African American in orange grove

Israel Richardson

African American Settler

Israel Richardson was born to two African Americans, James and Rachael Richardson, in Monticello, Florida around 1858.  In 1870, by the age of twelve, he lived in Township 5, Jefferson County, Florida. The Richardson’s were a pioneer African American family in Winter Park, Florida.  They moved to Winter Park in the 1880s.[1]   In 1881, when Winter Park town founders Loring Chase and Chapman planned the layout for the town, they designated the west side, named Hannibal Square after the famous Carthaginian general, as the African American part of town.  They separated small plots of land on the West side for African Americans.  The plots were considerably smaller than those offered to the whites on the east side.  Many African Americans bought land to grow citrus and domesticate animals.  This opportunity to own land took place shortly after the end of Reconstruction saw the return of Democratic Party rule in the former states of the Confederacy.

The transition from slavery to freedmen was rife with political, social, and economic injustices.  For example, many whites would take advantage of African American illiteracy by offering a verbal work contract that was different from the written contract they made the former slaves sign with an “x” mark.[2]  Despite the injustices, Israel obtained land despite economic and social obstacles.  He owned an orange grove near Pennsylvania Avenue in addition to residential property.  Israel also raised animals and plants on his property.[3]  His family occupied this property well into the twentieth century. Israel was involved with the Ward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church located on Pennsylvania Avenue.[4]  Israel’s son, Israel Richardson Jr. ran his own barbershop on West Welborne Ave.[5]

- Kerem K. Rivera