Women's History Month: The Lady of Golden Rod

 

 

Frontierswomen of Central Florida

A Women’s History Month Tribute 

By Richard Lee Cronin and CroninBooks.com

 

The Lady of Golden Rod, Florida 

February 8, 2022

  A Sneak Peek for Pine Castle Pioneer Days Attendees

March 1^st officially begins our central Florida celebration of #FrontiersWomen History Month, but today we pay tribute to a very special lady of Golden Rod, Florida, or as you may prefer, Goldenrod. Clarissa Yates is deserving mention in both Black History Month and Women’s History Month. Many amazing female pioneers of 19^th Central Florida were left out of history books, and for that very reason, a month-long blog, thru to the end of March, will honor 101 truly remarkable women. Many of the women of this series – pioneers such as Clarissa Yates, you might well hear about for the first time ever.

In addition to our tribute to women of Central Florida, 3 to 4 being featured each day, we will also feature one local History Museum each day.

March frontierswomen will be presented in alphabetical order according to their Maiden name, but with one exception. Today, February 28, 2022, we skip ahead to the letter Y – for Yates, and tell one extraordinary woman of Golden Road, Miss Clarissa Yates.

 

See also our featured History Museum later in this post

 

#Yates of Goldenrod aka Golden Rod:

Tradition says Goldenrod, a portion of which is an Orange County community, while the rest is in Seminole County, has its origin in the 20^th century. This named ‘settlement’ however dates in fact to the 19^th century when the entire community was in Orange County.

A “Golden Rod” Railway depot, (two words), appears on the 1890 Orange County map. Golden Rod was a stop on the short-lived Orlando, Winter Park & Oviedo Railroad. And while the name is typically said to be Goldenrod, one word, the original settlement most always appeared as two words. The Orlando Sentinel of 5 November 1922, for example, included a headlined article as, “Golden Rod News.” The article told of personal news of several “Golden Rod” families.

Florida Agriculturalist newspaper, of 12 February 1896, announced formation of a “Gabriella, Golden Rod and Lake Howell Horticultural Association.” And a year earlier, the same paper told of grower James Edgar of Golden Rod being the Precinct winner of the South Florida Fair.

Enough though with the name, for the fascinating story behind the place was this, Golden Rod depot was located on land first conveyed on 25 August 1882 to a woman named Clarissa Yates.

Clarissa, born 1837 in Georgia according the 1880 census records, homesteaded 149.88 acres on Lake Nan of today, although in 1890, this very body of water was called Bright Lake. A Widow in 1880, Clarissa Yates lived with her son, George W. Pettis, 24 years old that year and likewise a native of Georgia.

 

1890 Golden Rod (lower left corner)

Clarissa also started selling parcels on her homestead in 1882. She sold four (4) lots, her buyers being: George Holleman; John Cummings; Alfred D. LeVesque; and J. P. Magruder. Then, in 1884, Clarissa’s final parcel was sold by: “J. E. Clark, Trustee for Clarissa Yates and George W. Pettis”.

Alfred D. LeVesque (1858-1884) of Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky, sold a half-interest in his 40 acres in 1883. Then “on Bright Lake”, the sale was to Professor N. Frank Smith, also of Cynthiana, Kentucky.

Following the death of Alfred, the professor sued LeVesque’s estate, a lawsuit that provides a bit of history on the property in the vicinity of yesteryear’s Golden Rod, or today’s Goldenrod: “It was represented that there was an orange grove on the land at the time, containing over 900 fine orange trees, 5,000 nursery trees, 2,000 fine pineapple plants, one horse worth $175, buggy worth $75, harness tools, etc.” Alfred LeVesque had claimed the lake was bordered with bananas, but Professor Smith found instead only four guava bushes. The professor sued for relief, as he had paid LeVesque $2,000 for 50% ownership of the 40 acres. By 1890, Orange County records indicated the 40 acres were at that time owned by “N. F. Smith”.

Many Central Floridians, both men and women, were selling land in the 1880s, but Clarissa’s story is extra-special because of her - she was of African American descent. Two of her buyers, George Holleman and John Cummings, were likewise identified as “Black” by the census taker. And as for Clarissa’s son, George W. Pettis, he was identified in the 1880 census as “Mulatto.”

