Orchard Pond Plantation was a large cotton plantation originally of 8754 acres, (35+1⁄2 km2) developed and owned in the 19th century by Richard Keith Call, attorney, planter and future Territorial Governor, in what is now northwestern Leon County, Florida, United States. In 1860 he owned 118 slaves to work the 1300 acres of improved land.
It was one of two plantations which Call owned in Leon County. His descendants owned these properties into the 20th century.
The exact boundaries of Orchard Pond Plantation are not available. Orchard Pond lay between Lake Jackson and the Ochlockonee River to the west. The land is bisected east to west by Orchard Pond Road, a rural county dirt road, that in 2016 was replaced by the Orchard Pond Parkway. [1]
The Leon County Florida 1860 Agricultural Census shows that Orchard Pond Plantation had the following:
According to data in the United States Census of 1860, Richard Keith Call was the third-largest slaveholder in Leon County. [2] His Orchard Pond Plantation eventually was reduced in size to 2644 acres (11 km²). Call transferred his other plantation, The Grove in Tallahassee, to his daughter. Call began to concentrate on agricultural experiments such as Florida hemp and livestock improvements.
Richard Keith Call was born October 24, 1792, in Tennessee. Call became a friend and assistant of General Andrew Jackson and accompanied him to Florida. His capital was made by speculation in the land office and he promoted land in Leon County to northerners. He developed two plantations in the county, one of nearly 9,000 acres, and the other, The Grove, of one square mile.
Call, a Democrat, was appointed as Governor of the Florida Territory from 1836 to 1839. He later became a Whig and was appointed as governor again by the winning presidential candidate. His property later passed to Call's daughter Ellen Call Long, who owned it until 1903; that year her granddaughter Reinette Long Hunt purchased the Orchard Pond property along with The Grove. Hunt would later sell the property to Dr. Tennent Ronalds, the only surviving son of Dr. Edmund Ronalds and an obstetrician. [3] A keen sportsman, he took an active interest in developing a quail hunting operation.
Orchard Pond was purchased by John H. Phipps, who later used it for his residence. Upon his death it became combined homes and interests of Colin Phipps and his grandson John E. Phipps, who was given 2,100 acres (8.5 km2) on Ox Bottom Road. [4]
Orchard Pond is currently owned by Ayavalla Land Company. [5] It contains some of the most diverse wetlands in the Red Hills Region, with flowing streams, isolated lakes, and river floodplain and swamps.
Various views of Orchard Pond's plantation house, a 2-story brick home with 8 support columns, 4 for each floor.
Richard Keith Call was an American attorney, politician, and slave owner who served as the 3rd and 5th territorial governor of Florida. Before that, he was elected to the Florida Territorial Council and as a delegate to the U.S. Congress from Florida. In the mid-1830s, he developed two plantations in Leon County, Florida, one of which was several thousand acres in size. In 1860 he held more than 120 slaves and was the third-largest slaveholder in the county.
Woodlawn was a large plantation of 2,503 acres (1,013 ha) located in northern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Dr. Griffin Holland in 1834. Holland was married in 1839 to Margaret Whitaker.
Burgesstown Plantation was a large forced-labor farm of 8,100 acres (3,300 ha) in northern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Frederich R. Cotten between 1850 and 1855. Cotten used the forced labor of enslaved people to work his land, which was primarily devoted to growing cotton as a cash crop.
The James A. Kirksey Plantation was a moderate plantation of 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) located in northwestern Leon County, Florida, United States, established by James A. Kirksey. In 1847 he served as mayor of Tallahassee. He had a large number of slaves.
Blakely Plantation was a forced-labor farm of 900 acres (360 ha) located in extreme northeast Leon County, Florida. In 1850, the farm included 800 acres worked by 51 enslaved people.
Chemonie Plantation was a forced-labor farm of 1,840 acres (740 ha) in northern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Hector Braden. By 1860, 64 enslaved people worked the land, which was primarily used to produce cotton as a cash crop.
The William Bailey Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 2510 acres (10 km2) located in central Leon County, Florida, United States established by William Bailey.
La Grange Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 4,150 acres (1,680 ha) located in central Leon County, Florida, United States established by Joseph John Williams.
Evergreen Hills Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 6700 acres (27 km2) located in eastern Leon County, Florida, United States established by Green H. Chaires.
Tuscawilla Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) located in eastern Leon County, Florida, United States established by George W. Parkhill.
Joseph Chaires Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 3,800 acres (1,500 ha) located in southern Leon County, Florida, United States owned by Joseph Chaires.
Southwood Plantation was a large cotton plantation of 5,000 acres (20 km2) located in southern Leon County, Florida, United States and owned by George Taliafero Ward.
The Francis Eppes Plantation was a cotton plantation of 1,920 acres (8 km2) situated in east-central Leon County, Florida, United States and established by Francis W. Eppes in 1829.
Ingleside Plantation was a forced-labor farm of 2,620 acres (1,060 ha) located in extreme northeast Leon County, Florida and established by Robert W. Alston and his family. Eventually, the property was acquired by Joel C. Blake. In 1860, Blake was enslaving 116 people to work his land, which was mostly devoted to producing cotton as a cash crop.
Live Oak Plantation was originally a small cotton plantation of 1,560 acres (630 ha) located in central Leon County, Florida, United States established by John Branch who arrived in Florida in 1832 and served as Florida Territorial Governor while living at Live Oak for 15 years.
The William D. Bloxham Plantation was a small cotton plantation of 1,400 acres (5.7 km2) located southwest of Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, United States, established by William D. Bloxham.
The George W. Scott Plantation was a 1036-acre (4 km2) cotton plantation in central Leon County, Florida, United States established by George Washington Scott in 1852 and located 2 miles (3 km) south of Tallahassee.
Barrow Hill Plantation was a large forced-labor farm of 3,990 acres (1,610 ha) located in central Leon County, Florida, United States. It was established by John S. Winthrop, who by 1860 enslaved 71 people to work his land, which was primarily dedicated to growing cotton as a cash crop.
Waverly Plantation was a large cotton plantation of unknown size, located in southern Leon County, Florida, United States, owned by George Taliaferro Ward.
Ayavalla Plantation was a quail hunting plantation located in northwest Leon County, Florida, established by John Henry Howard Phipps, son of John Shaffer Phipps of the prominent Phipps family.