As one of the earliest land grant holders in Walton County, an early judge for West Florida which included Walton County, and perhaps one of the earliest environmentalists in the State of Florida as well as Florida’s first federal forester, it is important you know Henry Marie Brackenridge.


Here are some pictures I've taken and documents I've collected that relate to his time here in Walton County and West Florida. Be sure to Log In to see all pictures and illustrations.


Henry M. Brackenridge’s 1829 grant in Walton County, Florida. This influential judge had one of the earliest land grants in Walton County. He was friends with George Walton, Jr., Walton County, Florida’s namesake. Brackenridge tutored Octavia Walton and would also know her as Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert. Their correspondence reveals a deep and enduring friendship. Octavia wrote many letters. One to Ellen Call Long may be accessed at http://www.floridamemory.com/Collect...pers/index.cfm Octavia is responding to Ellen about Pensacola...

Octavia Walton Le Vert, also known as Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, had a number of poems written for and about her. Octavia was the daughter of Walton County, Florida's namesake, George Walton, Jr. Walton County, Florida, founded December 29, 1824, is home to SoWal and is one of the older counties in Florida. Alaqua was a key community in Walton County in 1827 when Octavia was traveling to Baltimore and other resort cities. See map that shows roads converging in Alaqua during this time.

The first poem probably published about her was by Edgar Allan Poe. Poe's first published poem was Tamerlane in 1827. It was this same year that Poe met Octavia in Baltimore and wrote "Octavia." Octavia was living in Pensacola, Florida and was on a trip with her mother. They could have traveled through South Walton and Walton County. Many relatives and friends lived in Alabama and Georgia. They would have stopped by to see them and refresh themselves on their travels. Alaqua was an early county seat of Walton County, Florida. In addition, Alaqua was the location of an early land grant of their friend Judge Henry M. Brackenridge. This historic Alaqua site is located in North Walton near DeFuniak Springs. Turn on Coy Burgess Loop Road (once known as Steele Church Road) off 331.

...

Please help me find the gravesite for George Walton, Jr., namesake of Walton County, Florida. Through my Shaping Florida research I've located the graves of his mother, father and daughter. The exact location of George Walton, Jr.'s grave has been lost. George Walton, Jr., secretary of West Florida, Territory of Florida and Territorial Acting Governor of Florida, died January 3, 1863 during the Civil War and is likely buried in the Blanford Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia. Writer Frances Gibson Satterfield wrote that the Blanford Cemetery had a record of George Walton, Jr., being interred in the N.E. corner of Mrs. M.B. Willison square. Records for the cemetery were destroyed and the exact location of this square is unknown. If you can get by this cemetery and find updated records, please advise. If you know George (Walton) Lucas, please contact him to make a movie about George Walton, Jr. Then, we might indeed find the lost grave of George Walton, Jr.

The following pictures are of the graves and homes of some of his family members. All pictures (c) Brenda Rees, All Rights Reserved.

George Walton, signer of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia, is buried in Augusta, Georgia. Gravesite for his son, George Walton, Jr., namesake of Walton County, Florida,...

The Walton County Heritage Museum in DeFuniak Springs, Florida is located at 1140 Circle Drive. Hours are Wednesday - Saturday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and admission is free. Donations are appreciated. On your next trip or visit to the Beaches of South Walton in Walton County, Florida, be sure to plan a day trip north to visit this authentic and unique venue. Walton County, founded December 29, 1824, was the eighth county created in Florida and is as beautiful as it is historic. photographs (c) Brenda Rees All Rights Reserved

(BE SURE TO LOG IN TO SEE PICTURES)


BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT!!!! COME RELAX AND VIEW HISTORICAL VIDEOS AND ENJOY HISTORIC DISPLAYS.


The historic DeFuniak Springs Train Depot is home to the Walton County Heritage Museum. A visit to Walton County is not complete without visiting this authentic building and site.


The L&N Caboose is open for special tours on Fourth of July. You can walk about and enjoy the railroad history of Florida. Northwest Florida and Walton County had thousands of visitors coming to enjoy the culture and education of the area in the 19th century. It was very much in fashion to travel...

Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert, daughter of Walton County, Florida's namesake, also went to London and met the Queen. She was presented to Queen Victoria during her European tour of 1853. Later, Octavia would attend special events in New York honoring the Queen's son, the Prince of Wales. Octavia wrote "Souvenirs of Travel" in 1857 detailing her two European trips and meetings with the rich and famous of the world. This is a picture of my 1857 edition of Octavia's book and a page where she discusses the Queen.


Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert was a Vice Regent for the Mount Vernon society charged to preserve and save the home of President George Washington. Octavia's grandfather, George Walton, had signed the Declaration of Independence, fought in the American Revolution and was a friend of George Washington. Walton County, Florida was named for her father, George Walton, Jr. Picture by (my mom) Gloria...