Walton Past to Present – People and Places in Walton County, Florida

Welcome! The Walton County Timeline below is a work in progress. Please feel free to suggest additions and changes to WaltonCountyHeritage@cox.net. Use the search field on the right to look for people, places, and things. Enjoy!

1814-1818

Andrew Jackson entered Florida in search of Indians. The majority of Indians were in central Florida, but sizeable bands lived in northwest Florida.

1820

Neil McLendon became the first white man to enter Walton County for the purpose of making his home there. His daughter Anna is said to be the first white child born in Walton County.

1821

On July 17, 1821, Spain ceded Florida to the United States of America, making Florida a United States territory.
On July 21, 1821, the Florida territory was divided into two counties, Escambia on the west and St. Johns on the east.
Henry M. Brackenridge met Andrew Jackson on the Mississippi River and became Jackson’s secretary for his upcoming mission to the new Florida territory.
The yellow fever epidemic killed 300 of the 400 residents in Pensacola.

1822

Jackson County was formed from Escambia County.
On June 11, 1822, Henry M. Brackenridge was appointed Judge for the West Florida territory.
Brackenridge purchased land on Santa Rosa Sound and conducted court session in Pensacola, Chipola, Tallahassee, and Webbville.

1824

Walton County was created from Escambia and Jackson counties on December 29, 1824 (Fla. Terr. Acts 1824, 3d sess., sec. 2, p. 260).
The county was named for Col. George Walton, Secretary of the West Florida Division, 1821-1826.
Alaqua was the first county seat of Walton County.
Work commenced on a road between Pensacola and Tallahassee, which would pass through Walton County.

1825

On December 9, 1825, Walton County gained territory from Escambia County, exchanged some territory with Jackson County, and lost some territory to the formation of Washington County (Fla. Terr. Acts 1825, 4th sess., p. 35).

1826

During the first quarter of the year, James Exum and James Lane surveyed land in Alaqua. A settler named Vaughn was living near what is now Alaqua Methodist Church (Steele Church).

1828

Henry M. Brackenridge was appointed Judge for the District of West Florida.
Brackenridge purchased land in Alaqua.
On August 22, 1828, Hardy Wood recorded his land deed that touched a corner of Brackenridge’s land.

1829

On May 15, 1829, Judge Brackenridge recorded his land deed.

1830

Tallahassee was selected as the state capital of Florida.
Freeport was first settled; its former names were “Genoa” and “Four Mile Landing.”
On June 1, 1830, the first court session was held at Alaqua in Brackenridge’s home that he shared with James Evans.
The federal census of September 27, 1830, listed 1,207 persons in Walton County.
The second court session was held on December 1, 1830, Florida vs. Pagget and Alley.

1831

Henry G. Ramsay, Clerk of the Superior Court of Walton County, sent his report about the last six months of court proceedings on June 6, 1831.

1836

The Seminole War was fought in Walton County.

1837

The first post office in Freeport was built near the location of the present Freeport Middle School.
On February 28, 1837, members of the Alberson family who lived on the Alabama/Florida border were killed by Indians.
In April 1837, a family near a Blackwater River lumber mill captured a Creek family, causing incidents between the Creeks and other settlers.
On May 13, 1837, Indians attacked a white encampment. Both sides suffered four casualties each.
On May 19, 1837, a skirmish called Battle Bay, which was near Bruce, resulted in three white and ten Indians dead.
Governor Richard Keith Call called up militias from Jackson, Washington, and Franklin counties to help in the battles against the Indians.
At the end of May 1837, about 70 Creeks surrendered and were taken west.

1838

The Second Creek War in Alabama started in July 1838, during which Indians raided the Panhandle area.

1840

The first store in Freeport was opened.
The federal census of 1840 listed two persons drawing a war pension, Joab Horn and Aaron Snowden.

1845

On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state of the United States of America.
The county seat was moved to Eucheeanna.

1846

A portion of Walton County was taken to form Washington County.

1848

A portion of Walton County was taken to form Holmes County on January 8, 1848 (Fla. Laws 1847, 3d sess., ch. 176, sec. 1, p. 45).
Knox Hill Academy was founded. It was the first institute of higher learning in the county.

1851

On January 11, 1851, Walton County gained part of Santa Rosa Island from Escambia County and exchanged some territory with Santa Rosa County (Fla. Laws 1850, 5th sess., ch. 411, p. 146).

