AARON JERNIGAN (Capt.)

Jernigan Family Crest

 * Birth: 14 SEP 1813, Georgia * Death: 25 AUG 1891, Orange County, Florida * Burial: Lake Hill Cemetary, Orange County, Florida 

Aaron Jernigan was the first settler of what is know today as Orange County, Florida, settling there in 1843. What is now called Orlando, was originally called Jernigan untill 1857. Jernigan was a very influential person in the creation of present day Orlando.

Aaron and, his wife, Mary Jernigan settled on the shore of Lake Holden, purchasing 1200 acres and moving some 700 head of cattle down from the Tallahassee area where Aaron and his brother Isaac (who also moved to Orlando) continued to own land and raise cattle. Jernigan cleared a spot near Lake Conway and built a small cabin. Some of the important crops that this family raised were corn, cotton, rice, sugar cane, pumpkins, and even melons.

Aaron was a successful tradesman and merchant. He also a captain of the local militia that patrolled against renegade Indians. Jernigan's settlement quickly grew and he was elected a county representative in 1846. By 1850,according to state files, the Jernigan home had become the nucleus of a settlement and designated a post office.

He died in 1891, and was buried at Lake Hill Cemetery in Orlo Vista. It wasn't until 1971, that a memorial plaque was placed there, honoring him as "Orlando's first settler."

References

http://www.cfhf.net/orlando/people/jernigan.htm

http://fp.lhps.org/orlando/1850.html

http://lakeholden.org/history/jernigan_hunt.shtml - Searching for Jernigan