel accommodations were a bale of hay J. B. CLOUSER and cleared up a and an old blanket in the upper story of a home 111 Center box board shanty. Township, Perry County, Pa., where he lived After four years in the employ of P. A. till November, 1881, when he, with his wife Demans, he, his son, C. A. Clouser, and F. J. and two children, removed to Orange County, Niemeyer, his son-in-law, embarked in the Fla., settled at Longwood, which was a town merchantile business, till 19rr, when his wife staked off in the woods, the streets not yet died, when he retired from business. His son, being cut out; built the Longwood Hotel for C. A. Clouser, had withdrawn from the firm of E. W. Henck, then took charge of the novelty J. B. Clouser & Co. previous to this and moved works of P. A. Demans, Longwood, as fore to New Smyrna, Fla., where is in the auto man. At this time it was the only planing mobile business, and F. J. Niemeyer carried on mill and novelty works south of Jacksonville. the business of their store under the firm name At that time, instead of hearing the whirr and of F. J. Niemeyer. clatter of machinery, one heard the crack and It is gratifying to note the many changes yell of the Florida cow boys; and the public for the better in the thirty-five years of resi roads were merely crooked, surface roads, or dence here in Florida. more properly, trails with no bridges. The EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 27 CHARLES H. HOFFN"ER THE OLD WAY Mr. Hoffner was born in Muscatine, Iowa, connection with surrounding places by means in 1856, and lived in Havana, Ill., until 1878. of ne,dy constructed roads. At that time he went to Litchfield, Minn., Mrs. Hoffner was born in Clearwater, Minn., where he married Miss Edna I. Angier in 1886. in 1865, moved to Litchfield, and graduated Florida held out a beckoning hand, and in in the schools of that place in 1882. They 1889 he moved to Orlando, where he lived for have had five children, all }iying except Law three years and then settled on the Randolph rence, who died in infancy. Peninsula of Lake Conway, where he has re Harry A. graduated from the Orlando High sided since. He has developed that section School in 19r1, held a responsible position in from a lonesome settler's home to a village of Orlando and is at this writing filling a position homes and has assisted in bringing it into close of trust in Jacksonville. THE NEW WAY EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY BENJAMIN LUTHER GRIFFIN B. L. GRIFFIN MRS. B. L. GRIFFIN B. L. Griffin was born in Telfair County, the first saw and grist mill in this section. lo Ga., Nov. 20, 1858. His father was Yancey R. cated at the Iron Bridge on the Orlando-Oak Griffin and his mother Rebekah Wilcox, daugh larn.1 road. ter of Gen. Mark Wilcox, for whom Wiicox Mr. Griffin contracted to cut ties for what is County was named. Gen Jno. Coffee, his now the A. C. L. Railroad, the first being a grandfather, also had a Georgia county named narrow gauge road, and often when the train for him. was overloaded, he put his sturdy shoulder to Mr. Griffin came to Orange County, Fla., the car and helped it move along the high December, 1879. As there was no railroad, places. His wife, before marriage, at the age he came by boat to Sanford, from which point of seventeen, lived with her brother at Long on the St. Johns all supplie were hauled over wood, and during her stay of eight months such roads as the country afforded. Ox or made the acquaintance of one young lady. horse carts ,vere the usual means of convey Girls did not run about much in those days. ance-two-wheel carts, the man riding the mule This brother, Jno. W. Griffin, bought a large and the family in the cart. The fortunate grove of Mr. Jas. Fudge, near Longwood, owner of a buckboard was quite up-to-elate. and also 6 000 acres of land north of Kissim The men in the county were nearly all 1 mee, at that time within Orange County. bachelors and there were few ladies. Mr. Griffin married Mi s Henrietta E. Griffin in The family has lived in Orange County all 1883. She was born in Guinnett County, Ga., these years and is composed of the father, in 1864, her father, Dr. Able Griffin, coming mother, A. Lee, a son 25 years old, and E. to Orange County in 1880. Her brother built Luther, the younger son, 21 years of age. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 29 S. J. T. SEEGAR S. J. T. SEEGAR AND WIFE Mr. Seegar is a northeast Georgian and came Mr. Seegar chose well when he selected th e to Orange County, Florida, in the year 1884. beautiful and thrifty Ocoee section fo r hi s He engaged in saw-milling, which he success home. It is one of the best of farming and fully followed for four years. Since that time fruit-growing localities in Orange County and he followed fruit and vegetable growing with is a wonderfully thrifty community and dur great success, now the owner of two orange ing the orange season its busy packing houses groves and cultivates thirty acres in vege and railroads make it one of the busy places on tables. Mr. Seegar has a family of six children. the map. EDWARD MALTEN STRONG Virginia and Georgia have been the greatest trouble 111 land contributors to Orange County's earlier growth, matters he went and these early settlers brought within them into other lines. selves very strong characteristics in knowledge, Contracting and determination and stick-to-it-iveness necessary carpentry engaged to eventual success as pioneer builders in a his attention, as new county. Without men of this nature, well as the culture Orange County would have remained a wil of oranges. derness and with such men it has progressed In 1885 he was marshal of the by virtue of pure strength of manhood. town of Apopka. Some of these men, naturally, must have been On Feb. 22, 1893, developers of the soil, masters of the forest, he married Miss growers of the fruits, and others, timber work Witt, who is also ers and house builders, all of them necessary a native Virginian. to a wholesome and uniform growth of the Mr. Strong's county. father and brother The subject of this article came to Orange served in the Con County, Florida, from Bedford County, Va., federate army, Feb. 3, 1881, landing at Astor, on the St. from which they Johns River. His original intention was to \Yere honorably take up a homestead, but owing to some discharged. EDWARD M. STRONG 30 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY HE RY i EHRLING HENRY NEHRLING Henry K ehrling was born May 9, 1853, at of naturalists in the tropics. Ornithology and Howard's Grove, Sheboggan County, Wis. His botany were his favorite studies. He did not parents were Carl N ehrling and Elizabeth Ruge only study books on the subject, but went N ehrling, both from Efurt, Thuringia, Ger out on the prairie and in the forest. many. Always having been a lover of the South, His parents and grandparents came over to he left Chicago in February, 1879 and made this country in 1852, settling in the primeval Houston, Texas, and later, Lee County, Texas, forest of white pine and hardwood trees of his home-mainly to study the bird and plant Town Hermann, Sheboggan County, Wis. life. He took a position in a private school, "In this wild, but beautiful region," says as a means of livelihood, and devoted all his a writer in "Wisconsin Men of Progress," leisure hours to the study of his favorite sub "Henry N ehrling received his first and lasting jects. impressions. He was taught to read and write In 1883 he bought a piece of land at Gotha. by his mother and grandfather, and was then Fla. In 1887, General Conrad Krez, collector sent to the Lutheran Parochial School near of customs for the fort of Milwaukee, ap Howard's Grove. He had to walk over three pointed Henry ehrling as his deputy and miles to this school through the forest, which this position he held also under General Krez's was very beautiful and scarcely touched by successor. In 1890 he was appointed custodian the settler's axe." of the public museum, which position he held Such an experience could not fail to make for about thirteen years. a deep impression upon a boy alive to the The life work of Mr. Nehrling is his great beauties of nature, and Henry Nehrling came book ''Native Birds of Song and Beanty," 2 to manhood with a passionate lqve for the vols., also in German under the title "Die beauties of the forest and field. ordamerkarnische Vogelwelt." These works In 1869 he entered the Teacher's Seminary appeared between 1°8f~9 and 1896. It cost him in Addison, DuPage County, Ill., and graduat r8 years of study and observation, and scarcely ed in June, 1873. He became teacher in a ever has a work been received with such en Lutheran school in Harlem, a suburb of Chi thusiasm by the critics and nature lovers. The cago, and obtained a similar position in the hundreds of re\'iews that appeared in this city of Chicago in 1876. His favorite books ro11ntry and abroad were all extremely favor were works on travel, particularly on travel ::: !- '. ~- vVe take pleasure in quoting only one EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 31 written by that great naturalist-Dr. Elliot and the most gorgeous he named after his Cones, for "The Auk" (Vol. XIV, 1897, p. lady friends. 336): One variety with satiny plum-colored center ''No more attractive and presentable volumes and golden zone was named Mrs. Marian A. on our birds are now before the public; and McAdow; another one, velvety glowing crim we trust that this labor of love, as it certainly son, received the name Mrs. Jessie M. Thayer; has been on Mr. Nehrling's part, may meet a variety with a transparent rosy red center, with the full measure of recognition it so bears the name of Mrs. Frances Laughlin. well deserves .. " A bright rosy red kind was called Mrs. W. The people of Orange County can well be L. Palmer; a variety with beautiful lavender proud of having the most beautiful garden colored leaves will be known under the name within their boundary lines-"the finest garden of Mrs. H. L. Beeman and many others too west of Palm Beach, and the richest in plants numerous to mention. Though all the Caladi in all the state,'' as one expert has proclaimed. ums grown here are extremely beautiful, these I refer to Dr. Henry N ehrling's magnificent new kinds show a Yery decided improvement. collection of plants at Gotha, about ten miles Mr. Nehrling is a very busy man, having west of Orlando. It is a pity that the road besides his daily work in the garden, a large from the village of Gotha to the Palm Cottage amount of literary work to perform. But he grounds is in such a frightful condition. Be it always delighted to meet cultured people in ing a thorough scholar, Mr. N ehrling has, of his grounds and he is a most charming enter course, always the scientific side of gardening tainer. Northern people, seeing these grounds in view. But in spite of this his grounds, cov for the first time, cannot help but exclaim: ering about ten acres of land, are rich in beau "Oh, what an earthly paradise! How is it tiful landscape effects. There are cozy nooks possible that such a luxuriant plant life can and corners everywhere and tangled masses of maintain itself on such a poor sand-hill?" climbing plants reaching from one tree to the The demonstration that this can be done is other. Native trees, particularly magnolias, before our eyes. Mr. N ehrling has set an predominate. Mr. N ehrling is of the opinion example of what can be done on high pine that our native evergreen trees and shrubs land with knowledge, patience, love and en should form the foundation of all our plant thusiasm and adaptatation to circumstances. ings. The flora of Japan and China follow Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland are fast be next. We have seen how glorious evergreen coming winter resorts. They are bound to be shrubs and trees which we never had seen be come still more so in the future. One of the fore-Cleyeras, Camellias, Viburnums, Raphil best colleges in the South, Rollins College. is olepis and many others. And how grand are located in this region. Rich Northern people, the many beautiful specimens of palms! cultured and refined, are building costly winter The Amaryllis are the glory of the garden homes everywhere. They naturally look around in March and April-all Mr. N ehrling's own to find out what they can do to adorn their hybrids, the finest in existence. "N ehrling's place properly. They feel instinctively that Hybrid Amaryllis," so often mentioned in Northern trees and shrubs cannot and ought Reasoner Bros. and Dreer's catalogues, have not to find a place in their grounds. Wh:it a \\'Orld-wide fame. And from May to No really will do ,Yell-the most beautiful native vember the indescribably gorgeous color effects and exotic plants-can be easily seen in this of more than 150,000 Caladiums are a sight garden, and Ur. N ehrling is always willing to see. This is the largest collection of fancy and very obliging to give his advice free to Caladiums consisting at present of about 2,000 everybody who asks for it. Being a philan .. distinct varieties. A large number of new va thropist in the best sense of the word he al rieties originated under Mr. -ehrling's hands, ways finds pleasure in helping people along. 32 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY JAMES BAILEY MAGRUDER J. B. MAGRUDER "Bailey" Magruder, as he is familiarly established a livery business in Sanford, also known, has had a remarkable Florida experi buying and selling horses, mules and wagons. ence. He is a constructor and had he the ad While trading thus extensively he, like many vantages of a Vanderbilt in wealth, he would others, touched bottom when the great freeze build a city. swept everything away, losing 95 per cent of Very few men amid discouragements and all he owned. hard knocks could show so much as a result In 1900 he decided to remove to Orlando, of their labor as Mr. Magruder, who is pos where he went into the livery and sales busi sessed of faith, foresight, grit and get-there ness. Gradually he bought up various proper far above the average man. ties until he became possessed of splendid In 1872 he was brought by his father, Major orange groves, farms and city property. C. B. Magruder, to Rock Ledge, Indian River, His first building venture was "The Arcade," from Georgia. His trading proclivities devel now occupied by the United States postoffice, oped at an early age, for at fifteen he was Southern Express Company, Branche's Book master of a boat and started the first trading Store, Sentinel Printing office and a dozen boat on the Indian River, when the settlers of other lines, besides a large rooming house. all that region depended upon the periodical His next building venture was "The Lu visits of these stores on boats for their gro cerne Theatre," a long-needed improvement ceries and general goods. Even the Seminole Indians eagerly looked for Magruder's boat and the best opera house Orlando has ever and freely traded with him for such articles as had. Then he built a new brick livery stable, captured their fancy. following that with "Oak Lodge," a large In 1878 he decided to move to Orange Coun rooming house in the eastern part of the city, ty and first located at Lake Howell, and en and completed his extensive constructive op gaged in orange growing, in time having as erations to this date by erecting the large many as seventeen groves in cultivation. He four-story Empire Hotel. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 33 W. J. HILL \V. J. HILL W. J. Hill is the oldest business man in in the world, and I had come from the largest the hardware line in Florida, and claims to place. have lived longer in Sanford that anyone else. "I looked about. Not even a policeman ''Funny how I came to Florida in the first around, and you may be sure there was no place," said he. "I was born in London, Eng body else. Everything was bathed in warm land, March 15th, 1842. I came to New York sunshine. It was just the place I wanted. I in July, '72. I worked as an interpreter in saw tropical trees loaded with fruit. · The the election race of Grant and Greeley, as river, we knew, swarmed with fish . We caught most of the people did not understand the Cock sight of a covey of quail. I made a quick ney· language. Worked at this until the election decision. 'Captain,' I said, 'I will stop here.' was over. It was cold and uncomfortable. So we were left there with nothing but guns One day I met an Englishman I knew. 'Tell and ammunition. me,' said I, 'Where do all of the blooming "The first night we slept on the ground. swells go when it gets like this?' 'To Florida, At least they did. I was too scared of snakes. my chap,' said he, and to Florida this swell I got up and took a walk, still scared of immediately went. snakes. I lay down, but you should have seen "Our steamer stopped at Savannah, and I me get up. I thought I was bitten by a snake, bought a map, and started to walk to Florida, and I hallowed, and asked them to do some as it looked a short distance on the map. I thing for me, as I should soon die. So they walked until I came to about a half dozen tried to find the place where I was bitten, and houses, and I asked a lady if that was Florida, pulled out a sand spur. I asked them what and-she laughed, and asked me where I came animal it was that bit me, or was it one of from, and said, 'No, young man, this is Jessup, those stingarees, that I had heard the boat Georgia.' I then made my way from there by men talking about. Should I die? And they train and boat until I got to Jacksonville. At said that I would have to be very careful, and that time it was a mud-hole. I went south put pine gum on it, which I did. When night with two Georgia men, who were going to came, I couldn't get my pants off. They stuck Fort Meade. They had hired a man and boat to the gum. They had to cut a piece out to to take them south, and asked me to go with get them off. I sent that sand spur to my them, which I did. We landed at the place sister in England to show her what I had been now called Sanford; then, the smallest place through. 34 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY "The next day the Georgia men started to wouldn't talk, and I always liked folks to be Fort Meade. I went with them for about sociable. But the alligators furnished plenty three miles. I asked an old gentleman (Aleck of music. We killed fully 1,000 during the Vaughn's father, sitting in an orange grove time I was among the Indians, in 1876. with no fence around it, 'What is the name of "\V'hen I came back to Sanford, I got an this place?' He told us that it was Fort other sugar barrel, and added it to my sleep Ried. I said, 'Let us go to the Fort and see ing quarters. Then after some time, the cap the soldiers.' tain of a steamer brought me down a piano "He said: 'This is the Fort' (meaning his box. Some time after this, I built a small house) 'and I am the soldiers.' room in the top of a live oak tree, and put At first I slept on the ground. Then one a sign on it-'No Boarders /iVanted.' day an old sugar barrel floated up the river, "Previous to that time there was no civilized and I hauled it ashore and used it to 'sleep in. person in the whole neighborhood but myself. Uncomfortable? Bless you, I just knocked Negroes were not allowed to stop there. Oc out the head, and lay in it, and it was fine. casionally I saw some of the 'Cracker' people. Nice current of air all night. Most of the The occasional visitor who got to coming to time I ate quail. Didn't have to shoot them. Sanford would take me for a wild man. And Just made a net and always had a supply. today, there is a town of 7,000 people where I Well, things were going along fine, when I ac lived in a sugar barrel, and the country there cidentally killed a pig, and had to skip down abouts is well settled. When I first went and live among the Seminole Indians for six there, some times as much as three weeks months. (Better for me if I had shot a man.) would pass without my seeing a soul. "During that time I discovered some of the "When the city was incorporated, in 1877, phosphate beds that have made fortunes for there were but 8 people living in Sanford who others. Didn't know what phosphate was, and could vote, and its borders were extended to worse luck, didn't know that I could have include the Swede settlement, three miles dis squatted on 500 acres of land anywhere, and tant, so that there might be votes enough to eventually owned it, it not having been sur make it a town. As I was inspector, and the veyed by the U. S. Government at that time. Swedes could not read or write, I was their Yes; I liked the Seminoles all right, only they proxy, and did all the voting myself." H. A. LUMSDE Born in and was afterward appointed on the police Talbot Coun force of the city, serving three years. ty, Ga., Oct. His business for many years has been con 22, 1854, Mr. nected with the city liveries, being a fine Lumsden em judge of horses and mules, and for several igrated to years past he has conducted a livery business Orange in Orlando, and, although Orlando has the County, Fla., reputation of having more automobiles than in January, any other Southern city ( one to every four 1886, locat teen inhabitants) the livery business is still of ing in Apop great importance as the demand for horses ka. Later, and mules seems never to diminish. he moved to Mr. Lumsden is a hunter of reputation and Clay Spring, his guidance has been sought by many sports and after men during the hunting season, for he knows ward to Or the country and understands the game. lando, J am1- Many of the older citizens who were ports ary, 1887. men first and business men on occasions, rel He became i h with satisfaction the memory of those fine a merchant old hunting days when they and "Lum" "took and was so to the woods" and interviewed the quail and H . A. LUMSDEN engaged for the turkey and frequently the deer and some- nine years, ti mes the bear. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 35 A. A. STO E A mile and a half from the age of sixteen to about forty he was northwest of Mait captain of a crew that plied their craft suc land lies the grove cessfully throughout the fishing season, April known for the past to November. thirty years or The winters furnished variety by affording more as the groYe the opportunity to get the ship timber which of A. A. Stone & proved profitable employment. Son. He early showed great interest in grafting This grove has trees and many a tree of his neighbor's as well been brought to its as his own orchard testifies still to his success present state of in this line of work. p r o d u c t i veness With such appreciation of tree culture it is ness through the not strange that Florida appealed to him as ceaseless energy a most delightful place of residence. Accord and sound business ingly, in 1883, the move was made from Guil sense of A. A. ford, Conn., his residence since 1867, to Mait Stone and his son, land, Florida. L. L. Stone. With the help of his son, L. L. Stone, he The senior mem built a four-roomed dwelling, which became ber of this partner the ell of the house erected later. ship, ·Alvord Alon- In every community he and his good wife A. A. STONE zo Stone, was born have always stood for the best things, while in Killingworth, their married life, now rounding out sixty-five Connecticut, August 24th, 1829. Though fa years, has been remarkable for its devotion miliar with all kinds of farm work, he also and joy through all the changes that have come learned the business of the fisherman, and to them. L. L. STONE His orange grove was the first to come into He took special charge of the stone business bearing after the years spent in recruiting it which was carried on several years, and the from the destruction of the freeze and he good condition of helped to rehabilitate many another grove by that work today setting his fine budded trees. testifies to his The junior member of this partnership, Lov thoroughness and ell Lazell Stone, was born in Killingworth, reliability. Connecticut, November 16th, 1857- His daily life In his tenth year the removal to Guilford gave evidence of a took place, where his education was continued strong Christian character. He was in the public schools of that thriving borough, active in Sunday including Guilford Institute, now the local School work and high school. After a season's work with his in the cause of father in the fishing business, he took a course temperance. at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, On August 22nd, N. Y., which served him well in the business 1914, the bite of a of these late years. rattlesnake caused He became interested in Florida and came his death, and his to the State in 1883 in company with his par parents were de ents, and in the pioneer work that fell to prived of the their lot he made many friends who stood by strong support that him in many trying experiences, and in turn, had borne them up he proved a firm friend to many in need. so faithfully. L. L. STONE EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY N.H.FOGG Boston has a fine grove and a beautiful home-place. He co n t r i buted devoted his attention to the development of a number of his own property, experimented in orange citizens to growing, pecan raising and in the cultivation Orange Coun of rare tropical and semi-tropical shrubs, trees, ty, but none Japan cane, etc., giving the result of his ex more valuable periments to the public far and near, through than Mr. N. the various Florida newspapers of which he H. Fogg. In was the valued correspondent. His newspaper the earlier work was of an interesting order, always days, when the practical and yet very entertaining and when electrical pro ever the name of N. H. Fogg was attached fession was in to an article in the Jacksonville Times-Union, its infancy, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Reporter-Star, Sen Mr. Fogg was tinel and Citizen, one could always rest as an electrician sured that there was something well worth in the employ reading at hand. In this way he has done of the R. H. some very excellent constructive work for White Dry Orange County, and many a man has received Goods Co., of great encouragement from his many sketches. Boston. He For some years Mr. Fogg has been retired N. H. FOGG came to Or- on his orange grove and takes life easy, rest ange County, ing assured that he has been among those Florida, in 1884, locating in Altamonte Springs, valued early pioneers who have not lived in where near this famous medicinal spring he has vain. MRS. ELIZABETH M. SAU DERS-MASSEY Usually men are the earlier settlers in any well worth an new section, and it is so in Orange County; artist's vision. but there were some women who braved the Mrs. Saund hard life incident to the up-building of the ers-Massy lo county, and then there are others who arrived cated in Or after the way had been blazed and homes and ange County, groves took the place of log cabins and forest. but the divid Among these last named is Mrs. Saunders ing line of Massey, who came to Orange County from Toronto, Canada, where her .husband was Seminole was connected with the Taylor Safe Manufactur ut immediate ing Company, turning out a product known ly along her the world over. southward The prima?y object in coming to Florida property line, was her son's health, and the sightly mansion so that she on the hill-side and orange grove known as now lives in the "Hoosier Springs Grove" was selected Seminole with this in ·view. It is a most beautiful lo County. She cation, overlooking ''The Three Graces" Lakes, can throw an "Faith," "Hope," and "Charity," which viewed orange across when the setting Florida sun casts its many into Orange ELIZABETH M. SAUNDERS hued rays over the limpid waters, is a picture County. MASSY EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 37 BER HART HUPPLE With his wife, Later he worked m fruit growing for Mr. Friederika, Mr. Koehne. In the year 1885 he purchased the H upple came from home place, including a farm of ten acres, Gotha, Germany, which today is a model farm of its sort. In in 1883, and locat 1895 Mr. Hupple thought he would try the ed in Olivia, now North, and worked for a time in Louisville, Goth a, Orange Ky., but the South appealed to him and Florida County, Florida. sand had gotten into his shoes and he soon Originally a came to the conclusion that, although there marble cutter, he were draw-backs in Florida and Gotha was not found no opportu altogether free from them, it was better here nity in this line in in the open, care-free life of a farmer, than his new home, and in the over-populous hard-driven city, and he gave his attention returned and went industriously to work, as to mill work and a German always will, and determined to wrest orange growing in success out of the ground. Here he lived, la the employ of Mr. bored and finally died, aged 57, April 20, 1914. Hemple, of Buffa His memory is cherished fondly by his family lo, N. Y., who de and friends, and his life and labors, although Yeloped a large ended all too soon, will never be forgotten by BERNHART HUPPLE property in Gotha. them who loved him. L. C. OSBORN L. C. OSBORN AND WIFE November 7th, 1881, this active citizen re has been the postmaster. He is now also moved from Indiana to Zellwood, Florida, en acting deputy of registration. He and family tering into the fruit business with his father, are members of the Methodist Episcopal and later established a store in the town, do Church, South. ing business together from 1889 to 1913. Five children came to bless his household, For twenty years he has held the responsi one daughter and four sons. ble office of School Trustee and four years EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY W. T. BERRY In February of Mr. Berry not only proved himself a valued 1884, Mr. W. T. and faithful employee of the railroads. but he Berry left Russell ranks as a good and useful citizen of his County, Ala., for chosen town, where his attainments have been Orange County, readily recognized and rewarded by the people. Fla. After spend No more honorable positions can be filled by ing three years in any man than on the governing board of his fruit culture, in city, where he is best known by friends and 1887 he entered in neighbors, and on the educational board, which to the mercantile has to do with the fitting of the on-coming line at W ekiva generation. In these places Mr. Berry has Springs for two evidenced his fitness by unremitting attention years, and then and fidelity. Apopka takes especial pride in turned his atten her schools, for her citizens are among the tion to railroading first in the State, many of the first settlers as agent for the having located there and many of them re Florida Midland, mained. the T. 0. & A., For fifteen years he served as town coun and in 1892 became cilman, and for six years has been trustee connected with the Seaboard Air Line of the public school district, for eight years W. T. BERRY at Apopka, where alderman and for two years justice of the he has served as peace. All these offices he has filled with station agent ever since, making twenty-four honor and fidelity. Mr. Berry was married years of continuous railroad service, a fine in 1891, and has two children, Jeane V. and record for a faithful man. Thomas W. TYR1AN US J. MI OR Georgia has sent many good citizens down and two years later, but with true Georgia to Florida, and among them came Mr. T. grit he persevered and now owns 18 acres of J. Minor in December, 1885, locating at Crown orange groves, har Point. A farmer for years in Guyette Coun vesting 1 ,ooo boxes ty, Ga., he went into merchandising and upon with prospects of coming to Florida he soon opened a store increase this fall. known as T. J. Minor & Brother, and except He, with J. 0. Maguire, became for four years, 1895-99, he has continued in interested 111 the business at Ocoee. Ocoee orange Ocoee was one of the earliest settled spots packing house and in Orange County and has ever been a busy it is in successful place, surrounded with luxuriant orange operation to this groves and profitable gardens. The residents day. are community-loving folks and the prosperity He became asso- of the section has depended on men of char ciated with the acter and energy, and among these men Mr. Citrus Exchange Minor has been prominently identified as a in 1909, and was community builder and as a business prospect its secretary till or. 1914. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster and Mr. Minor has a held the office 14 years, and was supervisor of family of five the Ocoee schools for several years. daughters and one Twice he was a heavy loser by fire, in 19o8, son. TYRANNU S J. MINOR EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 39 JAMES W. GRAVES J. W. GRAVES J. W. Graves can safely be counted an During the past season he has been exten original Orange County man, because he was sively engaged in growing tomatoes and water born in Crown Point, Orange County, Fla., melons for market. His tomato farm covered May 30, 1876. ten acres and 250 acres of watermelons, truly After graduating in the county schools he a planter on a large scale. Mr. Graves and engaged in farming and citrus fruit growing, family, of wife and one child, Helen Louise, in which he has been successful. He has been a little over two years of age, live in a pretty connected with the Ocoee orange packing residence in Ocoee, though Mr. Graves is the house for twelve years and has demonstrated owner of a fine ten-acre orange grove at his ability in the business. Crown Point. I. W. GRAVES In the year 1871, Mr. Graves emigrated from Here he lived for seven years and then re Georgia, though the original family home was moved to Crown Point, living there for seven in l orth Carolina, where his father was a teen years, all the builder and contractor of considerable note. while grew oranges In those days the broad-ax was very useful and vegetables. in building, and he had a reputation for wield In 1903 he made ing this implement. a final move to He was a true pioneer with all of the early Ocoee, where he settlers' instincts-and the new and wild sec has continued in tions of Florida held out many alluring in his favorite line of ducements to him. business to this The question with him, as with many other day. Men of this kind, the produc newcomers seeking a home and fortune, was ers of the county, whether to locate along one of the natural make her most val water courses or go farther into the interior uable citizens. The of the State, as each locality held out enticing children of this inducements, somewhat differing in character busy man and his and it was rather a difficult matter to decide wife are James which of the two would develop the sooner. W. Graves, Minnie Mr. I. W. Graves first located at Titusville, M. Parramore,, on the Indian River, after a time moving to Arthur F. Graves, Lake Butler, Orange County, where he cleared Anna L. Rawlins, the wild hammock and planted the Chase grove. George T. Graves. I. W. GRAVES 40 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY ELIJAH HAND ELIJAH HAND Mr. Elijah Hand recently died in Orlando, could not see ahead very far, and by "taking but while he lived he proved what one man time by the forelock" and building a spacious could do in business !if e in Orange County. place where furniture, rugs, etc., could proper He came to Orlando from Shelbyville, Ind., ly be exhibited, and then stocking with season in 1885. able and elegant goods, he captured the public His business was that of undertaker and eye and demand at the same time and realized furniture dealer. He was the leading under a speedy and substantial profit. As a builder in the city, he left his mark taker in this section for many years, and es for in addition to his own business block, he tablished a business in furniture, carpets, etc., built a fine two-story brick on Orange avenue, that compelled him to build larger quarters, and the handsome three-story brick, corner resulting in the erection of the Hand lk1ld Orange avenue and Church street. Besides ing, which is located on the site of the old Mag this, he was the owner of orange groves and nolia hotel property on Pine street, the entire timber lands and had a comfortable business lower floors of which were devoted to his property in Indiana. splendid business. Mr. Hand had two sons, Harry E. Han MRS. MARY KERR DUKE Mrs. Duke was the fourth child of John P. Among Mrs. Duke's many m1mstries was Kerr, Scottish born, and Sarah Howard Kerr, her service to the Confederate soldiers con of North Carolina. She was born in North fined in orthern prisons during the Civil Carolina and soon after removed with her war. Though living in the North, she was parents to Greensboro, Alabama, where she strongly Southern in her sympathies. She and spent most of her girlhood. In 1857, the fam her sister, Margaret, provided many comforts ily removed to Dubuque, Iowa. While they and luxuries for the Confederate prisoners, and lived in this northwestern city Mary was sent the hearts of many poor lonely men were to the Elmira Female College, New York State, greatly strengthen. Some of the friendships where by her ability, scholarship and delight formed during that awful period have survived ful manners she distinguished herself, and af to the present day. ter four years graduated with much distinc On the organization of the South Florida Fair tion. W,hile a student in this college, she had Association about twenty years ago, she was for a warm friend the Rev. Thomas K. Beech appointed Superintendent of the Department er, who had great admiration for her charac of Plants and Flowers, in which position her ter and talents. success was eminent and great crowds gathered In about the year 1870 she was married to daily to admire her handiwork. a Mississippi lawyer of high standing, Mr. During the World's Fair in Chicago, Mrs. Henry Gore Fernandez, who lived but a short Duke was appointed by the Governing Board time. Soon after his death, her daughter, of Lady Managers without her knowledge as Miss Hallie G. Fernandez, was born, and be one of the judges of horticultural exhibits. tween whom and her mother subsisted until She accepted, being the only woman judge in the hour of her mother's death, the most beau that department, and gave the greatest sat tiful relations of mother, sister, sweetheart and isfaction by her decision. friend. Above all, Mary Duke was a Christian, not Mrs. Duke came to Orange County about of the protesting, talking type. She lived her 1875, as a school teacher, being principal suc religion and all who came in contact with her cessively of schools at Fort Reed and Orlando. felt the reality of her faith. She has left the After Orlando was founded she made her world better for having lived in it, and multi home here and at length was married to Mr. tudes now that she is gone, rise up to call her James K. Duke, a Kentuckian. By him she blessed. had two sons, Robert Keith, dying in infancy and Buford Kerr Duke, a fine young man, Entered into rest in Atlantic City, New J er honest, upright and intelligent and devoted to sey, July 30th, 1913, after a long illness, one his mother. of the most gifted, brightest and kindest of Two years ago, Mrs. Duke's health began to women. She was a loyal friend, a faithful fail, and in spite of the best medical attention wife, and a loving mother. Interested in art, in Orlando, she steadily lost ground. At a student of general literature, and a fine writ length she went to John's Hopkins Hospital at er, she was yet eminently practical in business Baltimore, where for eight weeks she was un affairs. One of her most pre-eminent traits der the care of two distinguished physicians. was sympathy. If there were any cases of She improved considerably and on their advice sickness, sorrow or poverty she was al ways went to Atlantic City for a change of air, but one of the first to bring help. Her general as soon as she arrived there, she took a turn optimism and charm of personality made her for the worse, and after one week passed a host of friends. Interment was in the Kerr away. Her end was painless and peaceful. "At lot, Mt. Olivet cemetery, Nashville, Tenn., eventide there shall be light" was fulfilled in August 2nd, 1913. her life's close. 42 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE .COUNTY Three Generations of Woodruff s 10 Orange County ELIAS WOODRUFF The original Orange County Woodruff was bearing his name. Here for years he lived born in Elizabethtown, I . J. His father, Seth the life of a reclu e in a log cabin of his own Woodruff was one of three brothers who came building, where he cultivated the island, which over to ew Jersey from England. was remarkably fertile and produced vege Elias, of adventurous spirit, decided to look tables of wondrous size and delicious flavor. the country over a bit before locating for Later he purchased land at Ft. Reed, where good, and amid his wanderings made his way he planted an orange grove. In 1848, he sent to the newly constituted Mississippi territory, to Mississippi for his youngest son, W. W., where, in Pike County1 he settled upon a farm then seventeen years of age, who came to at China Grove. He married Miss Ailsey make his home with his father. They erected Collins, of Columbia, Marion County, and had a cottage on the Ft. Reed grove, Elias going eight children, six daughters and two sons, over to the island for days or weeks together. W. W. w. and Seth W. This house was the third frame house built Elias Woodruff was a soldier in Jackson's in Orange County. army, serving in the battle of Chalmette, New Mr. Woodruff was a great student and the Orleans, La., 1815. last years of his life were spent quietly in his After many years spent in the quiet of home, home with his son, and beloved books and the lure of adventure again possessed him, and papers. his family now grown, he traveled to Mellon He died in 1863, and was buried in the old ville, Orange County, Florida, arriving in 1844, cemetery, near Ft. Reed. Later the body was and settled on Woodruff's Island at the head moved to Lakeview Cemetery, Sanford. of Lake Monroe, the island and creek still WILLIAM W ASHI GTON WOODRUFF The subject of this biog raphy was born July roth, 1831, in China Grove, Pike County, Miss. His parents were Elias and Ailsey Woodruff, pioneers of Mis sissippi. The father, having previously emigrated to Florida, sent for the son, who rode horseback from hi Mississippi home to Mellonville, Orange County, after having tried the trip on a former occasion when sixteen years of age and found it at that time too difficult. In 1848 he built a home on an orange grove already established by his father. W. w. WOODRUFF Those were very exciting MRS. w. w. WOODRUFF times on account of the Seminole Indians, and William W. Woodruff entered the army and fought Indians from 1856 to 1857. In 186o he married Miss Nannie Galloway, who had come to Florida with her father rnd lived at Ru.tland's Ferry. They began housekeeping on the Woodruff grove and kept Jpen house, for Mr. Woodruff was of a genP:rous and hospitable nature, and the visitor EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 43 never felt himself a "stranger in a strange After the war, Mr. Woodruff served his land'' when in reach of the latch string of the county two terms in the Florida Legislature. Woodruff home and, in fact, there was seldom In 1869 the brothers and sisters of Mr. Wood a time when there were no visitors there. ruff insisted that he return to Mississippi and Naturally a man of this nature early became in response to their entreaties he sold all his interested in the public affairs of his county possessions and returned there; but so strong and State and in the convention known as the a hold had Florida upon him that he came "Secession Convention," which met in Talla back within three months, located again at Ft. hassee in 1861, he was elected a delegate from Reed, and started to make another orange Orange County, and was one of the seven men grove, but never very strong, his health began of that famous convention who voted against to fail, and he only lived two years after re the ordinance of secession. otwithstanding, turning. while still in Tallahassee, he volunteered his The making of the new home depended services to the Southern army, but failing to largely upon his wife, when he died, February pass the physical examination, he returned to 14th, 1872. Being well educated and gifted his home in Orange County. As an indication with unu ual personal ability, she gathered the of the method of traveling in those days it is remnants of property left and so planned, interesting to note that he journeyed mule worked and lived to enjoy the income of one back to Gainesville, and there left the mule of the finest orange groves in Orange County. for the return trip, took the Yulee railroad to Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff had three children: the Capitol. Seth, Emma and Frank. In 1877 Mrs. vVood Later in the strife Mr. Woodruff again of ruff married C. H. Beck and two sons were fered his services to his State, and was ac born. June 11th, 1909, Mrs. Nannie Woodruff cepted, joining the "Home Guards," Captain Beck died in the home she had made, where Watson, the officer in charge. This company her last days were spent in quiet and the en had many thrilling experiences, at one time joyment of her children, all of them residents coming so near being captured that they had of Sanford, except the eldest, Seth, who has to abandon their horses while trying to make for some years lived in Orlando, tne county Cook's Ferry and swim the St. Johns River seat, where official duties demanded his pres for safety. ence. 44 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY SETH WOODRUFF Seth, the oldest of the third generation of Orange County Woodruffs, was born at Mellonville ( Ft. Reed), March 10th, 1862. He attended the county schools, upon paying tuition, the schools of that time being free only to those unable to pay. He entered the Preparatory Department, Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina, in October, 1877, took the six years' course in five years, graduating in 1882 with A. B. degree and honorable mention in all branches of study. Upon returning home he entered upon a busy life of orange growing, trucking, cattle raising and mercantile business, which he followed for ten years, and during a part of the time engaged in public business, serving as clerk and assessor and tax collector and treasurer of Sanford, and as assistant tax asses sor of the county. In 1892 he was elected tax collector of Orange County and served in this capacity until 1904. Upon terminating this public service he returned to his profitable business of ·cattle, trucking and orange growing. The writer could stop right here and enough would have been written to fill one man's busy life-time, but Mr. Woodruff has continued to crowd in many other things. A Democrat SETH WOODRUFF in politics, he has been actively connected practically all the while with precinct and county organization, s1t1on. He was president of the Orlando and is now chairman of the Democratic Exec- Board of Trade during 19II, and again iri utive Committee of Orange County. 