Land
Classification of the Florida
National Forest,
Choctawhatchee Division, Florida;
W. F. Hill,
1916
(some observations seem to have been made early and I suspect this
document was
in progress from 1910-1916, MEW)
The Forestry Service has kindly given
us permission to publish this
paper, but one should be aware that some of these lands are on the
Eglin Air
Force Reserve. As such they are not
open lands. Many may even have unexploded ordinances on them. You must
have permission to enter the
Reservation.
Each vignette was done by Mr. Hill and was typed as he wrote them.
They were personal interviews and subject to the same possibility of
error as the census -- the writers in both cases relying on whomever
they contacted at the time. Errors have been spotted in some of the
entries, so I suggest that care be taken when using them. Treat them as
you would any source and verify the information they provide. Use them
as a road map!
The following
vignettes of Homesteads in the
forest were done by Mr. Hill for the Forestry as documentation of
privately
owned lands within the National Forest. Along with the documentation of
the
homesteads was a description of the soil, timber, flora and fauna
within the
forest. The entire report resides at Baker Block
Museum and at the Milton
Library in Santa Rosa
County.
Vignettes for each county in the forest (Okaloosa and her parent
counties,
Walton and Santa Rosa)
may be viewed on the USGenWeb sites for each county. They may be
accessed at
USGenWeb.com; follow the appropriate links.
Mr. Hill was
a member of the United States
Forest Service since 1902 when he was appointed Forest Ranger on the Black Hills National Forest. “Mr. Hill has
been
Deputy Supervisor on the Florida
National Forest for eight
years, most of the time
being devoted to field work, the major part consisting of the
examination of
homestead claims during the first years of the Forest
administration. He also made numerous investigations regarding the
turpentine
work on the Forest. He is thoroughly
familiar
with all sections of this Forest and
its
resources. He is a careful and efficient surveyor and has a
thoriugh knowledge of land laws and regulations.
During the
early years of his life he lived on a
farm in the State of Vermont
and had considerable experience in actual farming and stock raising
in the Black Hills of South Dakota.”
Many of the
homesteads in the forest were on
extremely poor soil and failed to be useful for extensive farming, so
the
inhabitants resorted to other means of support. Among them were
hunting, turpentine and
timber
work, fishing, boat building, stock raising and later road and railroad
building and associated jobs. Many homesteads, after the turn of the
century
(particularly after 1906), were entered with the intention of selling
the
timber, turpentine rights, mineral rights, or the land itself.
Briefly, a
person had to be over 21, a citizen, had
to file affidavit that land was to be for personal use, pay a $10 fee
and
about$1.25 per acre, occupy the land for 5 years and make certain
improvements.
In order to “shortcut” the process, he had to pay the minimum
established price
for the land. To read more about the Homestead Act and requirements, go
to: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/3010/homestd.htm
Names and
descriptions were difficult to read,
so I checked them out at: http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/
I then
included their numbers so one may cross
check entries.
$10 in 1916
is worth about $186 in 2007. “Boxed”
and “cupped” are terms used in turpentine process.
Carr, Stephen
C. - NE ¼, Section 20, T2N, R24W
Homestead Entry 32111,
February
3, 1903
Patented
August 25, 1903 (before organization of
Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show the
following:
To James B.
Carr, January 10, 1907, Y-399
Homesteader
is a native of Florida;
still lives on claim and cultivates
15 acres; improvements in good state of repair; cupped 1911
BLM info:
Accession/Serial #: FL1050__.333
BLM Serial #: FL NO S/N
Peeples,
Warren - SW ¼ Section
22, T2N, R24W
Homestead Entry
36351-03632,
November 9, 1905
Patented
March 7, 1912 (Proof papers were
misplaced)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show the
following:
To Gattis
Turpentine Co. (mortgage) 1/3/12;
9-479
Present
owner, Warren Peeples
Homesteader
still lives on place; cupped timber
in 1912 and is selling the gum; cultivates garden
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 251830
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0003632
Freeman,
James - NE ¼ Section
24, T2N, R24W
Homestead Entry
3321302203,
November 16, 1903
Patented
October 6, 1910
Proof papers
show: Sandy land; established
residence Feb. 1904; maintained continuous residence; frame house worth
$60;
pole crib worth $15; 5 acres enclosed with wire and rail fence; 5 acres
in
cultivatio; cost $5 per acre to clear land and worth that when cleared;
owned 1
horse and 2 hogs; longleaf pine will average 1,800 ft. b.m. per acre on
uncleared land and 20 cups per acre for turpentine; land most valuable
for its
timber.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show the
following:
To Gattis
Turpentine Co. 2/9/12, 10-230
Homesteader
is from North Carolina;
still owns part of
homesteadand is occupying improvements; cultivates a garden;
improvements kept
repaired; cupped in 1913.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 156250
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0002203
Bowens, James
- SE ¼ Section
26, T2N, R24W
HE
33276-02222, November 23, 1903
Patented
October 6, 1910
Proof papers
show: Sandy soil; residence
established March, 1904; maintained continuous residence; dwelling
12x16 with
7x16 room one side 7x9 on the other side, worth $40; 1 1/2 acres
enclosed with
rail and picket fence; no orchard; no cultivation year of proof; cost
$5 per
acre to clear land and worth $10per acre when cleared; 158 acrea
longleaf pine
on claim worth $3 per M ft. b.m.; land most valuable for its timber;
claim does
not have appearance of permanent home.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show the
present owner to be James Bowers.
