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Source
State Library of Florida, WPA - Historical Records Survey, County Histories
Description
Brief history of Franklin County, Florida collected by the Works Progress Administration's Historical Records Survey.
Date
December 29, 1936
Contributors
Format
Coverage
Subjects
Geographic Term
Note to Researchers:
Though the WPA field workers included extensive citations for the factual information contained in these county histories, it should be noted that these historical narratives were produced in the 1930s by federal government employees, and might reflect the inherent social biases of the era.
WPA
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
by
Alvirda Johnston
The earliest date at which definite mention of the territory included in Franklin county is found in 1705, at which time the Spaniards built a fort at the mouth of the Apalachicola river. This fort was later destroyed by Alibanon Indians, and was rebuilt in 1719.
In 1799 William [Augustus] Bowles of Maryland, who had been in the British Army in [defense] of Pensacola against the Spanish in 1781, who had been captured by the Spaniards and reported hanged, arrived in the Apalachee Bay, where he made his headquarters. He robbed stores and transports of Trader Forbes on the Apalachicola and St. Mark's river, [besieged] Fort San Marcos, obtained its surrender on May 20, 1800, and was planning on conquering the whole of Florida when a Spanish Fleet sent from Pensacola destroyed his fort in Apalachee Bay and scattered his Indian followers. Later Col. Benjamin Hawkins (Indian Agent) and John Forbes (trader) with the cooperation of Spanish authorities captured Bowles and Creek Indian country. He is believed to have died in the dungeons of Moro Castle in Havana in 1802.
Partly on account of the robberies of the St. Mark's stores by Bowles and partly in satisfaction of debts incurred by the Indians, Governor Juan Folch (Governor of West Florida under Spain) permitted Hopoeithle Nicco, Chief of the Seminoles in 1803 and 1804 to cede to John Forbes and Company, Trader, a great track of land reaching from St. Mark's to the Apalachicola River and beyond, including the [adjacent] islands and extending sixty miles into the interior embracing over 1,200,000 acres.
The validity of the Forbes Grant or Purchase was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1835.
In 1804 a fort was built on the Apalachicola river by Major Edward Nichols (British) who had with him a number of Indians and Negroes. When peace was declared between the United States and Great Britain, Major Nichols left Fort Prospect Bluff (Now Fort Gadsden) and returned to England. The Indians and negroes who then took over the fort soon increased their ranks with run-away slaves and outlaws.
DEC 29 1936
Title
History of Franklin County
Subject
Cities and towns--History
Florida--Franklin County
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey
Description
Brief history of Franklin County, Florida collected by the Works Progress Administration's Historical Records Survey.
Creator
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey
Source
State Library of Florida, WPA - Historical Records Survey, County Histories
Date
1936-12-29
Contributor
Johnston, Alvirda
Format
local histories
Language
eng-US
Type
Text
Identifier
wpa_county_history_franklin_01
Coverage
Depression Era Florida (1926-1939)
Thumbnail
/fpc/memory/omeka_images/thumbnails/wpa_county_histories.jpg
Geographic Term
Franklin County (Fla.)
Apalachicola River (Fla.)
Apalachicola (Fla.)
Carrabelle (Fla.)
ImageID
wpa_county_history_franklin_01_01
wpa_county_history_franklin_01_02
wpa_county_history_franklin_01_03
wpa_county_history_franklin_01_04
wpa_county_history_franklin_01_05
wpa_county_history_franklin_01_06
wpa_county_history_franklin_01_07
Subject - Person
Bowles, William Agustus
Forbes, John
Hall, Carrie
Kelly, O. H.
Landrum, Will L.
Transcript
WPA
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
by
Alvirda Johnston
The earliest date at which definite mention of the territory included in Franklin county is found in 1705, at which time the Spaniards built a fort at the mouth of the Apalachicola river. This fort was later destroyed by Alibanon Indians, and was rebuilt in 1719.
In 1799 William [Augustus] Bowles of Maryland, who had been in the British Army in [defense] of Pensacola against the Spanish in 1781, who had been captured by the Spaniards and reported hanged, arrived in the Apalachee Bay, where he made his headquarters. He robbed stores and transports of Trader Forbes on the Apalachicola and St. Mark's river, [besieged] Fort San Marcos, obtained its surrender on May 20, 1800, and was planning on conquering the whole of Florida when a Spanish Fleet sent from Pensacola destroyed his fort in Apalachee Bay and scattered his Indian followers. Later Col. Benjamin Hawkins (Indian Agent) and John Forbes (trader) with the cooperation of Spanish authorities captured Bowles and Creek Indian country. He is believed to have died in the dungeons of Moro Castle in Havana in 1802.
