City of Deltona
George Sauls, his wife Adeline and six children, were not the first settlers in Volusia County, but they were the first settlers in the city now called Deltona (1859). It was repeatedly called a desolate area. After arriving here he had another four children with his wife. Nine of his 10 children were girls. The area, called Saulsville at the time, was about three miles north of Osteen.
George Sauls: originally from Haw Creek, Florida was a short, small man better fitting a pony than a horse. His homestead was on what is now George Sauls Street in Deltona. Up until a couple of years ago when a house was built on the site there was a historical marker that read:
"Central Florida opened to settlers at the end of the Second Seminole War. The creation of Mosquito (later Volusia County) in 1843 signified rising interest in the area. George and Adeline Sauls were among those who came to Volusia County in the 1850s. Sauls built a two-room home near the road from Enterprise to the east coast in an area which became known as Saulsville. He added a second floor and other rooms as his family increased. After the 1880s, population centered in the railroad town of Osteen. Sauls family members remained in their home until the early 20th century. The Sauls house stood for over 100 years until fire destroyed it in 1972."
The marker is no longer there and was moved to the Osteen Cemetery at the request of the new land owner in 2000. The marker was in the middle of a short street named Barranca until the Volusia County Historical Commission renamed it George Sauls Street in 1977.
George Sauls house 1960The house George Sauls built was 123 feet wide constructed of cypress logs with a nine foot porch all around. It was typical of southern style with an open breezeway running through the center from front to back.
George Sauls house well 1960
George Sauls house after the fire 1970Sauls was commissioned during the Civil War as a secret agent for the Confederates. His duties included protecting women and children whose husbands were away at war, as well as the Confederate government's overland shipment of cattle, cotton and tobacco to Lake Harney and to the coast.
On May 26, 1865, General John Breckinridge, the Confederate Secretary of War who had a price on his head, turned up on the St. Johns River in a four-oared lifeboat from the Columbine that had struck a sand bar south of Palatka. The Columbine was a Federal steam tug armed with a prow mounted six-pound cannon captured by the Confederate army. Breckinridge made his way to Holden's Landing just above Lake Monroe. He sent two men overland to Saulsville more than five miles away to arrange for his cart and oxen to meet him the next day where Deep Creek meets the St. Johns River. Driving his wagon pulled by oxen, Sauls hauled the boat, provisions and ammunitions overland on a two day journey to just north of Titusville. Sauls charged Breckinridge an extra $5 for the stress on the oxen.
The Titusville Public Road, a long sand trail from Enterprise to Titusville, is said to have been laid out by George Sauls.
George Sauls was tied to Hezekiah Ellis Osteen by great friendship. They each had 10 children and shared in the schooling of their children by alternately boarding a tutor who was paid $20 a month. In the 1860s a two room school house was built to replace the original two family arrangement. Both George Sauls and Hezekiah Osteen were significant in developing this part of Volusia County.
Later development
In 1908, the Florida Methodist United Children's Home was founded. It continues to care for over 50 children to this day.
It was rather quiet in this area from those early years until 1962, when the Mackle Brothers brought 17,203 acres, filed a planned unit development for a community of 35,143 lots, and named the area Deltona.
Deltona is the half way mark between Orlando and Daytona Beach in 25 minutes you can get to the beach or to downtown Orlando.
Broad, curving streets and wide set back sidewalks are just two of the many features which enter into the planning and development of Mackle-built Deltona. Blanket of trees and rolling terrrain combine with built in advantages to make Deltona, in Mackle brothers' own words, "the finest community we've ever built."
The City of Deltona was incorporated December 31, 1995.
The First Strip Mall 1960s
Deltona Middle School
Street Scene in the new development. 1960
William Campbell, resident hero Vietnam War.
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