GEORGE OLIVER
George Oliver was born of Scotch parentage, in Chicago, Illinois, in 1852, where for many years he was engaged in the furniture manufacturing business. He was one of the best known and most beloved winter residents of Eustis for many years, as he spent his first winter there in 1906 and every succeeding one until he finally retired in 1919 and made it his permanent home. Mr. Oliver was educated at the University of Michigan and a lifelong consistent member of the Congregational Church.
Mr. Oliver was married to Anna Simmons, who is a very well-known resident of Eustis, for many years active in church and philanthropic work, and who is a member of the D. A. R. and of the P. E. O., a very exclusive philanthropic organization of American women, maintaining a chapter at Eustis.
Mr. Oliver died at Eustis in 1923, much to the shock of the community of which he had become such an important member. He was a man of the highest integrity and honor, and in his death Eustis lost an honored citizen and a sincere friend.
CHARLES
Z. OSBORNE
Charles Z.
Osborne, commonly known as Zeb Osborne, is a North Carolinian by birth,
having been born at Brevard on January 28, 1877, son of Charles
Lafayette and Mary (Killian) Osborne. He was given his middle
name of Zeb after the famous North Carolina Senator, Zeb Vance, who was
a great man in North Carolina at that time. His father served
with distinction during the Civil War as a lieutenant in
the 25th North Carolina Regiment.
Mr. Osborne received his education in the grammar and high schools of North Carolina and spent one year at Furman University at Greenville, South Carolina.
Since leaving school he has engaged in building work. He moved to Umatilla with his family in 1910 and arrived in that city, according to his own words, “without a cent.”
By hard work, close application, and by following a strict code of honor, Mr. Osborne has become one of the leading builders of Lake County, and among the hundreds of structures which he has erected since he has resided in the county may be mentioned: two schools in Umatilla, one in Fruitland Park, one in Groveland; several churches, including two in Groveland, one in Umatilla, one in Tavares; and a majority of the business houses which have been erected in Umatilla and Eustis during the past ten years, as well as several important buildings outside of these towns, such as the magnificent home of Ray James in Leesburg.
Mr. Osborne is the owner of a large lumber and building supply company in Umatilla, and has been very successful in handling real estate and in orange growing. He is well known in the political life of the county and has served one term as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, and has also been a member of the City Council of Umatilla.
He is a devout member of the Baptist Church, and is a Mason and a Shriner.
Mr. Osborne’s favorite recreation is hunting. He keeps from ten to twenty dogs all the time, and has a wonderful collection of deer heads, taken from animals which he has himself killed.
He was married in South Carolina to Ruth Hills, and has four children: Dixie, Charles, Claudia, and Josephine.
from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p274 and 277 (p. 275 is a portrait and p276 is blank) .
Charles Z.
Osborne, commonly known as Zeb Osborne, is a North Carolinian by birth,
having been born at Brevard on January 28, 1877, son of Charles
Lafayette and Mary (Killian) Osborne. He was given his middle
name of Zeb after the famous North Carolina Senator, Zeb Vance, who was
a great man in North Carolina at that time. His father served
with distinction during the Civil War as a lieutenant in
the 25th North Carolina Regiment.Mr. Osborne received his education in the grammar and high schools of North Carolina and spent one year at Furman University at Greenville, South Carolina.
Since leaving school he has engaged in building work. He moved to Umatilla with his family in 1910 and arrived in that city, according to his own words, “without a cent.”
By hard work, close application, and by following a strict code of honor, Mr. Osborne has become one of the leading builders of Lake County, and among the hundreds of structures which he has erected since he has resided in the county may be mentioned: two schools in Umatilla, one in Fruitland Park, one in Groveland; several churches, including two in Groveland, one in Umatilla, one in Tavares; and a majority of the business houses which have been erected in Umatilla and Eustis during the past ten years, as well as several important buildings outside of these towns, such as the magnificent home of Ray James in Leesburg.
Mr. Osborne is the owner of a large lumber and building supply company in Umatilla, and has been very successful in handling real estate and in orange growing. He is well known in the political life of the county and has served one term as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, and has also been a member of the City Council of Umatilla.
He is a devout member of the Baptist Church, and is a Mason and a Shriner.
Mr. Osborne’s favorite recreation is hunting. He keeps from ten to twenty dogs all the time, and has a wonderful collection of deer heads, taken from animals which he has himself killed.
He was married in South Carolina to Ruth Hills, and has four children: Dixie, Charles, Claudia, and Josephine.
from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p274 and 277 (p. 275 is a portrait and p276 is blank) .
FRANK
E. OWENS
Frank E. Owens is one of the younger successful business men of Eustis, who though not born here, has spent most of his life in Lake County. He was born in Macon, Georgia, September 13th, 1892, son of Dr. Frank Owens and Carrie Freeman Owens. Dr. Owens came to what is now Lake County in 1870 with his father; later he studied dentistry and practiced for many years in Orange and Lake Counties.
Frank E. Owens attended school in Umatilla, Eustis, and at the University of Florida, where he received his degree of LL. B. in 1914. After graduating he practiced law in Lakeland with James Hardin Peterson for six months, selling out to him and going with his uncle, J. C. Owens, who was in the mercantile business. In 1917 he went to Ohio and was connected with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for a few months, later going to Youngstown, Ohio, with the Republic Iron and Steel Company as paymaster, where he remained four years.
