[The Southern Business Directory and General Commercial Advertiser, Vol 1, Publ 1854]

Transcribed by Andrew Staton

State of Florida

The State of Florida has an area of 2,195,298 acres of land, of which in 1850 only 3,490.49 acres were brought into cultivation. At the same date her population was 48,135.

Florida has a mild and delightful climate. Her forests of timber, tropical fruits, fish and game, her fine gulf harbors, navigable rivers and beautiful lakes of water, together with the productions of Sugar, Cotton, Rice, &c., to which her soil and climate are so admirably adapted, must draw capital and produce great wealth in a few years. In addition to the navigation of her rivers, which connects her with the gulf trade, a Railroad is now in progress which will soon connect her with the South Atlantic cities and the cities of the North. The terminus of this Railroad at any one of her commodious harbors, will give her a city which must grow up in a few years to rival other Southern cities. There are as yet but few merchants in that State. The following is the best showing we can now make:

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Population, 1600; white 1000, colored 600. Taxable property valued at one million and forty-five thousand dollars. The largest portion of this value is estimated upon the property within the limits of the city of Apalachicola. The lands in this county not being valuable for agricultural purposes and as yet but sparsely settled.

Manufactures, none

Cotton Presses, three, one Hydraulic and two “Tyler” Steam Presses.

Churches, five, one Episcopal, one Catholic, one Baptist and two Methodist.

Schools, two, one District, in part free and supported by a tax on the county, 100 to 150 pupils. One private school, about 50 pupils.

Bank Agencies – Hiram W. Brooks, agent of Mechanic’s Bank of Augusta; Wm. G. Porter, agent of Augusta Insurance and Banking Company; Nathaniel J. Deblois, agent of Marine and Fire Insurance Company; Daniel K. Dodge, agent of the Bank of Georgetown; Thomas L. Mitchell, agent of the Union Bank of South Carolina; John C. Maclay, agent of the Bank of the State of Georgia; Samuel Cassin, agent of the Bank of Charleston.

Agencies of Insurance Offices, three. Daniel J. Day, agent for Ætna Insurance Company, and also for Protection Insurance Company; Wm. G. Porter & Co. agent for Augusta Insurance and Banking Company.

Insurance Agency – Henry R. Taylor, agent for Southern Mutual Insurance Company of Athens, Geo.

Four Auctioneers – Robert Myers, Peter Hobart, Jas. J. Griffin, Thomas Shea.

Three Notaries – Thomas J. Epps, Samuel Benozel, George Brockenbrough.

Commission Merchants – Pratt & McKenzie, Wood & Ballou, N. J. Deblois, Nourse & Brooks, Sims & Cheiver, Wm. H. Younge & Co., John C. Malcay & Co., David G. Raney, Benjamin Ellison, Samuel Cassin, Harper & Holmes, Saml. H. Hartshorn, Benjamin Salter, E. P. Butts, J. N. Cumming, Charles Rogers, & Co., Wm. G. Porter & Co., Henry R. Taylor, Jeremiah Day & Co., Henry K. Hill & Co., Thomas H. Austin & Co., Thos. L. Mitchell, Danl. K. Dodge, Albert Dodge, Wm. A. & P. C. Cain.

Grocers and Ship Chandlers – Thomas Orman, Phineas Laprade, John McKenzie, Avery & Jones, Benj. Ellison, John W. Rinaldi, James J. Baldwin, Charles A. Green & Co., Charles H. Polyman & Co., Nathan Baker, Thomas P. Tainter, Patrick McGreary.

Dry Goods, Domestics, Clothing, &c. – Thos. H. Austin & Co., Marshall P. Ellis, S. M. Nickerson, Abraham Gump & Son, P. Swartze & Sons.

Hard Ware and Tin – May & Benizet.

Druggists – Henry F. Abel, James J. Griffin, and Alvar W. Chapman.

The United States Court for the Northern District of Florida sits annually at Apalachicola on the first Monday of February. The Hon. Isaac H. Bronson, Judge. Joseph S. May, Clerk.

The Circuit Court for the Western District of Florida, sits at Apalachicola on the first Monday of December, and on the second Monday in April in each and every year. The Hon. Jesse J. Fenlay, Judge, Saml. W. Spencer, Clerk.

