My family can be tracked back to the 1840 census in Walton County, which included Okaloosa County at that time. They were actually homesteading on the Shoal River near what is now Crestview.
When my daddy was 10, his daddy moved the family in order to supervise a turpentine still operation near DeFuniak Springs. He told such stories of ho…
My family can be tracked back to the 1840 census in Walton County, which included Okaloosa County at that time. They were actually homesteading on the Shoal River near what is now Crestview.
When my daddy was 10, his daddy moved the family in order to supervise a turpentine still operation near DeFuniak Springs. He told such stories of how majestic the virgin pines in Florida were and then they cut them all down. From Pensacola on the west all the way across to Jacksonville. They took them all down.
The stumps and roots were well preserved from the sap and were used as fire starter back in the day; but we called it ‘lighterd’. Don’t know how it would be spelled, that’s what it sounded like. A very strong and obstinate person would be said to be as ‘tough as a lighterd knot.’
My mom's family arrived in Florida in the 1770s; my dad's in the 1860s. On our farm, we've planted stands of longleaf pine to help recreate some small part of the lost ecosystem. Some is now inside a pasture (Florida Cracker cattle and sheep), and some is out. Deer, turkey, gopher tortoises, doves, etc., are plentiful, as are gators in the pond. We have an old catface stump, and people here still call it lighterd.
My family was from South Georgia (Waycross area) and also in the pine tree and turpentine operations. They went back and forth between FL and GA and finally settled in Clermont FL for the final time. They then worked in the citrus industry there. There used to be a small town north of Tallahassee named Hinson which is my family name. Interesting info you shared. Thank you!
My family can be tracked back to the 1840 census in Walton County, which included Okaloosa County at that time. They were actually homesteading on the Shoal River near what is now Crestview.
When my daddy was 10, his daddy moved the family in order to supervise a turpentine still operation near DeFuniak Springs. He told such stories of how majestic the virgin pines in Florida were and then they cut them all down. From Pensacola on the west all the way across to Jacksonville. They took them all down.
The stumps and roots were well preserved from the sap and were used as fire starter back in the day; but we called it ‘lighterd’. Don’t know how it would be spelled, that’s what it sounded like. A very strong and obstinate person would be said to be as ‘tough as a lighterd knot.’
My mom's family arrived in Florida in the 1770s; my dad's in the 1860s. On our farm, we've planted stands of longleaf pine to help recreate some small part of the lost ecosystem. Some is now inside a pasture (Florida Cracker cattle and sheep), and some is out. Deer, turkey, gopher tortoises, doves, etc., are plentiful, as are gators in the pond. We have an old catface stump, and people here still call it lighterd.
Highly recommended reading for you: https://milkweed.org/book/ecology-of-a-cracker-childhood
Have it and have read it!
My family was from South Georgia (Waycross area) and also in the pine tree and turpentine operations. They went back and forth between FL and GA and finally settled in Clermont FL for the final time. They then worked in the citrus industry there. There used to be a small town north of Tallahassee named Hinson which is my family name. Interesting info you shared. Thank you!
Ahhhhhhh, I lived in WAYX from 70's-ish till I was transferred to Ocala in '84. Going up there this weekend. My Dad turns 80. Wow. Very kool.
Later Jay
P.S. Willing S. we called them "fat lighter" in S. Ga.
And thank you! I love the stories.