Clarissa vanished by the mid-1880s. Even the whereabouts after the 1880s of her son George Pettis, who also began selling land in 1880s Central Florida, remains a mystery.

 

“J. E. Clark Trustee” signed in 1884 for Clarissa and her son. The founder of Eatonville, Clark’s town of Eatonville is celebrated today as the first all-black town incorporated in America. Clark had himself been a former slave turned Orange County merchant.

Joseph Clark not only envisioned an all-Black town he was also largely responsible for making it happen. His city of Eatonville, formed in 1887, is about seven miles west of the Clarissa Yates’ homestead of 149 acres, and she too had been a slave prior to the Civil War.

Clarissa Yates owned 149 Orange County acres in 1881. She began selling pieces of her land the same year, property which, by 1890, had a “Golden Rod” depot serviced by the Orlando, Winter Park & Oviedo Railroad. Throughout the 1890s the name of a community first homesteaded by Clarissa, shown repeatedly as “Golden Rod”, in 1912, was expanded by a plat of Goldenrod Heights.

Much of the history of 19^th century Golden Rod, aka Goldenrod, remains a mystery today. The train that once stopped at Golden Rod depot ended service, and the early historians – well, they neglected to tell us of one courageous Widow, mother, and former slave - Clarissa Yates.

Perhaps someone will one day add a comment to this post informing of the rest of her story.

 

Today’s featured History Museum

Hannibal Square Heritage Center

642 West New England Avenue

Winter Park, Florida

 Open to the public with safety measures in place.
Tuesday–Thursday: 30-minute tours are available by appointment only 12:30pm, 2pm, & 3:30pm
Friday: Walk-ins from 2:30-5pm
Saturday:  Walk-ins from 10am-2pm

Call ahead to verify hours: 407-539-2680

The Heritage Center hosts the award-winning Heritage Collection: Photographs and Oral Histories of West Winter Park, a permanent, museum-quality exhibition of more than 100 framed, archival pieces that capture the lives of Winter Park’s African-American community spanning the 20th century, and The Hannibal Square Timeline which documents significant local and national events in African-American history since the Emancipation Proclamation.

 

Frontierswomen of Central Florida

A Women’s History Month Tribute

By Richard Lee Cronin, CroninBooks.com

Continues March 1, 2022

www.citruslandFL.com

 

 

 

 

The Lake House - a Gate House: The Finale

 

The Lake House at Lake Pineloch

A Pine Castle Gate House: Part 4 - The Finale

Dateline 1871: Civil War followed by a protracted “Reconstruction Period” was finally in the past as spring of the 1870s brought signs of new life in Central Florida. After a long-decade of human tragedy however, a time during which neighbors were often pitted against neighbors, Orange County was still in turmoil, an example being the 1870 killing of Sheriff David Mizell.

But a new clan had arrived, bringing with them a newspaper correspondent who began telling the world of the good, the bad, and the ugly of Central Florida. “Orlando, the county seat,” wrote correspondent Will Wallace Harney soon after passing through town in 1869 on his way to a Lake Conway homestead, “resembled a rickety barnyard an hour after Sherman’s bummers had passed.” Smoldering ashes of Orange County’s burnt courthouse ruins no doubt reminded the former Kentuckian of how Sherman had left Atlanta, after-all, Atlanta had been one of the war-torn towns Harney traveled through a year prior on his way south to Florida. The War had ended, but news of a dead Sheriff, and then discovery of a floating body in Lake Conway, a stone’s throw from Harney's cabin, gave him much to write about.

The History Tent at Pine Castle Pioneer Days

A Turbulent Decade: Civil War & Reconstruction in Central Florida

By Jeff Hooper, 2 PM, Sunday, February 27, 2022

 

Heading south from Orlando in 1871 a wilderness five miles long ended as the trail reached a fine new Lake House, the Francis W Eppes home, a "gate house" of sort that welcomed travelers to a hopeful new settlement – Fort Gatlin. A bit further south along the trail were the homeplaces of William M. Randolph and Ouachita Pushmataha Preston. Through an imaginary fortress gate and beyond, yet another lake further south were the homesteads of William B. Randolph, Nathaniel Randolph (who was also murdered shortly after arriving in central Florida), and Will Wallace Harney. And almost as if serving as a corridor, connecting each of the above homesteads, was the homestead of William A. Patrick, one of the original pioneers dating to the 1840s.

