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.