Ella Wall

Ella Wall was an entrepreneur and businesswoman of Apopka who served as the inspiration for a character in Zora Neale Hurston's novel Mules and Men. Wall was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1874 and moved to Apopka as a widow. Throughout her lifetime, Wall purchased four parcels of land. She operated an orange grove and also constructed small wooden buildings that she rented out to migrant workers. Wall was also a friend of Michael Gladden, Jr., the executor of the George W. Oden estates, until her death in 1938.

To the right is the quit-claim deed certifying the transfer of land from J.D. Beggs, Leila S. Beggs, Annie E. Beggs, Laura B. Casey, and T.L. Casey to Ella Wall on May 22, 1928. The property transferred was Lot 27 Block J in the Town of Apopka, Florida for $38.28. The document was notarized by Ruth W. McClure on May 24, 1928. The deed was certified by Bill Robinson, clerk of the Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Orange County, Florida, on June 1, 1928. Wall had previously purchased the north half of the north half of Lot 27 Block J from A. M. and Julia A. Starbird in 1924.

Property warranty deed on the left is certifying the transfer of land from A. M. and Julia A. Starbird to Ella Wall on January 26, 1924. The property transferred was the north half of the north half of Lot 27 Block J in the Town of Apopka, Florida. The deed was certified by the Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Orange County, Florida on December 8, 1924. Wall had later purchased the rest of Lot 27 Block J in 1928. The deed was notarized by W. G. Talton and witnessed by R. M. Moore. 

On the right is the property warranty deed certifying the transfer of land from A. M. and Julia A. Starbird to Ella Wall on January 26, 1924. The property transferred was the north half of the north half of Lot 27 Block J in the Town of Apopka, Florida. The deed was certified by the Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Orange County, Florida on December 8, 1924. Wall had later purchased the rest of Lot 27 Block J in 1928. The deed was notarized by W. G. Talton and witnessed by R. M. Moore.