The History Tent at Pine Castle Pioneer Days

Jernigan’s, Patrick’s & early Orange County history

By A. Stephen Patrick, 12 Noon, Sunday, February 27, 2022

  

Pioneer settlers however were not the only trail trekkers. Will Harney wrote of “correspondents, artists, scientists, and hunters” each passing through on their way to the Everglades. Harney even named a few of the “groups," such as the “New York Party,” and “the Western Party.” Word had spread near and far of the great hunting and exploring region south of Fort Gatlin, a vast wilderness well-known to a trusted friend and confidant of Will Wallace Harney, Surveyor Benjamin F. Whitner. As the first surveyor to traverse nearly 600 square miles to the south of Orlando, Whitner had accumulated nearly 300 acres on two side of Lake Gatlin prior to the War. And then after War’s end, Whitner settled at Fort Reid – or Sanford as it is known today – while at the same time introducing the Randolph clan to Fort Gatlin. Whitner kept his Lake Gatlin acreage too, all the while promoting a dream of his - connecting Lake Monroe with Tampa Bay by a railroad.

The History Tent at Pine Castle Pioneer Days

My Sanford Family

By Dean Berrien, 2 PM, Saturday, February 26, 2022

 

The bravest of brave settlers, some newcomers to Florida, others long-time residents, but together they chose to develop a region rich in lakes to the south of Orlando. They built castles of pine on Lakes Pineloch, Gatlin, Holden, Jennie Jewel, and the two largest bodies of water, Conway, and Hogan. All but one of these named lakes of the 1870s survived to this day, but Lake Hogan was renamed Lake Jessamine, location of Cypress Grove Park, where Pine Castle celebrates its heritage with Pioneer Days.

There are numerous ways to travel to Pine Castle Pioneer Days, but if you want to arrive in style, come by way of the old forts trail - the final leg of the original 1838 forts trail: 

Start this historic journey at Michigan & Osceola Avenues south of Orlando. Drive south on Osceola Avenue, crossing over Pineloch Avenue to drive across the one-time homestead of Francis W. Eppes, later the homestead of James M. & Frances (Hewlett) Alden. The historic residence will be on your right, Lake Pineloch on your left.

Lake Pineloch at the Historic Francis W. Eppes homestead.

After passing the Eppes home, continue southbound on Osceola, curve left onto Baxter Avenue and then right onto Summerlin Avenue. Stay on Summerlin, and as you pass Pershing Avenue, at this point you begin crossing the 1870 homeplace of William M. Randolph. Lake Gem Mary is on your left, named in the 1870s for the wife of William M. Randolph. Lake Jennie Jewel will be on your right, named in the 1870s for the wife of Ouachita Pushmataha Preston, the sister of Mrs. William Mayer Randolph. 

At the end of  Summerlin Avenue is Gatlin Avenue. Straight ahead is Lake Gatlin, named for the fortress. This was also the site of the 1924 photo shown at the start of this post when the D. A. R. placed a memorial plaque here.

Turn right on Gatlin Avenue and proceed to Orange Avenue. Along the way you will cross 40 acres originally owned in 1860 by Joseph McRobert Baker. When you arrive at Orange Avenue, jog right and immediately left onto Holden Avenue. The Gatlin Railroad depot was located near this intersection in 1881 when a Town of Gatlin was founded.

After crossing the railroad tracks – rails first laid down in 1881, Cypress Grove Park will be on your left. You have arrived at Pine Castle Pioneer Days, where Admission is FREE, Parking is FREE, and listening in to one of hourly guest speakers at the History Tent is also Free.

Now then, about Joseph McRobert Baker. When you arrive at Pioneer Days, stop by my Central Florida History and ask to see a painting of this little-known early pioneer. I'll also tell you a fascinating story of the man - and his intriguing portrait.

I hope to see YOU at Pine Castle Pioneer Days!