Judge of Probate for Franklin County, Thomas J. Epps, Esq.

Sheriff “ “ “ , Clinton Thigpen.

Six steamers of about 200 tons burthen are engaged in the river trade between Apalachicola and Columbus, Geo., and two others are engaged in transporting the mails between Apalachicola and Bainbridge, Geo. The mails arrive and depart three times a week. Arrive Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 5 o’clock, A. M. Depart same evening at 10 o’clock, A. M.

The exports are on average (annually) 150,000 bales Cotton.

Boxes of Tobacco (about 400 lbs.) 600 to 700.

Shingles and Staves, 500,000.

Cedar and other Lumber, 500,000 feet.

One newspaper, The Commercial Advertiser, weekly by J. L. Wyeman.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

Population about 3000; churches, 9; high schools, 4, three male and one female; the amount of taxes for the year 1853, was about $1600 or $1000; one newspaper published at Tampa, “The Tampa Herald,” weekly, at $3 per annum.

Dealer in Dry Goods and Groceries – Tampa – William G. Ferris, James M. Cay, Freeman & McDonald, Kennedy & Darling, C. L. Friebele, John Jackson, E. A. Clarke & Co.

Delaer in Ready Made Clothing, &c. – M. Wall.

Drug and Book Store – Doct. S. B. Todd.

Apothecary Store – Doct. D. A. Branch.

Dealers in Dry Goods and Groceries – Alafia – Kennedy & Werdehoff.

Itchepucksassa – M. C. Brown.

Peas Creek – Joseph Moon.

Manatee – Joseph Atzenth, A. McNeill.

Algiers – James Stephens, (groceries.)

Fort Myers – James McKay, (dry goods and groceries and general Indian store.)

Fort Meade – L. G. Cevacirich.

Manufactures – Tampa – James McKay; Crawford & Leat, Steam Saw Mills.

Manatu – Robert Gamble, Jr.; J. A. Braden, Steam Sugar Mills; Wm. H. & G. H. Wyatt, Josiah Gaty, Sugar Mills, (horse power.)

Martin Cunningham, Clerk County Court.

One newspaper, The Tampa Herald.

LEON COUNTY

Population, 15,000; amount of taxes, $8,645,75; churches, 17, high schools, 3.

Bank Agencies – South Western Railroad Bank of Charleston, S.C., H. L. Rutges, Agent; Marine and Fire Insurance Bank of Savannah, Geo., J. H. Longley, Agent.

Insurance Agencies - Ætna Insurance Company, B. C. Lewis, Agent; Southern Mutual Insurance, Hopkins & Meginnes, Agents; Savannah Mutual Insurance Company, Thos. J. Perkins, Agent; Charter Oak Life Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn., J. H. Longley, Agent; Hartford Insurance Company, F. H. Flagg, Agent.

Dry Goods Merchants in Tallahassee – Butler & Denham, Blood, C. H. Belton & Whitaker, Belton & Higgs, Critchlow, T. H. & Bro, Hopkins & Meginnes, Heir & Rust, Hayward & Randolph, Kirksey, Jas., Wilson, D. C., Williams, J. M.

Dry Goods and Groceries – Hodgkiss & Scott.

Dry Goods and Hardware – Argyle, J. W.

Clothing – Clark, A. B., Pratorius, Jno.

Saddlery and Harness – Hull, D. E.

Drugs – Ames, D. H., Barnard & Maxwell.

Furniture – Damon, Geo.

Tin ware – White, T.

Books, &c. – McDougal, Jno.

Groceries and Provisions – Berry & Rowles, Knight, S. S., Rhodes, J. I I.

Confectioner – Kindon, I J.

Dry Goods – Miccosukie – Byrd, C. C., White, Jos.

Manufacturers by Machinery – Miccosukie – Shine, J. M. & Co., Foundry (iron and brass.)

Tallahassee – Bowen, J. W. & Co., (Sash and Blind.)

Pineville – Hodgson R. W. B. & A. G. L, (Turpentine.)

Rosin Ridge. – Flagg, F. II., (Turpentine.)