Personal Check from Edwin G. Eastman Paid to Self (June 8, 1871)

Personal Check from Edwin G. Eastman Paid to Self (June 8, 1871)

Check from Eastman to Self

Sanford (Fla.)

Sanford, Henry S. (Henry Shelton), 1823-1891

This is a check written on June 8, 1871 by Edwin G. Eastman, made payable to himself in the amount of $100.00, likely related to a transaction involving Belair Grove. Eastman was an associate of Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891). The two initially met through their mutual service in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps during the American Civil War. Eastman served as an advisor and representative to Sanford for a brief period between 1870 and 1871. Eastman oversaw operations in the what would become Sanford, Florida, beginning in December 1870. He was put in charge by Henry Sanford to ensure the successful management of the sawmill built in 1870, He was also tasked with maintaining the various experimental groves owned by Sanford, first St. Gertrude's Grove and later Belair Grove.

The more successful of the two, Belair Grove, was an experimental grove located three miles southwest of the city named after Sanford. It was part of the Sanford Grant, a 12,547.15-square-acre allotment of land purchased by Henry Sanford in 1870. In Belair, Sanford introduced over 140 varieties of citrus plants. All were tested to determine if Florida citrus growers could effectively grow and introduce new varieties into the burgeoning citrus market. Sanford also grew exotic plants acquired from Central and South America, many of which survived the 1886 freeze. Sanford mainly used Belair as his own experiment station, but ultimately the findings and reports would be used by other citrus growers throughout Florida. Eventually, following Sanford's death in 1891, his wife, Gertrude Ellen Dupuy Sanford (1841-1902), handed over the operations of Belair to Sydney Octacius Chase, Sr. (1860-1941) and Joshua Coffin Chase (1858-1948).

Eastman, Edwin G.

Original check from Edwin G. Eastman to Self, June 8, 1871: box 45, folder 1, subfolder 45.1.22, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.

1871-06-08

Digital reproduction of original check from Edwin G. Eastman, June 8, 1871.

Box 45, folder 1, Henry Shelton Sanford Papers, General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.

Henry Shelton Sanford Papers Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

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1 handwritten check

eng

Text

Jacksonville, Florida

Belair Grove, Lake Mary, Florida

Donation

History Teacher

Economics Teacher

Originally created by Edwin G. Eastman.

Donated to the Connecticut Historical Society after 1901.

Loaned to the Tennessee State Library and Archives for processing until June 1, 1960.

Donated to the General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum in 1960.

The displayed collection item is housed at the General Henry S. Sanford Memorial Library, Sanford Museum in Sanford, 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 the Sanford Museum to display this item for educational purposes only.

Fedorka, Drew M.

Fry, Joseph A. Henry S. Sanford: Diplomacy and Business in Nineteenth-Century America. Reno, NV: University of Nevada Press, 1982.

Westgate, Philip J., and R. Bruce Ledin. "Belair Groves, Sanford, Pioneer in Sub-Tropical Horticultural Introductions." Florida State Horticultural Society 66 (1953): 184-187.

1 handwritten check