TheJames A. Kirksey Plantation was a moderate forced-labor farm of 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) located in northwesternLeon County,Florida, United States, established byJames A. Kirksey. In 1847 he served asmayor of Tallahassee. He had a large number of slaves.
The James Kirksey plantation house was prefabricated inNew York and built on the site in 1832. It is a 2-story home 55 ft (17 m) across the front and 33 ft (10 m) wide withporches on both floors wrapping from side to front to side. The house is supported with 16 flutedDoric columns (8 per floor). It is located at 325 N. Calhoun Street in Tallahassee.[1][2]
It was photographed for theHistoric American Buildings Survey.[1]
The Kirksey Plantation was bordered on the north by Frederick R. Cotten'sBurgesstown Plantation and on the east by theWilliam A. Carr Plantation. Today the first section of 950 acres (380 ha) would be on the west side of North Meridian Road at Orchard Pond Road, including Buck Pond. The second section was 3 mi (4.8 km) north of Tallahassee on 1,280 acres (520 ha).
The Leon County Florida 1860 Agricultural Census shows that the James A. Kirksey Plantation had the following:
Though the plantation was not extremely large, it was the 4th largest in the county.
The plantation was owned by James A. Kirksey who was born in 1804 and died in 1878. Though not a large plantation owner, James Kirksey was involved in state politics as an election inspector in 1845.[2] and also a delegate to the Florida Secession Convention on January 10, 1861.
Around 1915 or 1916 the James Kirksey Plantation was purchased by Dr. Tennent Ronalds ofEdinburgh,Scotland, who also ownedLive Oak Plantation andOrchard Pond Plantation, a total personal estate of 6,437 acres (2,605 ha).