On his return to Eustis in 1921, Mr. Owens entered the real estate and insurance business, and organized the Golden Triangle Realty Company, of which he is now owner. He personally owns considerable real estate, and several orange groves.
Not only is Mr. Owens a successful business man, but he is also a very popular man, as is shown by his recent election as County Commissioner for District 4, and his election as Trustee of the Eustis Schools District for six years.
His fraternal affiliations are with the Masons, Eastern Start, of which he is the present Worthy Patron, and Kiwanis Club, and he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Owens was married in Eustis on September 15th, 1915, to Ruth Virginia Clifford, who was born in Eustis, and they have three children: Frank E., Jr., Duane C., and Mary Joyce.
from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p 277 -278 .
Frank E. Owens is one of the younger successful business men of Eustis, who though not born here, has spent most of his life in Lake County. He was born in Macon, Georgia, September 13th, 1892, son of Dr. Frank Owens and Carrie Freeman Owens. Dr. Owens came to what is now Lake County in 1870 with his father; later he studied dentistry and practiced for many years in Orange and Lake Counties.
Frank E. Owens attended school in Umatilla, Eustis, and at the University of Florida, where he received his degree of LL. B. in 1914. After graduating he practiced law in Lakeland with James Hardin Peterson for six months, selling out to him and going with his uncle, J. C. Owens, who was in the mercantile business. In 1917 he went to Ohio and was connected with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for a few months, later going to Youngstown, Ohio, with the Republic Iron and Steel Company as paymaster, where he remained four years.
On his return to Eustis in 1921, Mr. Owens entered the real estate and insurance business, and organized the Golden Triangle Realty Company, of which he is now owner. He personally owns considerable real estate, and several orange groves.
Not only is Mr. Owens a successful business man, but he is also a very popular man, as is shown by his recent election as County Commissioner for District 4, and his election as Trustee of the Eustis Schools District for six years.
His fraternal affiliations are with the Masons, Eastern Start, of which he is the present Worthy Patron, and Kiwanis Club, and he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Owens was married in Eustis on September 15th, 1915, to Ruth Virginia Clifford, who was born in Eustis, and they have three children: Frank E., Jr., Duane C., and Mary Joyce.
from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p 277 -278 .
S.
M. OWENS
S. M. Owens, one of the earliest settlers in the present limits of Lake County, is a native of Florida, having been born at White Sulphur Springs on the first day of January, 1850, son of J. M. and Rosa Owens. His parents were from Georgia, and his father was a school teacher the greater part of his life.
After receiving a limited education, Mr. Owens came with his parents to the now extinct town of Hawkinsville, Orange County, Florida, in 1870, where his father took up a homestead and set out a grove. Mr. Owens was therefore raised on an orange grove and has been interested in citrus growing the greater part of his life, although he engaged in the mercantile business at Fort Mason for about twenty-one years.
In 1881 he moved to Umatilla, where he is the owner of considerable valuable property, including several small orange groves.
He has been one of the best known citizens of the county, and has given a great deal of his time for the public welfare. He served as County Treasurer of Lake County until the office was abolished, and subsequently he was a member of the Board of County Commissioners, serving for eight years.
In his fraternal affiliations he is a member of the Masons, and he was married in Lake County to Mattie Wilson, and has one daughter: Mrs. Rosa Wood, and two grandchildren: Mildred and Marian. He also has two children now deceased: Herschel and Byrne Owens.
When Mr. Owens came to this part of Florida it was little more than an unbroken forest with little to attract a newcomer, and the present generation owe an everlasting debt of gratitude to the sturdy pioneers like Mr. Owens who have hewn the path for a higher type of civilization.
from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p 278.
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S. M. Owens, one of the earliest settlers in the present limits of Lake County, is a native of Florida, having been born at White Sulphur Springs on the first day of January, 1850, son of J. M. and Rosa Owens. His parents were from Georgia, and his father was a school teacher the greater part of his life.
After receiving a limited education, Mr. Owens came with his parents to the now extinct town of Hawkinsville, Orange County, Florida, in 1870, where his father took up a homestead and set out a grove. Mr. Owens was therefore raised on an orange grove and has been interested in citrus growing the greater part of his life, although he engaged in the mercantile business at Fort Mason for about twenty-one years.
In 1881 he moved to Umatilla, where he is the owner of considerable valuable property, including several small orange groves.
He has been one of the best known citizens of the county, and has given a great deal of his time for the public welfare. He served as County Treasurer of Lake County until the office was abolished, and subsequently he was a member of the Board of County Commissioners, serving for eight years.
In his fraternal affiliations he is a member of the Masons, and he was married in Lake County to Mattie Wilson, and has one daughter: Mrs. Rosa Wood, and two grandchildren: Mildred and Marian. He also has two children now deceased: Herschel and Byrne Owens.
When Mr. Owens came to this part of Florida it was little more than an unbroken forest with little to attract a newcomer, and the present generation owe an everlasting debt of gratitude to the sturdy pioneers like Mr. Owens who have hewn the path for a higher type of civilization.
from: History of Lake County Florida, Wm. T. Kennedy, Editor-in-chief, History of Lake County Florida Part II, Biographical. Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Lake County, Florida p 278.
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