1914, the rules of the board making the presi- The public good has ever been in his dent ineligible for a successive term. thought and he has given unstintingly of his He served as city alderman for some years time and talent toward the promotion of and as such was a careful and energetic city many good causes. He was one of the small councilman. number who, in 1895, initiated the movement He endorses all legitimate sports when con- for hard-surfaced roads and now takes pride ducted in a clean way and contributes to rac- in the great system of county brick roads, ing, baseball and polo, and is identified with which is the culmination of efforts along these ocial affairs and a stockholder in the Orlando lines. Country Club. He is a hearty believer in He has encouraged the development of the fraternal organizations, and is a member of nu- public school interests into the splendid system merous fraternal orders. now existing. He ha5 always been deeply in- Mr. Woodruff was happily married in 1896 terested in legislative affairs and has actively to a native Florida lady, who was born and promoted progressive laws for school, road, raised in Tallahassee, whose maiden name was citrus, trucking and stock interests, and has Elizabeth Agnes Shine. contributed in service, time and money for Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff enjoy a wide circle every public and civic enterprise. of friends and acquaintances, and with true He was among the few who organized the Shine and Woodruff spirit, "the latch string" Orlando Driving Park Association, out of to their home always hangs on the outside. which has developed the Orange County Fair Seth enjoys and prizes the distinction of being Association, and the holding annually of a a genuine ''Florida Cracker," and while he does Sub-Tropical Mid-Winter Exposition, embrac- not recall having been consulted as to just ing four counties. He was president of the where he should first see the light, he is per- Fair Association during the first and second f ectly satisfied that he should first have seen years and at the recent annual meeting in it among the orange groves, lakes and pines July, was again elected to that responsible po- of old Orange County, Florida. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 45 FRA KL. WOODRUFF FRANK L. WOODRUFF MRS,. WOODRUFF FRA K LEE, JR. JOH DEVLIN RALPH G.\LLOWAY HARRY SHINE Mr. Frank L. Woodruff is the youngest son from the Sanford district. In 1912 he was re of Wm. W. Woodruff and Nannie J. Galloway. elected, and in 1913, when Orange County was Was born at Fort Reed, near Sanford, Orange divided and Seminole created, he was appoint County, February 26th, 1871. Mr. Woodruff ed County Commissioner by Governor Park was educated in the Public Schools of Or Trammell, and was elected chairman of the ange County, after which he spent two years Board of County Commissioners in Seminole in Erskine College, Dule West, S. C., where County. He has served on the Board of Al he met Miss Minnie Elizabeth Devlin, and dermen of the city of Sanford three terms they were married January 11th, 1897. Mr. and was elected Mayor three times, 1903-190-1-- Woodruff has been actively engaged in busi 1900. ness in the county of his birth since 1892, and Mr. Woodruff is now engaged in business in has held positions of trust and responsibility Sanford, Seminole County, being the senior in the county of Orange and the city of San member of the firm of Woodruff & vVatson, ford, Fla. From 1896 to 1908 he was a mem also being interested in the fire insurance and ber of the Democratic Executive Committee real estate business, also a director in the of Orange County. In 1910 he was elected Seminole County Bank, and vice-president and County Commissioner for Orange County director in the Peoples Bank of Sanford, Fla. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY WILLIAM BEN]. HULL WILLIAM BENJ. HULL William Benjamin Hull and his wife, Emily Hull continued the hotel during her husband's Harriett Hull, arrived in Orange County, Dec. absence, and also acted as post mistress for 25th, a glorious Christmas day, 1855. Coming the mail that arrived once each week. With from Cobb County, north of Atlanta, Ga., they the help of a faithful negro boy and girl, Mrs. first located at Ft. Reid and a year later moved Hull carried on a farm and probably the battle to the neighborhood of Orlando and there against starvation was never more energetical made their home for the balance of their lives. ly waged. Many times provisions ran very The original trip from Georgia was made low, but soldiers' wives had a good friend in by wagon and they were accompanied by a Capt. Mizell's father, who, too old to go to party of thirty-four persons, a part of whom war, would, upon calling at the postoffice, make were negro slaves, and this influx of new diligent inquiry as to the supply of food, and settlers, it is said, nearly doubled the popula when Mrs. Hull was out of meat, "Uncle tion of Orange County. Dave" would butcher a beef and take a quarter In 1862 Mr. Hull joined Captain Joshua to her. Mizell's company of ''Home Guards," and went The hotel had few guests during the war, to Tallahassee, where the company was mus but when court was in session, Mrs. Hull tered into the regular army and they were furnished dinner to every man in the county. quickly hurried to Virginia, where they soon The original dining table, somewhat reduced saw service. Mr. Hull was twice wounded in size, is still doing service at the Hull home, slightly by partially spent balls and later sus southeast of the city. tained a badly sprained ankle which sent. him Mr. Hull arrived home in July, 1865, having to the hospital. Reporting again for service he walked with a companion from Palatka, that was captured at the first battle of Gettysburg being the terminus of the Federal boat line. and was taken to Ft. Delaware, where he spent Emaciated and foot-sore, he was in no condi twenty-three months, when the war closed and tion to take up the battle of life, but this was he came home. no time for idleness, and as his companion Mr. Hull and wife were conducting a hotel during imprisonment was the fortunate owner in Orlando upon the outbreak of war and Mrs. of a blind horse, between them a cotton crop / EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 47 THE HULL SISTERS was grown of fifteen hundred pounds, an THE H ULL BROTHERS EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY R. P. JEROME HOME OF R. P. JEROME The late R. P. Jerome came to Orange to Florida he engaged in orange growing un County, Fla., in 1886, arriving from the neigh til the time of his death in 1913, at the good old boring State of Georgia, where his earlier life age of 73. was spent. He was an old Confederate s9ldier, Five children, three daughters and two sons, having served from 1861 to 1865, with honor survived him. H. Jerome and his brother are to his State. In the mercantile business at engaged in the orange business. Blufton from 1865 to 1881, and upon moving EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 49 R. EDGAR DAN R. EDGAR DAN For many years a stranger coming to Or never aw a more even-tempered man, nor lando would almost be sure to meet at the one whose heart was more easily moved. He railroad station a jovial-faced man with glad gave of hi s means, but not of his anger, real hand extended, whose name was "Edgar izing no doubt that it is more blessed to give Dann." For not only among the people of than to receive and that harsh words are not Orange -County was this man well known, but soon forgotten, but carry sorrow that lingers far and wide he was remembered as the town long. booster and advertiser. Mr. Dann was the biggest ''hooster" Orlando He was born in Ocoee, Orange County, and had. He talked her advantages in season and came to Orlando when fourteen years of age. out and showed the faith that was in him by His first occupation was night watchman for putting every dollar he could into Orlando Mr. Monroe Mathews, retaining that position property. He proved his words by his deeds. for ten years, then entering the transfer busi H c was the best posted man on the doings ness on Church street, in which he became of the city that we can recall, and probably widely known, largely by reason of his annual knew more people by their first name than booster publications which he sent broad-cast any other man in Orange County. The tour over the country. About two years prior to ist, the townsman. the "Cracker," were all his death he became connected with the Dann alike to him. His big warm heart made him Real Estate Agency, his brother being part love them all and he showed his good feelings ner. in a manner that no one could mistake. He was at one time assistant deputy sheriff Coming of parents who were not blessed under Sheriff Kirkwood. with this world's goods, :Mr. Dann not only One has written of him thus : brought himself up, but was a great help to Big of body, big of heart, he was the friend the younger members of the family. He was of the old, the young, the great, the small. one of those· self-made men who did a good The writer knew "Big" Dann, as his friends job of the making. affectionately called him, for a number of We regret that he is no longer among us years, and enjoyed his friendship to the fullest. and sorry that there are not more like him. He was frequently thrown with him and he so EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY COL. JOHN NEILL BRADSHAW Among the He became a very popular officer and held citiz-ens of _this office for fourteen consecutive years, dur Orange Coun ing which time he was conceded to · be the ty from the best posted man in Orange County, politics years 1885 to -being acquainted with almost every foot of 1904, the years land and with the men living upon it. of his connec In September, 1904, a complete reorganiza tion with the tion in his affairs occurred, when after all Orange Coun these busy years in Orange County, he left ty courthouse, the scene of his activities and many personal perhaps there friendships and removed to Cameron, Texas, was no man to settle a family estate of magnitude. Here in the county he became president of the First National better known Bank of Cameron and continued as such for than John N. four years, when he sold his interests and Bradshaw. removed to Amarillo, Texas, where he arrived Who 1 e in 1908 and engaged extensively in real estate. souled and Col. Bradshaw always said that when he generous to a got ready to really live he would certainly re fault "Colonel turn to Orlando, and in December, 1911, his Brad," as he promise was fulfilled, for on that date he re COL. J. N. BRADSHAW was fondly turned and found a partnership with Mr. called by the Charles Lord in the real estate and fire insur boys, was a friend in need and a friend in ance business, which he continues to this date. deed to all who applied. Col. Bradshaw's military records is well This is no obituary, but a bouquet thrown known to the older citizens of Orange County, at him while still living. having served in the National Guard of Flor John N. Bradshaw was born October 20 ida for nineteen continuous years. 1862, in Covington, Georgia, and came t~ Orange County, Florida in the first full flush He enlisted as a private in 1886, soon rose of virile manhoo.d, on January_first, 1883-j ust to lieutenant and then was elected captain of at the time when the eyes of the country were the crack company of the State. He went into directed to the wonderful possibilities there the Spanish-American war as captain of com were bound up in the orange industry. He pany ''C" 1st Regiment Florida Volunteer In first located in Apopka, Orange County, where fantry and left Orlando with 121 men and his two older brothers, one of them now the brought back every man alive at the close of Mayor of St. Petersburg, had settled in 1873. the war. It did not take so very long 'ere Mr. Brad The company was mustered out at Talla shaw fitted into the active affairs of the county, hassee. Florida, December 4th, 1898. for in K ovember of the same year he removed Captain Bradshaw's next promotion was that to Orlando, where he occupied the position of of Major 2nd Regiment Florida ational deputy clerk of the Circuit Court of Orange Guard, and shortly thereafter Colonel ~f the County. under T. J. Shine, Circuit Court Clerk. same regiment. Occupying this place and coming into con On March 6th, 1905, after his removal to tact with the majority of the citizens of the Texas, he was placed on the retired list with county. among them many of the incoming the rank of colonel. This in brief, completes settlers, he formed a large acquaintance, which his official and military record, but there is in many instances ripened into friendships. another side to the colonel's story. and that In July, 1887, he was appointed clerk of the is his home life. Criminal Court, being the fir t clerk of the court. On Feb. 28th, 1905, he was married to Miss At the Democratic primary, September 27th, Elise Alexander, of St. Augustine, Fla., the 1890, he was nominated clerk of the Circuit loyal lady who followed his fortunes to Texas, Court, and took office in J ovember, 1890, suc and now happily lives with him on East P1.ne ceeding Shine. Street, Orlando, Florida. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 51 JUDGE J.M. CHE EY there was added the Orlando Electric Light ing system, followed by the acquisition of the gas works, and the building of the largest ice plant in this section of the State. These associated industries have been im proved with every modern appliance and costly engines and dynamos, forming a most complete system. Politically, Mr. Cheney is a Republican, and at once upon entering the State, took high council with the best and most honorable men of his party, having had much to do with its policies in the State. He was elected City Attorney of Orlando, a non-partisan position, in 1889; was supervisor of the United States census for the State of Florda under President McKinley in 1900. He w~s the nominee of his party for con gress in 1900, and also in 1904, and a guber natorial candidate in 1908. In 1906 he was appointed by President JUDGE J. M. CHENEY Roosevelt, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and President Judge Cheney is in no sense a man whose Taft reappointed him in 1910. usefulness has been confined to Orange County, In July, 1912, the president appointed him Florida. His work has been State-wide and United States Judge from the Southern Dis of such magnitude that only the fate of the trict of Florida, and took the oath of office on political cards prevented a !if e tenure on the September 2nd. He presided with great satis bench for the United States Southern District faction to the bar of the State until March 4, of Florida, where merit alone had placed him. 1913, and right here is where the fate of party Born of an old line of Vermont parentage, change stepped in, when the Democratic party January 6th, 1859, the boy, John Cheney, succeeded and the Republican party in power lived the life of the normal New England and a majority of the Senate refused to con boy, a student in the common schools of firm the appointments of retiring President Woodville, New Hampshire, and upon grad Taft, although Judge Cheney's appointment uation entered the New Hampton Literary had been made about eight months previously. Institute, of New Hampton, N. H., where The judge accepted the decree with his cus he graduated in 1881. tomary optimistic good humor and has har Selecting the law as his future profession, bored no resentment, but re-opened his law he entered the University Law School of Bos practice· in Orlando with his old-time success. ton, Mass., where he secured the LLB. de Judge Cheney was president of the Orlando gree in 1885. Board of Trade for a number of years and it And now he cast about for a suitable loca was under his administration and with his tion and finally decided upon Orlando, Florida, assistance that the first hard-surfaced roads in where on December 29th, 1885, he duly ar the county were built and a National Good ried. Roads Convention held in Orlando. He has In January, 1886, he associated himself with ever been a liberal and hard-working nrnmber Author L. Odlin, under the firm name of of this body and the records show the result Cheney & Odlin, attorneys, and almost instant of his personality. success smiled upon him. Fraternally, he is connected with the Orlan Besides his legal profession lie early be do Lodge F. & A. M., being Worshipful Mas accame a developer of and booster for Or ter in 1894; Royal Arch Chapter, of which he lando. Associated with others he installed was High Priest in 1899, and a member of the Orlando Water Company, at that time the Elks Lodge and is an active member of the finest outfit in the far South. Later the Orlando Country Club. I EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY MARLO GORE MAHLON GORE Just at the opportune time when Orange in the State. Under his able experience and County stood at the threshold of its fir t great management the paper occupied a large place stride forward, there appeared on the scene the in the affairs of the county and became an in man for the hour-a newspaper man, a man formation bureau and immigration agency with a grasp of large ideals, a builder, not so combined, and was the direct means of bring much of houses a of ideas in the ma s, an ing to Orange County and holding many val encourager and educator of men, a booster, a uable citizens. helper, an advisor. Mr. Gore personally inkrested himself in This man was Mahlon Gore, who had been the town and county and surrounding regions extensively identified with newspapers. in the and vigorously fathered many an important West for many years, and had charge of large enterprise. While a member of the town coun development projects and who had practically cil, he framed and introduced the ordinance retired from journali m because of failing under which Orlando's famous oak shade health. To Florida he came, and to Orlando, trees were set out, and later served the city where a great future unfolded itself before his as Mayor for three successive terms and has mind's eye, and the enthusiasm of youth again always been a strong factor in the various took possession of him. Boards of Trade. Never a pessimist-always The Orange County Reporter was for sale a booster to the extent of his means and at the time and Mr. Gore bought it and im ability, he has lived to the realization of many mediately converted it into the best news me of his earlier dreams of Florida's development dium of this section, and the greatest booster and is still at it. MAHLO GORE There is no pretense in the expressions of sorrow at the de of Mahlon Gore, who e life in Orlando was li\ted 53 before al men in su ha manner as to elicit their greatest respe:1:1t,1U1u arouse within them a spirit of emulation. Hi$ e as an editor was cast upon constructive lines; nis pa- . ~r was truly a tribute of the people. His stand was un compromising; he stood staunchly for the right and as sternly against the wrong, according to his lights. But his service was not limited to the activities of the editorial province; he was in a limited but nevertheless a large way, a publicist. He served the city three years as mayor, and in the course of his long residence here w~ active in many public undertakings. His early struggles were those of the pioneer and he forged success from obstacles that must have seemed almost insurmountable then. But he came from the hardy west, and that indomitable spirit had been absorbed until it became an essential part of him, and it remained with him until the end. He battled with the grim enemy for a long period, and rallied time and again with remarkable vitality and courage. And through it all he was patient and cneerful. rhe Reporter-Star extends its deepest sympathy to those who are bereaved in his death. EARL W. EWING This sterling young man was a native of He was happily married to Miss Willie Galia County, Ohio, where, after graduating Carnell, and they were blest with ~ young from the public schools of his town, he came son. Sad indeed was it that amid happy sur to Orange County, Florida, and settled in roundings and a successful life and many Winter Garden, where he immediately won friends, Mr. Ewing, at the early age of many friends, and secured the esteem of the twenty-four, was called hence. people of that section. All who knew him contributed to the fact He identified himself with the live business that he lived an upright, straight-forward life, interests of the community, engaging in the quiet and kindly of spirit, courteous and con selling of real estate and as a merchant, which siderate of others and that his death proved he prosecuted successfully. a sad loss not only to his immediate family Selling his mercantile business to the South and friends, but the town as well. Apopka Supply Company, he went more ex- . But even a few years of such a life proves tensively into the real estate business and was of great value and as in his case left its im building up a flattering trade in lands at the print upon the times and the people. Mr. time his health gave way. Ewing died February 2, 1913...... Ii EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 9 ot tresll 53 EARL W. E\iVI G build racing r advantage. EARL W. EWING This sterling young man was a native of He was happily married to Miss Willie Galia County, Ohio, where, after graduating Carnell, and they were blest with a young from the public schools of his town, he came son. Sad indeed was it that amid happy sur to Orange County, Florida, and settled in roundings and a successful life and many Winter Garden, where he immediately won friends, Mr. Ewing, at the early age of many friends, and secured the esteem of the twenty-four, was called hence. people of that section. All who knew him contributed to the fact He identified himself with the live business that he lived an upright, straight-forward life, interests of the community, engaging in the quiet and kindly of spirit, courteous and con selling of real estate and as a merchant, which siderate of others and that his death proved he pro ecuted successfully. a sad loss not only to his immediate family Selling his mercantile business to the South and friends, but the town as well. Apopka Supply Company, he went more ex- . But even a few years of such a life proves tensively into the real estate business and was of great value and as in his case left its im building up a flattering trade in lands at the print upon the times and the people. Mr. time his health gave way. Ewing died February 2, 1913. 54 ·-i EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY JOSEPH A. BARBER JOS. A. BARBER AND WIFE Joseph A. Barber was born at the south end magnificent pine and oak forests were un of Lake Conway in Orange County, Florida, broken and when all kinds of game, both on December 18th, 1860. large and small, were abundant, and when its Look backward a moment, some of us who lakes and streams abounded in the finny tribe, claim to be old settlers and that date seems when wolves, bears and panthers roamed the a long while ago. woods, when deer and turkeys ravaged tne He had only the advantages of a common fie ld crops, as do the rabbits today. school education, although that was considered Mr. Barber did some of the work on the of some importance at that early date in this first railroad that ever crossed Orange Coun section. ty, viz: the South Florida Railroad, which With this as his equipment and the natural was built in 1875. He well remembers the gifts he was endowed with he has succeeded time when the town-site of Sanford was cov in the enterprises he has engaged in. ered with virgin forest. On March rnth, 1887, he married Miss Mag The home industries of this early time, 1862- gie S. Simmons, who was born Oct. 4th, 1869. 1865, stand out vividly in his memory, when She also is from a large family of the older his mother took the cotton as it came from settlers of Orange County. the fie ld, ginned it, carded and spun it and Mr. and Mrs. Barber are the parents of a wove it into cloth, afterward dyeing the cloth family of eleven children, all of them -living with any desirable color and making it into at Conway and are occupied in farming, the clothing for the family. most important of any occupation in the de These are memories dear to the heart and velopment of the country, as is evidenced by there are others t oo sacred to mention. the "Back to the Soil" advocates of the pres For two years Mr. Barber was elected to ent age, and the fact that nearly a ll the new and served as Tax Collector of Osceola Coun comers into Florida have that in view, wheth ty-, 1890-94, and made final settlement with er fitted for it or not. the county and State for the first seven years Added to farming this family are success of that county's life. ful stock raisers and citrus growers, both He was not favorable to bonding Orange profitable lines when properly handled, as most County, preferring that the county should re old-time Floridians know. main a,') it was, without a dollar of debt against Mr. Barber remembers Orlando when its it, and he says he voted his convictions. pre ent corporate limits could not have con At the time of this writing Mr. Barber tained over twenty inhabitants. holds the honorable position as member of He remembers Orange County when its the County Democratic Executive Committee. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 55 A DREW J. BARBER ANDREW J. BARBER AND WIFE Andrew J. Barber is the son of William hardships of those early Indian fighters owe a Barber and was born in r orth Florida, July 9, debt of gratitude to such men as Mr. Barber, 1839. who bore the brunt of the battle, for no matter His father died when Andrew was but two how much romance may be woven about the years of age. Sixteen years of his life was Indian and the disposition of his lands, the passed in assaua, Hernando and Columbia early fighter for the white race had in mind Counties. something much more practical to him and He came to Orange County August 15th, posterity, and that wa the preservation of 1855 and of course there was no · Orlando, no peace and the element of safety for his own Sanford, no Kissimmee. All was wild and home; hence he fought a desperate warfare the roads were but trails, many of them twin from flowing stream to rising hillock, from ing in and out through the woods, but all lead behind the stately trees of the pine forests and ing in the same general direction, and. travel amid the dense jungles of the black ham was by compass, the sun, and at night, by the mocks. stars. After the wars were over, the Indians dis The newest place of trade was Melonville persed and the remnant pressed down into the on the south side of Lake Monroe-St. Johns Everglades, Mr. Barber turned his attention to River. stock raising, for which parts of Orange Coun In those days Mr. Barber could count on his ty, as it then was, offered exceptional ad fingers the families residing in the county. It vantages, and as time went on he raised from was the time of the Seminole Indian war, and the seed one of the finest orange groves in Mr. Barber's chief business for twenty-one what became Osceola County, cut off from months was Indian fighting. He served during Orange. this time under J ournegan, Bullock, Carter, Stock raising, orange growing and farming Sparkman and Kendrick, and it was a life of were his occupations through a long and use excitement and adventure, as the history of ful life, and now in bis 76th year of age, he the Seminole wars duly attest. lives over again in memory those earlier Those of us who are enjoying today the eventful and later peaceful scenes of the long peace and prosperity brought about by the ago. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY HO . H. H. WITHER! GTON H. H. WITHERI GTON H. H. vVitherington was born on a farm in forth its picture of green intermingled with Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, during the Civil yellow, and brings the usual dividend to the war, in 1862. Came to Orange County, Fla., owner as a reward for his efforts. in 1883, and settled at popka, where he now He never a pired to political honors, al lives. He was attracted to that section on though he was appointed in r896 as member of account of its high rolling lands and ideal the Board of Public Instruction of Orange climate. County to Jill the unexpired term of Hon. T . He began clerking in a grocery store. and G. Hyers, and was re-elected and served con later embarked in the mercantile business for tinuously for fourteen years-declining to be himself, which he followed for twenty years elected again, claiming that there were young continuously, during which time, assisted by er and more capable men perhaps, who might l\Iayor John B. Steinmetz, of Clay Springs, he fill the position more successfully. built and equipped probably the first rural tel The only distinctive honor claimed by him ephone line in Orange County, and among the during these fourteen years of service was first in the State, in the year r9or. that the school interests were never once sac Like most persons who came to Florida in rificed for that of the individual. those days, he began the task of making an He was married at the age of twenty-five orange grove, and to experiment in farming on to Anna Belle Turner, also of Alabama, an a small scale. He soon was able to prove to acquaintance of his boyhood days. To them the most skeptical that both corn and hay could were born five children-three boys and two be successfully grown on the high pine lands girls, who are living and are practically grown. of Florida and has since been one of the few men who has grown his own stock feed from Being a firm believer in the future possibili year to year. ties of the State as a winter resort for older Like many others, his hopes were somewhat people from the orthern States, a healthful blighted when the freeze of 1894 and 1895 resort for the afflicted, a veritable pleasant re killed his beautiful orange grove to the ground, sort for those able to afford it, a country, in and he wondered for a time whether or not fact, destined to become one of the most pro the orange grove was worth the effort, but ductive in fruits, vegetables and field crops of soon revived bis_courage and began rebuilding all kinds, with a climate unsurpassed, he de his once blighted prospects and is today re cided to enter the real estate busine s and warded by being the owner of a beautiful continually sings the praises of Florida, the grove, which at harvest time each yea r shows State of his adoption. