Grinding Sugar Cane by Bettye Reagan
Dublin Core
Title
Grinding Sugar Cane by Bettye Reagan
Alternative Title
Grinding Sugar Cane by Bettye Reagan
Subject
Oviedo (Fla.)
Sugar--United States
Painting--Florida
Art--Southern States
Description
A painting by Bettye Reagan, a local artist in Central Florida, depicting farmworkers grinding sugarcane at the Wheeler family farm. The Wheelers lived at 340 South Lake Jessup Avenue in Oviedo, Florida. The family patriarch, Benjamin Franklin Wheeler, Sr. (1878-1954), was born in Dade City on January 2, 1878. After his father passed away in 1889, his family relocated to his mother's hometown in Oviedo. At age 16, Wheeler began working as a telegraph operator for the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) Railroad. In 1898, he purchased a seedling citrus grove that had been abandoned during the Freeze of 1894-1985. Wheeler soon became a successful citrus grower and celery cultivator.
Wheeler married George Lee Wheeler in 1908 and the couple later had three children: Clara Lee Wheeler Evans (1917-2010); Benjamin Franklin Wheeler, Jr. (1920-2006); and Miriam Louise Wheeler (b. 1922). In 1908, Wheeler partnered with C .F. Brannon and Steen Nelson to operate the Nelson Brothers packinghouse. In 1923, Wheeler purchased the company and renamed it Nelson & Company, Inc. Wheeler also served on the Seminole County Commission and the Oviedo City Council. He was also seminal in organizing the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Citrus Mutual, and the Citizens Bank of Oviedo.
Wheeler married George Lee Wheeler in 1908 and the couple later had three children: Clara Lee Wheeler Evans (1917-2010); Benjamin Franklin Wheeler, Jr. (1920-2006); and Miriam Louise Wheeler (b. 1922). In 1908, Wheeler partnered with C .F. Brannon and Steen Nelson to operate the Nelson Brothers packinghouse. In 1923, Wheeler purchased the company and renamed it Nelson & Company, Inc. Wheeler also served on the Seminole County Commission and the Oviedo City Council. He was also seminal in organizing the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Citrus Mutual, and the Citizens Bank of Oviedo.
Creator
Reagan, Bettye Jean Aulin
Source
Original painting: Reagan, Bettye. Grinding Sugar Cane. 1994: Private Collection of Bettye Reagan.
Date Created
1994
Date Copyrighted
1994
Contributor
Reagan, Bettye Jean Aulin
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original painting: Reagan, Bettye. Grinding Sugar Cane. 1994.
Is Part Of
Oviedo Historical Society Collection, Oviedo Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
149 KB
Medium
1 painting
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Oviedo, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Economics Teacher
Geography Teacher
Humanities Teacher
Visual Arts Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Bettye Reagan.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by Bettye Reagan and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Curator
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
Private Collection of Bettye Reagan
External Reference
"Benjamin Franklin Wheeler (1878-1954)." Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. http://floridacitrushalloffame.com/index.php/inductees/inductee-name/?ref_cID=89&bID=0&dd_asId=1088.
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1 painting
Collection
Citation
Reagan, Bettye Jean Aulin, “Grinding Sugar Cane by Bettye Reagan,” RICHES, accessed May 11, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/6968.