User:Donald Albury/Wilkie James

Garth Wilkinson James, familiarly known as Wilky or Wilkie

Gordon plantation
Garth Wilkinson James, familiarly known as Wilkie or Wilky, established a cotton plantation in Gordon after the Civil War. James was a younger brother of Henry James and William James, and, as a supporter of the abolition of slavery, served as an officer with the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment in the Civil War. James was severely wounded at the Battle of Fort Wagner, but returned to service with the 54th before the end of the war. After the Civil War, John Murray Forbes, a staunch abolitionist and a friend of Wilkie James' father, Henry James Sr., supported the development of cotton farming in the South using the labor of freedmen. Like thousands of other northerners who bought up cheap land in the South and tried create to new plantations employing freedmen, Wilkie James had no experience farming. With funds from Forbes and from his father, in February 1866, James began buying land in Gordon. He was joined on the plantation by his younger brother Bob in June 1866. He eventually spent $40,000 for about 4,000 acre of largely undeveloped land. James' aunt Catherine James Temple also invested in the plantation, but most of the funds came from Henry James Sr., a large part of his wealth. James hoped that the plantation would help bring equality and education to the freedmen. James was able to return Forbe's investment within a couple of years. He also repaid his aunt, but not his father.

Wilkie was one of thousands of northerners who bought up cheap land in the South and tried to create new plantations employing freedmen. Like most of the northerners, Wilkie had no experience farming. Wilky paid $40,000 for land in Gordon. Wilkie's father, Henry James Sr. provided most of the funds. Funds were also provided by Wilkie's aunt Catherine James Temple, and by John Murray Forbes. Wilkie bought the land in 1866 through 1869. Wilkie returned to Florida plantation in 1866. The money Henry Sr. invested in the Gordon plantation was large part of his wealth, and he lost those funds when the plantation collapsed.

Wilkie served with the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment in the Civil War and was severely wounded at the Battle of Fort Wagner.

Wilkie's parents resented the family money lost in the Florida plantation.

John Murray Forbes, friend of Henry James, Sr., supported cotton farming in the South using the labor of freedmen. Wilkie had been raised as an abolitionist and had served as an officer with the all African-American enlisted men 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment in the Civil War, including in Florida near the end of the war. Wilkie went to Florida in February 1866 to purchase largely undeveloped land with money from his father and from Forbes to start a cotton plantation. Wilkie's Aunt Kate also invested in the plantation. Wilkie wrote to his parents of his hopes to bring equality and education to the freedmen. Wilkie paid Forbes back within a couple of years, but James Sr. continued to invest in the plantation. Wilkie's brother Bob joined him on the plantation in June, 1866.

Wilkie and Bob lived in a plank shack. In the Autumn of 1867 Wilkie returned to his parent's home suffering from malaria. The cotton crop had done very poorly that year, due to incessant rains and catterpillars. The price of cotton had greatly fallen, from $1.00 per pound at the end of the Civil War to 14 cents a pound in 1867. Wilkie was able to repay his aunt Kate, but not his father.

Wilkie was hospitalized for his malaria in the summer of 1869. He then returned to Florida to sell of the failed plantation.