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 57 HON. J. H. SADLER on Sunday-but it was no hardship for these royal folks who lived near to nature's heart and nature's God. Sure, they made many sacrifices for each other, but then it all developed many big hearted, unselfish, rugged characters, of which it is really refreshing to remember, in these days when modern advantages and conveni ences enables one to live almost an isolated life so far as an out-stretched, helping human hand is concerned, the opportunity for mutual help being thus removed and the human appeal and helpfulness, one of the greatest pleasures of community life, and the best in human na ture seems almost lost. In these early times agriculture and horti culture were the only pursuits open to one and, naturally, these were entered into by Mr. Sadler as he grew to manhood's estate. He married Miss Minnie M. Tilden, April J. H. SADLER 15th, 1887, and thus another link in the Speer Orange County is cosmopolitan and the sons Sadler-Tilden chain was forged, and nine chil of many States contribute to her sturdy popu dren have blessed this union, two sons are Ii v lation. :::--Jone more so than the scions of old ing in Colorado, one at Homestead, Dade South Carolina. County, Florida, and the others are home. James H . Sadler was born in Anderson He believes in doing the best possible for his County, South Carolina, April 21, 1859, the children and that the finest legacy he can leave son of James H. and Catherine E. Sadler. them is to educate them, and this interest The father laid down his life for bi's State reaches out to the children of his townsmen in the Civil strife, in 1864, and the year fol and the splendid school facilities he and hi~ lowing, the mother, with the three children, fellow citizens have helped to give to that James H., Alice I., and Anna E., removed to section attest to the interest shown. her fathers, James G. Speer's home in Orange Mr. Sadler is reckoned a successful business County, Florida, because her husband's estate man and has demonstrated this by giving his was lost, being hastily closed up in fear of best thought and energy to the original lines destruction at the hands of Sherman's army. 'he engaged in and by applying modern ideas But very new and omewhat serious condi and specializing. He was among the original tions awaited them in the newly adopted home. growers of vegetables for orthern markets, The nearest postoffice for all the region was and was also the first grower to irrigate his Apopka, and the neighboring people took turn fields, which of itself opened up a new era in about in going for the mail once each week. truck growing. Also, he has always been a Money-real money-was a very scarce article, successful orange grower and is possessed of and the interchange of help one to another real e tate all over Orange County, in Dade had to take the place of laborers and money. County, and among the oil fields of Oklahoma. Each helped the other do the thing most He was elected to the office of County Treas needed, and reserved a portion for still an urer three successive terms and is now one of other helping at some future time. the Bond Trustees of the new brick road fund. Family life was rife in the district, for the He is -president and director of the Bank of whole neighborhood was as one great big Oakland, director of the Winter Garden Wat whole-souled family. er & Light Company and a director of the A luxury-loving chap from the cities of in South Lake Apopka Citrus Growers' Associa dulgance might have vote 1 the living of those tion. This little sketch is simply set down days rather hard, consisting, as it did of corn for future reference, for the life of "Jim" bread, sweet potatoes, milk and hominy, beef, Sadler is as an open book to all who know pork, fish and game of every sort, with biscuits him and fortunate is he who calls him friend. 58 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY HON. SAMUELS. GRIFF! HO . S. S. GRIFFIN A Floridian in nativity and by inclination, Thu , he saw the possibilities there were i11 Samuel S. Griffin was born in Gadsden County, the real estate business a few years ago and Florida, Tovember 5th, 1871. opened a small office and commenced to list a He claims to be an early settler of Or'1,nge few properties and eventually he handled some County by virtue of the fact that before he of the finest land propositions in this section. was one year of age his parents moved to His political life records the same charac Orange County, and naturally he accompanied teristics. He was for some years a member of them. He went to the public schools of the the Orange County Democratic Executive county and began early in years to take an Committee and in 1914 became a candidate for active interest in the business of life. the State Legislature. row, that he made His father was a mill man and the boy's good in the session of 191 S, a number of his first task was the humblest, but he steadily friends claim the honor of having "brought him moved upward and when he became head out," but it is claimed by others that he is sawyer, he understood the timber and saw simply following the natural bent of his his milling bu iness, because of having learned tory and needed no one to "bring him onf' or every detail. to "drive him," when once out. He originated Flis next adventure was railroading, and several important legislative bills, one of them here again he started at the beginning and known as the Hotel Protection Bill, and was worked up to the top of the locomotive-en known among his colleagues as "The Investi gineering department, giving it up when he en gator," that is, he never "went it blind," but tered railroad contract work during the time believed in possessing the facts. of the Spanish-American war. Mr. Griffin's family history records that he True to his instincts, he started modestly is the son of Lawrence Jefferson Griffin, whose and so thoroughly worked up the business that native state was Georgia, and who was an he became the chief contractor in railroad honored Confederate soldier. ties on the lines of the Orlando Coast Line 1901 Mr. Griffin married Miss Willie L. Railroad of the State. In So that, as may be seen, Mr. Griffin's chief Vick, daughter of Ex-sheriff Vick, of Orange characteristic is thoroughness, and this quality County, and they are the proud parents of seems to govern him in his actions, private three bright children, Misses Hilda, Helen and public. and Master Stanley S. Griffin. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 59 FREDERICK AUGUSTUS LEWTER Mr. Lew thereafter. In 1885 he turned his attention to ter was born the real estate business, and he has since been in Halifax continuously active along this line. county, N. D1,iring the first ten years he sold land on C., on the a commission ba is, but since that time has 14th of De purchased his property outright <;lnd today cember, 1854, owns valuable holdings in city and farming and is a son lands, and is perhaps the largest tax payer in of James this section of the state. His business has M~dison and continualy increased for he has become Mary (Dav known as an expert Judge of land values and is) Lewter, a man who never uses his knowledge or ability the former to defraud or inconvenience a client. By of whom reason of his honorable and conscientious traced his methods of dealing and his strict adherence ancestry to high standards of business integrity, Mr. back to Mar Lewter has made an enviable reputation for tin Luther, himself and has built up a business which is the name one of the largest of its kind in this section having been of Florida. For a time he owned also the changed largest chicken farm in the State, having FREDERICK AUGUSTUS LEWTER since the em- forty-four distinct breeds of chickens and as igration of many as five thousand fowl. He sold twenty the American progenitor. The mother of the thousand dollars' worth of eggs and chicken subject of this review was a second cousin per annum and kept twenty-seven incubators of Jefferson Davis. in constant use. However, fire destroyed this Frederick ugustus Lewter acquired his enterprise some years ago, and he has since early education in Elm Grove and Buck Horn devoted all of his attention to his real-estate Academies in Hertford County, North Caro interests. lina, and spent his vacation (two summers) In 1885 Mr. Lewter was united in marriage teaching school in orthampton County, North to Miss Linnie Wilkins Holshouser, a daugh Carolina, and two year in the drug business ter of William Simpson and Cynthia Ann with his uncle, Dr. John T. Lewter, in Mur Roberta (Dickenson) Holshouser, of Paris, freesboro, r orth Carolina, and later entered T,ennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Lewter have become Richmond College, Richmond, Virginia. After the parents of the following children: Irma, leaving the latter institution he went to Phil Roberta, Laura Louise, Zelma Kight, Robert adelphia, arriving in the city in 1876, and Dickenson, Medora Inez, William Frederick, there he spent one year as manager of several Elva J ouett, Frederick Augustus, Jr., and Jew hotels. At the end of that time he returned e 11. The family are devout members of the to Halifax County, North Carolina, having Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist churches. succeeded to a large farm left by his father, Mr. Lewter gives his allegiance to the dem and operated successfully three stores, until ocratic party, but is not an active politician, 1883, when his building were entirely de preferring to spend his leisure hours in his stroyed by fire. After paying all his debts, home, for he is a devoted husband and father. Mr. Lewter found himself with a cash capital He is justly accorded a place among the prom of sixty-eight dollars, and he determined to inent and representative citizens of Orlando, seek his fortune in other fields. Accordingly for he belongs to that class of men whose en he moved to Florida, arriving in Orlando in terprising spirit is used not alone for their own 1884 with two dollars and thirty-five cents. benefit, but also for the advancement of com He secured a position in a general store in nmnity interests. He has excellent ability as this city and after clerking for a short time, an organizer, forms his plans readily and is bought the enterprise, agreeing to pay for it determined in their execution. This has within three years on monthly payments. So enabled him to encounter obstacles which rapidly did he attain success, however, that would deter many a man and has been one of the store was free from debt within one year the salient features in his success. 60 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY WILLIAM SMITH WILLIAM SMITH Orlando and Orange County are indebted to In the c1v1c and governmental activities of men of every character for their cosmopolitan the city, Mr. Smith had a large part. In the make-up. Some of these men assisted in the early clays he became chief of the fire depart matter of the laws, the schools, the fraternal ment, and thus he was not only a builder, but organizations, the churches and others left a preserver of Orlando. impress on the structural features of the city For sixteen years he was a member of the and its civic life. city government, serving as councilman, on Notably among these may be mentioned the nearly every committee, and at the time of late Hon. William Smith, who was a man his death, less than two months had passed posses ed of many of the traits of his native since the city government, of which he was land, added to those acquired by association president, had given place to the new order of and absorption in America. commission government. Thus it may be said He was born of Irish parentage, near Bel that with his demise, the old order passed fast, Ireland, April 13, 1855. away; and yet there will always be evidences His mother died when he was an infant. His of the new order in connection with his name, father came to America in 1859 and here the for, with the writer of this article, he was the son, William, grew to manhood. He was edu prime mover for the first brick streets built in cated in the public schools, and while still a Orlando. young man, 'became superintendent of the Religiously, Mr. Smith was a Presbyterian Farrel Iron Foundry in Ansonia, Conn. and held his membership in the First Presby In the year 1885 he married Miss Elizabeth terian church of Orlando. J. Miles, of Ansonia, and the following year Fraternally he was conspicuous in the orders they moved to Orlando, Florida, then just be of Masons, Knights Templar, Knights of ginning to show evident signs of becoming a Pythias, Odd Fellows and Elks. city. Mr. Smith passed away February 20, 1914, With several associates he established The having written his name largely in the history South Florida Foundry and Machine Company of Orlando and his memory will ever be pre and it was his close attention to business that served in the hearts of those who knew him had much to do with the quality of the struc and who, with him, had some part in the up tural iron that went into nearly all the business building of Orlando. buildings in Orlando, which after all is a valu Mr. Smith's family consists of his wife and able monument to a man's usefulness in the two living daughters, one daughter and a community, for it will stand as long as one son deceased. There are living three sisters building remains in the city. and a half brother. