Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1921-12-31
Was Sold by Juan Pablo
Sales Just 100 Years
Ago
INTERESTING HISTORY
Mobile, Ala, Man Pur-
chased, and Growth
Started Then
tBy Associated Press)


on which the city of Key West now
stands was regarded as of so little
value at one time that it was sold for
$4,000 for just 100 years ago Juan
Pablo Sales, who owned it, negotiated
with John W. Simonton of Mobile,
Ala, for its sale at that price and the
deal was consummated January 10,
1922, transfer of the property having
been recorded on that date. About
the only reminder of the sale now re-
naming is a street here named for
the purchaser.
jefferson B. Browne, member of
the Florida Supreme Court, in his
book "Key West, the Old and New"
tells the story.
"The earliest recorded data about
Key West is to be found in grant
of the island of Cayo Hueso on Au-
gust 26, 1915, by Don Juan de Estra-
da, the then Spanish governor Of
Florida, to Juan Pablo Salas." Mr..
Browne says: "The grant recited that
it was in consideration of the several
services rendered by him at different
times, much in the Royal Artillery
Corps stationed at this fort, as well
las the services rendered voluntarily
and without pay at the office OF the
|secretary under your administration
Nothing was done by Salas in the
way of settling or improvements and
Ithe island wore the same wild aspect
that it had worn for ages, when on
the twenty-frst day of December,
1921, Salas offered to sell his right,
title and interest to John w. Simon
ton of Mobile, who had met Salas in
Havana. Having heard of the ad-
vantageous situation and capacity OF
the harbor, Mr.. Simonton was in
duced from the certain prospect OF
Improvement throughout the country
by the cession of Florida to the Unit
ed States, which his mercantile ex-
perience led him to foresee must adj
vance the interests of settlement al
this point, to purchase he island fol-
he sum of $1,000 on the nineteenth
day of January, A. D. 1922.
"Soon after making the purchase
he sold one undivided quarter of Ms
interest to John Warner and Johi
Mountain, respectively United State
consul and commercial agent for thu
United States at Havana, and tw'
other quarters to John Whitehead anC
John W. C. Fleming. The Interests
of Messrs. Warner and Mountain
; were soon after transferred to Par
don C. Greene, who became perma
nent resident of the island at tina
time.
"Salas. however, had made a con
lditional sale to John B. Strong, wh'
{ subsequently transferred his claim
: such as it was, to John Geddes, whit
! having the countenance of Captain
: Hammersley of the U. S. naval schoo
r ner Revenge" then in the harbor
: effected landing and took possess
/ ion of the island in April, 1922.
: "a DR.. Montgomery and Georg'
M. Geddes were in charge of the par
ty sent by Geddes to take possession
: in his name. 1t consisted of tw'
, white carpenter and three negroes
, with provisions and lumber to built
shed. How long they remained OF
the island is not known but as the
E were supported by Captain Hammers
, lev of the United States navy, tn
other claimants were helpless to d
ianything more than protest, A law
suit resulted, which was finally ter
. minated by a compromise. One o
! the legal documents connected WIT
] this claim states that the considera
r tion given for the island, by StronI
t was small sloop of about 81 ton
e burden called The Leopard of Glas
: ,tonbury,' for which he paid S57'
e Strong's title proved imperfect, an
: Salas, in order TO obtain the restors
n ton of the island to the Simonto
n claimants conveyed to him five hun
t Esred acres of tract at Big Spring
Ssst Florida
~ lzlA.
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