20 letters, 120 pages, most with their original mailing envelopes, in very good, clean, and legible condition. Accompanied by Powell’s courtship letters to his fiancé, and future wife, Kittie A. Emmons, of Binghamton, New York, 78 letters, 569 pages.
Powell
was a traveling salesman, selling, pens, ink, and other stationery items, for
A. S. Barnes & Co. of New York, when he found himself in DeLand, Florida in
the winter and spring months of 1890, here he made the acquaintance of Henry
Addison DeLand, the founder of the town. DeLand was impressed with Powell’s
business abilities and for several months dangled potential employment as his
secretary, as an agent selling lots in DeLand, or as an overseer in his orange
groves before him. A deal was nearly consummated when a spring freeze in 1890
nearly obliterated the citrus crop and blighted the real estate prospects of
DeLand. Powell left DeLand but was back in 1891 working for DeLand.
Known as Persimmon Hollow for the
wild persimmon trees that grew around the natural springs, (these wild
persimmons are mentioned in the correspondence) the area of DeLand was
originally accessible only by steamboat up the St. Johns River. DeLand is now
the county seat of Volusia County, approximately 34 miles north of Orlando and
23 miles west of Daytona Beach. It was settled in 1874 by Captain John Rich,
who built a log cabin there. Henry Addison DeLand, a baking soda magnate, from
Fairport, New York, visited there in 1876, and envisioned building a citrus,
agricultural and tourism center on the site. He bought land that year and
founded the town, naming it after himself. DeLand never lived there year-round,
spending the winter months in Florida and the summer months in New York
attending to his business there. He hired people most of whom, like Powell,
came from upstate New York to clear land, lay out streets and lots, erect buildings,
and recruit settlers. One source states that DeLand was wiped out by a similarly
devastating frost in 1885 and abandoned DeLand at that time, however, as the
present correspondence shows he was still very much active in promoting the
town, and fully engaged in the real estate and citrus business in the 1890s.
Sample Quotes:
“DeLand Fla. Jany. 31st
1890
My
dear wife,
… I spent a couple of days trying to make
arrangements in Sanford, but could not do so without going contrary to Hawkes
orders, i.e. sell the outfits to a dealer. I made my plan with the knowledge of
the mayor and marshal and another stationer submitted the plan to Barnes and
Co. received my answer today approving of the plan and winding up with “rest
assured we shall stand by you as long as you obey your orders, no matter what
the results”. I will send you the letter dear after I am through with it at
Sanford. I want to show it to the mayor and others who have taken up for me I
could not allow myself to be driven out of town by such a person as if I was a
fraud – he wanted to quarrel with me when I told him that I could not sell him
the outfits – I had made up my mind at the outset not to wrangle with him, so I
told him that as we were both gentlemen we could not have any words about it,
if the law was against me I could gracefully submit, for I was there neither to
quarrel or break any of the laws, he cooled down at once we had a little talk I
bade him goodbye and have not seen him since. I have an order from A.S. Barnes
and Co. to deliver outfits to Mr. Cohen. Mr. Cohen has all his licenses. Mr.
Cohen will either sell the outfits himself or send his agent out to do so. I
shall remain in Mr. Cohen’s store to direct, instruct and give necessary
information to Mr. C. and his agent. I shall not sell or offer for sale an
outfit or box of pens in Sanford, and I hope to get rid of 40 or 50 outfits
there. I received notice today that the 100 ordered for there – here and
Orlando, have arrived. I shall leave here on the first train on Monday morning
and stay there till the business is closed up. I shall probably send 55 up here
I have met with better success here than I expected I shall finish up here
tomorrow. I had much rather stay here over Sunday than in Sanford I came here
sooner than I should if all had been well in S. but the result will be the same
I shall have to adopt the same plan in Orlando as in Sanford – if I go there –
as they are both in the same county, and I am going to keep my eyes open and
not let this man get the start of me. … What would A.S.B. and Co. think of me
if I gave up my route and turned back without consulting them because a man threatened
me with arrest if I sold their goods – to others beside himself as it would
