Bealsville
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 27° 56.728 W 082° 04.529
17R E 394199 N 3091626
Located on Nesmith Rd in front of the Belleville Recreation Center, Plant City, FL.
Waymark Code: WMTHBB
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 11/25/2016
Views: 4
The community that became known as Belleville was settled in late 1865 by former slaves from nearby plantations in Hopewell, Springhead and surrounding areas. The original settlers were Steven Allen, Issac Berry, Peter Dexter, Neptune Henry, Mills Holloman, Bryant Horton, Samuel McKinney, Roger Smith, Mary Roddick, Abe Segenger, Jerry Stephens, and Robert Story. After emancipation, they were assisted by former slaveholder Sarah Howell, and the settlement was originally known as Howell's Creek. The settlers then homesteaded property that they acquired through the 1866 Southern Homestead Act.
The name of the community first evolved from Howell's Creek to Alafia. In 1923, it changed to Bealsville in recognition of Alfred Beal, the son of Mary Reddick. After several freezes led to bankruptcy for some of the original settlers, Beal acquired the property and sold parcels of the land back to them, thus ensuring the continuity of the community.
Bealsville stands as a legacy of the emancipated slaves who sought to remake their lives in a new community of their own. Many citizens of Bealsville are descendants from the first settlers; others have moved here. All recognize and respect the original citizens for founding one of Hillsborough County's oldest and noteworthy communities.
Marker Number: None
Date: 2013
County: Hillsborough
Marker Type: Roadside
Sponsored or placed by: Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council
Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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