1853

Walton lost some territory to Santa Rosa County (Fla. Laws 1852, 6th sess., ch. 571, p. 145).

1855

Union Springs Baptist Church was the first church in the community.

1858

Cotton and corn were the major crops in Eucheeanna.

1859

Knox Hill Pottery was operated by M. M. Odom and Robert Turnlee.

1863

Alaqua Methodist Church (Steele Church) was founded.

1864

The Civil War came to Freeport.
Union forces surprised the village of Eucheeanna on September 23, gathering horses and mules, and making prisoners of fifteen private citizens.

1870

The first turpentine still was founded in the eastern part of what would become DeFuniak Springs.

1871

The first monument in Florida to honor its Confederate dead was placed in Eucheeanna.

1875

Freeport’s first church, Freeport Presbyterian, was constructed.

1878

Mount Nebo Church in was built in what would become DeFuniak Springs.

1880

Two sawmills were in the area of Point Washington, owned by I. N. McLane and W. L. Crigler. The mills produced in excess of one million feet of lumber each.

1881

On January 27, 1881, Walton County was granted concurrent jurisdiction with Washington County over the waters of Choctawhatchee Bay (Fla. Laws 1881, 11th sess., ch. 3258, p. 73).
Work commenced on the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, linking Pensacola with Chattahoochee on June 1, 1881.

1882

The railroad reached the area, and a depot was built.
A group of railroad executives gambled to see whose name would be on the new town. Col. Frederick DeFuniak won.
The “Funiak” Post Office was established, most likely across from the old railroad depot on Circle Drive.
Murray Cawthon moved to DeFuniak Springs with his wife and eight sons. He built one of the first houses in DeFuniak Springs on Hwy. 90. Harley Henderson had it moved to South Walton in 2000.

1883

The railroad between Pensacola and Chattahoochee was completed.
The First Presbyterian Church was established in DeFuniak Springs.

1884

The Florida Chautauqua Association was established.
William Dudley Chipley platted the city of DeFuniak.
The Chautauqua Hotel was built.
W. B. Saunders published the first issue of The Signal, the first newspaper in Walton County.
The Magnolia Cemetery property was donated by Murray Cawthon.
The first baby born in DeFuniak Springs was Fannie Lee Cawthon.
The first hotel was on Baldwin Avenue in the middle of what is now 9th Street.
Point Washington was a thriving community. Henry Faust was Justice of the Peace. The general store was operated by Thomas Hannah, and his brother William Hannah was the doctor. Simeon Strickland later operated a lumber mill. He was a confederate veteran who came to Point Washington in 1871 from a prisoner of war status. The mill later became known as Strickland-Wesley after the marriage of Strickland’s daughter to W. H. Wesley.

1885

The first Florida Chautauqua Assembly was held from February 18 until March 7, 1885.
The county seat office in Eucheeanna burned. All records were lost.
The McCormick Institute, the first private school in DeFuniak Springs, opened.
The Southern Forestry Conference met on Lake DeFuniak in December 1885.

1886

What was to become the Florida Education Association first met on March 4th in the Chautauqua building.
William J. Van Kirk of the Lake DeFuniak Land Company revised the plan for DeFuniak Springs.
The first courthouse in DeFuniak Springs was built, making it the county seat.
The Confederate monument was placed on the front lawn of the courthouse.
The library was built. It remains the oldest library in continuous service in Florida.

1887

The State Normal School in DeFuniak Springs opened on October 3, 1887.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs.
There were approximately 150 buildings in DeFuniak Springs.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, Northern Branch, was established.
The P. L. Biddle home was built and was later placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1888

Larkin Cleveland purchased The Signal and renamed it the DeFuniak Springs Herald.
Wallace Bruce built Dream Cottage, the second oldest house on Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs.
The jail in DeFuniak Springs was built. The jailer’s wife often assisted female prisoners. Male prisoners were allowed in the halls and on the porch.

1889

The original train depot was replaced by the current one on Circle Drive.
The McCormick Institute closed because its building was destroyed by fire.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs.
The Northern Methodist Church was built on Circle Drive.
Rev. John Wesley, who was living in the upper part of Washington County, was invited to come and preach at Point Washington.