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 61 DAVID 0. MAGUIRE DAVID 0. MAGUIRE David 0. Maguire was born in Gwinnett which place he brought his family two years County, Ga., Oct. r6, 1850. later. His father at that time was considered one He bought the Pennington Grove in 1890, of the substantial men of his county. At the where he moved the same year. The freeze close of the Civil war, fifteen years later, con of 189-1--S killed his groves to the ground, but ditions were changed, slaves all free and al he sanguinly went to work to bring them back most everything gone but the land. ~otwith to bearing. standing, he managed to attend Conyers Acad He was instrumental in bringing about the emy, Conyers, Ga., and after finishing there he Citrus Exchange, together with T. J. Minor, taught school near his home for two or more built and equipped the Exchange packing house years before he decided to attend the State at Ocoee, and was president of the Exchange University, Athens, Ga. at that place. He never tired of doing what he could to help the community in which he Temperate in his habits he made a good lived. As a man he was honest and reliable student. He studied political economy under and thoroughly unselfish. He was a close stu Ben Hill, the noted Georgia Senator. He re dent of politics and helped organize the ceived a military training at the same univer People's Party and attended the convention sity. when the platform was adopted. Upon finishing his education at this place he He gave his five children, four sons and one accepted the position of principal of the High daughter, the advantage of a college education. School of Loganville, Ga., where he taught for The oldest, Dr. Thomas C. Maguire, now has several years. a good practice at Plant City; Charles Hugh He was married to Miss Margaret M. JVIaguire graduated from the State University Francis, also a college honor graduate, Jan. at the same time as his brother and went to 7, 188o. Washington and Lee to study law, but died His health failing, he decided to come to suddenly of appendicitis on February 6, 19n ; Florida and engage in orange culture. This Fred H. Maguire, at Ocoee, and Rayner occupation at that time was very alluring and F. Maguire, attorney at law, Orlando, Fla.; promised a fortune in the near future. Lillian Irmer, a student at Tallahassee, Fla. James Maguire, an older brother, came with At the age of 63, November 9, 1913, Mr. him. They toured the State in a light two Maguire went to sleep on the night of the horse buggy, finally deciding to buy land near eighth, never to awaken. His death was a Lake Apopka, now known as Crown Point, to shock to his family because so unexpected. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY JOSEPH M. LEWIS J. M. LEWIS Boston contributed to Orange County when Mr. Lewis tried out California in '49, and Mr. Lewis arrived at Altamonte in 1881. Here the fact that he located in Florida and has, he was employed by Crisey & Norris, builders, as a self-made man, wrested success out of and later he built the Altamonte Springs the primeval forests and helped to convert this Hotel, the Frost House and directly or in beautiful spot at Altamonte Springs into one directly built nearly every house in the place. of the rarest places in the State proves the His principal business now is uperintending value of Florida in comparison with Cali orange groves in addition to having six large fornia. Mr. Lewis has two sons, Arthur A. groves of his own, Altamonte and vicinity and James M., and one daughter, Miss Grace. producing some of the finest fruit in the coun ties of Orange and Seminole. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY CAPT. J. C. STEWART CAPT. J. C. STEWART AND WIFE Capt. J. C. Stewart came to Orange County also a sincere Christian, a member of the in 1854 and settled at Clay Spring, now known Baptist denomination. He was always fore as Wekiwa Springs. After spending one year most in all things educational and for the up there among the wild beasts, such as wolves, building and betterment of his country. bears, panthers and wild-cats, he moved about Owing to severe climate hardships and three miles west, where he took up a home many privations, he died the first year of the stead, built up a home and resided till he was war leaving a heart-broken wife with the care called to fight for his country. He was exempt and bringing up of eight children, which she from going to war on account of holding the did in a most highly respectable manner. oth offices of tax assessor, collector, census taker ing in a complimentary way along these lines and heriff, but at the solicitation of his many could be overdrawn, for she was a strong friends to go as their captain, he sacrificed woman mentally, physically and spiritually. everything-home, wife and a family of eight She must have been to bring up that many bright children. The struggle must have been children alone in the pioneer days, when there a hard one. were no public schools in the country. She He was a high Mason and known among was able to give all the childi;en a common friends as a "peace-maker" in times of un school education. settled differences among neighbors. He was EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY JAMES L. GILES JAMES L. GILES Mr. Giles anti-dates most of us who came city and recently the finest colonial residence to Orange County, for he has been here since in this section of the State, costing about his birth. $30,000, which is to be his permanent home. With a public school education he entered It is in large tracts of land and in improved actively into business life and the success property that Mr. Giles especially interests which has followed his endeavors by some himself as a real estate dealer. Many of the people is called ''good fortune" or "luck," but finest sales in the county having been made is simply the applied force of the man who through his agency or directly of his own knows how. holdings. He is first of all a keen busines man, with Mr. Giles has always been closely identified extraordinary fore-seeing and far-seeing abil with the commercial life of the city through ity, with methods at once direct and courag the Board of Trade and otherwise. One of eous. His is no faint-hearted theory, but even the earlier organizers of the Board of Trade, while the iron is heating. he strikes. he has given of time and means without stint First and last Mr. Giles is a builder. This for the up-building and advancement of the does not mean that he has confined his efforts city's best interests. to buildings, for he is the owner of thou One of the originators of the Orlando Driv sands of acres of unimproved lands on the ing Park Association, he became one of the St. Johns River, in Seminole County and charter incorporators of the Fair Association, Orange County, besides profitable orange and has been treasurer and director of the groves and farms. same since its inception. But he is the man responsible for many He was also one of the organizers and the of the finest structures in Orlando, among president of the Orlando Country Club, con them what was originally known as the trolling the finest golf course in Florida. Charleston-now the Watkins Block, the Or Personally and socially Mr. Giles is free lando Bank and Trust Company building, the hearted and free-handed. an interesting ac Orlando Telephone Company building, the quaintance and a friend, generous and loyal. Astor Hotel building, "Dixie," that elegant His family consists of wife, son, Leroy B. residence property on North Lake Lucerne, Gies, attorney-at-law, daughter, Mrs. Allen three other fine residences on the same lake, vVeathersbee, and younger daughter, Miss a number of modern homes throughout the Edna Adelima. EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 65 HON. MOSES 0. OVERSTREET turpentine still , the Overstreet Turpentine Company, being capitalized at $200,000. The company has about thirteen miles of private railroad as feeders to the mills and stilts. Thus, he is one of the largest manufactur ers in the State of Florida and the largest in this section of the state. Commercialty he is president of the Peoples T ational Bank of Orlando, an institution which has become very popular, a stockholder and director of The Heard ational Bank of Jacksonville, and of hotel properties in Jack sonville and Atlanta, Ga. He has been a progressive in public affairs, holding important offices for years in the Or lando Board of Trade and in the Fair Asso ciation and is always among foremost citizens in the promotion of every good cause. Politically he has held notable city and county offices, having been on the Orlando city coun cil, as alderman, for years, and very active HON. M. 0. OVERSTREET in city affairs; is now chairman of the Orange County Commissioners, a position he has held The self-made man sometimes generates in for several successive terms, and was one of to a selfish man, but not so in the case of the foremost advocates of permanent brick M. 0. Overstreet. He has a keen realization roads, which are ~)eing built all over the coun of what ''self-made" means to any aspiring ty under his administration. individual who has no ''pull" other than his So pre-eminently successful has his official own strong will, and therefore, although ex career been that he is now being favorably ceptionally successful beyond the attainments spoken of as the next State Senator of his of many others, he is approachable and chari district. Although very busy in every possible tably hearted to others who are attempting to line, Mr. Overstreet put one e en over himself climb. during the present year, when the Baptist A Georgian by birth, his first round on the church organization needed a man with ex ladder was the naval stores business, which traordinary executive ability to enable them to he modestly entered and aquired a persona! knowledge of in every detail. build a church worth $35,000. Mr. Over treet After a time he removed to Orange County, undertook the matter and within a few months Florida, where he continued in the same line completed the finest Baptist church in South for a while, acquiring large tracts of timber Florida. land, both for the turpentine and lumber, and Mr. Overstreet is a family man, and partic in 19o6 bought a half interest in the Warnell ularly lives in the enjoyment of home life. Lumber Company Mills, later forming the He was married to Miss R. Ethelyn Chapman, corporation of the Overstreet Crate Company, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Chapman, with a capital of $200,000 and turning out of Plymouth, Florida, April 12th, 1900, and orange boxes and crate material in very large they have four children: Robert T., Hazel, quantities, 1,250,000 orange boxes and vegeta Elizabeth and Mildred. and the family resi ble crates in like proportion annually, employ dence is located in one of the finest and most ing 325 hands and sustaining a whole town spacious park-like locations in the city of O~ at Lockhart. Besides, he is the owner of four lando. 66 EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY HON. J. L. DILLARD HON. J. L. DILLARD Mr. Dillard may safely b~ called half Vir tion and climate and the possibilities of its ginian and half Floridian, for he lived one-half· exceptionally fine lands, he invested in town of his lifetime in each of these wonderful property, which continued to grow in value, states. by day and night, and finally the light broke A native of Staunton, Va., ·he arrived in upon a very prosperous and constantly in Winter Garden Florida, in the year 1888 creasing little city, and Mr. Dillard's dream when the interest was at its height for came true. that time. Adopting fruit culture and garden Mr. Dillard was too busy a man to care for ing, he originally rented lands and cultivated public office, but it came to him, as it will on shares with Sheriff J. H. Vick on the prop sometimes to the man who is successful in his erty then known as the "Washington Place," own affairs. He was elected a councilman the beautiful little town of Winter Garden by his townspeople and later he was elected now being located on a part of that property. County Commissioner of Orange County, hold He spent six continuous years in this line ing the office at this time. of business, and about 1895, when the crop He applies the same practical tactics to industry was entirely destroyed he concluded public business which he has given to his he had an even chance with the other growers, private concerns and was an advocate for the and planted largely in orange and grapefruit new brick county roads, now building. Mr. trees. Foreseeing the inevitable growth of Dillard may safely be said to be a constructin Winter Garden because of its splendid loca- citizen of Orange County. ·- EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY 67 MRS. HELE ROLL! S married to Mr. John H. Rollins July 3, 1854, at Crown Point, Ind. They came from Burlington, Ind., to Flor ida, in 1884, on a trip for investigation, and in May, 1885, bought property in Winter Park, induced thereto by the fact that Mr. Rollins was related to Mr. A. W. Rollins, for whom Rollins College was named. In 1886 they removed permanently to Or lando, where Mr. Rollins engaged in fruit culture and also sold his invention, a patent plant cover. Mr. Rollins died in 1903, and his wife, be ing a very energetic woman, gifted with a knowledge of values and possibilities of the future invested in real estate with considerable profit. Until within a very short time before her death, on April 15, 1915, she showed no evi dence of infirmity, having had the above proto graph taken only a few weeks prior. Her MRS. HELEN ROLLINS age was eighty-one years and her Christian faith was that of the Congregational Church. The lady whose picture appears on this ;:iage She had two children, Flora Estelle, who was born in Salem, Mich., September 24, 18.33, died in in fancy, and Stella Alcesta, now Mrs. her mai FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSE IN ORLANDO OLD-TIME ROAD THROUGH ORANGE COUNTY PINES ( 1) EARLY SETTLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA (A) Abrams and Bryan (attorneys) •...... ••...... •..• 22 Alden, J. M. ••....•..••.••••...•••....•••..•..•.••.. 3, 5 Alexander, Elise (Mrs. John Neill Bradshaw) ..•.....•... 50 Allen, Edbert ..•...•.•.....•.•.- ..•..•.•....••...... 25 Altamonte (Springs} ••..•••.•.••.•...... •••.•.•.••.• 18, 36 Angier, Edna L. (Mrs. Charles H. Hoffner) .••.•.••.•••.• 27 Apopka Drainage Co ••.•••••••••.•..••.••••...•••••••••• 12 ''Arcade, The'' ...... 32 (B) Banks: Citizens National Bank of Orlando ....•.••.....•••.•.. 6 Oakland Bank .••.••.••..•.••.•••.••.•.•••••.••••••••• 57 Peoples Bank at Sanford .••..••••..•••••••• ~··••&••·• 45 Barber, Andrew J ...... ••.•...••••••....•.•..•. e •••••• e 55 Ba r be r , Joseph A. .. • . • . • . • • • • . • • • • . . • . . . • • . . • ...... 54 Beasley, Hiram •...•••..•.•••.••••.•.•. . •••.. • frontispiece Beck, C. H ...... ••...•••.•.....•...... •..•.....•...... 43 Beck, Nannie (Ga 1 loway)' Woodruff.. ••.•..•.•.....•••••••• 43 Beeman, Mrs. H. L. (flower) .••.•...•...•.....•..•••••.. . 31 Begs, Judge J. D.•••.•••••.•..••••...... •... frontispiece Berry, Jean V. . ••••.•••••.••••••••...•..•.••..•.•••••• 38 Berry, Thomas W...... ••.•...•...... 38 Berry, W. T . ....••...•.••.••.••.•.....•...... 38 Bird, Mary A. (Mrs. Samuel Austin Robinson) ..••.••••••• 14 B 1a ke 1y , Wi 11 i am P • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • 25 Blitz, J. M• " • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 23 Boone, C. A...... 9 Bradshaw, Major ...... 25 Bradshaw, Col. John Neill ...... _•..•...... 50 Branche's Book Store .•..•••.•••.•...... ••....•...... •. 32 Bryan, Judge ...... •..•..••.•..•...... •...... 22 Butt, Judge Cecil •••.•.••.•••••.•••.••...•.••• frontispiece Butt, Dr. J. N.••••..••••.••..•.••...... ••..• frontispiece (C) Caldwel 1, Mrs. C. V . •.•.•••..•••••....•••••.•...•••••. 25 Carnell, Willie (Mrs. Earl W. Ewing) ...... •..•....