Florida Governor Harrison REED

The story of Florida’s developing 19^th century Citrus Belt includes a half dozen or more individuals named Reed & Reid. Most were not related to one another, yet each played, in a special way, key roles in the development of central Florida. As historians began documenting these folks, they often misspelled names, so in turn the area’s true story blurred. Fort REID near Sanford is a prime example, for historians often referred to the old fortress as REED. This week, CitrusLANDFL will attempt to set the record straight, starting today with Florida’s 9^th Governor, Harrison REED (1813-1899).

Sworn in June 8, 1868, the Massachusetts native did not begin to serve as governor until July 4, 1868. REED had to await formal recognition from the Federal Commander, for in the aftermath of America’s Civil War, Florida was still under control of the Military Reconstruction Act. Navy ships were still patrolling the waterways, including central Florida’s main transportation artery, the St. Johns River.

Abraham Lincoln assigned REED in 1863 as Florida Tax Commissioner.  As his job then included resolving confiscated Confederate property, REED met with a lot of resistance from opponents later as Governor. Twice during his one and only term anti-REED opponents tried to impeach him. As Governor, REED also served as President over the Florida Internal Improvement Fund board, and in that capacity, he signed off on two huge land deals involving 1.3 million plus acres. Both deeds were eventually overturned by the U. S. Supreme Court.

One of the two transactions dealt specifically with central Florida. On March 1, 1871, he authorized the sale of 81,137 acres to a New Yorker. The price: ten cents per acre. Most public land at the time was going for no less than $1.25 per acre. Acreage was scattered across 15 Orange and Volusia County townships, and one small sampling is 160 acres at Lakes Hope and Charity in present day Maitland. The Governor’s intent may have been honorable, but the price and fact that the board’s co-signer on the deed doubled at the time as a Real Estate Agent, certainly raised the ire of local citizenry of that time.

There is nothing to suggest locals named anything in honor of this 9^th Florida Governor, but that’s not so with our next featured Florida founder. Reed vis-à-vis Reid continues tomorrow.