Partly on account of the robberies of the St. Mark's stores by Bowles and partly in satisfaction of debts incurred by the Indians, Governor Juan Folch (Governor of West Florida under Spain) permitted Hopoeithle Nicco, Chief of the Seminoles in 1803 and 1804 to cede to John Forbes and Company, Trader, a great track of land reaching from St. Mark's to the Apalachicola River and beyond, including the [adjacent] islands and extending sixty miles into the interior embracing over 1,200,000 acres.
The validity of the Forbes Grant or Purchase was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1835.
In 1804 a fort was built on the Apalachicola river by Major Edward Nichols (British) who had with him a number of Indians and Negroes. When peace was declared between the United States and Great Britain, Major Nichols left Fort Prospect Bluff (Now Fort Gadsden) and returned to England. The Indians and negroes who then took over the fort soon increased their ranks with run-away slaves and outlaws.
DEC 29 1936
They made numerous forays into United States territory, [harassing] settlers along the Georgia border. Although [numerous] appeals for relief were made to the Spanish Government, conditions grew worse until in 1818, General Andrew Jackson dispatched gunboats to settle the affairs. Only a few shots were fired before a "hot Shot" [sic] struck the magazine in the fort, blowing up the fort, and killing all but a few within the walls of the fort.
By 1824, there was a town of Cottonton located where the custom house is now. It is probable that cotton was already being shipped through this port from the section up the Apalachicola.
In 1827, Westpoint was incorporated at the place where Apalachicola is now. Official records show that by 1828 there were four steamers on the Apalachicola and its tributaries, hauling cotton. It is probable that cotton had been coming down the river on floats much prior to this time.
The town was incorporated in 1831 as Apalachicola. The following year, 1832, the post office was established with Wm. D. Price as post master. In that year on Feb. 8, Franklin county was formed from part of Gadsden and Washington counties.
In 1833 the Commercial Bank was started, capital $500,000, and the Advertiser started publication. Apalachicola had a rapid growth, principally because of its location at the mouth of the Apalachicola river. This river with its [tributaries], (Flint, Chattahoochee, and Chipola rivers) is navigable for about 360 miles.
In 1835, the city of Apalachicola was laid out along the river, as it is today. There seems to have been a boom, since in that year two lots sold for $5,600, and eighty-four lots sold for $182,000. A contract was let to build 40 brick buildings.
DEC 29 1936
In 1837, Apalachicola was a thriving town. Thirty-eight vessels cleared its ports that [year], and eighty thousand bales of cotton were shipped. Two other banks the Franklin Bank of Florida, Capital [sic] $1,000,000, and the Marine Insurance Bank, capital, $1,500,000, were incorporated.
That same year the section of Franklin county in which Port St. Joe was located was added to part of Jackson county to form Calhoun county. During the next few years Apalachicola grew steadily, when yellow fever wiped out St. Joseph, many of the survivors moved to Apalachicola. A number of the houses were moved bodily.
Two citizens of Apalachicola became famous. One, Dr. John Gorrie, was the inventor of artificial ice in 1850. The other, Dr. Alvan Wentworth [Chapman], became one of the world's foremost botanists.
In 1860 Apalachicola chamber of commerce made the following statement, "We are the great depot of the State, we do more business than each and every portion of the State put together. This year we have done $14,000,000 worth of business".. [sic] (This statement was made in a memorial to Congress asking for an appropriation to deepen the channel).
At one time there were four saw-mills in constant operation. During these years there were few settlers in the territory now known as Franklin county outside of Apalachicola. The section near Carrabelle was well known for hunting, but not until 1855 did permanent settlers come. By 1861 there was a small settlement there. Because of its advantageous location the settlement grew, and was incorporated in 1893. It received to [sic] name from Miss "Carrie" Hall who was considered the "belle" of the community. It was at first call Rio Carrabelle.
The founder of Carrabelle was O. H. Kelly, of Washington D. C. He was also the founder of the "National Grange Society", the largest farmers organization in the United States.