Homesteader
still lives on homestead; only a
raised since proof was made; improvements have been maintained; timber
was
leased and cupped in1911.
BLM Info: Accession/Serial
#: 156253 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0002222 – first name on patent is Laura Bowens
Carr, Warren
- NE ¼ Sec. 30, T2N, R24W
HE
35654-03253, March 2, 1905
Patented
January 5, 1911
Proof papers
show: Sandy soil; residence
established April 15, 1905; absent from claim Aug., Sept.,
and Oct. , 1905; returned and resided
continuously until June 1909; absent in order to work to make living.
3-room
frame house 14x24 valued at $350; one 2-room dwelling 16x20 valued at
$125; one
barn worth $75; one barn 15x23 worth $66; 22o yds. Woven wire fence;
700 yds. Rail fence; 76 yds. Picket fence;
7 acres in cultivation;
small orchard; cost $3 per acre to clear and worth $5 when cleared;
owned 24
hogs; 140 acres longleaf pine averaging 2,000 ft. b.m. per acre, worth
$4 per M
ft.; timber leased to Cameron & Corbett for turpentine in 1908;
worked one
year ans suit brought by land office and work stopped; settlement made
by Union
Naval Stores Co.; timber cut, 6,000 boxes; Carr received $35 per M
boxes for
3-year lease; land most valuable for its timber.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show the
following:
To D.A. Ewing
3/31/11, 7-276
To HW Fisher
(mortgage) 11/10/10, 9-302
Present Owner
Savage & Co.
Homesteader
is a native of Florida;
improvement maintained by present owner, a turpentine operator, and 6
acres
cultivated; cupped 1912;
lives at Holt,
Fla.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 168127
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0003253
Carr, Wm. A.,
Sr. - Lots 1 & 2, Section 30,
T2N, R24W
HE
35560-03258, March 7, 1905
Patented
September 14, 1911
Proof
papers show: Sandy soil, not adapted to agriculture; established
residence in
1904 and maintained continuous residence; log dwelling 14x18 worth $75;
log
kitchen 14x18 worth $75; log chicken house worth $2.50; two log barns
worth
$30; log stable worth $10; frame wagon shelter worth $10; 20 acres
fenced with
wile, rails and pickets; 9 ½ acres in cultivation; orchard; cost $5 per
acre to
clear land and worth $10per acre when cleared; owned 3 head of cattle,
20 hogs,
and 30 chickens; 130 acres of timberland with stand of
200,000 ft. b.m. worth $3.50 per M ft; land
most valuable for its timber; in 1908 claimant leased 5,000 turpentine
boxes to
Cameron & Corbett and in 1910 the JP
Williams Naval Stores Co. settled trespass.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show the
following:
To AC Cain N
½ NW ¼ Sec.30 2/6/12, 10-234
To ML Fisher
SW 14 SW ¼ Sec. 30 7/9/12, 10-467
To RP
Thompson a ¼ of Lots 1 & 2 in Sec. 30
containing 40 acres with the exception of a turpentine lease to JB Cox
7/6/08,
10-201
RP Thompson
to AL Garrett (mortgage), 11/27/11
subject to turpentine lease to JB Cox, 14-91
Homsteader is
a native of Florida;
lives on homestead and cultivates
10 acres; improvements kept up; cupped 1912
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 224429
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0003258
Harris, James
- NE ¼ Section 34 T2N, R24W
HE
33272-03318, November 23, 1903
Patented
October 6, 1910
Proof papers
show: Very Sandy soil and badly
broken; very little suitable for tilling; residence established March
1, 1904
and maintained continuous residence; log house 18x22 worth $65; frame
house
valued at $40; 1 ½ acres fenced with pickets and rails; ½ acre in
cultivation;
cost $5 per acre to clear land and worth that when cleared; owned 7
hogs; longleaf
pine will average 1,800 to 2,000 ft. b.m. per acre and will average
15-20 cups
per acre for turpentine; land most valuable for its timber.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show the
present owner to be James Harris
Homsteader
left immediately after proof;
improvements gone down; no cultivation; timber is round; lives at Carryville, Fla.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 156251
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0002218
Cain, Annie
A. - SW ¼
Section 36, T2N, R24W
HE
364040-03659, November 21, 1905
Patented
Novenber 27, 1911
Proof papers
show: Light Snady Land; residence
established March 10, 1906; 1-room log dwelling 14x14; 1-room log
kitchen;
valued at $50 each. Four acres enclosed with rail fence; 4 acres in
cultivation; small orchard; owned 13 head of cattle, 8 hogs and 20
