Live Oak Plantation

Live Oak Plantation was a historic cotton plantation located in central Leon County, Florida, United States. It was established by John Branch, who arrived in Florida in 1832 and served as Florida Territorial Governor while living at Live Oak for 15 years. The plantation originally comprised 1,560 acres (630 ha) and was operated using enslaved workers. It was situated in north central Leon County, extending from the east shore of Lake Jackson to the western edge of Lafayette Township. By the 1860s, the plantation had 820 acres of improved land, 260 acres of unimproved land, and 68 enslaved people, producing 2,000 bushels of corn and 73 bales of cotton. After the Civil War, the property changed hands several times. In 1870, John Branch's heirs sold it to Howard S. Case of Columbia, Pennsylvania. In 1887, the Case family sold it to Edmund Hugh Ronalds of Edinburgh, Scotland. After his death in 1895, his brother Dr. Tennent Ronalds inherited it and expanded the estate, adding a private golf course and the first tung tree orchard in Florida. Tennent Ronalds committed suicide in 1924. The plantation was sold to Herman C. Fleitman in 1925, then to Leon T. Cheek in 1934, and finally to A. M. Middlebrooks in 1948. The plantation no longer exists; its land became the neighborhoods in and around Live Oak Plantation Road, including Middlebrooks Circle.

Live Oak Plantation was established by John Branch, who arrived in Florida in 1832 and served as Florida Territorial Governor while living at Live Oak for 15 years. The plantation was originally a small cotton plantation of 1,560 acres (630 ha), operated by captive, enslaved workers and located in central Leon County, Florida, United States. It was located in north central Leon County extending from the east shore of Lake Jackson to the western edge of Lafayette Township. The Leon County Florida 1860 Agricultural Census shows that Live Oak Plantation had 820 acres of improved land, 260 acres of unimproved land, a cash value of $4,000, farm implements worth $300, farm animals worth $2,390, 68 slaves, 2,000 bushels of corn, and 73 bales of cotton. On June 9, 1870, John Branch's heirs sold Live Oak, now at only 1,250 acres, to Howard S. Case of Columbia, Pennsylvania. This was historically noted as the last large purchase of Leon County plantation property to a northerner. In 1887 the Case family sold the plantation to Edmund Hugh Ronalds of Edinburgh, Scotland, a chemist and the eldest son of Dr Edmund Ronalds. Ronalds wintered at Live Oak and married Lisa Williams, daughter of Joseph John Williams of La Grange Plantation on November 21, 1891. In 1892 Lisa Williams Ronalds contracted and died from tuberculosis while in Scotland. Edmund Hugh died on March 17, 1895. Live Oak Plantation was now larger and its borders extended eastward to Lake Hall, Lake Overstreet, and Lake Elizabeth. Dr. Tennent Ronalds, a fellow of the Edinburgh Obstetrical Society, inherited Live Oak upon his brother's death. A keen sportsman, he spent his time enjoying hunting, fishing, and golf. By 1903 Live Oak boasted a private golf course with a flock of sheep for maintenance of greens and fairways. Live Oak was also extended to 3,226 acres (1,306 ha) and had the first tung tree orchard in Florida. In 1903 an additional 2,246 acres (909 ha) were leased from Ellen Call Long's Orchard Pond Plantation for use in hunting. In 1915 and 1916 Tennent Ronalds purchased Orchard Pond from the Long and Call families. Ronalds also purchased the James Kirksey Plantation. Tennent Ronalds committed suicide on February 24, 1924. In 1925, Live Oak was only 2,915 acres (1,180 ha). That year, it was purchased by Herman C. Fleitman of Stamford, Connecticut. In 1934, it was sold again to Leon T. Cheek of Jacksonville, Florida. Cheeks was a member of a well-to-do family from Nashville, Tennessee owning Cheek and Neal Coffee which became Maxwell House. In 1948, Live Oak was sold to A. M. Middlebrooks. The plantation is no longer, having become the neighborhoods in and around Live Oak Plantation Road and including Middlebrooks Circle.

• 1948

  Live Oak is sold to A. M. Middlebrooks; the plantation later becomes residential neighborhoods.

• 1934

  Live Oak is sold to Leon T. Cheek of Jacksonville, Florida.

• 1925

  Live Oak is purchased by Herman C. Fleitman of Stamford, Connecticut.

• 1924

  Tennent Ronalds commits suicide.

• 1915

  Tennent Ronalds purchases Orchard Pond from the Long and Call families.

• 1903

  Live Oak has a private golf course and the first tung tree orchard in Florida; additional land leased from Orchard Pond Plantation.

• 1895

  Edmund Hugh Ronalds dies; Dr. Tennent Ronalds inherits Live Oak.

• 1887

  The Case family sells the plantation to Edmund Hugh Ronalds of Edinburgh, Scotland.

• 1870

  John Branch's heirs sell Live Oak to Howard S. Case of Columbia, Pennsylvania.

• 1860

  Leon County Agricultural Census records 68 enslaved people, 2,000 bushels of corn, and 73 bales of cotton at Live Oak.

• 1832

  John Branch arrives in Florida and establishes Live Oak Plantation.

Product categories. cotton · corn

1. 1Live Oak Plantation - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Live Oak Plantation, Florida - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org