CHAPTER 1

A Question of Marriage (1853)

"Rhoda!" She would never forget that sound as her father calledher name. Usually it was `Bessie.' It had been two weeks since anearlier conversation during which her father had so matter-of-factlyinformed her that his good friend and guest, who would be insoon, would make her a good husband. His name was WilliamKilcrease from Quincy, Florida; that he was a Florida State Senator;was not a young man; was a very wealthy plantation owner; and, ifit could be arranged would make her a life of plenty, and a goodhusband. Rhoda was in a cold sweat, and visibly shaken as sherecoiled from the thoughts of being in bed with an old man.

Even though she was eighteen years old, Rhoda had neverbeen in unescorted company. Usually, at least her mother, or oneor more of her six brothers, would be close. Every social activityhad been chaperoned. Her father would never let any activityadversely affect his reputation as a leader in the area. She knewthat her petite body, blond curly hair, blue eyes and shapely bodywas not unnoticed by her fellow students. Everywhere she went inGreenwood, heads would turn and boys acted differently towardher, than they did with other girls. She could have her pick of anyof them.

Rhoda had often worried about marriage. Would she ever geta man? Who would he be? How would it be to have sex? `Mama'had been reluctant to talk about being with a man. Now with thepossibility of marriage, Rhoda was having mixed feelings. So manythings to think about!

Rhoda and her mother entered the study together.

"Bessie, this is General William Kilcrease," her father announced.

Rhoda was pleasantly surprised. He was not a large man, infact, he was rather diminutive in stature, very erect, impeccablydressed, and more handsome than she had imagined.

Rhoda curtsied as she heard the General, "Is this the futureMrs. William Kilcrease?" Almost as if not wanting to displeaseher father, and entirely without any deliberate effort to reply,Rhoda dipped her chin, blushed, and sent every message throughher body that "yes" she had accepted his proposal—no romance,no courtship. Thoughts swirled through her head. Just a clean,surgical proposal and acceptance.

They were married in Greenwood, South Carolina, October12, 1853, one month before Rhoda's nineteenth birthday,

CHAPTER 2

The Trip to Florida as aMarried Woman

The mental picture of what he had created in Florida and hispromise that Rhoda would have no lower status than a queenseemed to partly justify her leaving the comfort and securityof home, friends, and family. The stormy trip by steamer fromCharleston down the coast of Georgia to a small fishing port calledSt. Mary's had been terrifying, not to mention the fear of beingalone at night in a rolling, tossing cabin. William, conversely,seemed to enjoy regaling fellow passenger with tales of Floridapolitics. He was the consummate politician. It would have been somuch easier and comfortable to go by train from Charleston to St.Mary's, but it was William's idea to take the overnight steamer.

True to his word, William had booked adjoining cabins. So faronly seasickness, discomfort, and rough seas. Rhoda was miserable.It was, however, some comfort that prior to the wedding Williamdid promise that the marriage would not be consummated untilthey reached their home in Quincy, Florida. She was in no moodfor love.

They barely had time to enjoy a local delicacy of shrimp andgrits, before boarding a small, one-cylinder steam driven riverboat. William had told her the trip up river to Barber's Landingwould take four or five hours, then the rest of the trip would be byStage Coach. First they would stop in Sanderson for a fresh teamof horses. Then press on to Olustee for a brief stop. The final stopof the day would be at White Springs on the Suwannee River.

"The spring water is so cold it'll take your breath away."William reminded Rhoda as she added it to her basket of dreams.

William had told her so many things to expect in her new lifein Florida. No house work, no cooking, no making up beds, slavesto take care of her every wish. Rhoda was suddenly overwhelmedwith feelings of insecurity and loneliness, feelings that somehownothing he promised would come to pass. She accepted that herfather totally arranged the marriage and even during the weddingceremony, Rhoda's teen age imagination had carried her on thepromises of William that she was going to the land of "milk andhoney," to a plantation just a few miles south of Quincy, so largeit would take a full day to circle it at fast gallop. He told her heowned about 160 slaves and that a few of them would be selectedto take care of her every whim. He also promised that one day hewould be Governor of the State of Florida, and that she would takeher place in the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee as Florida's FirstLady, a prediction that would come partially true, but not as theycould have ever imagined!

"Whoa!" Rhoda was engulfed in feelings of relief as the stageemerged from thick, heavy moss laden cypress and unusually largepine trees.

"I'll never survive this wild, alligator and snake infestedwilderness."

Then she saw it. A scene out of a story book. The driver hadpulled the stage up to the edge of the largest lake Rhoda had everseen. As she stepped down to the ground her first view was of theCypress trees forming a canopy and framing a view of the lakefront. A gentle breeze caused slight waves to lap at the water's edge.She thought, "Eden must have been something like this. Where isthis place?" she asked of no one in particular.

