HISTORY OF SEMINOLE COUNTY
Ira T. Sprinkle
Seminole County history begins with the ownership of Florida by the United States.
In 1821 Florida was transferred from Spain to the United States. General Andrew Jackson was made Military Governor. In making two divisions of Florida, the Suwanee River was used as a dividing line. St. Johns County included all territory in the present bounds of the state east of the Suwanee River. Escambia County, all territory within the bounds of the state west of the Suwanee.
In 1822-23 Duval was formed from St. Johns. December 1824, the Peninsular separated from St. Johns and from this territory three counties were formed; Mosquito County, on the Atlantic; Alachua County, on the Gulf, extending south to Charlotte Harbor; and Monroe County, at the end of the Peninsular, southeast of Charlotte Harbor.
Colonel [Fanning] established Camp Monroe on the south bank of Lake Monroe in 1836. On February 8, 1836, King Phillip, Seminole Indian Chief, and his son, Coacoochee, made an attack on Camp Monroe. This was said to be one of the fiercest battles of the Seminole War. [Captain] Mellon was killed in this battle and his soldiers buried his body on property adjacent to now Union Avenue, Sanford.
During this year Camp Monroe was changed to Fort Mellon and a line of Forts were established beginning with Fort Mellon, Fort Reed, Fort Maitland, Fort Gatlin, Fort Meade, and Fort Brook.
In 1840, to induce settlers to come to this land, the government offered six months' supply of rations and some degree of protection. As a result homesteading began in earnest.
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Mosquito County was renamed Orange County, January 30, 1843, and the county seat until December 1856, then it was moved to Orlando.
The first boats were put into service between Palatka and Mellonville, 1844, which originated the St. Johns River Boat Service. In 1866 the "Darlington" began making weekly trips between Jacksonville and Mellonville. This was the only communication with the settlers of the Peninsular and the outside world. Mail was received at Mellonville and dispatched south by horsemen.
General Henry S. Sanford of Connecticut came to Mellonville and purchased 12,535 acres of land, and immediately started St. Gertrude Grove. General Sanford brought 150 Swedes during 1870 and 1871, who were used as laborers on St. Gertrude and Bel Air Groves.
Land was donated by Mr. A. J. Vaughn and the first public school was established in this district in 1857. This school building was also used by the Methodists who held services once each three months.
Captain Richard W. Marks, in his capacity as civil engineer, laid out and platted, for General Sanford, his property in 1870. Miss Louisa Tucker, whose father built the first residence and business building on this property, gave it the name of Sanford in 1871.
Mellonville ceased to exist by act of the Florida legislature of 1883.
The Holy Cross Episcopal Church was built in Sanford in 1873, largely through the influence of Miss Sanford.
The first newspaper published in South Florida was in Sanford.
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The South Florida Journal was established in 1875 and edited by Fred L. Robinson.
December 29, 1879, General U. S. Grant threw the first shovel of sand for the South Florida Railroad, and the following June 26, 1880, the first passenger train operated between Sanford and Longwood. This was a narrow gauge road, but in 1886, it was changed to a standard gauge.
In 1886, the first County Fair was held; mainly a display of fine fruits, as fruit-growing was the main industry. President Grover Cleveland, and his wife, attended this fair on their honeymoon.
December 31, 1894, the Big Freeze visited Florida. This freeze resulted in damage estimated at one hundred million dollars. Orange County, up to this time, was one of the richest counties in America, having an income of $55.00 per capita; men, women, and children, including negroes.
Honorable Frank P. Foster of Sanford, Chairman of a committee of 150 citizens, set the [machinery] in motion to establish a new county. A bill was introduced by Mr. Forrest Lake. Senator Donagan of [Kissimmee] rendered great assistance in engineering this bill through the Senate.
Seminole County was created by an act of the 1913 Florida Legislature, Chapter 6511, Section 1. The County of Seminole shall comprise and include all that territory described as follows: Commencing in the center of Wekiva river and in the center of the St. Johns river, at the place where the Wekiva river discharges its waters into the St. Johns river, running thence through the middle of the Wekiva river in a southerly direction to the northwest corner of section nineteen, township twenty, south of range twenty-nine, east; thence south along the range line between ranges twenty-eight and twenty-nine, east, to the southwest corner of section nineteen, township twenty-one, south of range twenty-
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nine, east; thence east to the southeast corner of section twenty, township twenty-one, south of range thirty, east; thence to the township line between townships twenty-one and twenty-two, south of range thirty, east; thence east along said township line to the middle of the St. Johns river; thence following the middle of the St. Johns river to and through Lake Harney, into the St. Johns river; thence following the middle of the St. Johns river to and through Lake Monroe, into the St. Johns river; thence following the middle of the St. Johns river to its juncture with the Wekiva river at the point of beginning.
The name of Seminole was given to the new county by the committee of 150 became of the Seminole Indian tribe that had used this locality for a camp ground.
From 1913 until 1918 the courthouse was in the old Welborn Block, which is now the Valdez Hotel building. The present courthouse was built by the BPOE for their Lodge building. In 1919 the building was sold to the County for a courthouse. Remodeling was begun at once, a fireproof vault and two stories added to the rear of the building.
Bibliography:
Laws of Florida
County Commissioners' Proceedings
E.A. Douglas, Lake Mary
Forrest Lake, Sanford
The Sanford Chronicle
Mrs. Annie Caldwell Whitner
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