Lue Gim Gong - Citrus Farmer - DeLand, FL - Occupational/Hobby Grave Stones on Waymarking.com

"Citrus farmer and Horticulturalist. The development of oranges and other citrus more adapted to Florida's environment were the work of Lue Gim Gong. He was born in a farming village near Canton, China. He lived in China until he was 12 years old when, he sailed to San Francisco with his uncle and some other boys. They lived briefly in San Francisco, California, before moving to North Adams Massachusetts where he worked in the Sampson Shoe Factory. Lue Gim Gong was frail and became ill (perhaps TB) and the daughter of a local farmer, Miss Fanny Burlingame took him in and nursed him back to health. He became a Christian and a citizen of the US while under her care. In 1884, he returned to China to see his mother. When he returned to the US. Massachusetts winters were too much for Lue. So in 1886, he and Miss Fanny moved to DeLand, FLorida. He and Miss Fanny's brother-in-law Mr. William Dumville planted oranges and other fruit trees. But the freezes of 1894 and 1895 killed most of the citrus trees in Florida. By 1888, Lue had produced a new orange which ripened in the early fall and which was bright and sweet called the Lue Gim Gong orange. Four years later, he developed a new variety of grapefruit that grew singly on the branch rather than in a clump, and another one which didn't have much juice but had a wonderful aroma. Miss Fanny and her widowed sister Mrs. Cynthia Dumville returned to MA, and when Miss Fanny died in 1903, she left her property in Florida to Lue. Now his only companions were a rooster and his two horses Baby and Fannie. In 1911, he received the Silver Wilder Medal from the USDA for his orange (which is still grown in Florida) and his contributions in citrus farming. But he was not a good businessman, and friends kept having to pay his taxes to keep him from losing his property. Lue Gim Gong died in 1925 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in the southwest corner. The people planned to erect a bust to his memory, but due to the depression and intervening events, the bust was not done until 2000. This bust is now in a gazebo in the DeLand House garden He is also the subject of one of the murals that have been painted in town, along with his rooster. (bio by: William R. Cavins)"

-- Source

Is Gravestone Showing Occupation or Hobby?: Occupation What is depicted occupation or hobby?: Citrus Farmer Date of birth: 01/01/1860 Date of death: 07/03/1925 Access hours and days: Not listed

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