William, the inveterate politician and never at a loss of wordsabout Florida history answered, "You're now at the edge of OceanPond."

Rhoda thought, "Now there is a contradiction. How could itbe an ocean and a pond?"

"The small village we just passed is called `Olustee,' Williamadded, an Indian name meaning black dirt."

As Rhoda put her feet in the cool water at the edge ofOcean Pond the word `Indian' caused feelings of uneasiness. Acold chill of apprehension crept over her skin as she thought ofWilliam's apology for the unintended slip of tact when he, withuncharacteristic bravado, told of the severe punishment of severalIndians who had recently slaughtered some settlers near part of hisplantation which bordered the banks of the Apalachicola River.

"They're all gone now, reassured William. And don't worryyour pretty little head. This land will not always be a wilderness."

"Already there are plans to run a railroad from Jacksonvilleto Quincy, and it will have to come close to this very spot. Yousee ... to the north of us is this lake and the Okefenokee Swamp,and to the south are the head waters of Olustee Creek. If you wantto make some money invest in land in Olustee. Any east of westtraffic will have to come through here!"

Rhoda was deep in thought, and not because of William'shumorous financial speculations. "What is it about this place? Thislake? This place called Olustee?

Finally her feelings so overwhelmed her that she could notcontrol her emotions. Her voice quivering, tears staining hercheeks, and in a childlike tone told William, "I want to go home!"

William was momentarily stunned by Rhoda's flood of emotions.

"Bessie, we'll be in Quincy tomorrow. If you don't like whatyou see I'll take you back to South Carolina within the month."

This seemed to reassure Rhoda, but as they left Ocean Pondthe stage road led through a dense pine forest, a dark forebodingland which magnified her feelings of uneasiness.

These feelings lifted somewhat as they crossed a bridge overthe Suwannee River, and the stage driver's cheerful, "We're here!White Springs! We're stopping for the night. Get out. Relax. Takea cool dip if you care. This is the best and coldest water this side ofheaven!"

Rhoda noted that William seemed to have much authority. Atevery stop they were treated with great respect and hands seemedto cater to his every whim. Even to arranging for an early departurefor the remaining seventy-five miles to Tallahassee, for a quickshow of his office in the Capital and on to Quincy before dark.

Exactly on time they wheeled into Tallahassee inmid-afternoon. William did not miss the opportunity to gostraight to his office in the Capital Building, en route stopping infront of the Governor's Office where he renewed a solemn promiseto `Bessie,' as he now called her. "One day you will be First Lady inthe Governor's Mansion." Rhoda began to sense that all that hadbeen told her was coming to fruition.

William was now in his territory. So that Rhoda could travelthe final twenty miles to Quincy in luxury, William had arrangedfor his own sedan to meet them in Tallahassee.

As she stepped aboard Rhoda could not help but notice theextremely handsome features of the driver. "How wonderfullyproportioned, she thought, ever careful not to give any indicationto William that she had even noticed. It's a shame such a wonderfulspecimen of humankind should be considered only as property andnot as a human being."

In her studies she had frequently debated the points of slavery.Rhoda doubted that she could ever tell William, but it has beenproven time and time again that simple economics proved thedisproportionate value of slaves when compared to the freeenterprise of hiring labor. Slaves cost much up front money, thenthey had to be housed, fed, clothed, and kept in good health, plusa property tax had to be paid on each and every one of them. Freemen only had to be paid a pittance, or in some cases only a partof the crop. Why didn't the earlier settlers of the South, simplycontract with the Irish, or Scandinavians for labor and save allthe trouble of buying labor forces from the Arabs and having togo through the trouble of communication problems, training,discipline, feeding, clothing, housing, medicating and breeding.

Rhoda's mind quickly snapped back to the image before her."What a hunk."

"Just a short ride to Havana, then straight west to Quincy."William's composure was obviously turning to completeconfidence. He was on his own turf of familiarity, his domain ofabsolute power, his word was law!

Again William reminded, "If you can bear it out for just a littlewhile you will experience the power of being the wife of a StateSenator. Plus! He added with much emphasis, the power of beingthe first lady of the largest plantation in the entire state of Florida."

"One day, Bessie, he again reminded. You will be the FirstLady of this State." The metamorphous was beginning. Rhoda'scomposure changed. Her countenance changed. She was no longerthe homesick little girl from Greenwood.

The sedan seemed to be gliding, and as they crossed a smallstream on the outskirts of Quincy, William noted they were onKing Street.

CHAPTER 3

In Quincy, Florida

"How charming. These homes are beautiful. Most are mansions.You didn't tell me how grand this town is. Everything seems tohave been planned. Oh, I love it!" For the first time since leavingSouth Carolina, Rhoda was genuinely relaxed. She had made leapsand bounds in her transition from `little girl' to being the wife ofone of the most powerful men in the new state of Florida.