interfere with his business. … I have been busy here working, visiting, and
seeing the place and its surroundings – the more I see of it the better I like
it. It is the nearest like a northern place of any I have seen yet as all the
business men are from the north – no crackers here – I have made a number of
pleasant acquaintances I have been offered a partnership in a real estate
business today shall see Mr. DeLand and talk with him about it tomorrow. …
Harry”
“Sanford Fla. Thursday
Feby. 6/90
My
darling,
… I have already written you all about the
offer I had what Mr. DeLand said etc. etc. and I shall not know anything more
about it until I see them again which will be very soon. I think now I will go
there tomorrow and stay over Sunday and deliver my goods which I have shipper
there already. I think Mr. DeLand will fix it so that I will go there. I wish
you were here now darling – it would not take us long to decide the matter if
you liked the place as well as I do. I should not expect you to stay here in
the hot weather even in the event of me going into business there I should be
delighted if you were only here. … Harry”
“DeLand
Fla. Saturday Night Feby 8/90
My
dear wife,
… I went to see Mr. DeLand by appointment
this evening – he is not ready to say definitely what work he will give me to
do provided I go in with Cook … but he said if I could not wait until the last
of this coming week for a definite proposition from him he would give us as
much work as he gave anyone else – four parties are now doing his work May and
Hibbard the major part of it he is much displeased with them at the way they
have treated him this week – they promised to commence setting trees on a
certain piece on Monday – they did not begin until Thursday – the rain has come
on and very little of the grove set. He thinks seriously of putting all his
work in one firms hands and we can get it I think if we can furnish horses to
do the work he said if understand it as well as I would after a years
experience that he would furnish everything and give me a good salary to attend
to and oversee it for him … I think he means to make us some kind of a
proposition the coming week his work is a good revenue if we do nothing else –
I secured the caring for in setting out of a hundred trees to replace that
number which had died of 5 acres of grove … there is a good deal more to this
attending to groves than one would think at first sight. To illustrate a man
buys 5 acres that has to be cleared, set out, cared for, each year and when it
comes into baring the fruit has to be picked boxed and shipped according to the
owners Cook says he packed and shipped 5m boxes last winter – so you see there
is lots to see to and lots of work to have done the point is to have it well
and satisfactorily done and make a profit out of it. Many of the people who
have nice groves here and elsewhere have made them by caring for others groves
– I thought it was much better to let Mr. DeLand work out his plan in his own
way and not hurry him … I told Cook that I was willing to oversee but did not
propose or expect to any of the manual labor he replied that my work would be
in the office or showing people lands that we had for sale except perhaps on
extraordinary occasions to look after grove work for a short time if he was
sick or had to be away etc. … The people here are all northern people and this
is the paradise of Florida in point of health if Rice does not take the lot
next to ours … we will have one and a half acres land enough to grow every kind
od fruit and vegetables I have no desire to own a large grove now that I am
getting posted a little ground set with the choicest varieties of all the
fruits grapes etc. and one can not ask for more … Harry”
“DeLand
Fla. Feby 13th 1890
My
darling wife,
… I cannot tell how it will come out
DeLand is with and for me – his work is my inducement for an established
man to take me into the business and we may not come to terms even if I can
secure DeLand’s contracts but you see I can’t dictate terms until Mr. DL
decides. I think with what assistance I could get from Mr. DeLand that I could
get a good living out of R.E. business alone and if Cook and I can’t make a
deal I shall try Mr. DL for a salary and if that will not work then think of
the RE business on my own account provided he will give me a com. and the
privilege of selling any land for property he may have to sell … Harry”
“DeLand Sunday Feby 16th/90
Darling,
… Yesterday was a busy day here and kept
us all busy. I was in the swim with the rest of the DeLand people, there were
about 300 out of the 400 excursioners here, the balance stopped in Jax – St.
