A Citrusland Salute to Veterans

CITRUSLAND’S SALUTE TO VETERANS:

If history is any indication, central Florida’s future civic leaders are today serving in America’s Armed Services. Since the planting of the first commercial orange grove in 1842, Veterans have been an integral part of the planning and development of Florida’s Citrus Belt. Central Floridians of present day have much to be thankful for; with Veterans topping out that “thank you” list.

Anywhere you look throughout central Florida’s 19^th century Citrus Belt you will find handiwork of Veterans. At times though, you will need to dig deep into the region’s archives to appreciate this fact. Franklin Pond, for example, is currently a #Montverde housing subdivision along the west shore of Lake Apopka. The origin of Franklin Pond however is not readily apparent.

Montverde Railway Station

After graduating from Annapolis Naval School, Lt. James Franklin shipped out to the Pacific aboard the U. S. S. Ashuelot Naval gun boat. Injured in 1878 while serving his country, James Franklin was discharge in 1879, and one year later, with bride Fannie, they homesteaded and founded a town on the route of the Tavares, Apopka and Gulf Railroad line.

Dr. Washington Kilmer was diagnosed a dead man by a fellow Ironton, Ohio doctor. Told he had but a year to live, he set out - on foot – for Florida. One thousand miles later, Dr. Kilmer stopped walking where today is the intersection of SR 434 and Markham Woods Road. He homesteaded 160 acres at that location, and the Veteran of America’s Civil War founded #Altamont. The letter “E” was added later by others.

Dr. Washington Kilmer

Kilmer did not die within the year as predicted. In fact, 15 years after arriving in Florida, the Civil War surgeon was honored by #Orlando citizens for being the first doctor to rush to the aid of Tampa during its 1887 Yellow Fever epidemic. Told he had but a year to live in 1871, Veteran Washington Kilmer died in Orlando in 1919, at the age of 81.

Prior to becoming a town developer by expanding Orlando to the west, Veteran James B. Parramore acquired twelve hundred acres on Lake Monroe in 1868 from his father-in-law, Florida’s Brigadier General, Joseph J. Finegan. Parramore’s interest in Orange County’s seat waited until after Veteran and Attorney Robert W. Broome arrived from Lake City in 1875 to finish that which the locals had yet to do – incorporate the city of Orlando.

Veteran Benjamin M. Robinson arrived at Fort Reid soon after the Civil War. Born at Alabama in 1845, Robinson died at Orange County in 1938, and for many of these years was the Clerk of Court. Benjamin also served as Orlando Mayor and contributed immensely to the preservation of central Florida history.

Missouri native Augustus C. Hart was serving in the Philippines in 1900 with William Howard Taft of Ohio, the Chief Civil Administrator of the Philippines under President McKinley.  An official government bio of Taft says this: “Sympathetic toward Filipinos, he (Taft) improved the economy, built roads and schools, and gave the people at least some participation in government.”

Following their service in the Philippines, William Howard Taft went to Washington, DC, and won the Presidency in 1909. Veteran Augustus C. Hart came to central Florida, where for many years he served as an Orange County Surveyor. Of the many streets Hart surveyed, one town, #Taft, Florida, was recorded in April 9, 1910 – the year our 27^th President, William Howard Taft, took his oath of office.

Surveyor A. C. Hart (right) on Dixie Highway at the Orange/Osceola County line

“Pluck and courage”, said Will Wallace Harney in 1873, were two attributes a pioneer needed to live in Orange County. “Pluck and courage” certainly describe too the “stuff” our Veterans of America’s Armed Forces are made of.

A visitor passing through Fort Reid in 1873 stopped along the First Road to Orlando and asked an old gentleman, “sitting in an orange grove”, the name of the place. The old man said is was Fort Reid, so the visitor asked if he could visit the fort and its soldiers, not realizing the fort in question had closed three decades prior. “This is the fort,” said the old man, Veteran Augustus Jefferson Vaughn, a man of pluck and courage, “and I am the soldier.”

And so, to all the men and women Veterans of our Armed Services, CitruslandFL salutes you. For all who follow in the footsteps of Mr. Vaughn of Fort Reid, Thank you!