chickens;
155 acres timberland with 310,000 ft. b.m. longleaf pine worth $750 for
turpentine and $900 for timber.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show the
present owner to be Annie A. King (name after marriage)
Homesteader
is a native of Florida;
left immediately after proof; improvements kept up; garden cultivated;
lives in
Florida.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 235536
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0003659
Pearson,
Henry C. - NWSW
Sec. 32, T2N, R25W
Cash Entry
10506, December 13, 1851
Patented May
1, 1855 (before organization of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show
present owner, C.B. Cox
Homesteader
is a native of Florida;
built wasteway for logs an creek;
owned a mill at Robertson’s Point; no land cultivated; all timber cut
years
ago; land owned by another mill company; no improvements now on the
land of any
kind.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: FL0220__.439
BLM Serial #: FL NO S/N
Faulk, Philip
H.- E ½
NW, E ½ SW Sec. 32, T2N, R25W
HE 34722
August 11, 1904
Patented June
30, 1905 (before
organization of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To CC Brock
SENW, NESW, SESW, 7/20/10 , 5-412
To JE Cox
9/7/10, 5-529
To HW Fisher
1/12/12, 10-530
Present
owners NESW Philip Paulk, Balance to WJ
Williams
Homesteader
is a local resident of Florida;
made five year
proof; timber boxed 1906 and worked 5 years; claimant lives on land;
cultivates
only a small garden.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: FL1090__.217
BLM Serial #: FL NO S/N
Fortune, John
M. - W ½ NE, W ½ SE Sec. 32, T2N,
R25W
HE
36339-03626 Novenber 6, 1905
Patented May
15, 1911
Proof papers
show: Sandy soil, very poor for
agriculture;claimant never absent from claim; frame dwelling 14x26,
worth
$150.00; frame chicken house 4x10, worth $3.00; frame cow shed 10x10; 1
½ acres
fenced with wire, rails and pickets; 1 ½ acres in cultivation; small
orchard;
cost $5 per acre to clear land and worth $10per acre when cleared and
fenced;
owned 6 oxen, 4 cattle, 4 hogs, 6 chickens and 2 turkeys; 150 acres
longleaf pine
timber with stand of 150,000 ft. b.m. worth $3.50 per M ft. b.m.; land
most
valuable for its timber.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To JB Cox
(turpentine lease) 1/15/11
To LE
Chestnut 6/2/11, 7-399
To JB Cox
6/12/12, 10-415
To HW Fisher
1/12/12, 10-535
To ME Fisher,
Jr., Present Owner
Homesteader
is a local resident of state; made
five year proof; sold soon after proof was made and left the locality;
worked
at timber for a living; sold for $500.00; timbeer boxed spring of 1912;
no land
cultivated since proof was made; all of the improvements moved off the
land.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 198945
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0003626
Carr, William
A. - N ½ NE, E ½ NW Sec. 26, T2N,
R25W
HE
35176-03035 October 24, 1904
Patented
January 5, 1911
Proof papers
show: Sandy soil; residence
established January 25, 1905; maintained continuous residence; dwelling
16x20,
worth $200.00; kitchen10x16 worth $20; smoke house 5x10 worth $10;
chicken
house 5x6 worth $6; barn 10x12 worth $25; buggy house6x12 worth $15; 7
acres
fenced with rails and lumber; 7 acres in cultivation; small orchard;
cost $5
per acre to clear land and worth $10per acre when cleared; owned 25
head
cattle; 1 horse, 20 hogs and 20 chickens; 150 acres longleaf pine with
stand of
150,000 ft. b.n. worth $3 per M ft. b.b.; timber turpentined to amount
of 5,000
boxes by Cameron & Corbett, cut in January 1906 and used until
spring 1909,
paid claimant $200 for lease.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To Dan A Carr
10/16/11, 10-15
Dan A Carr to
WA Carr (a mortgage) 10/15/11,
13-290
Homesteader
is a local resident of Florida; made
five year proof; sold soon after proof was made and moved away; worked
at
public work; timber boxed 1905 in trespass; settled with G.L.O. for
same;
timber back cupped 1911; about 10 acres now in cultivation; raises
corn, peas
and potatoes; uses lot of fertilizer.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 168125
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0003035
Melvin,
George - S ½ SW, SWSE Sec. 22, T2N, R25W
HE 32167-087
February 21, 1903
Patented May
7, 1909 (before organization of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To ?S Fortner
& Co.
