African-American Laborer at DeForest Grove

African-American Laborer at DeForest Grove

DeForest Grove

Sanford (Fla.)

Citrus--Florida

Agriculture--Florida

An African-American agricultural laborer at DeForest Grove, sometime between 1895 and 1905. Henry L. DeForest (1857-1902) was born in Derby, Connecticut, and knew Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891) since childhood. In 1870, DeForest came to Florida seeking better health in the warmer climate. He became Sanford's agent and helped carry out the work of establishing Sanford. He managed the contracted workers for Sanford's groves, especially the contracted Swedes that Sanford brought over in 1871. By the 1880s, he had married Anna M. Sperry, also from Derby, and had become an established businessman and grove owner in Sanford. He built his general store in 1887, which was the second oldest brick building in Downtown Sanford. His general store was the building where the historic September 1887 fire stopped. DeForest built other commercial buildings in downtown. His home, known as "The Palms," was located at 105 Aldean Drive and still stands today.

Original 7.25 x 4.25 inch black and white photograph: Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.

Ensminger Brothers Photography

ca. 1895-1905

Digital reproduction of 7.25 x 4.25 inch original black and white photograph.

Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.

Henry L. DeForest Collection, Sanford Collection,, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

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192 KB

7.25 x 4.25 inch black and white photographic print

eng

Still Image

DeForest Grove, Sanford, Florida

Donation

History Teacher

Economics Teacher

Geography Teacher

Originally published by Ensminger Brothers Photography.

Copyright to this resource is held by the Sanford Museum and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.

Hazen, Kendra

Cepero, Laura

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

Molloy, Leo T. Henry Shelton Sanford: (1823-1891). Derby, Connecticut: Valley Historical Research Committee, 2009.

Sanford Historical Society (Fla.). Sanford. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2003.

Ensminger
SANFORD, FLA.

1 black and white photograph

7.25 x 4.25 inches