Page 43 - a-history-of-columbia-county-florida-(1996)-edward-f-keuchel

A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 32/340

A History of Columbia Comity, Florida
would yield revenue. The governor appointed appraisers who in
turn evaluated the property or slaves offered on the mortgage. One
very important feature of the bank which was of great benefit to
the planters of northern Florida was the issuance of currency
which was lent on mortgage security. The initial capital of $1,000,-
000 was provided by the sale of bonds by the territory called “faith
bonds” because essentially faith in the territory was pledged for
the security of the bank.30
Appraisers for the Union Bank appointed in Columbia County
were Burnett M. Dell, Abel G. Loper, Jacob Summerall, Willson
Brooks, and Asa Clark.31 The bank issued its first bank bills in
1835 and, in the midst of the expansion of the territory and the
boom the nation was undergoing, all went well. During the
nationwide depression of 1837, however, cotton prices plummeted,
confidence waned, and bank notes dropped rapidly in value.
Severe economic distress was felt all throughout northern Florida.
Most county offices remained on an appointive basis during
the territorial period and their number increased with the popu­
lation. Eleven justices of the peace were appointed by Governor
Duval for Columbia County in 1834. They were Robert B. Clayton,
Charles Collins, Wilson Brooks, John Lee, David Lang, Thomas
Ellis, Jr., James T. Prevatt, Warren Moore, Theophilus Weeks, Jr.,
John D. O’Steen, and James Niblack.32
Robert Brown became the first representative to the terri­
torial legislative council solely to represent Columbia County.
Previous to Brown, Columbia and Alachua were jointly repre­
sented by Gabriel Priest. Joseph Dyall and later Jared Everett

30Martin, Florida During Territorial Days, pp. 147-49.
31 Appointments to Office by the Governor, February 17, 1833, Carter, Terri­
torial Papers, Vol. XXIV, pp. 813-17.
“Appointments of Office by the Governor, February 13, 1834, Carter, Terri­
torial Papers, Vol. XXIV, pp. 966-68.
30

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