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Jackson County, Florida
Historic Sites and Research
Historic Sites and Research
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Dellwood
Located in an extensive agricultural district, the
community of Dellwood is a well-preserved
example of a trading village from the late 19th and
early 20th centuries.
The Dellwood area had been settled since before
the Civil War, but during its early years the
community does not appear to have had an
identifiable name. The settlement lay on an
important road connecting Marianna with a
riverboat landing on the Chattahoochee River and
early farmers used this route to move their cotton
and other commodities to the river for shipment.
In 1864, men and boys from the community
participated in the organization of a "home guard"
or local militia company at nearby Cowpen Pond.
Headed by Captain George Robinson, the unit
arrived too late to fight in the Battle of Marianna,
although a few of its members were there.
Exactly when the community took on its modern
name is not clear, but the name appeared in notices
for The Grange, a farmer's organization, as early as
1875. Dellwood was the location of one of Jackson
County's three Grange halls.
The Dellwood post office, an indication of the
growing importance of the community, was
established in 1880. By that time, the community
was also the site of a school, the mercantile
business of C.M. Messer, and several other
businesses.
The man who would become Dellwood's most
prominent resident located there in 1903. Dr.
Charles H. Ryals, a "country doctor" of the old
school, set up a medical practice and pharmacy in
Dellwood. He would practice for 52 years, serving
rich and poor alike. Over that time, he delivered
hundreds of babies and treated patients in their
homes as well as in his office. He purchased one of
the county's first automobiles in 1910 and roamed
widely through the farming communities, helping
people were he could. He later was among the
founding physicians of the Baltzell Hospital and
Jackson Hospital in Marianna.
community of Dellwood is a well-preserved
example of a trading village from the late 19th and
early 20th centuries.
The Dellwood area had been settled since before
the Civil War, but during its early years the
community does not appear to have had an
identifiable name. The settlement lay on an
important road connecting Marianna with a
riverboat landing on the Chattahoochee River and
early farmers used this route to move their cotton
and other commodities to the river for shipment.
In 1864, men and boys from the community
participated in the organization of a "home guard"
or local militia company at nearby Cowpen Pond.
Headed by Captain George Robinson, the unit
arrived too late to fight in the Battle of Marianna,
although a few of its members were there.
Exactly when the community took on its modern
name is not clear, but the name appeared in notices
for The Grange, a farmer's organization, as early as
1875. Dellwood was the location of one of Jackson
County's three Grange halls.
The Dellwood post office, an indication of the
growing importance of the community, was
established in 1880. By that time, the community
was also the site of a school, the mercantile
business of C.M. Messer, and several other
businesses.
The man who would become Dellwood's most
prominent resident located there in 1903. Dr.
Charles H. Ryals, a "country doctor" of the old
school, set up a medical practice and pharmacy in
Dellwood. He would practice for 52 years, serving
rich and poor alike. Over that time, he delivered
hundreds of babies and treated patients in their
homes as well as in his office. He purchased one of
the county's first automobiles in 1910 and roamed
widely through the farming communities, helping
people were he could. He later was among the
founding physicians of the Baltzell Hospital and
Jackson Hospital in Marianna.
| Dellwood, Florida An important early trading community, Dellwood was the home of a well-known "country doctor." |
Two of Jackson County's best examples of private
preservation of historic sites can be found in
Dellwood. The community's old Methodist
Church, long a landmark in eastern Jackson
County, has been beautifully restored. The grounds
are open to the public and a marker at the front
outlines the history of the church and community.
Across the road from the church, the home and
office of Dr. Ryals also have been restored. The
beautiful frame home sits back from the road and is
easily identifiable by a white plank fence fronting
the highway. The home is private and not open to
the public, but can be viewed at a distance from the
churchyard across the street.
preservation of historic sites can be found in
Dellwood. The community's old Methodist
Church, long a landmark in eastern Jackson
County, has been beautifully restored. The grounds
are open to the public and a marker at the front
outlines the history of the church and community.
Across the road from the church, the home and
office of Dr. Ryals also have been restored. The
beautiful frame home sits back from the road and is
easily identifiable by a white plank fence fronting
the highway. The home is private and not open to
the public, but can be viewed at a distance from the
churchyard across the street.
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