2/5/10, 5-583
Present owner
DA Ewing
Homesteader
is a local resident of Florida; sold
soon after proof was made; moved away; turpentine still and quarters
built on
land in 1910; still not moved; quarters all gone to rack; no land
cultivated
since proof; only garden in 1910 and 1911 by present owner; timber
boxed for
turpentine in 1910; back cupped in 1913.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 59927
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0000087
Burlison,
Simeon T. (BLM shows “Simeon W”) -
Lots 3 & 4 Sec. 9, T1S, R22W
HE
32867-Gainesville,
September 24, 1903
Patented
December 20, 1904 P.C. April 15, 1904
(before organization of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No sales
recorded
Homesteader
is a native of Alabama; moved to
this place in 1897; has lived on the place until present time; crop has
been
made on the place each year to date, peas, corn, cane, potatoes, velvet
beans
and garden; improvements are maintained by his family; 4 acres in
cultivation;
wife of claimant lives on place; timber boxed in 1908; worked three
years; sold
part of land for $200.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: FL1070__.369
BLM Serial #: FL NO S/N
Parrish,
George W. - SW ¼ SW
¼, Sec. 8; W ½ NW ¼ Sec 17; Lot
1 Sec 18, T1S, R22W
HE
29925-Gainesville, May
3, 1900
Patented
January 13, 1908 P.C. July 15, 1907
(before organization of Forest)
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; moved to
this place in 1860; has never moved off of land; has made a crop each
year of
potatoes, corn, peas, watermelons; about 6 acres cultivated each year;
maintained improvments; house built of dressed lumber, finished inside
and out
worth about $1,200; timber unboxed; sold 120 acres of land and timber
for $700.
BLM Info:
unable to find
Early, Lewis
- E ½ SE ¼, NW ¼ SE ¼, SW ¼ NE ¼
Sec. 8, T1S, R22W
HE
32950-Gainesville,
October 12, 1903
Patented
September 28, 1904 P.C., January 8, 1904 (before
organization of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No sales
recorded
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; has lived
here all his life; lives on place; made crop each year since proof,
peas, corn,
potatoes, cane, velvet beans and garden for home use; 10 acres
cultivated each
year; maintained improvements; 10 acres
used for farming; house built of rough lumber, crib smoke house
in very
good condition; timber boxed 1908; lives on land, farms, has a few
cattle and
hogs; leased the timber for turpentine purposes then sold timber to
sawmill;
received in all about $600.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: FL1070__.241
BLM Serial #: FL NO S/N
Brown, Allen - Lot 3, Sec.
7 and Lot
2, Sec. 18, T1S, R22W
HE
23201-Gainesville,
December 1, 1892
Patented
Jaqnuary 27, 1900 P.C., August 21, 1899 (before
organization of Forest)
County records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
Louis
Anderson (Commissioner) to Con. Land &
Lumber Co., 12/5/08, 28-424 Guardians Deed for minor heirs
To Planters
& Merchants Bank (mortgage)
7/15/09
Present
owner, Lot
3, Mutual Land & Lumber Company. Lot 2 AB Brown
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; moved to
this place from Freeport, Fla; lived on land until his death in 1905;
no crops
have been made except a garden; about 1 acre has been cultivated for
garden;
improvements maintained until death; improvements now used by man
working for
sawmill; timber boxed in 1912; homesteader’s children live in
Pensacola, Fla.;
land sold by the estate for $800; money placed to credit of estate.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: FL1010__.037
BLM Serial #: FL NO S/N
Armstrong,
Warren - Lot 4
and SW ¼ SE ¼ Sec. 6; Lot 2 Sec. 7,
T1S, R22W
HE
29559-Gainesville,
January 18, 1900
Patented
April 9, 1901. P.C. March
26, 1900
(before organization of Forest)
County records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To BP Edge
6/3/03, 15-399
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; moved to
this place in 1890; claimant has lived on place since making
application for
entry and is living here at present time; has not made any crop except
a garden
for past 6 years; has cultivated about 1 ½ acres for the past few
years;
improvements kept repaired; has a very good cabin built of rough
lumber; timber
bosed 1907; has never moved off place since proof; timber boxed then
sold to
nearby sawmill; claimant received $300 from timber.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: FL1010__.493
BLM Serial #: FL NO S/N
Allen, Elisha
J. - E ½
SE ¼ Sec. 6; Lot 1 Sec 7 and NW ¼ NW
¼ Sec. 8,
T1S, R22W
HE
32515-Gainesville-0330, June 5, 1903
Patented May
7, 1909 (before organization of Forest)
P.C. September 22, 1908
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To JL Cawthon
(mortgage) 7/8/11, 11-312
To JL Cawthon
(mortgage) 9/9/11
Present
owner, NESE, EJ Allen; SESE, Frank
Early; Lot 1, unknown
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; has lived
here all his life; has lived on place all time since proof was made;
has
cultivated 7 to 10 acres since proof was made for home use; built very
good
house on land worth $700; farms on land present time; sold part of land
and
other owners have about 15 acres in cultivation; timber boxed 1907,
then sold
to nearby sawmill; homesteader works on farm and other public work;
received
$800 for timber and land he sold; part of money spent on improvements
to land.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 59937
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0000330
Brown, Jacob - Lots 2 and 3, Sec.