Aug. and other places by the way all getting back to Jax at 8:30 to resume
their journey – it was the intention to run the train to Sanford from there to
Tampa, and they were ready for them all the way, here they changed their plan –
returned to Jax and started from there for Pensacola on their way to New Orleans,
where they will be in time for the Mardi Gras. Sanford, Orlando and Tampa
people will be disgusted as arrangements had been made at each of those places
to entertain them. The people here scored a point and the crowd said this was
the first place they had sat down to square meal since they started and I heard
several say they listed DL better than any place they had seen in the south –
as I said before I was pressed into service and did duty as a citizen of the
place. The RE business is not settled yet and will not be until I get back from
Sanford, there is lots and I do not propose to start wrong. If I can’t start
right, I will not go into it at all. … I shall see Mr. DL in the morning and
have a plain talk then see Cook or write him if he is away and go to Sanford
and close up business there in my interview with Mr. DL (whom I shall in future
in writing allude to as H.A.) will determine whether I go to Orlando and Tampa
before seeing him again or whether he will have his proposition ready for the
time I am closed up at S. …
I now will write you all there is to the
RE business as fast as I get it myself but H.A. is rushed from morning to night
and I have done the best I could to expedite matters without seeming to hurry
him as I do not want to risk offending him, that is the reason I did not go
last Friday to Sanford, he asked it as a favor to stay and help him, three of
the party asked my address and wanted to know if I would answer letters from
them in regard to purchases here. … Harry”
“Orlando
Fla. Feby 25th 1890
My
darling wife,
… Perhaps you would think I had better
give up the business – return to DL – decide definitely on business in DL and
if I could not make arrangements satisfactory to me, go home, you will have
time to tell me what you think best before I am ready to leave here. There are
several phases to the DeLand business – if I can get the situation with H.A. in
Reynolds’ place I should have to accept board wages until Reynolds’ was through
in May. If I went into the RE business with Cook I would have to stay till the
first or middle of May – then I could go home till fall, if I went in with Cook
in R.E. and also in the caring for groves I would have to stall till October
1st and perhaps later. … Harry”
“DeLand
March 4th 1890
My
darling,
… We have had some very severe weather
here for the last three days mercury at 27˚ the vegetables all frozen, so far
it has done no harm to the orange crop. I saw DeLand yesterday told him what
Reynolds said he had heard nothing of it and was sure of a change he seemed to
want to keep a man when he gets used to him I saw him again this morning he
wanted to know how much salary I would want etc. I did not set a figure but
told him he could judge better what I would be worth after I had shown him that
I could do the work required he seems disinclined to tie me up to office work
as he has an idea that I can help him make sales if I am out around he offered
to pay my expenses if I would go to St. Aug. for a few days and advertise
DeLand and Lake Helen and if I induced anyone to come and they made any
purchases of him he would give me the full commission on the purchase i.e. 5%.
I told him I would rather have the situation, then he could send me where he
liked. I asked him for grove work cause that would give me some viable means of
support. I told him I was going to decide at once as to what I was going to do
as I had been keeping you on uncertainties for a long time and that I must know
at once. Cook will be here this p.m. we will see DeLand once more together and
know whether we are to have grove work or not. I spent yesterday and last eve
until bedtime with a man who has 5 acres which he has put into my hands to
sell. I showed DL my plan for dividing the piece into lots he was pleased with
it and will cut up three pieces of his and give me the sale of them. I also
took a 5 acre grove to sell this a.m. it belonged to a lady in Mich. she is
dead and it must be sold to close the estate. I am going out 1 ¾ to look at it as soon as Cook comes in with the
horse. I have picked up about 20 pieces to sell already 2 houses several lots
in the city, one store, several orange groves – there is no lack of property to
handle – buyers are in demand however. Sargent the RE man has sold several
thousand dollars worth in the last few months and is doing a very paying
business. The selling of a block of cheap lots will advertise a concern
wonderfully as soon as Cook comes we are going to see the lady who owns 15
acres next to the 5 acres which I have plotted and get her to put hers in that
will give us 520 lots all within 5 minutes walk of the P.O. Cook is very
anxious for me to go into the R.E. with him and later if there is grove work
which we can get to go into that too but I can’t decide until I see H.A.
tonight. I think however that there is a good living for me in the R.E.