History Tent guest speakers are as follows:

11 AM Saturday: Rick Cronin; Secrets of the Rutland Mule Matter

12 Noon Saturday: Larry Miles; What is Pine Castle?

1 PM Saturday:  Bob Grenier; The Incomparable Alexander St. Clair-Abrams

2 PM Saturday: Dean Berrien; My Sanford Family

3 PM Saturday: Larry Miles; Today’s Pine Castle looks toward Tomorrow

11 AM Sunday: Rick Cronin; Railroads Shaped YOUR Orange County

12 Noon Sunday: A. Stephen Patrick; Jernigan’s, Patrick’s & early Orange County history

1 PM Sunday: Tom Tart: Florida’s Heroes of World War 2

2 PM Sunday: Jeff Hooper; A Turbulent Decade: Civil War & Reconstruction in Central Florida Jeff Hooper

3 PM Sunday: Larry Miles; Pine Castle Today & Tomorrow

The Lady of the Lake House - Part 3

 The Lake House

The Lady of the Lake - Part 3

Site of the History Tent, February 26 & 27, 2022

Central Florida pioneer James G. Speer, in 1868, sold the exact acreage fronting Lake Pineloch where today the Lake House of this series sits. William Barber of Orange County was Speer’s buyer, but then, nine months after issuing a deed, the transaction was voided by court order.

Our countdown to Pine Castle Pioneer Days continues with this, Part 3, of the Lake House on Lake Pineloch.

  

Orlando of 1860 was a straggly cow pasture surrounding a small log courthouse which sat in the center of an imaginary town square four acres in size. There were three or four houses, one being the residence of Postmaster John R. Worthington, whose house doubled as the boarding house whenever a circuit judge came to the county seat to hold court. When court was not in session, which was most of the time, there was little reason for anyone to attempt the arduous journey to the forsaken village of Orlando.

Original Town of Orlando (1857)

Between 1860 and 1868, bad conditions at the village of Orlando worsened. The townsite was, truthfully, auctioned off - on the log cabin courthouse step - in 1867. Fewer people were calling Orlando home than in 1860. Even Attorney James G. Speer had departed Orange County for a new residence in today’s Dunedin, where on December 21, 1868, Speer signed over the Lake Pineloch property to William Barber. Seventeen days after signing it, Speer’s document was recorded by the Clerk of Court at Orlando.

There were no such places as Pine Castle, Edgewood, or Belle Isle in 1868, and the fellow who was to introduce the Pine Castle place name to central Floridians was still residing at Louisville, Kentucky. Few souls ventured south to Orlando, and even fewer dared to venture further south to Fort Gatlin.

A Lake House on Lake Pineloch did not yet exist in 1868 either, although across the lake stood a huge tree - the Council Oak – itself serving once as a lake house of sort for the Seminole Indians. And while settlers had by this time discovered Lakes Conway and Tohopekaliga, land south of the county seat at Orlando remained predominately unsettled wilderness. Mostly unsettled, that is, but not entirely so. A few of Orange County’s earliest pioneers, including one very special lady, had obviously known something in 1860 that most other settlers did not.

Aaron Jernigan, Benjamin Whitner, Joseph McRobert Baker, and Mrs. James G. Speer had all begun to accumulate acreage along the old forts train – from Lake Monroe south to Fort Gatlin - including land south of Orlando and doing so before the start of the Civil War.

Isaphoenia Cleopatra (Ellington) Speer, first wife of pioneer James G. Speer, had purchased, in 1860, three large parcels along the Fort Mellon to Fort Gatlin trail. She bought 40 acres at Fort Reid, mile marker 2 of the old trail, another 160 acres on Lake Ivanhoe, mile marker 20 of the old trail, and still another 160 acres on Lake Pineloch, mile marker 27 of the trail.

1843 survey of Lake Pineloch (pond).

Note surveyed Fort Mellon Road lower left quarter

War then came to the States and everything in central Florida changed. During the War, a third of Orange County’s young men perished. And whatever wealth might have existed prior to the war, it was wiped out during the war. By War’s end, the most prominent of Orange County’s earliest settlers were gone. Even the Speer’s had taken up residence on the Gulf Coast.

In 1867, where Dunedin, Florida is today, Isaphoenia Cleopatra (Ellington) Speer, the first wife of James G. Speer, both residents of Orange County beginning in 1854, died. She died while still owning our Lake House property – deeded solely in her name.

James G. Speer eventually returned to Orange County, but before doing so, he sold the 160 acres on Lake Pineloch. But Attorney Speer neglected to approve the sale through Probate Court, so in September of 1869, the sale was voided. Rather than Speer correcting the sale to Barber, a new buyer suddenly – an Attorney from New Orleans – snatched up all 160 acres.