1890

The population of DeFuniak Springs was 672; the county’s population was approximately 2,000.
Rev. John Wesley and two of his sons arrived in Point Washington in January of 1890. He organized and set up the Methodist Church. Later, Mrs. Wesley and their other five sons came from Georgia. Some of the original members of the Methodist Church were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gunn and children, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kinney and their daughter, Addie Holley, Lilla Russ, John Russ, Katie and Nettie Strickland, Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Jones, Victoria Modrill, and others.
The Strickland-Wesley lumber company donated lumber for the Point Washington Methodist Church. General William Miller, a Confederate hero, donated land for the church, cemetery, school, and a park, which was located near W. H. Wesley’s home, which is now part of Eden Gardens State Park.
The Captain Fritz, a paddle wheeler, and the sailboat Magnolia, which was owned and operated by George Houseman, were two of the most prominent boats to call upon Point Washington. They carried passengers and freight to Pensacola.
The small freighter called The Jewel, owned by George Houseman’s son Harry, called on the port at Point Washington. Its engine had a very distinctive sound that traveled over the water for miles so people could hear it and know The Jewell was arriving.
St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church on Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs was organized.
The Presbyterian Church was built on Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs, but the original building was later destroyed by a storm.
A room at the Hotel Chautauqua was $2.00 a day, the same price as renting a saddle horse for a day.

1892

The first issue of The Florida Chautauqua quarterly newsletter was published.
Royal W. Storrs started The Breeze newspaper.
A pear orchard of 500 trees in Walton County was expected to yield six bushels per tree.

1893

William Rogers and Company, which later became Beach-Rogers & Co., opened its lumber mill.
The congregation of St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church started meeting.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs.

1894

Wallace Bruce chaired the Chautauqua Assembly starting in 1894 and lasting until his death in 1914.

During the early Chautauqua times, Charles E. Murray operated an indoor merry-go-round at 116
West Baldwin Avenue. In later years, they added a Ferris wheel behind the building. The location has
since been stores for Danley Furniture, Heilig-Meyers Furniture, Rooms and More, and Ashley Furniture.

1896

The St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church building was erected on Circle Drive.

1897

Dr. G. P. Morris and his wife, who was also a physician, opened the DeFuniak Springs Sanitarium for chronic diseases.

1898

DeFuniak Springs experienced an unusual snowstorm in the winter.
On September 19, a fire destroyed 22 wooden buildings on Baldwin Avenue in DeFuniak Springs.

1899

King & Co., a drug, grocery, hardware, and dry goods store, at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and Sixth Street, opened on December 12th. It closed in 1998.

1900

The population of DeFuniak Springs was 1,661.

1901

On July 30, the electors voted to organize the city and incorporate.
DeFuniak Springs was incorporated. It was 265 feet above sea level, 270 feet above the Gulf of Mexico.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, began meeting in DeFuniak Springs.

1902

The First Baptist Church was organized.

1903

The first high school was established in DeFuniak Springs.
The Big Store on Baldwin Avenue was built by Burress Cawthon.
The Cawthon State Bank building on the corner of Baldwin and 8th opened.

1904

First National Bank was founded at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and 7th Street.
The First Baptist Church was built at the corner of Live Oak and 11th Street. It burned in 1926.

1905

The Florida State Normal School was closed; women were sent to Tallahassee and men to Gainesville.
Smith’s Dairy, which was located two miles south of DeFuniak Springs, opened.
Frederick DeFuniak, for whom DeFuniak Springs was named, died in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 29th.
Harry Murray was awarded a 20-year franchise to provide acetylene gas to the public. It fueled the carbide lighting systems although most businesses had their own gas generating systems.

1906

Cawthon State Bank was founded at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and 7th Street.

1907

Palmer College and Academy, the first junior college in Florida, opened in DeFuniak Springs. It closed in 1916.
On March 3, an ordinance was adopted to provide the public water works system in DeFuniak Springs that was installed where the water tank now stands. $20,000 was allotted for the water system, $10,000 for schools, and $3,000 for the sewer system.
A hotel and sanitorium was built on 8th Street by Dr. G. P. Morris and wife (also a physician).
The Methodist Episcopal Church branches, North and South, merged.

1908

A flowing well was constructed in Freeport.
The first brick school building in DeFuniak Springs was the high school, which was built at a cost of $15,000. It later became Maude Saunders Elementary School.
One of the first automobiles in DeFuniak Springs was a Brush with a one cylinder engine and a chain drive to the rear wheels. It was used to deliver the mail to Freeport and was worn out within the year.
The J. J. McCaskill sawmill commenced operation at Jolly Bay and continued until 1931.

1909

The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood was completed at a cost of $28,000. The auditorium could seat 4,000.
Charles and Minnie Gordon purchased the first Ford automobile in Walton County.
The first sidewalks were paved in downtown DeFuniak Springs.