business although I can’t expect great returns at once. … I am sure I could
with H.A.’s assistance do well here in the R.E. business – he will give me a
commission on all he has to sell – some would not want a better chance than
that. … Harry “
“DeLand March 7th
1890
My
darling,
Another day has come and I am obliged to
repeat the chestnut that H.A. has not disclosed his plan in fact he went away
immediately after telling me not to bind myself in any way until today when he
would see me I have just returned from his office and he has not yet returned
although expected back this morning, in the mean time I have been very busy,
have now 20 acres marked out in city lots we have had to measure and divide
them up and then get a rough plan on paper all which I have done. I have also
had a Chicago man out to see an orange grove he seemed pleased with the grove
and the price but I make no account of anything until the deal is closed up. I
sold a lot yesterday and made $5 on it – another party had it to sell and he is
to give me half the commission which is $10 in all. If I can sell the grove we
will make at least $150 on it too good to come true still there is a
possibility after supper I am going to H.A.’s office and will see him tonight
if he returns before bed … Well darling I am back in H.A.’s office he sent word
that he could not be back until morning when I shall see him and send the news
such as it may be in this letter I am as much put as by this waiting as you can
possibly be dear but I have done my very best … I sometimes think that H.A. has
a notion to pay me a salary – furnish me hands that understand the business and
have me oversee them. I hope his plan will eventuate in something that will pay
me well and keep me out of doors a good part of the time, I feel so strong and
well now that I should hate to risk the confinement of an office provided I
could do as well or better in some out of doors occupation. … Mrs. Gage must be
losing her mind to think you would board her it would take all your time and
then she would not be satisfied what has become of her friends the Barbours I
believe Mrs. B does not like her however you are right dear the women is crazy
and does not know what she wants. I read something of the gathering in
Washington they had trouble when they were there before Mrs. G. does not get on
with the temperance or Christian Women’s rights women at all, she is opposed to
anything that that class of women want to forward, she is in favor of a married
couple changing of if someone suites them better and she has no respect fort
Christians as such Christianity or the Sabbath she would be and is termed an
immoral women and I am told that one of the leaders, Mrs. Stanton I think is
going to withdraw herself from them and take up her residence in England with
her daughter – with anyone who Mrs. G. had influence with I think her society
would be prejudicial … Mr. DeLand’s wife is in the asylum it became known to
the people here as proceedings had to be instituted in the courts and her
brother appointed to sign her name so as to make the many transfers of land
legal. DeLand’s life is any but a pleasant one with all his wealth and landed
possessions – his wife in an asylum and his son an invalid who had to give up
his collegiate course on account of his health – who is not well enough to
assist his father in any way in business. H.A. worships him … the general
impression is here that consumption has claimed him as a victim and that his
days are numbered he is stopping at Lake Helen and appeared to me to be very
feeble … Harry”
“DeLand Fla. March 10th
1890
My
darling,
I had seen H.A. for a few minutes and he
said I would have to wait two or three days longer that he had a big deal in
hand that was requiring all his attention and he thought he would perfect the
arrangement of the sale within that time – he said he had had a short talk with
Reynolds who had told him that he would not take his wife north again as she
had had a stroke of paralysis he could not go north and leave her. The secretarys
services are as much required in Fairport = near Rochester as here and
is on duty year round sometimes there is a great deal to do at other times very
little. I think but do not know that Reynolds is going into partnership with
Mr. Sargent the real estate agent here. Sargent and DeLand do not get on
together and the combination of R. and Sargent would know all about DL’s and
their own business too. Reynolds has a house and lot beside a 5 acre grove for
all of which he may thank H.A. but that would make no difference if he could
still better his condition even at H.A’s expense – so goes the world. H.A. will
have another talk with Reynolds as soon as he can spare the [time] which he is
spending at the cost – Lake Helen and other places to which he goes with the
party or parties with whom he is making the deal – he intimated to me that it
was a 50 thousand dollar deal quite a little trade and I do not wonder that he
does not attend to anything else for the present he said he had already lost a
large sale recently by not attending to it closely and personally. I am better
satisfied now that I have a notion that he is at least going to try me as
secretary. I know I can please him after I learn the ins and outs of the
business … I suppose there must be a great deal of suffering among the poor
people now – what a blessing the warm open winter has been to them though.
Clara Barton is raising money for the destitute and starving people of Kansas.
I hope Frank Baum will be remembered. I guess they are poor enough by this
time, I certainly should not have been so well and able to work if I had stayed
at home and if I get the situation with Mr. DeLand, I shall always think there
was a providence in my coming … Harry”
“DeLand
Fla. March 12th 1890
My
darling,
… I was waiting with about a dozen others
for H.A.’s arrival today – he said watch out and do the best you can (meaning
for me to look out for strangers to whom property might be sold) make yourself
useful and ornamental = matters will be as you wanted them to be – then
somebody caught him and I did not get any talk with him as he returned
immediately to Lake Helen. I inferred from what he said that he was going to
give me the secretary ship, such being the case I can afford to wait a few days
longer. In the meantime I am not idle but working up the real estate business.
I had a party looking at this house yesterday and today, price $7000 the party
looking was well satisfied of the place and price but as there is a partner who
also is to see it, so I make no calculations on it, and shall not on any deal
until the papers are signed, in Syracuse the com. is 2% here 5%. Yesterday we
got authority to sell any of the lands belonging to the J.S. and K.W. railway
they have thousands of acres some of it as low as $1.50 per acre, so you see we
are getting equipped for business independent of H.A. I settled the price of
the lots with the lady who owns the 15 acres making up the block of 20 acres
all of which I have platted into city lots with prices ranging from 40 to 100
dollars the understanding is that we are to have $10 on each lot sold when all
are sold if they ever are our part of it will be about $1000. If I go into H.A.