William was quick to inform her, Quincy is one of the oldestplanned towns in Florida, and gets its name from John QuincyAdams, who signed the deed of 160 acres in 1828.

"Tonight, we'll stay here at the Love House and tomorrowmorning I'll take you home."

Again to Rhoda's relief, William had arranged for separate rooms.

She also had the good feeling that she was back in civilization.

CHAPTER 4

Introduction to Plantation Life

"It's about eight miles to the farm, the road is dry so it should bea smooth ride." It was the first time since leaving South Carolinathat William seemed comfortable. Rhoda also felt somewhat atease in making queries.

"Tell me about the place. Tell me everything I need to know.Will you have someone to help me in the kitchen? This marriagething is new...."

William interrupted with the admonition, "Relax! Just be mypretty wife, and forget about house work."

"Get ready, Bessie! We're getting ready to turn up the lane toyour new home."

As the carriage turned, Rhoda noted the many women andchildren along the way. "What are they doing?"

"Well ... this is October, those are pecan trees and the pecansare ready to be harvested. That means pecan pies, fruit cakes andall kinds of goodies.

"Look up Rhoda. See that wind mill and as it rotates it is tiedto a water pump, which pumps water up to that water tank, whichin turn sends water to our bath tubs, indoor toilets, and kitchensinks, and it also trickles over the Cool House to add to the coolingeffect."

"How marvelous," thought Rhoda. The learning process wasmaking quantum leaps, and she was absorbing it all like a drysponge.

As if to jolt her back to the moment, and becoming concernedthat the complexities of farm life would discourage Rhoda, Williamquickly brought her back to present reality with a resounding,"You're home!"

Todd skillfully turned the carriage to parallel the steps leadingto the front porch. Rhoda noted, "It looks like two houses underone roof."

"It used to be called a `shotgun' house." "Meaning you couldfire a shotgun from the front of the house, through that long halland out the back without hitting anything." William, as usualwas not at a loss for words or an explanation for anything oreverything.

As Rhoda stepped out of the carriage, she noted severalchildren of various ages, and two mature and very stately blackwomen. "This is Rosa Mae and this is Bee. They will take care ofwhatever you need."

"Don't forget me," chimed in an elderly black.

"Oh, yes this is Preacher Warren, he's Rosa Mae's daddyand has been around for many years and generally takes care ofodd jobs around the house. He's also one of the best coopers inthe country. In case you don't know, a cooper makes barrels,kegs and assorted wooden containers ...—and we use plenty ofthem around this place ... some for our own use and some forshipping."

"It's getting late, and I know you'll want to freshen up beforesupper."

"Bee, show Mrs. Kilcrease her bedroom, help her freshen-up,and show her to my study, then I'll take her to the dining room.And by the way, what are we having for supper?"

"Oh Massa Kilcrease," Rosa Mae literally sang what she knewwas her master's choice of fried chicken, dumplings, turnip greens,cheese grits, and for desert, some fresh milk and pecan pie.

It was a sumptuous meal and after retiring to the studyWilliam, as usual, seemed to relish talking about his lifeaccomplishments but first wanted to ease any concern by Rhoda asto what she could expect.

"Listen Bessie, I have 160 blacks, ... some are well trainedto take care of all household duties. So don't worry your prettylittle head about house work. Also, there are three or four familiesof `Peckerwoods' living nearby, and from time to time they helpwith curing pork, canning vegetables, some blacksmithing, somecarpentry and equipment maintenance. Mostly what the locals call`po white trash.' I know they steal a few chickens, and once in awhile take a ham or some cracklins, but I turn a blind side to whatthey call `toting privileges.' It's a trade-off I have to make. It wouldbe much cheaper to hire the Peckerwoods than to maintain slaves.

William confirmed Rhoda's studies in Economics. "I'veoften thought of freeing all my slaves and hire them back assharecroppers. It's just that Florida laws dealing with freeingslaves is very complex and costly. For one thing, if a slave is setfree, Florida law requires that the slave must leave the state. I amworking very hard with other Florida Senators to change that law.

Why it was passed I can't understand. Why should I free awell-trained worker only to have him go to another state andbecome a trained worker for someone who gains the benefitwithout the expense."

"Secondly, I'd save the property tax on each one. Above allit would be an incentive to increase production. It's a lesson weshould have learned with the Jamestown experiment. Which as youknow from history lessons in grade school,—when the pilgrimsfirst landed in America, the land was divided equally and eachman was expected to produce equal to that of his neighbor. Thatdid not happen. Some were lazy or incapable. Some were highlyproductive. The end result was that the taking from the highlyproductive and giving it to the incompetent or incapable proveddisastrous."