Florida's Sir Edward James REED

Sir Edward James REED of England was an interesting player in the story of Florida’s developing 19^th century Citrus Belt as well. Parts One & Two of this week long series featured two Florida Governors, pre-Statehood REID and one post-Statehood REED. They were not related, but in their own unique way left their marks on central Florida history. This Part Three introduces a REED from across the pond.

Sir Edward James and wife Lady Rosetta REED, of Hextable, Kent County, England, acquired 65,000 acres of central Florida wilderness in 1883, transferring the land to a holding company, Florida Land & Mortgage Company Limited. REED was Chairman.

Born at Sheerness, England in 1830, Sir REED became Chief Constructor for the British Navy, holding that position from 1863 until 1870. REED then wemt out on his own, and as a naval constructor and engineer, did business with Russia, Australia and Turkey.

Sir Edward James REED’S financial interests in the 1880s expanded to include railroads and land development in the USA, Florida in particular. He organized Florida Central & Western Railroad, planning to lay down 234 miles of railroad from Jacksonville to Chattahoochee.

REED also acquired the 65,000 acres in CitrusLANDFL, as well as other Florida land, and his company provided financing to their buyers. Orlando Municipal Airport began service in 1928. Operating as Orlando Executive Airport today, its runways cross land that, in 1883, belonged to John DEUTSCHMAN, a German immigrant who purchased his land from Sir Edward James REED of Hextable, England.

Yet another purchaser of REED properties was George W. Lockwood of Connecticut. An early East Orange County settler, Lockwood and his son founded Lockwood Post Office, an early Econlockhatchee River crossing. Much of REED’S land surrounded BITHLO of today.

REED outlived his Florida business ventures, living until 1906, and being laid to rest in his birth country of England.

We’ve now presented three histories of 19^th century individuals who played key roles in a developing central Florida, each being named REID or REED. But tomorrow we tell the story of Floridian who, like the comedian Rodney Dangerfield, couldn’t get any respect. He first rescued one of Orange County’s most important cities, only to have that town’s plat spell out his name as both REED and REID. We’ll sort out that mess in tomorrow’s Part Four of REED vis-à-vis REID Week.

Florida Territorial Governor Robert R. REID

The story of Florida’s developing 19^th century Citrus Belt, as stated in our Part One, includes a half dozen or more individuals named Reed & Reid. Most were not related, and yet each played, in their own unique 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. All this week CitrusLANDFL will Right History, beginning with Governor REED in Part One. Today we feature Florida’s 4^th Territorial Governor, Robert Raymond REID (1789-1841).

“We ascend the crest of a park-like forest on the old Fort road; and passing between tall picket fences, over which hangs the dark varnished green of the orange, grove after grove, we come to old Fort REID.” South Florida Railroad in 1887 was able to get right what earlier surveyors could not – spelling the name of Fort REID correctly. The first surveyor spelled the name REED in 1845, an error that has been perpetuated to some extent throughout Florida history. A mile and half inland from Lake Monroe, Historic Fort Reid evolved from a fortress to a 19^th century town, all because of one soldier by the name of Augustus Jefferson Vaughn. After serving at the military outpost, Vaughn remained as comrades departed, and he then made the old fortress his residence.

Of four forts on the 25 mile old forts trail south to Gatlin, Reid was the only fort named to honor a living person. Monroe, Maitland & Gatlin were each named for soldiers who had died in the war.

Territorial Governor Robert R. REID had argued in favor of releasing the shackles from the Army to allow them to do their job in the war against the Indians. His endorsement earned REID a fort named in his honor. Born 1789 in Prince William Parish, SC, as an attorney REID married twice while living in Augusta, GA. After the loss of two wives he relocated in 1835 to St. Augustine, accepting a Presidential appointment as U. S. Judge of East Florida. Robert R, REID became the 4^th Territorial Governor in 1839.

Fort Reid was established November 9, 1840, and Robert R. REID completed his term as Governor March 19, 1841. He died July 1, 1841 during a yellow fever epidemic. A son, also Robert R. REID, is a story for another day.

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.