180 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
HARVIE EARN* 
Harvie Earnhardt Heitman was born at 
Lexington, North Carolina, December 17, 
1872, where he lived until about 16 years 
of age. He was educated in the private 
schools of his native town. 
Mr. Heitman came to Florida in 1888, 
and was employed by his great-uncle, M. 
A. Parker, who conducted a general store 
with a small bank in connection in Fort 
Myers. He soon became manager of the 
business and by close application, business 
sagacity and an appreciation of Florida’s 
possibilities he became one of the most 
successful business men in South Florida. 
He purchased the land, cleared and 
planted the Flowerree Groves of 600 acres 
in 1900, which was at that time the largest 
citrus grove in the State. He managed 
this for 21 years, and owned and managed 
several other citrus groves. He was re¬ 
garded as one of the best informed men 
louis : 
Louis D. Jones was born near Vinton, 
Ohio, in the year 1864. He took up rail¬ 
roading in his early life, advanced rapidly 
and became chief dispatcher of the Big 
Four in Ohio. In this capacity he came to 
Sanford, Florida, in the year 1901. Look¬ 
ing abroad he saw a great future for cit¬ 
rus growing, invested in citrus property, 
and after becoming a grower learned from 
experience some of the difficulties in mar¬ 
keting the fruit. He became a dominat¬ 
ing figure in organizing the Florida Cit¬ 
rus Exchange, and for a few years he was 
manager of the Orange County Sub-Ex¬ 
change. His marked ability here caused 
him to be selected as general manager of 
^RDT HEITMAN 
on citrus culture and marketing in the 
State. 
He led a most active life, seemed to be 
almost untiring in his efforts and was in¬ 
terested in a surprisingly large number of 
business enterprises. As merchant, bank¬ 
er, builder, real estate owner and devel¬ 
oper, fruit grower and promoter of enter¬ 
prises for the upbuilding of his town, 
county and State, few men have accom¬ 
plished more for the material advance¬ 
ment of Florida. He was a real source of 
information and inspiration to tourists 
and other visitors to his locality. He in¬ 
terested capitalists in investments and 
spent liberally of his own funds for civic 
and general improvement. 
He died at Fort Myers April 17, 1922. 
His marked success in a life of less than 
50 years is an evidence of what may be 
accomplished in this “Land of Flowers.” 
. JONES 
the Florida Citrus Exchange, which posi¬ 
tion he held from 1913 to 1916. 
Returning to his grove at Winter Ha¬ 
ven after retiring from the management 
of the Exchange, he made his influence 
felt in all that made for the development 
and advancement of his community. He 
lived to spend and be spent for the good 
of others. 
He was a man of enthusiasm, which 
was revealed through all his activities, 
railroading, lodge, club and citrus indus¬ 
try. This element never waned, but rather 
enhanced with 2ge. He died at Winter 
Garden, March 14, 1922. 
