Farming

Farming was an important business for the Central Florida area.  Even when African-American farmers owned their own land they often needed a loan in order to purchase seed or equipment for the farm. In this case, the farmer mortgaged his mule in order to get the money he needed. The need for small loans reflects the difficult economic and social constraints under which African Americans operated their businesses.

The chattel mortgage property deed to the right is for a black mule named Kate. Kate was mortgaged by George W. Oden to W.W. Carpenter for twenty-five dollars on June 20, 1911. 

George W. Oden (1862-1939) was a successful African-American businessman and citrus grower in Apopka, Florida. Born in Sylacauga, Alabama, Oden moved to Apopka, Florida by 1902. He owned four businesses and five parcels of land, where he grew citrus. In 1933, Oden donated land for the construction of the Pleasant View Baptist Church, located at 1202 South Central Avenue. Oden was also the recipient of the City of Apopka's Fifty Years in Business Award.

The image to the left is the inventory from one of the citrus groves owned by George W. Oden (1862-1939), a successful businessman and citrus grower in Apopka, Florida.