Jacob Summerlin
Encyclopedia
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
after the land was ceded by Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He is known for his contributions to the early settlement of Florida, and especially for founding the county seats of Orange
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
and Polk
Polk County, Florida
Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...
counties, which are Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
and Bartow
Bartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
, respectively. In the years prior to the Civil War, he was a slaveowner.
Early life
Born in Alachua County, FloridaAlachua County, Florida
Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...
, it is often claimed that Summerlin was the first white child born in Florida under American rule; but this claim has been hard, if not impossible to prove. He learned to ride a horse and crack a whip by the age of seven. His father raised a few cattle. When Summerlin turned 16, his father gave him a few calves, and he made his way south into the wide open ranges of Central Florida.
"King of the Crackers"
Summerlin earned much of his early fortune raising cattle in the Peace and Kissimmee river valleys. Wild cattle brought to North America by the Spanish conquistadors now roamed free across these vast stretches of land; enterpreneurs could capture, breed, drive and sell these cows for twelve to sixteen dollars each. Summerlin and his business partners (called crackers after the long whips they used to drive the cows) developed a lucrative trade with Havana and with the US Naval Base at Key West.He amassed a fortune of 15,000 to 20,000 of head of cattle during this period, and was considered one of the wealthiest Floridians before he reached age 40. In this pre-banking era, Jacob kept his gold and silver at his cabin in trunks, meal sacks, tin meat cans, woolen socks, cigar boxes, behind door frames, in the rafters, or tossed in a corner. He used his wealth to purchase large tracts of land sprawling from Fort Meade to Fort Myers. He bought a wharf at Punta Rassa
Punta Rassa, Florida
Punta Rassa is a census-designated place in Lee County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,750 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cape Coral–Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and a thousand acres (4 km²) nearby for cow pens, some of which he rented to other cattlemen.
Summerlin during the American Civil War
During the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he was a blockade runner who smuggled beef and medicine to Confederate troops. He and his partners reportedly moved their shipping dock to Live Oak Point (present day Charlotte Harbor) where they could load their ships out of sight of the Union gun ships located at Boca Grande
Boca grande
-Places:*Boca Grande, Florida, United States*Boca Grande, Venezuela*Boca Grande Key, Florida, United States-Other:*Boca Grande Community Center, also known as Boca Grande School, a historic site in Boca Grande, Florida...
Pass. With the Confederate money he earned, Summerlin bought the 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) Blount homestead, much of which would later be given to Polk County. After Confederate money became worthless, he began selling cattle to the Union soldiers at Fort Myers. He claimed that during the war his operation was halted and he was "forced" to join the Cow Cavalry, serving in Captain Francis A. Hendry
Francis A. Hendry
Francis Asbury Hendry was a Florida cattle rancher, politician, and officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
's Company A in the Ft. Meade
Fort Meade, Florida
Fort Meade is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,691 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,761...
area. In his request, he maintained that he "never fired a shot at a U.S. Citizen", obviously referring to Union soldiers.
Donations in Bartow and Orlando
In 1867, he donated 120 acres (0.5 km²) of the Blount homestead land in the present-day town of BartowBartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
: 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) for an institution of learning (aptly named the Summerlin Institute, now called Bartow High School
Bartow High School
Bartow High School, formerly Summerlin Institute and Union Academy is the only high school located in Bartow, Florida. The school is also the location of the International Baccalaureate School at Bartow High, a school which annually finishes in the top five in composite SAT scores in the United...
, founded 1887), 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) for establishment of a county seat, and 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) for each of the town's two churches (Methodist and Baptist). He also personally donated $1100.00 for construction of Bartow
Bartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
's first two story building which housed the Masonic lodge and school.
Summerlin also owned land in Orange County where he opened the Summerlin Hotel. When Orlando's wooden courthouse burned in 1868, there was pressure to move the county seat to the then-larger town of Sanford, where it had been located before 1857. General Henry Sanford was particularly involved in lobbying for the move back to Sanford and offered free land for the new courthouse during a public meeting of the County Commission in 1875. Summerlin sat in the packed audience during Sanford's offer. Legend has it that as Sanford finished speaking, Summerlin rose to his feet and asked if he was done, Sanford replied "I have". Summerlin replied:
The county accepted his offer and repaid him over a 10 year period. Later that year, Orlando became incorporated with a population of 85; on August 4, Jacob Summerlin sat on the first Orlando City Council acting as Council president.
It was also Summerlin who donated a large tract of land in order for a fine park to be established in Orlando. In 1883, Summerlin came to a city council meeting and offered the land around the lake on the condition that was beautified and turned into a park. He also required that the city plant trees and put a "driveway" around the lake. To ensure that the city followed through the stipulations of the donation, Summerlin put reverter clauses in the contract to allow his heirs to reclaim the property if the city failed in its obligations. That park is still maintained to his orders of it being kept beautiful. His sons named it Lake Eola, after a lady they both knew.
He died on November 4, 1893, aged 73, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Bartow
Bartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
.