36, T1S, R22W
CE 1947,
October 6, 1881
Patented
February 101883 (before organization of
Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
Present owner
SF Hall (Found no record of
original transfer)
Homesteader
made no crop on homestead in last 15
years; no land cultivated; no signs of improvements on place; timber
never
boxed; no timber except hammock oak; nothing known of homesteader in
this
locality.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: FL0460__.070
BLM Serial #: FL NO S/N
Humphrey,
Aaron - E ½ SW Sec 24; NENW & NWNE
Sec. 25, T1S, R22W
HE
36698-03843 February 7, 1906
Patented
October 9, 1911
Proof papers
show: Sandy soil, poor for farming;
established residence on what he thought was his claim April 3, 1906;
moved to
claim in August, 1910 and maintained continuous residence; 1-room frame
house
16x18, shed room 8x16; smoke house 8x10; small chicken house, all worth
$100; 1
½ acres fenced with rails; 1 ½ acres in cultivation; owned 3 head
cattle, 21
hogs and 21 chickens; 157 acres timberland with stand 157,000 ft. b.m.
longleaf
pine worth $3 per M ft. b.m.; land most valuable for its timber.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No record of
sales.
Homesteader
is a native of
Alabama;
lived on place until death in 1913; no crops made since proof; no land
is
cultivated; no repairs have been made to improvements since proof; no
part of
land is used for farming; timber boxed 1912; homesteader is dead;
family moved
to Alabama;
timber leased for turpentine for $400.
BLM Info:
Accession/Serial #: 228696
BLM Serial #:
FLG 0003843
Mitchell,
James - W ½ NW, W ½ SW Sec 24, T1S,
R22W
HE35715-03294
March 20, 1905
Patented
December 8, 1910
Proof papers
show: Sandy soil, poor for farming;
residence established July, 1905; maintained continuous residence; log
house
16x18; log room 12x14; smoke house 8x10, all worth $100; 7 acres fenced
with
rails and boards; 4 acres in cultivation; small orchard; cost $5 per
acre to
clear land and worth $7; owned 5 oxen, 1 cow, 6 chickens and 25 hogs;
153 acres
timber with stand of 306,000 ft. b.m. worth $3.50 per M ft.
County records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:To Munn, BH – 9/8/10, 32-192
Present owner
Munn & Graham
Homesteader
is a native of South Carolina; moved
away as soon as proof was made; 2 acres used for cultivation; no
improvements
have been repaired by homsteader; 2 acres used for farming; turpentine
hands
live on place; new improvements have been built by new owner, very
good; timber
boxed 1911; moved to South Carolina; farming; sold place for $1,000 and
bought
land at other places.
Accession/Serial
#: 164686 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0003294
Early, Jacob
E. – Lot 4 Sec. 19, T1S, R22W
HE
31175-Gainesville,
November 15, 1901
Patented
August 0, 1907 PC March 25 1907 (before
organization of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No sales,
except E 51 acres of Lot
4 to BP Edge.
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; has lived
here all his life; lived on place 3 years after proof; a crop has been
made each
year until this year of peas, corn, potatoes, beans and garden for home
use;
improvemnets not maintained after proof; no part of land used for
farming at
the present time; house used by fisherman; timber boxed 1909; lives in
Niceville, Fla.; works turpentine for living; leased the timber when
sold land;
received about $900 for place and bought home at Niceville, Fla.
Accession/Serial
#: 0628-062 BLM Serial
#: FL NO S/N
Hudson,
Thomas W. – Lot
1 and S ½ Lot 2 Sec. 19, T1S, R22W
HE 32949-
Gainesville-02142 October 12, 1903
Patented
November 3, 1910 P.C. March 25, 1907
Proof papers
show: Sandy soil, poor for farming
purposes; claim fronts about half mile on Rocky Bayou; actual residence
established March 1904; continuous residence maintained; three-room
house,
smoke house and stable, all valued at $300.00; 40 acres fenced with
wire and
lumber; 3 acres in cultivation at time of report, July 29, 1910; 2
acres in
1904; 2 acres in 1905; 2 acres in 1906; 2 acres in 1907; 3 acres in
1908 and 3
acres in 1909; to corn, peas and garden truck; 80 acres of timber land
with
stand of 64,000 ft. b.m. longleaf pine. On February 15, 1910, claimant
gave
three-year turpentine lease to Boggy Turpentine Co., for 2,483 boxes.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No records of
sales or leases.
Homesteader is a native of Florida; has lived here all his life; has
lived
onhomestead until 1913; made a crop each year of peas, corn, potatoes
and
garden; about 5 acres has been cultivated each year maintained the
improvements; no part of land used for farming this year; timber boxed
in 1912;
lives at Niceville, Fla., fishes for living; leased timber, then sold
to
sawmill; received $1,000.
Accession/Serial
#: 159928 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0002142
Lancaster,
Samuel L. – Lot 4, N ½ Lot 5, N ½ Lot
6 Sec. 15, T1S, R22W (BLM slightly
different)
HE
28722-Gainesville
February 9, 1899
Patented
August 30, 1904 P.C. January 8, 1904
(before organization of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No sales
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; moved to
this place in 1880; has lived on place until present time; a crop of 7
acres
has been made on place each year; maintained improvements; house built
of
dressed lumber; improvements in very good condition; timber never
boxed;
homesteader lives on place and fishes for living; sold timber for $500.