William Mayer Randolph was the new buyer, but he did not homestead this property. Instead, Attorney Randolph issued two new deeds, splitting the 160 acres into two halves, deeding one-half to new Orange County resident Francis W. Eppes, and the other to Nicholas P. Trist, a resident of Alexandria, Virginia.

It needs to be pointed out that, in 1869, there were thousands of available acres to homestead, but Attorney William M. Randolph wanted these specific 160 acres that had previously been deeded solely to the first wife of James G. Speer.

Why? What was so special about these 160 acres bordering the west shore of Lake Pineloch in 1869? Could it be the voided transaction and new deed had something to do with Isaphoenia (Ellington) Speer being a great-granddaughter of Martha Eppes?

The answer and more when The Lake House concludes next Friday, February 25, 2022.

 

The History Tent

Beneath the Giant Oaks

Pine Castle Pioneer Days

February 26 & 27, 2022

Guest speakers each day at 11AM, Noon, 1 PM, 2PM & 3PM

FREE Parking, FREE Admission, FREE Listening!

ALSO; stop by my Cronin Books Booth and say hello!

The Lake House on Lake Pineloch - Part 2

 

The Lake House

Historic Lake Pineloch – Part 2

The Council Oak by J. M. Alden (c 1915)

 

 

Part 2: The Tree across the Lake

Frances Eppes certainly would have viewed the large Live-Oak while constructing his lakefront residence in 1871, and maybe even visited it, although he made no mention of The Council Oak of Fort Gatlin as far as is known. But a later occupant of the Eppes home however went as far as painting the tree - the sole visual evidence that the Council Oak did in fact exist.

James M. Alden was the “talented artist” identified in 1915 by Anna Louise (Caldwell) Whitner as the person who painted the then dying tree. She also included a photo of Alden’s painting with a written history telling of how the tree had been a meeting place for Seminole Indians. The tree, Anna said, was dead when James M. Alden painted it.

The Council Oak, likely the last painting by James M. Alden, certainly had not been his first. Another painting by Alden was of a historic residence at F Street and 15^th Ave. in Washington, DC. James M. Alden painted that home in 1874, and a copy of that painting graces the cover of, Citrusland, DC: District of Columbians of Florida’s Citrus Belt, by yours truly. The home was described as the residence of the architect of our nation’s White House, but even that painting had not been the first for an artist known as the “Yankee Artist of the Pacific Coast.”

James M. Alden, Yankee Artist of the Pacific Coast

After traveling the Pacific Northwest as a young Naval Officer between 1857-1860, painting such amazing sights as Yosemite Falls, and after service in the Civil War, James M. Alden then spent the next 25 years as Secretary to Admiral Porter at Washington, DC.

A Widower when he retired in 1890, Alden married Frances Hewlett, a retired “DC Clerk”.

Miss Frances Hewlett was already an Orange County landowner when she married James M, Alden in 1890. She had followed the lead of other “DC Clerks” by investing in grove land as early as 1884. After her marriage to Alden, she came to Florida to select their retirement home, and chose the historic Francis W. Eppes residence on Lake Pineloch.

The house had changed hands a few times after the death of Eppes in 1881, so it is unclear if Frances was aware of the historic nature of the home she acquired, but in her purchasing this specific residence, Frances had in fact preserved the home that Francis had built.

 

Author and historian Kena Fries, daughter of Orange County surveyor John O. Fries, wrote Orlando in the Long, Long Ago in 1938. In her book she told of visiting the J. M. Alden home in 1904. She also wrote of the Council Oak, generally believed by historians to have been on the east side of Lake Pineloch. Kena’s account however, despite offering a wealth of information, gave a different location for the tree.

“On the west side of Pine Loch Lake, where the old trail wound its way thru the pine woods, there once stood an immense live oak, said in its glory to have been the largest live oak in all of central Florida. It was known as “Council Oak”, the gathering place of the Seminole warriors. Here it is stated on what seems to be reliable authority, was planned the Dade Massacre and many other sudden attacks on the early settlers.” The “old trail” was indeed on the west side of the lake, but the Council Oak is believed to have been on the east side of the lake.

