Bealsville in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Bealsville
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, November 25, 2016
1. Bealsville Marker
Inscription.
Bealsville. . The community that became known as Bealsville was settled in late 1865 by former slaves from nearby plantations in Hopewell, Springhead and surrounding areas. The original settlers were Steven Allen, Issac Berry, Peter Dexter, Neptune Henry, Mills Holloman, Bryant Horton, Samuel McKinney, Roger Smith, Mary Roddick, Abe Segenger, Jerry Stephens, and Robert Story. After emancipation, they were assisted by former slaveholder Sarah Howell, and the settlement was originally known as Howell's Creek. The settlers then homesteaded property that they acquired through the 1866 Southern Homestead Act. The name of the community first evolved from Howell's Creek to Alafia. In 1923, it changed to Bealsville in recognition of Alfred Beal, the son of Mary Reddick. After several freezes led to bankruptcy for some of the original settlers, Beal acquired the property and sold parcels of the land back to them, thus ensuring the continuity of the community.
Bealsville stands as a legacy of the emancipated slaves who sought to remake their lives in a new community of their own. Many citizens of Bealsville are descendants from the first settlers; others have moved here. All recognize and respect the original citizens for founding one of Hillsborough County's oldest and noteworthy communities.
The community that became known as Bealsville was settled in late 1865 by former slaves from nearby plantations in Hopewell, Springhead and surrounding areas. The original settlers were Steven Allen, Issac Berry, Peter Dexter, Neptune Henry, Mills Holloman, Bryant Horton, Samuel McKinney, Roger Smith, Mary Roddick, Abe Segenger, Jerry Stephens, and Robert Story. After emancipation, they were assisted by former slaveholder Sarah Howell, and the settlement was originally known as Howell's Creek. The settlers then homesteaded property that they acquired through the 1866 Southern Homestead Act.
The name of the community first evolved from Howell's Creek to Alafia. In 1923, it changed to Bealsville in recognition of Alfred Beal, the son of Mary Reddick. After several freezes led to bankruptcy for some of the original settlers, Beal acquired the property and sold parcels of the land back to them, thus ensuring the continuity of the community.
Bealsville stands as a legacy of the emancipated slaves who sought to remake their lives in a new community of their own. Many citizens of Bealsville are descendants from the first settlers; others have moved here. All recognize and respect the original citizens for founding one of Hillsborough County's oldest and noteworthy communities.
Erected 2013 by
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Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.
Location. 27° 56.728′ N, 82° 4.529′ W. Marker is in Bealsville, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is at the intersection of Nesmith Road and Joe King Road, on the right when traveling west on Nesmith Road. Located in front of the Bealsville Recreation Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5009 Nesmith Avenue, Plant City FL 33567, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Bealsville Marker looking west on Nesmith Road.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 23, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 725 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 23, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
