Letter from J. E. Bona to Joshua Coffin Chase (July 15, 1919)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from J. E. Bona to Joshua Coffin Chase (July 15, 1919)
Alternative Title
Chase Correspondence (July 15, 1919)
Subject
Windermere (Fla.)
Chase and Company (Sanford, Fla.)
Chase, Joshua Coffin, 1858-1948
Labor--Florida
Description
An original letter of correspondence between Joshua Coffin Chase and J. E. Bona. Topics discussed in the letter include a request for Chase to advance pay for a group of African-American laborers at Isleworth Grove so that they could leave via railroad, with the accompaniment of a Caucasian laborer.
Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Chase & Company was established by brothers Sydney Octavius Chase and Joshua Coffin Chase in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century. By 1886, the Chase brothers purchased several citrus groves to expand their business, including Isleworth Grove in Windermere, Florida. Isleworth Grove covered a total of 1,300 acres along the Butler Chain of Lakes. Between 1894 and 1895, Central Florida was hit by several freezes and most of the citrus crop was destroyed. Chase & Company did not grow citrus crops again until 1904 when Joshua came back from an extended stay in California. Between 1894 and 1900, different types of pesticide equipment was created, including equipment driven by steam, machines, and horses.Randall Chase joined in the family business soon after his brother, Sydney Chase, Jr., did in 1922. Randall became the president of Chase & Company from 1948-1965. The Isleworth property stayed in the Chase family until 1984 when Franklin Chase, the son of Sydney Chase, sold the property to famed golfer Arnold Palmer.
Creator
Chase, Joshua Coffin
Source
Original letter from J. E. Bona to Joshua Coffin Chase, July 15, 1919: box 49, folder 20.84, Chase Collection (MS 14), Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Date Created
1919-07-15
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original letter from J. E. Bona to Joshua Coffin Chase, July 15, 1919.
Is Part Of
Chase Collection (MS 14), box 49, folder 20.84, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Isleworth Collection, Citrus Collection, Chase Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Is Referenced By
Folder referenced in Chase Collection finding guide, http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/chase.htm.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
134 KB
Medium
1-page handwritten letter
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Powersville, Byron, Georgia
Chase & Company Office, Jacksonville, Florida
Isleworth Grove, Windermere, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Economics Teacher
Geography Teacher
Provenance
Entire Chase Collection is comprised of four separate accessions from various donors, including Cecilia Johnson, the granddaughter of Joshua Coffin Chase, and the children of Randall Chase.
Rights Holder
The displayed collection item is housed at Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Rights to this item belong to the said institution, and therefore inquiries about the item should be directed there. RICHES of Central Florida has obtained permission from Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida to display this item for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Special and Area Studies Collections, University of Florida
Digital Collections (UFDC), University of Florida
Curator
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
University of Florida, Special and Area Studies Collections
External Reference
"Joshua Coffin Chase (1858-1948)." Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Copyright 2012. http://floridacitrushalloffame.com/index.php/inductees/inductee-name/?ref_cID=89&bID=0&dd_asId=960.
Transcript
Advise [?] to consult [?] [?]
Powersville, Ga, 7/15 - 19
Mr. J. Chase,
Jacksonville, Fla.
Dear Sir-
Mr. S. O. Chase advised me to write you in regards to help for the Isleworth Grove. Will say that I have 4 or 5 negroes that have promised to go as soon as the Peach deal is over. I do not know whether they will have money to hay their way or not.
Would you want to advance them rail road fare if I can get a white man to go with them or not.
Yours very truly,
J.E. Bona
Copy yo Mr. S. O. Chase
Sanford, Fla.
Powersville, Ga, 7/15 - 19
Mr. J. Chase,
Jacksonville, Fla.
Dear Sir-
Mr. S. O. Chase advised me to write you in regards to help for the Isleworth Grove. Will say that I have 4 or 5 negroes that have promised to go as soon as the Peach deal is over. I do not know whether they will have money to hay their way or not.
Would you want to advance them rail road fare if I can get a white man to go with them or not.
Yours very truly,
J.E. Bona
Copy yo Mr. S. O. Chase
Sanford, Fla.
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1-page handwritten letter
Collection
Citation
Chase, Joshua Coffin, “Letter from J. E. Bona to Joshua Coffin Chase (July 15, 1919),” RICHES, accessed December 22, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2754.