Accession/Serial
#: FL1070__.205 BLM Serial
#: FL NO S/N
Hancock,
Mitchell – Lot
2 and W ½ SE ¼ Sec 14, T1S, R22W
CE
35321-Gainesville December 5, 1904
Patented
October 26, 1908 P.C. April 3, 1908
(before organization of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To BH Munn
& HH Brown 8/24/08, 26-105
Homesteader
is native of Georgia; moved to this
place in 1904; moved away as soon as proof was made; a crop has been
made on
place each year of peas, corn, cane, potatoes, watermelon and garden;
12 acres
cultivated each year; no improvements repaired after proof; present
owner farms
about 12 acres; used for turpentine still and residence of owner and
employees;
improvements including turpentine still and quarters worth $2,500;
timber boxed
in 1912; homesteader moved to Georgia; at present time farming; sold
place for
$1,000.
Accession/Serial
#: 25147 BLM Serial
#: FL NO S/N
Burlison,
James F. – Lot
1, Sec. 9 and Lots 3 and 4 Sec. 10, T1S, R22W
HE
32863-Gainesville-02126 September 24, 1903
Patented May
25, 1911 P.C., September 12, 1910
Proof papers
show: Sandy soil, small stream
running through tract; established actual residence September 1, 1904;
maintained continuous residence; 5-room frame house; smoke house,
chicken
house; barn, all valued at $750.00; water supplied by pump; 5 acres
enclosed
with lumber fence; south side of claim fronts half mile on Rocky Bayou;
5
acresin cultivation at time of report, March 1911; 3 acres 1905, 3
acres 1906,
4 acres 1907, 4 acres 1908, 5 acres 1909, 5 acres 1910, to peas,
watermelons
and garden truck; 80 acres of timberland with stand of 80 M ft. b.m.
longleaf
pine; timber leased to BH Sutton, Niceville, Fla., on October 10, 1910,
for
turpentine purposes, receiving $60 per M cups for about 4,000 cups;
land is
most valuable for its timber.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No sales
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; moved to
this place in 1900; has lived on place until present date; a crop has
been made
on place each year of peas, corn, potatoes and watermelons for home
use; 7
acres cultivated each year; maintained improvements; house of dressed
lumber in
very good condition; timber boxed in 1911; lives on the land and fishes
for a
living; leased the timber for turpentine, then sold the timber to
sawmill, received
$500 for timber.
Accession/Serial
#: 200838 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0002126
Nathey, WJ (William J.)– Lot
7 and SWNE Sec 1, T1S, R23W
HE 29678
February 15, 1900
Patented June
1, 1903 (before
organization of Forest)
County records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No sales
except that part in Lot
7 east of Bayou to JJ Rushing.
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; has lived
here all his life; living on land at present time; has made a crop of 3
to 4
acres each year; about4 acres in cuativation; homesteader has repaired
improvements; house built of rough lumber worth $200; timber boxed
1907; lives
on place and works at odd jobs; leased the timber for turpentine and
sold
timber to a sawmill in 1914; received in all $400; nothing to show for
money.
Accession/Serial
#: FL1050__.207 BLM Serial
#: FL NO S/N
Eaton,
Francis C – Lot 1, Sec 12; Lot 6, Sec
1, T1S, R23W (BLM records do not agree with this ,
but show a similar property in same twp.)
HE 29751
March 6, 1900
Patented May
11, 1908 (before
organization of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
Present owner
Lot 1, SS Spence & DP
McKenzie; Lot 6 unknown
Homesteader
is a native of Michigan; lived on
place 1 year after proof; moved to this place in 1898; homesteader has
not made
but 1 crop since proof; about 30 acres are cultivated by present
owners;
improvements have not been repaired by homesteader; a sawmill and
quarters
worth about $2,000 on place; timber cut for sawmill in 1909; lives in
California; retired from business; sold place for $2,000. Present owner
is part
owner and operator of the sawmill located
on this
claim.
Howell, AH –
NW ¼ Sec 12, T1S, R23W (BLM shows 2
other properties in same twp.)
HE 36271 October 16, 1905
Patented June 4, 1906 (before organization of Forest)
County records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No sales
except 70 yards square for school
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; has lived
here for the past 25 years; living on place at present time; made a
crop for
each year; about 4 acres cultivated; homesteader has repaired
improvements;
house built of dressed lumber worth $300; timber boxed in 1907; lives
on place
and fishes for a living; sold 120 acres of land and leased al timber
for $800.
