The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-04-10
EASTLAKE

Eastlake, April 9.-The best loved
and most familiar figure in Eastlake
is ''Uncle Jimmie" Josslyn, whose 80th
birthday was recently celebrated at
the clubhouse by one of the genuine
Southern suppers for which Eastlake
is famous, and which included huge
three-tiered cake with candles and
all sorts of "fxins," built by Mrs
James E. Klock. DR.. Klock paid
most gracious and tender tribute to
The honored guest of the evening,
whose health everybody drank in the
sparkling water Of Lake Weir or in
delicious amber coffee. 'Uncle jim
mie" responded feelingly, deeply
touched by the thoughtful affection
shown him. Forty-fve years of life
in Eastlake, which, by the way, he
named and named one word, not two,
make Mr.. Josslyn the oldest citizen
in the place, not only in years but in
length of residence. His heart is
young, and his keen interest in every
body and everything, his genial man-
I ner and unaffected enjoyment in all
that occurs in his beloved Eastlake,
waken a reciprocal feeling of love and
admiration in the hearts of young and
old.
The two brothers, J. R. and C. L..
Josslyn of Brookfeld, Mass, decided
they would like to live in Florida, hav-
ing heard from returning travellers
much of its wonderful beauties and
unusual possibilities for advancement
for young, active men. So they came
by boat to Jacksonville, then up the
| Oklawaha river to Silver Springs
with the intention of locating in Lees
| burg where they had acquaintance.
Not being able to hire a conveyance
they were obliged to walk from Sill
yer Springs, and brought up, March
| II, 1875. on the west side of Lake
Weir where Captain John L. Carney
of Murfreesboro, Tenn, had taken up
| a homestead claim in the fall of 1873
where the property of the Carney In
vestment Company now lies. Besides
the Carneys, the only other people
around the lake at that time were DR..
jefferson Myers of South Carolina,
who was located near the Carney
place, and Mr.. and Mrs Charles r.
Porter, living at South Lake. After
spending the night at the hospitable
home of Captain Carney the Josslyn
boys trekked to Leesburg where they
were cordially welcomed and offered
all sorts of inducements to remain.
But" said Uncle Jimmie, "we had
seen Lake Weir, and nothing else
would do"
So back they came to the lake,
built log cabin on the bluff where
Eastlake now stands, homesteaded
100 acres, and later took up several
other claims in the region, being five
miles in any direction from neigh
Dor. After awhile others joined. the
Josslyns, among them George E. Snow
of Charlton, Mass, to whom Mr..
Josslyn sold very soon a lot of six
acres, the first lot ever sold on Lake
Weir.
In 1879 Uncle Jimmie moved from
the log cabin and built the north part
of the big house on the bluff now
owned by the Eastlake Investment
Company. He sold the place in 1885,
to Samuel Hodson of Meredith, n. H.
who operated the house as a hotel
under the management of Mr.. KroIl
of East Saginaw Mich. Frank E
Carpenter, now living in Eastlake
also ran the place as a hostelry, and
was followed by others. Mr.. Sno~
bought the property on a mortgage
and sold it in 1915 to the Eastlakt
Investment Company, its present
owner.
Mr.. Josslyn, hale and hearty, ant