During the reconstruction period, a little business in lumber and fishing was done. A hurricane in 1873 destroyed many of the cotton warehouses that were weakened by age and [neglect]. Freezes in 1886 and in the 1890's killed the orange trees in the vicinity. Another hurricane in 1898 destroyed a great deal of property. The town seemed on the downgrade. New sawmills, were started, but fires, freezes, and hurricanes delayed development. As a climax, a fire on May 25, 1900 wiped out six city blocks including 71 buildings. Practically the whole business section was destroyed. The loss was approximated at $250,000, with a small portion insured.
DEC 29 1936
Histo. of Franklin Co.
4
The population in 1900 was 3,077. Since that date the town has rebuilt. Its main industry has changed from lumber to oyster and shrimp packing. Today the population of Apalachicola is slightly more than 4,000.
It is thought that the completion of the John Gorrie Bridge over the Apalachicola river in 1935, linking the two sections of the county and linking Apalachicola to East Florida promises commercial advancement.
SOURCES & CONSULTANTS
FOR
HISTORY
OF
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Mrs. Meyers ---- Apalachicola,
Mrs. S. E. Rice, Sr.- "
Mrs. Chas. Butterfield- "
Dr. J. S. Murrow-- "
Mrs. Joseph Messina, Jr. "
Mr. John Gordon Cummings, "
Mr. Fred Sawyer "
Mrs. H. Palmer "
Miss Elizabeth Grady "
Mrs. J. H. Hodges "
Mr. Leo Hance "
Mr. R. Don McLeod "
St. Andrews, Fla; West, G.M.;
Panama City Publ. Co, St. Andrews,
Florida 1922.
Apalachicola Times, Golden Jubilee
and Gorrie Bridge Edition, Apala
chicola, Fla. Nov. 2, 1935.
Memoirs of Florida, Vol. II; Redick,
Rowland H., The Southern Historical
Association, 1902.
DEC 29 1936
COPY
Apalachicola, Florida
March 23, 1937
Mrs. Vera L. Faucette
District Supervisor HRS & SAS
Tallahassee, Florida
Dear Mrs. Faucette,
This is a copy of the erection of the Court House in Franklin County that I mailed Mrs. Johnston before Christmas. I hope it is what you are asking for. We are unable to give the history of any other in Franklin county as different buildings in the down town [sic] section were used. They are all gone now and none of the remaining citizens seem to know anything about them. The following is taken from the minutes of the County Commissioners:
At the meeting of the Board of County Commissioners October 19, 1891, it was decided that at the next meeting which was to be held on November 23, 1891, that the question of erecting a Court House and Jail would be acted upon and contracts [it], for both buildings.
Among those present at the meeting of November 23 & 24, 1891 were: J. J. Gannon, Chairman, C. H. Smith, S. E. Rice, J. S. Fanning, R. M. Yent, Will L. Landrum, Contractor, and Reuben L. Harrison, Clerk of Circuit Court.
The Court House contract for the present building was made and entered on November 24, 1891, between Will L. Landrum of the city of Mayfield, Kentucky and the County of Franklin in the State of Florida by the Board of County Commissioners.
The Court House was erected in a lot known as Washington Square in the city of Apalachicola in the county of Franklin, and State of Florida, according to the plans, and specifications as furnished by McDonald Brothers Architects, of Louisville, Kentucky, at a cost of $17,000,00.
A special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held on December 9, 1892 for the purpose of examining and to receive the Court House from Contractor Will L. Landrum.
At the meeting on December 14, 1892, it was decided that the new Court House would be occupied on January 1, 1893 by all county offices.
The building in a two story brick structure with a cupola on top. The floors are all rough pine and the walls are plastered. It has six rooms and a big hall on the first floor and five small anti-rooms and the Court room on the second floor. Also a small unfinished attic. The size is approximately 44 ft. 8 in. wide by 54 ft. 8 in. long. These figures may not be exactly right as I do not have my notes on the building, however, I thought I would give you some idea as to the size of the building.
Yours very truly,
Ferrell Mahon
Franklin County
ach - Page
APR 6 - 1937
FRANKLIN COUNTY
1. Erection of first Court House, 1892.
2. Creation of first Government, Clerk of Circuit Court states that there is no way of finding out, Creating of Government, as all records were destroyed by fire, prior to 1874.
Chicago Manual of Style
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey. History of Franklin County. December 29, 1936. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. <https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/321103>, accessed 4 December 2024.
MLA
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey. History of Franklin County. December 29, 1936. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/321103>
AP Style Photo Citation
(State Archives of Florida/Works Progress Administration)