Jacob Summerlin
(1820-1893)

Died aged c. 73

Jacob Summerlin (February 20, 1820 – November 4, 1893), aka the King of the Crackers and King of the Cracker Cow Hunters, was documented as the first child born in Florida after the land was ceded by Spain. This was again validated in about 2012-15 during Florida's 500-year celebration as Florida honored him as one of three people that were most influential in the past 500 years. Ponce de Leon was another of 3 honored. Jacob Summerlin was known for his contributions to the early settlement of Florida, and especially for founding the county seats of Orange and Polk counties, which are Orlando and Bartow, respectively. In the years prior to the American Civil War, he was given slaves, whom he relinquished in exchange for cattle. Summerlin was a highly successful cattleman utilizing his own sweat and brow up and down Florida, shipping cattle off to Cuba for most of his life. Also shipping to Savannah (written New York as well out of St. Augustine,) and from Key West also shipping to Cuba. Prior to school integration, Summerlin Academy, the school for White students in Bartow, was named for him. After the schools were integrated in 1968, all students attended there, and the name was changed to Bartow High School. Summerlin Academy was reestablished in 2006 as a military school within Bartow High School. Jacob donated Lake Eola and land surrounding the lake in Orlando. Named Lake Eola by his son Judge Robert Summerlin for a woman he loved. Robert graduated with a law degree from Georgia in 1885-87, became mayor of Orlando for about 1885 to 1892, then was elected judge.

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