DeLand’s office Cook will either have to run it alone or get someone else to
help him, as I am going in for a sure thing if I can get it which I now have no
doubt of and it will just suit me too employment in the north in the summer and
here in the winter … Harry”
“DeLand
March 19/90
My
darling,
The frost has settled my business here I saw
Mr. DeLand and I think he is as blue a man I ever saw – this second freeze has
killed a great many of the young groves and the probability of the crop of
oranges will be very light although the old trees were not damaged as badly as
in the big freeze. I have come to the conclusion that I can’t make it pay to
stay here until May as I had intended as the people are going to the Indian
River St. Aug. and home – there are but few here now and they laugh at the idea
of property ever selling again here the country looks as if fire had run over
the trees, the loss to Florida will run up into the millions … I shall now go
to Tampa and from there probably to Ocala from there to Tallahassee and then I
think I will be through with the state and ready to go home, the last goods
they shipped me instead of sending in small boxes of one set each they sent 50
outfits in bulk i.e. put 50 bottles of ink in a box … I had a long talk with
DeLand today he wanted to delay a decision – Reynolds wants to have him let his
son Harlan do the writing at Fairport and he take charge of matters here so I
saw there was no certainty of a situation then as for the grove work if I took
that it would keep me here all summer and I would have to raise a lot of money
to buy mules plows cultivators and other tools a good pair of mules are worth
from 3 to 400 dollars, so I told D.L. I would not hang around here any longer –
he said he was sorry to have me go was sure he could arrange if he had time
etc. I told him I would keep him posted as my whereabouts there can be more
Florida property sold in the north than there could possibly be sold here – all
the R.E. men here are blue – the freeze may not have done as much damage as we
think but it has stopped any prospect of selling any property here for awhile …
Harry”
“DeLand
April 9th 1890
My
Darling
I returned last night from the phosphate
country – I wrote you that the parties who were going to take the land were
going to send a man with me to verify the samples & judge as to whether it
is a paying thing to work we went – dug
& found phosphates in quantity – but as this fellow is a lawyer I do not
know what he is going to report, we expect the samples here to day – we shipped
them by freight 100 pounds. If these people don’t take it I shall sell my
option to parties in Sanford. I have a good thing and I shall hang on to it for
all I can get out of it so I may not be able to start North until next week… I
shall wind it up and start for Geo. As soon as I possibly can. I sold the South
Florida Railroad $ 58.50 worth of ink yesterday – comn $ 19.50… H”
“DeLand
April 10th, 1890
My
Darling,
… my phosphates arrived this afternoon
& in the morning I will know whether these people take the option or not –
if not I think now I will transfer it to a party here and let him try & see
how much he can get out of it if anything & divide. The truth of the
business is that South Florida is a solid phosphate bed – and that that is near
the surface will sell for working at the present time – mine is rather deep –
although a very rich deposit. The option cost me nothing so I will not be out
any if I do not find a buyer as far as staying and wasting time on it is
concerned I would not think of such a thing… somehow the prospect of making
some money out of my option has seemed of so little a/c for the last week – I
had to return to Bartow because I agreed to – but there has been no enthusiasm
in the matter… Harry”
“Opelika
Ala April 13th, 1890
My
Darling,
Here we are at this out of the way
place which does not think much of our chances … there are no tourists here or
in any of the places he has been in – this being entirely different from
Florida. – What I have seen of Georgia and Ala. I do not like as well as Fla.
They are entirely different the cities are larger both in Ga. & Ala. But
the country itself is not as attractive… Harry”
“DeLand
Feby 12, 1891
My
Darling Wife,
Does it seem to you dear that it is three months since I left home? It seems to me like three years and very unreal ones at that. Today has been a tiresome day and although I am perfectly well I am tired – lame and footsore. I have tramped & rode over the whole surrounding country within the last three days and business is not settled yet… DeLand has had Cook visit the different groves for estimates as to their care & he as a matter of course expected me to go with him I did not say once that I was tired from start to finish. I am really in hopes to perfect a satisfactory arrangement all round but as yet the final settlement has not been reached so I can give you no more definite information than I could three days ago. De Land will not tell me what he will give us to do – then Cook & I will make our bargain…Harry"