Accession/Serial
#: FL1100__.146 BLM Serial
#: FL NO S/N
Edge,
Elizabeth – Lot
1, Sec 13, T1S, R23W, 138.75 acres
HE 29809
March 26, 1900
Patented
April 9, 1901 (before organization of Forest)
County records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To John F. Allen 8/6/01, 15-401 [family records show this to be her
son-in-law
–MEW]
To SW Balentine 2/8/13 37-418
Present Owner
Boggy Turpentine Company
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; has lived
here all her life; lived on the place until 1910; a crop had not been
made on
place until 1914; about 4 acres cultivated; homesteader repaired place
until
1910; no part of land used for farming this year; improvements not
used; house
built of rough lumber valued at $150; timber boxed 1911; lives at
Niceville,
Fla.; works at odd jobs; sold land for $600 and bought house at
Niceville, Fla.
[We assume much of the info on homesteader applies to Allen as Family
believes
Elizabeth died 1905-MEW]
Accession/Serial
#: FL1020__.097 BLM Serial
#: FL NO S/N
Roberts,
Susan – NE NW; NE ½ NE Sec. 27, T1S,
R23W (BLM shows additionally SENE)
HE 36390-Gainesville-03652 November 5, 1905
Patented July
1, 1911
Proof papers
show: Sandy soil poor for farming
purposes; began building and established actual residence March 1,
1906; was
never absent from claim more than two weeks at a time; improvements
consist of
frame house 20x24, two rooms, porch 8x24, habitable at all seasons, and
worth $75.00;
two acres fenced with lumber; all improvements built by claimant; 2 1.2
acres
are producing crops; orchard of 30 peach trees; owns 8 head of cattle,
1 horse
and 30 hogs; an estimated stand of 122,000 feet b.m. No timber cut only
for
improvements and fuel. Land most valuable for its
timber.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To M. King (mortgage) May 8, 1911, 12-13
To Elison
Oglesby April 28, 1912, 37-88
Homesteader
is a native of Florida; sold to her
son-in-law and resides on the place with him; about two acres are
cultivated
each year; the timber was boxed for turpentine by present owner in
1912; a new
house was built and two acres cleared and put under cultivation to
garden truck
for home use only. No produce is sold. Present owner of claim makes a
living by
working turpentine.
Accession/Serial
#: 214269 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0003652
Allen, John
J. – W ½ NW, SENW, NESW Sec. 2, T1S,
R23W
HE August 4,
1903 Patented April 5, 1911
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To Boggy Turpentine Company October 23, 1911, 35-405
Proof papes
show: Rolling land with sandy soil;
poor for farming purposes; established resedence on September 1, 1903;
was
never absent from claim; two-room log house, 15x20; frame kitchen
12x14; with
stick and dirt chimney; all improvements worth $150; board and rail
fence
around about six acres; 1 ½ acres in cultivation at time of report;
estimated
stand of 140 acres of timber on claim; 240,000 ft. b.m. longleaf pine.
Homesteader is a native of Florida;
lives on homestead and cultivates about two acres; improvements kept in
good
repair; works at sawmill and does odd jobs for a living.
Accession/Serial
#: 188179 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0002095
Allen,
Benjamin C. – NE ¼ Sec. 2, T1S, R23W
Date of Entry not given
Patented
September 20, 1909 (before organization
of Forest)
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
No sales recorded
Homesteader
was raised in this county and is
still living on his homestead. Cultivates about
three acres
each year. Improvements are in good state of repair. Timber was
sawed in
1910.
Accession/Serial
#: 79937 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0001003
Ervin, JM
(John M.) – Lot
1 Sec. 34, T1S, R23W
HE 35437-Gainesville
Patented
April 25, 1911
Proof papers show: claimant settled on the land in January 1902; was
never
absent from the claim; cultivates 12 acres; improvements consist of one
frame
house 18x20; log kitchen 12x14; frame cane mill house 14x16; all worth
$250.00;
12 acres fenced with rails and lumber; all of the improvements built by
the
claimant; 12 acres in cultivation; claim has a stand of 1,000 feet b.m.
longleaf pine timber per acre.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
None
Homesteader is a native of Florida;
he moved away from homestead in 1914, but is farming the cleared land;
about 3
acres cultivated since proof each year; improvements have been
maintained;
claim was logged in 1911; homesteader lives 1 mile away from the claim
working
turpentine.
Accession/Serial
#: 126939 BLM Serial
#: FL NO S/N
Hartgrove,
William. N – Lot
3 and N ½ Lot 4 Sec. 30, T1S, R23W
HE 37561-Gainesville-04433 February 26, 1907
Patented May 20, 1912
Proof papers
show: Light sandy land; lies west shore of Garniers Bayou; all
could be tilled if cleared, but would require the use of a great deal
of
fertilizer to produce crops. Began building in June and established
actual
residence on the claim in July 1906; no absemce; improvements consist of one 7-room frame house 32x38 with 8 foot
porch on four sides, worth $525.00; one-room frame kitchen 8x14; worth
$35.00;
log and frame barn 24x28 worth $100.00; two-room frame tenant house
12x16 – two
story with 8 foot porch, worth $100.00; cow shed 14x20 worth
$30.00chicken
house 8x10 worth $10.00; wharf 9x10 and bath house 8x8 worth $100.00;
150 rods
of woven wire fence; 20 rods of plank and 20 rods of picket fence; all
improvements built by claimant; about 7 acres of land is producing
crops; has
orchard of 200 peach , 10 pear, 2 apple, 30 plum trees, 12 grape vines,
12 fig
trees, 12 pecan trees, 5 mulberry trees; one eighth of an acre in
berries;
claimant raises corn peas, potatoes, peanuts, oats, kafir corn (sorghum
– MEW),
velvet beans, watermelons, and garden truck; an estimated stand of
1,500 feet
b.m. of longleaf pine timber per acre worth $3.50 per M feet b.m. for
saw
timber in addition to $450.00 for three years lease for turpentine.
