Remembering Suwannee: Francis James Ross, Part 1

Florida’s history is full of interesting people. Since I discussed a hotel at Suwannee Springs last week, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss someone interesting who was associated with that location. This is Francis James Ross, whose forgotten but interesting and complicated life we will review over the next few weeks. He was instrumental in developing at least two communities in Florida, including one in Suwannee County. Special thanks to Ross’s descendant, Paige Van Antwerp, for some of this information. Francis James (F. J.) Ross was born in North Carolina in 1785, just two years after the end of the American Revolution. He moved to Florida around the time it became a