Melton Haynes

Melton Haynes (March 21, 1827 – January 10, 1883) was a Confederate soldier, civil engineer and early settler of Lake County, Florida. He is known for bringing the first sweet oranges to central Florida. He was born in Whiteville, North Carolina to Bythel and Zylphia Nichols Haynes as the fourth of ten children. They settled in what is now Leesburg, Florida on a bluff across Lake Astatula, naming their settlement Haynes Point. During this time, Haynes earned money by surveying the untamed landscape of Lake County, as well as by selling sweet potatoes he planted. It was also during this time that Haynes fought in the Seminole Wars during the uprising in 1848. He married Sarah Isabella Vaught, whom he called Isa, in November 1849. Oranges were not native to Central Florida, so Haynes is credited with beginning what would become a flourishing citrus industry in the area. Haynes died in 1883 after falling from his horse and drowning due to injury. He fought in the battle of Marianna in Marianna, Fl, as well as the largest battle in Fl, the battle of Olustee in Baker County, Fl. He surrendered as a Captain on May 10th, 1865 and was paroled on May 20th, 1865.