1910

On January 7, the city of DeFuniak Springs adopted an ordinance providing $8,000 for an electric light plant to be installed at the public water station. A steam powered plant was installed, providing 100 KWH of power. One of the very first electric lights was installed at 7th street and Circle Drive. It was placed in the center of the street to separate north and south traffic. At that time, the L&N Railroad, with all the parking attendants, made this intersection dangerous. The kerosene lanterns that were hung from posts around Lake DeFuniak would soon be retired.
Alterations were made to the DeFuniak Springs train depot.
Several sections of the walkway around Lake DeFuniak were paved.
The circular drive around Lake DeFuniak was first named Wright Avenue in honor of T.T. Wright, a builder and developer and promoter of Chautauqua. The name was changed to Circle Drive much later. Wright lived in Pensacola, but he had a home on the drive, which was later known as the old Howard Cawthon home.

1911

More alterations were made to the DeFuniak Springs train depot.
John L. McKinnon published History of Walton County.

1912

Tivoli School opened in DeFuniak Springs as an elementary and junior high school for blacks.
The name of the Hotel Chautauqua was changed to the Walton Hotel.

1913

Walton County gained territory from Washington County on May 17, 1913 (Fla. Laws 1913, 14th sess., gen., ch. 6508, sec. 1, p. 359).
The Thomas Industrial Memorial Institute opened on South 2nd Street in DeFuniak Springs. It closed in 1924.

1914

Newton Hall, the boys dormitory at Palmer College, was completed at a cost of $20,000.
W. B. Harbeson moved his large sawmill from Mississippi to Baldwin Avenue in DeFuniak Springs.
A fire destroyed Freeport’s first hotel, the San Gala Hotel.

1915

The Palmer College administration building was destroyed by fire and other buildings were damaged on January 30th.
The DeFuniak Springs Woman’s Club was organized.
A portion of Walton County was taken to form Okaloosa County on September 7, 1915 (Fla. Laws 1915, 15th sess., gen., ch. 6937, secs. 1, 24-25, pp. 303, 310; HRS Fla., Okaloosa, 6).
McCaskill residence in Freeport was turned into a hotel.

1916

The Walton High School building was converted to the Maude Saunders Elementary School.
Palmer College closed.
The Florida Education Association met in DeFuniak Springs with 700 teachers and superintendents attending.

1917

Sidney J. Catts of DeFuniak Springs was inaugurated as Governor of the State of Florida.

1918

The United States entered World War I.
The flu epidemic devastated the country
The first water tower was built in DeFuniak Springs. It was replaced in 1991.

1920

The population of DeFuniak Springs was 2,097.

1921

Murray’s Theater, the first movie theater, was built by Charles Murray on Baldwin Avenue.

1924

The Thomas Industrial Memorial Institute closed at the end of the school year.
The First National Bank clock was installed at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and 7th Street.
Former Governor Sidney J. Catts purchased Sunbright Manor on Live Oak Avenue.

1925

The Walton County Chamber of Commerce was organized.
The population of DeFuniak Springs was 2,359, an increase of 262 people since 1920.
The population of Walton County was 13,664.

1926

Fire destroyed the First Baptist Church building at the corner of 11th Street and Live Oak Avenue.
The current courthouse was built in DeFuniak Springs, and the Confederate monument was placed nearby.
The city-owned utility company was sold to Gulf Power Company.

1927

The Chautauqua Assembly of the early 1900s was dissolved.
A new brick building and educational center for the First Baptist Church opened on Christmas Day.

1928

On January 26, plans were made to pave Circle Drive, which was originally called Wright Avenue.

1930

The P. W. Miles Lumber Company bought the Beach-Rogers mill.
The Bethel Presbyterian Church was established on Roosevelt Avenue in DeFuniak Springs.

1931

Allison’s Grocery was started by Fennie Allison and her husband.
St. Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church constructed its first building in DeFuniak Springs.

1933

By 1933, it was deemed necessary to institute the Federal Welfare program to help meet the needs of many in our community. However, for many years the county had operated a poor farm about half of a mile southeast of the East Baptist Church. Many needy families were given food and housing. They were expected to farm to defray the cost of their keep. A Mr. McCollough operated and managed the farm; later his son John took over.
The Beach and Rogers sawmill had a tram to Glendale.
The first operator of the commissary at Glendale was Bill Jones.
Local attorney S.K. Gillis had his business office on the corner of Baldwin Avenue and 6th Street.
DeFuniak Springs had a rehabilitation center called the County Road Camp located near where the DeFuniak Springs Shopping Center was later built.

