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224

pretty well pleased with the idea-; so much so that I had
some cards struck off to that effect -- But on examination
afterwards, I changed my mind -- And after due examination,
I decided to try my fortunes at Ochesee -; a beautiful loca-
tion, on the west bank of the Apalachicola River-; just at
the northern limit of Calhoun Co. at the boundary line between
that and Jackson Co.

A Mr. Jason Gregory lived there-; he had a large, fine,
showy, dwelling house-; two stories high; painted snowy white,
with green blinds; and a double piazza in front-; it was
built on brick pillars, 5 feet in hight, to provide against
freshets, which often covered all the earth in that region --
Two magnificent live oak trees grew in the yard-; near enough
to the house for the ends of the long limbs to reach it-;
they spread like a banyan tree-; and made a shade, each one,
over 125 ft. in diameter-; each of them had a trunk over 18 ft.
in circumference -- a smooth, green lawn covered the ground --
A warehouse stood on the river bluff-; plenty of negro houses --
a large & well appointed gin house stood just within the
large gate that opened into a large cotton field just south
of the premises --

Mr. Gregory was a man about 40 years of age-, with iron
Grey hair-; red, florid complexion; rough in his personal
attire-; always had rough boots outside of his pants-; the
most energetic-, thorough-going man I [every] knew-; he made the
largest crops that were ever heard of anywhere also-, was
always building mills &c. &c. &c.-; & kept everything stirring

224

pretty well pleased with the idea-; so much so that I had
some cards struck off to that effect -- But on examination
afterwards, I changed my mind - And after due examination,
I decided to try my fortunes at Ochesee -; a beautiful loca-
tion, on the west bank of the Apalachicola River-; just at
the northern limit of Calhoun Co. at the boundary line between
that and Jackson Co.

A Mr. Jason Gregory lived there-; he had a large, fine,
showy, dwelling house-; two stories high; painted snowy white,
with green blinds; and a double piazza in front-; it was
built on brick pillars, 5 feet in hight, to provide against
freshets, which often covered all the earth in that region --
Two magnificent live oak trees grew in the yard-; near enough
to the house for the ends of the long limbs to reach it-;
they spread like a banyan tree-; and made a shade, each one,
over 125 ft. in diameter-; each of them had a trunk over 18 ft.
in circumference -- a smooth, green lawn covered the ground --
A warehouse stood on the river bluff-; plenty of negro houses --
a large & well appointed gin house stood just within the
large gate that opened into a large cotton field just south
of the premises --

Mr. Gregory was a man about 40 years of age-, with iron
Grey hair-; red, florid complexion; rough in his personal
attire-; always had rough boots outside of his pants-; the
most energetic-, thorogh-going man I [every] knew-; he made the
largest crops that were ever heard of anywhere also-, was
always building mills &c. &c.-; & kept everything stirring