Council Oak tree bark collected by Kena Fries

Kena went on to explain that the tree had been struck by lightning. “In September 1904,” said Kena, while spending the day with the late J. M. Aldens we rowed across the lake. (If the tree had in fact been on the west side of the lake, Kena would not have had to row “across” to see the tree). While visiting the dead standing tree in 1904 (about the same time Alden painted the tree), Kena Fries “picked up a chip (bark) with the most peculiar markings and shape, closely resembling a watch dog.” She included a photo of the Council Oak’s bark in her book.

Continued below:

Pine Castle Pioneer Days 

The History Tent

Sponsored by Pine Castle Historical Society

Pine Castle Pioneer Days

Cypress Grove Park, 290 W. Holden Ave.

Orlando, Florida

See Part One for Saturday Schedule of Speakers

Sunday, February 27, 2022 Schedule of Guest Speakers

11:00 AM Railroads shaped YOUR Central Florida

by Richard Lee Cronin

Noon Jernigan’s, Patrick’s & early Orange County History by A. Stephen Patrick

1:00 Florida’s World War II Heroes, by Tom Tart

2:00 A Turbulent Decade: Civil War & Reconstruction in Central Florida by Jeff Hooper

3:00 Pine Castle: Today & Tomorrow,

A Panel discussion led by Larry Miles

Each topic will begin promptly at the appointed hour

See Part One for Saturday Schedule of Speakers

 

Continued from above:

 

Pine Castle Pioneer Days is all about celebrating central Florida’s heritage, a history closely tied to Fort Gatlin, the Council Oak, and arguably the Eppes – Alden home - the most historic residence in all Central Florida, a Lake house begun in 1871 by Francis W. Eppes.

 

Kena Fries had come to America as a young girl with her mother, arriving on the Orlando in the late 1870s, coming to Orlando to join her father. John O. Fries who was already working as an Orange County land surveyor.

John Otto Fries had first laid eyes on the village of Orlando on Christmas Day 1871, the year the grandson of President Thomas Jefferson was building a home several miles further south.

Francis Eppes, as far as we know, built the first house on Lake Pineloch, but he was not the first property owner of the acreage upon which he built his house. Eleven years before Eppes started construction of his home, a deed was issued to a remarkable central Florida frontierswoman, a fascinating woman I refer to as, Lady Isaphoenia.

Next Friday, our countdown to Pioneer Days continues with Part 3: The Lady of Lake Pineloch.

Mark your calendar for Pioneer Days

Pioneer Days, February 26 & 27, 2022

Stop by my Central Florida History Booth

Richard Lee Cronin, Author & Historian

www.CroninBooks.com

     

 

The Lake House on Historic Lake Pineloch

 

The Lake House

Historic Lake Pineloch

 

The house Francis built

A convincing argument can indeed be made that a lake house in South Orange County is in fact the area’s most significant historical site. One need not take my word for it though, as I intend to lay out facts to argue such a claim in this blog. The lake house has long been known as the home Francis W. Eppes built, but the history of this parcel prior to and after Eppes, in my opinion, will be insightful news to every fan of central Florida history.

Francis Eppes was not the first owner of the land when he built his home in 1871. In fact, Eppes did not even own the land upon which he built his house. Eppes arrived in central Florida a poor man. He had lost all his wealth during the Civil War. Relocating his family from Tallahassee, he came with Will Wallace Harney, William Mayer Randolph, and Ouachita Pushmataha Preston, each desiring to settle in central Florida near the abandoned Indian War fortress named Gatlin. Remnants of the old fortress were still visible when this clan first arrived in 1869.

Good reasons for celebrating Pioneer Days!

As grandson of President Thomas Jefferson, the Orange County, Florida home Francis Wayles Eppes, built on 80 acres on the west shore of Lake Pineloch, has for decades been associated with the Jefferson’s Monticello, which in turn associated the residence with our Nation’s Capital at Washington, DC. But as a homestead, this exact parcel, half of 160 acres, is likewise linked with President George Washington. And as a later “existing home sale”, the house Francis built reconnected Lake Pineloch with Fort Gatlin history during the Indian War as well as our Nation’s Capital once again.

For the above reasons, and then some, the house Francis built - and the land upon which he built his house, makes the Lake House and property the most historic location in all central Florida.    