1934

The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood was sold to the City of DeFuniak Springs.

1935

Palmer College closed.
10th grade students were added to Tivoli School.
Henry Koerber started his chicken and feed business east of DeFuniak Springs.

1936

11th grade students were added to Tivoli School.
The Kiwanis Club was organized.

1937

12th grade students were added to Tivoli School.
The first Florida Music Festival was organized by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

1938

The Franklin Roosevelt administration invested money into digging the inland waterway and paving U.S. Highway 98. Before Highway 98 was paved, the only way to reach a doctor or attend to matters in town was to cross the Choctawhatchee Bay on the Jolly Bay ferry. The Lark, as it was called, was owned and run by W. H. Wesley’s sons, Willie, Edgar, and Arthur. The Lark was built of timber from the steamer Charles E. Cessna, which carried passengers from the north to Santa Rosa Plantation, which is now the Hogtown Bayou area of Santa Rosa Beach. It cost a dollar to make the trip and took over an hour. The Lark ran at least twice a day but had no real schedule.
Eglin Field was activated.

1940

The Pilot Club was organized.
A free ferry was put in by the state and made several trips between Point Washington and Freeport per day on schedule.

1941

The United States entered World War II.
Hygeia Coca-Cola Bottling Works built a bottling plant on North 9th Street in DeFuniak Springs.
Electricity came to Freeport.
A draw bridge replaced the ferry, and Captain Joe Shelly of the free ferry was transferred to be the caretaker of the draw bridge.

1943

The W. B. Harbeson sawmill had already closed after a fire, and most of the equipment was sold in 1943.
The first Freeport school burned down.

1944

The U.S. government procured land for the Eglin Reservation, forcing houses and churches to be abandoned.
Members of the Cosson family were killed by the error of an Eglin Reservation pilot.

1945

Southwide Baptist Church was established to replace the Alice Creek and New Home Baptist Churches.

1946

The building that was built for the Sanitarium and later housed the state welfare office burned down.
The bridge connecting Freeport to South Walton was built.

1948

The DeFuniak Springs Garden Club was formed.

1949

Smith’s Dairy ceased operation. It is said to have been the oldest continuously operated dairy farm in Florida.

1954

The poultry plant opened. It closed in 2004.

1955

Ina Simmons Thompson was the first woman appointed to the Governor’s “Little Cabinet.” She served as head of Motor Vehicle Licensing.
Maude Saunders Elementary School ceased using the 1909 building that was built for Walton High School.

1956

The Breeze newspaper was purchased by the DeFuniak Springs Herald.

1963

Lakeside Hospital opened.
The New Walton Hotel building was demolished.

1964

The Walton County Hospital on College Avenue was built.

1971

The last passenger train stopped at the DeFuniak Springs depot on April 21.

1972

The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1973

Henry Koerber sold his poultry business to Showell Farms.

1975

Hurricane Eloise passed through DeFuniak Springs, destroying the Chautauqua Building’s auditorium.

1977

The new Walton High School was built on Walton Road.

1979

Hygeia Coca-Cola Bottling Works closed its DeFuniak Springs bottling plant.

1981

A new building was completed for St. Margaret of Scotland Roman Catholic Church in DeFuniak Springs.

1982

The City’s Centennial Celebration brought descendants of Frederick DeFuniak from Birmingham to DeFuniak Springs.

1983

The Walton County Heritage Association was formed from the group called STOP (Save This Old Place) which had been restoring the Chautauqua Theater.

1985

On January 21, the temperature got down to -2 degrees.

1991

The first water tower in DeFuniak Springs was replaced.

1992

Allison’s Grocery closed.
Chautauqua Winery opened.

1994

Showell Farms sold its poultry business to Perdue.

1998

King Hardware closed after almost 100 years in business.

2000

The City restored the L & N Railroad depot.
Harley Henderson moved the 1882 Murry Cawthon house to south Walton.

2002

The Walton County Heritage Museum opened on July 4th in the train depot building.

2003

The piers on Lake DeFuniak were replaced.
The women who operated the H & M Hot Dog stand retired, and a new owner reopened it.
A new hospital was built on Freeport Road (Hwy. 331).

2004

Perdue closed its poultry processing plant in DeFuniak Springs.