••••• 53 Carothers, Alice Bennett (Mrs. A. B. Newton) .•••••••.•• 22 Cemetar i es: Greenwood Cemetary ••••••••••••••.••••••••• ~...... 14 Mt. 01 ivet (Nashville, Tennessee) .•.••••••.••••.•••• 41 Chapman, E • G• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • 17 (2) INDEX Chapman, Dr. Foster •••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••• 25 Chapman, Dr. John C. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • 17 Chapman, John T ...... 17, 65 Chapman, Mattie P ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 17 Chapman, R. Ethelyn (Mrs. Moses 0. Overstreet) ••••••••• 65 Chapman, Thomas A. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 17 Chapman, Wi 11 i am A. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 17 Chase Grove ...••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••.•••••.•. 39 Cheney, Judge J.M ••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••• 51 Cheney & Odlin (attorneys) ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 51 Churches: ·· Presbyterian ••••••••••••••• ••• • • ••••.•.•••••••••••••• 8 Citrus Exchange •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 38, 61 Clay Springs (Wekiwa Springs) •••.••••..••••.••••••••••• 63 Clouser, C. A ...... 26 Clouser, J. 8 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 26 Coacoochee (Seminole Chief) ••••••.•.•••••••••••••••••••• 4 Col 1 ins, Ai lsey (Mrs. Elias Woodruff) •••••••••••••••••• 42 C00 k I s Ferry ...•. e • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 43 Counc i 1 Oak ...... 5 Crisey & Norris (builders) ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 62 Curtis, Fletcher & O'Neal (real estate) ...... 13 (D) Dann, R. Edgar • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 49 Dav i s , Fr an k H • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9 Deman s , P. A. . . • . . . . . • . • . • . • • . • • • ...... • . • . • • . 26 Devlin, Minnie Elizabeth (Mrs. Frank L. Woodruff) •••••• 45 D i 1 1a rd , J . L • • •••••••••••••••••.•••.•••••.•..•.•••••• 66 110·1x1e . II (h ouse ) .••••.••••..•••••..•.•.....•.•.••...... • 64 Do 11 ins, Hugh D. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 24 Do 1 1 i n s , L . J ...... "' . . • • • • 23 Do 1 i ve, W. L • • •..••• .- •••••••••.•..•••..••••.• - .••.. e, • • 4 7 Duke, James K . ••...•••••••.••••••.•..•..•• - ...... 41 Duke, Robert Keith •••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••• • ••• 41 Duke, Buford Kerr •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 41 (E) Ewing, Earl W••••••••••••• - •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 53 Exchange Packing House (Ocoee) ; •••••••••••••••••••••••• 61 (F) . Fogg, N. H...... 36 (3) INDEX Forts: Christmas. 4 Gatlin .... ':+-, 12 Mai t 1and .. 4 Meade .. 34 Mellen. . . • . . • . • 4 Reed. 42 Reid. 4, 12, 46 Francis, Margaret M. (Mrs. David 0. Maguire) 61 Fruit Growers Association .• 18 Fudge, James •...... ••••••• ...... 28 (G) Galloway, Nannie (Mrs . William W. Woodruff) 42 Garrett, Hardy .. . 25 Giles, Edna Adel ima. 64 Gi 1es , James L. 64 Giles, Leroy B. 64 Gore, Mahlon ... 52 Got ha ...... • 31 , 37 Graves, Arthur F. 39 Graves, George T. 39 Graves , Helen Louise •. 39 Graves, I. W. 39 Graves , James W. 39 Griffin, A. Lee .. 28 Gr"ffin, Dr. Ab 1e ••••••••• • ••••• • • •• •••• • • • •• •• •••• •••• 28 Gr ff in, Benjamin Luther •••••••.•••• 28 Gr ffin, E. Luther .••• • •••••..•• 28 Gr ff "n, He 1en •..•••••• • •••• • •••• 28 Gr ff n, Henrietta E. (Mrs. B. L. Griffin). 28 Gr ff n, Hi 1da . . 28 Gr ff n, John W. 28 Gr ff n, Sam S. 28 Gr ff n, Stanley S. 28 Griff n, Yancey R. 28 (H) Hand, Carey ...... ~ . 40 Hand, Sheriff Charles M• •• • • , 23 Hand, E 1 i j ah ..• 40 Hand, Harry E. 40 Hand, Henry •••••••••••••• • • 23 INDEX Harney, Wi 11 Wal lace .••.•..••...•...•...... frontispiece Harrison, Minnie Odella (Mrs. A. B. Newton) 22 Hemple, Mr. 37 Henk, E. W. 21, 36 Hill, W. J •••••••• 33 Hoffner, Charles H. 27 Hoffner, Harry A. 27 Holshouser , Linnie Wilki~s (Mrs . Frederick A. Lewter) 59 "Home Guards" •..•...... 43 "Hoosier Springs Grove" . 36 Horn, Capt. L. C. frontispiece Hotel Protection Bill ..•.•...... 58 Hotels: Altamonte Springs Hotel 62 Astor Hotel .. 8, 64 Empire Hotel 32 Longwood Hotel • •••• 26 Lovell House .• •• • 9 Magno 1 i a Hote 1 • • 49 S ummerl in House. 25 Howard, C • E • • • • • ••• • • • •••• •• •• preface, 22 Hudna 1 , Edward. 25 Hudson • ..• 6 Hughey, J. P. .24 Hughey, John. 25 Hull, Emily Harriett (Mrs . William B.) 46 Hupple, Bernhardt . 37 Hyers, T. G. 56 (J) Jerome, H. 48 Jerome, R. P. 47 Jewell, Gen. W. H. frontispiece Jones, Mrs. John W. (nee Doll ins) 24 Jones, Mrs. W. S. (nee Doll ins) 24 (K) Kerr, Mary (Mrs . James K. Duke) • • . • • • • 41 Kilmer, Dr . Washington. 18 Kincaid, M. C. (Mrs. A. Speer) 1 l King, Murray S. 8 King Phillip (Seminole Chief)...... • • 4 Koehne, Mr •••.••.••••• • • • • • . .• . • • 37 (5) INDEX ( L) Lakes: Charity .. 36 Conway .. 27 Faith .•. 36 Hope ..• 36 Monroe .. 42 Laughlin, Mrs. Francis (flower). 31 Lewis, Joseph M. 62 Lewter, Elva Jouett .. 59 Lewter, Frederick Augustus ••. 5.9 Lew ter , Frederick Augustus, Jr. 59 Lewter, Irma... • •••••• 59 Lewter, Jewe l1 ••.••.. 59 Lewter, Laura Louise .••••••••••• 59 Lewter, Medora Inez ....•••••• 59 Lewter, Robert Dickenson. 59 Lewter, Roberta •..•.•••.• 59 Lewter, William Frederick •• 59 Lewter, Zelma Knight .. 59 Lightwood Camp ••.•••• 24 Lockhart .••.•.••••••.• 65 11 Lodge, The" (Apopka) , , , , , f , •••••• • 8 ••• 12 Lord, Cherles ••••.•..••••••••.•••••.•••••.•.••.•••••••• 50 Lynch, William Brigham •. 15 (M) McAdow, Mrs. Mari an A. (flower). 31 MacDonald, Robert Dhu (house) 8 McG ruder, James 11 Ba i 1ey" ••. 32 McGruder, Maj. C. B...... 32 Maguire, Charles Hugh •• 61 Maguire, David ..• ...... 61 Maguire, Fred H...... 61 Maguire, J. 0...... 38 Maguire, James .• ...... 61 Maguire, Li 11 i an lrmer...... 61 Maguire, Dr. Thomas C. 61 Maguire, Rayner F...... 61 Mai t 1and ..•.• 31 , 35 Marks, Major...... 25 Martin, Judge ~illiam •••••••••• 22 Massey, Sen. Louis C...... 16, 20 (6) INDEX Massey, Keating & Wilcox (attorneys) •••••••••.•••.• 16, 20 Massey & Warlow •••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••.•• 16, 20 Matchett, J. W. ..••..•.•..•..•.•...... •...... 23 Mathews, Monroe ..•....•.•..•...•...... •.....••• 49 Meadows, Miss (Mrs. John T. Chapman) •••.•••••.••••••.•• 17 Mellon, Capt. Charles •••••.••••••••••••••••.••••••••••.• 4 Mi 1es, E 1 i zabeth J. (Mrs. Wi 11 i am Smith) • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • 60 Mi 11 er , A. C • . • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • • . . . • . • • • . . . . • • • . • • . • . 24 Mills, Judge ....•.•..•..•...... •...•.....•. 10 Minor, Tyrannus J •.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 38 Mizell, Capt. Joshua ••••••••••••••••••• ·:~-•.•••••••••••• 46 Mon roe, Camp ..•.•..• . .•.•.•...... •...... •.••.· • . • . 4 Mosquito County ••.•.•••..••...... •••...••...... ••.•.•. 4 Muzzy, Eva L. (Mrs. J. N. Searcy) • •• ••••••••••••••••• • • 21 (N) Nehrl ing, Henry ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••• 30 Newspapers: Orange County Citizen ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 22 Orange County Reporter •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 52 Ricochet ...... ••.....•••...... •...•...... ••••••• 22 Newton , A . B "' 61 • • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 22 Newton, Isaac ....•.•..••..••..••••••..•.••...... ••..•. 12 Niemeyer, F. J. 26 (0) "Oak Lodge" (house) . • .•••••••••••••.•. • •••••.•••••••••• 32 Oakland ..•••..••.••• • ••••••••••••• • •••.••••••••••••• 4, 12 Ocoee. . • • • • . . • • • . • • • . • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 38 Odl in, Arthur L •••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••.•• 51 01 ivia, Florida (Gotha) •.••••••••• .• •••••• • •• • .••.••• •• 37 0' Nea 1 , Wi 11 i am R. • . • . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 13 Orange County Fair Association • ••• •.• • •• •• ••.• • •••• 44, 64 Orange County Pioneer Association •••• ••• •.• • •••••••• 6, 24 Orlando •.. ., •. •. ... ., ..•. • ..•••••.••. tt ••······· · ····· 12, 31 Orlando Board of Trade •• • • • • •• ••••• 20, 44, 51, 52, 64, 65 0 r l ando Country C 1ub. • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • . 44, 64 Orlando Driving Park Association • • .• • . ••• • •• • • •...• 44, 64 Osborn, L. C • . ••••.• • .••••- •••• • .••••.•••••••.•••••• • • • 37 Osceola (Seminole Chief) •••••• • • • ••. •• •• • •••..•••.•••••• 4 Overstreet, Elizabeth •••••••••••••••••••••• • ••••••••••• 65 Overstreet, Hazel •••••••••••••• • ••••• • • • ••••.•••••••••• 65 Overstreet, Mildred •• ~ •••••••• •• •• • •••••••••••••••••••• 65 Overstreet, Moses 0 •••••••••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••• 65 (7) INDEX Overstreet, Mrs. Rachel E. (nee Chapman) •...... •.... 17 Overstreet, Robert T ...••.•..•...... •••.•..•• 65 ( P) Palmer, Jerome ..•••.••.•....•••..••...... •••• 25 Pa 1mer , Mrs . YI • L. ( f 1owe r) • . • • ...... • . . . . • . . . • . • • • . 3 1 Pa 1mer , Wi 11 i s L• • ••.•• _ . . . . • • • . • • . • . . • . • . . . . • . • • . • • . . 25 Parramore, Minnie M. (nee Graves) .....•.••.....•..••... 39 Patrick, W. A ...... •...... 9 Phosphate .....•...•...••..•..•..••...... ••..•....•. 34 Pigue ...... · ...... - .•.. 6 Porter, Dwight D.•..•.••.•.••••.••.•..•••..••..•• preface Porter , Dr ...... • • . . . • • • . . • ...... • . . • . • • . . • • • · 25 Pub] ic Instruction, Orange County Board of ..•...•.••..• 56 (R) Ra i 1 roads: Atlantic Coast Line •.••.••.•.•..•....•....••...... 28 Coast Line ..•...... •••..•.••....•...••...... 22 Orange Belt .....•.•...•..••...... •...•...... ••... 12 Orlando Coast Line .••.••..•••..•...... •..•..•••..... 58 S o u t h F 1o r i d a • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 , 2 6 , 54 Tampa & Gulf .....•.••..••••.•...•.....••.•...•..•••. 22 Yulee •...... ••...... •...... ••..•..•..•..• 43 Randolph Peninsula ...•..•...... •...... ••.•....•...... 27 Rawl ins, Anna L. (nee Graves) .•..•...... ••. 39 Rawls, Mrs. E. Judson (nee Chapman) ....•..••.....•.•..• 17 Roads Convention, National Good •...... ••.•....•..•..•• 51 Roberts, Alice J. (Mrs. L. J. Doll ins) ..••.••.•.•..••.. 24 Robinson, Samue 1 Austin...... 14 Ro 11 ins Co 11 ege. . . • • ...... • • ...... • . . • ...... • . 31 Rol 1 ins, Mrs. John H. (nee Helen Jackson) ...•...••.••.. 67 Rol 1 ins, Ste] la Alcesta (Mrs. S. H. Happersett) ...•.••• 67 Roper...... • • • . • . . . • • . . • . . • ...... • • . . . • . . . . • • • . • . 6 Roper, Alice (Mrs. A. Speer) .••.•••.....••••.••••.••..• 11 Rushing, Kellie (Mrs. L. ·J. Dollins) ..•..•..•..•..••••• 24 Rut 1and I s Ferry ••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••...•.•••••• 42 -(s) . Sadler, Alice I ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 57 S ad 1e r , Ann a E • • . • . . . • • • • • • • . • • • , • . • . . • • • • • . ~ . . • . • • • • . 5 7 Sadler, James H • ••.•.••..••••••..•.....•...... ••...... 57 Sanford...... 10 ' 32 ' 33 ' 34 (8) INDEX Saunder-Massey, Mrs. Elizabeth M•••.••••.••.••.•••••.. 36 Searcy, Charles Blanchard ••••..•••..•••..••...•.•...••.• 21 Searcy, John Neill .•..•.•••••••.•.•..••.•••.••..••..•.. 21 Secession Convention ..••.••••••..•••..••••..•..••••.••• 43 Secoffee (Seminole Chief} ••..•••...•....•...••••.•..•••• 4 Seegar, S. J. T .••.••••••••••.•••...... •.••.•••••••••. 29 "Seminole, The" (engine} ••••••.••••.••.••••.••••••.••.. 26 Semi no 1e War . . • • . . . . • . . . • • • • • . • • • • ...... • • . . . • • • . . • . . 4, 5 Sentinel Printing Office •••••••••••••••..•••.••.••••••• 32 Shine, Elizabeth Agnes (Mrs. Seth Woodruff) •.•••••.••.• 44 Shine, T. J ...... •..••••••.••••••.•..•. : •.•....•.••••• 50 Simmons, Maggie S. (Mrs. J. A. Barber} .••••..•.••.•• -.•• 54 Sims, Capt. B. M.•••••••••••••••..••• • •••••..••••.•• 6, 25 Sims, Dr. Eugene 0 ...... •.•...... •...... •. 8 S i ms , J • Wa 1t er . . • • • • . . • • • • • • • • • • • . • . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • 7 S i ms Grove...... l 0 Smith, Walter ...... ••.•..•••..••..•... . ••..•..••••..•• 25 Smith, William .••••••.•••.••• • .• • •.••••.•.• • •••.••••••. 60 South Apopka Supply Co .•.••. • ...•• • ••• • •••••.•.••..••• 53 South Florida Foundry & Machine Co ..•• • •••....•••••••• 60 South Lake Apopka Citrus Growers Assn ••••....•.••••••• 57 Southern Express Co ••••••.••..•••...••••••..•••••••••• 52 Speer, A ...... •..•.•..•••...•....•...... •...... 11 Speer, Gertrude K. • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . • • • . . • • • • • . • • • . . • • . • • 11 Speer, James P. • • . . • • • • . • • . . . . . • ...... • . . . . • ...... • 11 Speer, Judge J. G ••••••••••••••••••.•.••.• 10, 11, 12, 57 Speer , W• E . ~ . . . . • . . • • . . • • . . . . • ...... • • . . • . . . . . • . . . . • 11 Stark, Dr ...... 6 Strickland, Al ice (Mrs. L. J. Doll ins) ••••••.••.•.••.•• 24 (T) Thayer, Mrs . Jessie M. (flower) • •• • • ...••.•.•••.•••.••• 31 Theaters: Grand ...•....••.•..•.•••..•...•...• . ...•....•..•..••• 8 Lucerne ...... •..•..••••.•...... •...... 32 Thompson, A1 bert. . . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • . • • • . • • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • . 23 Thompson, Dexter C .•••••••••••••.••.•..••••..•••••..•. 15 "Three Graces" ( 1akes} ; ••.••.•.••••....••.•.••••••••••• 36 Tiedke house ...... •..•...... 8 T i l den , L . F . • ...... •••• ; .•• ~ . • • ...... • . . . • • • . . • . • . . l 9 Tilden, Minnie M. (Mrs. J. H. Sadler} .•.•••••.••••.•••• 57 Trading boat ...... 32 Turner, Anna Belle (Mrs. H. H. Wi _therington).'•••••••••• 56 Tyner, C.R ...... ••...... ••...• 34 9 INDEX (V) Vaughn , A 1ec k. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 34 Vick, Willie L. (Mrs. S.S. Griffin) .•••••••••••••••••• 58 Vick, Sheriff J. H••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 58, 66 (W) Warlow, Judge T. Picton ••.• •• • • •• .•• ••• • • • • .• ••••• • ••• • 20 Warnel 1 Lumber Co •.• .• •••••••••••• •• ••.•••••.••••• •• .• 15 Washington Place {Winter Garden) ••.••.• -. : •••••••••••.•• 66 Wat k i n s B lock •••••••••••••• • •••••••••••••••••• • ••••• -. • • 64 Watson, Capt •.•••••••••••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••• 43 Weathersbee, Mrs. Allen (nee Giles) •••••••••••••••••.•• 64 Wekiwa Springs ••••••••••.••••••••.••.••.••••••••••••••• 63 White, W. G• • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 25 Whitner, Mrs. J. N •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • 3 Wiggs, Mrs. Annie B. {nee Chapman) ••••••••••••• • ••• • ••• 17 Winter Garden ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • 66 Winter Park .• • ••••••••.••••••••••••.•••.•••••••••.••••• 31 Witherington, H. H ••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 56 Woodruff, E 1 i as ••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••• 42 Woodruff, Emma ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 43 Woodruff, Frank L •••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••• 43 Woodruff, Seth W•••••••••••••••••••••••••• 25, 42, 43, 44 Woodruff, William Washington ••••••••••.•••••••••••••••• 42 Woodruff Island •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 42 (Y) Yowell-Duckworth Department Store ••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 (Z) Ze 11 wood ••••••••••••••••• ·• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3 7 · .THE END