A notable residence indeed

Two babies, born four weeks apart in 1801 at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia, were to eventually grow apart as adults. A baby boy and baby girl, the two grew up at Monticello. They even attended each other’s wedding at the historic Monticello estate. The girl, Virginia Jefferson Randolph, married Nicholas Philip Trist, the private secretary of Thomas Jefferson. The boy, Francis Wayles Eppes, the son of Jefferson’s youngest daughter, married Mary Cleland Randolph.

Pine Castle Historical Society is once again sponsoring 

The History Tent

Pine Castle Pioneer Days

Saturday & Sunday, February 26 & 27, 11 AM to 3 PM

July 4, 1826, forever changed the lives of Francis W. Eppes and Virginia Randolph Trist. As our nation celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, a signer of that historic document, died at his Monticello estate. Francis W. Eppes and Nichols P. Trist, after teaming up to close out the financial troubled estate, each went their separate ways. Nicholas P. Trist settled at Alexandria, Virginia and joined the State Department. Francis W. Eppes followed his in-laws, the Randolph’s, south to Tallahassee in the Florida Territory.

Eppes and Trist each built a new life, each somewhat successful until the Civil War, when both found themselves on the wrong side of history. Each was on the brink of financial collapse. Nicholas P. Trist was still residing with his wife Virginia at Alexandria, Virginia. Francis W. Eppes, at the center of war-torn Tallahassee, found himself bankrupt.

Continues below.

The History Tent

Sponsored by Pine Castle Historical Society

Pine Castle Pioneer Days, Cypress Grove Park 

290 W. Holden Ave, Orlando, Florida

Schedule for Saturday, February 26, 2022

 

11:00 AM Secrets of The Rutland Mule Matter, by Richard Lee Cronin

Noon What is Pine Castle? By Larry Miles

1:00 The Incomparable Alexander St. Clair-Abrams by Bob Grenier

2:00 My Sanford, Florida family, by Dean Berrien

3:00 Today’s Pine Castle looks toward Tomorrow

A Panel discussion led by Larry Miles

Each topic will begin promptly at the appointed hour

Free Admission, Free Parking, Free Listening

Continued from above.

At Tallahassee, in 1868, a Louisiana Attorney named William M. Randolph planted the seed of change for his family members. He purchased a parcel of land in far off Orange County, acreage which served as the final stretch of a three-decade historic trail which led to the front door of an abandoned fortress. Family members from Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Florida’s Panhandle, then followed his lead, packing up their belongings to head toward a land they had ever seen before.

Following a dirt trail 28 miles long from the steamboat landing on Lake Monroe, the final stretch of land crossed land acquired by William Mayer Randolph, but before reaching Randolph’s property, just to the north, the trail also crossed a homestead of 160 acres which had only recently been sold.

Pine Castle Pioneer Days, February 26 & 27, 2022

The owner of the 160 acres had died in 1867, and her husband was attempting to sell the entire parcel. A signed sales deed however was suddenly voided, and all 160 acres became the property, in 1869, of Attorney William Mayer Randolph.

The new property owner did not keep the land for himself though. Instead, William M. Randolph gave permission to Francis W. Eppes to build on one-half, or 80 acres, and he deeded the other half, the other 80 acres, to “Nicholas P. Trist, of Alexandria, Virginia”. Randolph left a hand written note saying that Eppes could pay him whenever he was able.

The historic Lake House on Lake Pineloch, begun 151 years ago, still exists today. The home is truly a monument to early settlers of the Fort Gatlin region, but the residence is only part of an amazing story of the land upon which the house was built.

 

Central Florida Council for Florida House, January 31, 2022

I had the distinct honor recently of speaking to the membership of the Central Florida Council for Florida House. A wonderful organization, this group is part of a statewide organization that maintains Florida House on Capitol Hill, the only State Embassy in Washington, DC. My talk was entitled, Citrusland, DC, and at their meeting I introduced my latest mini book of the same name, Volume 3 in a series, Righting Florida History.

The cover of this latest book features a portion of an 1874 painting of a Washington, DC residence. The painting also has a historic connection with the single-most historic parcel in all of central Florida. That story, and more, as this series continues next Friday, February 11th.

Part 2, A Tree across the Lake

Stop by Cronin Books booth at Pioneer Days

And let's talk central Florida history

SPECIAL EVENT PRICE $10.00

Citrusland, DC by Richard Lee Cronin