County records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To Garniers Naval Stores Company, Turpentine lease April 30, 1912, 38-77
To S. E. Buck (mortgage) May 8, 1913
Homesteader came to Florida from Illinois in 1906; is still living on
the place
and farms about six acres each year. Claimant teaches school part of
the year.
Improvements are kept in good repair and have been added to since final
proof.
Accession/Serial
#: 268395 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0004433
Brown, Manuel
– SE ¼ Sec. 29, T1S, R23W
HE 34209-Gainesville-02569 May 1904
Patented November 3, 1910
Proof papers
show: Land Level with sandy soil;
poor for rarming purposes; established actual residence on claim in
May, 1904,
was never absent from claim; improvements consist of one-room log house
12x16
with stick and dirt chimney; side room 6x7; porch 6x16; unfinished
frame house
16x23 intended for three rooms; stable 10x12; all improvements probably
worth
$175.00; house habitable at all seasons; about 4 acres are fenced with
wire and
rails; all improvements built by claimant; and estimated stand of
201,500 feet
b.m. of longleaf pine timber; in December 1909 claimant gave a
four-year
turpentine lease to Garniers Naval Stores Company; timber cut 4,00
boxes; no
timber cut prior to lease or since except for fuel and improvements.
County
records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To Garniers Naval Stores Company March 10, 1911, 32-586 except five
acres
described by metes and bounds.
Homesteader is a native of Florida; is still living on the five-acre
tract
reserved from the sale and cultivates about four acres each year;
improvements
kept in good state of repair; claimant does odd jobs and maintains a
small
ships ways on Garniers Bayou which he operates under a Special Use
permit from the
Forest Service.
Is owner of a small schooner and runs wood from Garniers to Pensacola and
brings freight on his return
trips.
Accession/Serial
#: 159931 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0002569
Davis, Martin
– W ½ NW, SE ¼ NW ¼, SW ¼ NE
¼ Sec. 25, T1S, R23W
HE 36388-Gainesville-03650 November 15, 1905
Patented December 11, 1911
Proof papers show: Actual residence was established in February 1906;
was never
absent from claim; improvements consist of one frame house 15x28 with
stick and
dirt chimney; shed room 6x26; horse shed 12x12; chicken house 6x6; the
buildings are worth $75.00; house habitable at all seasons; about three
and
one-half acres are enclosed with fence; one and one-quarter acres are
producing
crops; an estimated stand of 237,000 feet b.m. of longleaf pine timber
worth
$3.00 per M feet b.m.; land most valuable for timber.
County records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
None
Homesteader is a native of Florida;
is still living on the claim. About two acres are cultivated each year.
Improvements are kept in good repair. The timber was leased for
turpentine in
1912.
Accession/Serial
#: 237819 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0003650
Hand, Peter
L. – Lot 3 Sec 31, T1S, R23W
HE 37465-Gainesville-
04359, January
28, 1907
Patented January 11, 1912
Proof papers
show: Light sandy land with a thick
growth of spruce pine and scrub oak; has a gentle slope to the bayou;
all could
be cultivated if cleared. Actual residence was established in May 1906;
was
never absent from claim for over ten days at a time, was at Boggy,
Fla.,
working at a sawmill; family remained on claim during these absences;
improvements consist of one-room frame dwelling 20x22 with 7 foot
porch;
two-room frame kitchen 20x23, with shed on one side; frame barn 10x20;
blacksmith and wood shop, all worth $200.00; dwelling is habitable at
all
seasons; one acre irrigated with a windmill outfit valued at $200.00.
170 rods
of wovewn wire fence; all improvements built by claimant except the
dwelling
and kitchen; about 8 acres are producing crops; an orchard of 141 fruit
trees
and 10 grape vines, land most valuable for a home.
County records of Sales, Leases, etc., show:
To Garniers Naval Stores Company, turpentine lease November 28, 1912,
38-79
Homesteader came to Florida from Illinois in 1906; is still living on
the
claim; no crops raised except a garden since date of final proof; the
improvements are being maintained; homesteader has marine ways omn the
claim
from which he principally makes a living; has abandoned all attempts at
farming; windmill and irrigating plant in ruin.
Accession/Serial
#: 241819 BLM Serial
#: FLG 0004359