Bealsville in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bealsville

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, November 25, 2016

1. Bealsville Marker

Inscription. 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. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Glover School (approx. 0.4 miles away); C-47 “SkyTrain” (approx. 3.8 miles away); Convair F2Y F “SeaDart” (approx. 3.9 miles away); Sun 'n Fun Fly-in (approx. 3.9 miles away); Cirrus VK-30 (approx. 3.9 miles away); Boeing 307 Stratoliner 1939 (approx. 3.9 miles away); MiG-21 MF 1970 (approx. 3.9 miles away); Grumman F-14-D “Tomcat” (approx. 3.9 miles away).

Bealsville Marker looking west on Nesmith Road. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, November 25, 2016

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 1,147 times since then and 37 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.