Hey Joe,
"...Two years later in August of 1898, there appears a deed in the public records from Otis Lumber Company, selling for $2,000.00 to Simeon Otis a one-third interest in 1,740 acres of land, plus an additional approximate 65 acres on Robinson Point. There was the same mention of the graveyard reserved to public use forever, plus there was now mention of a sawmill, engines, boilers, machinery and tools. Apparently Otis Lumber Company was owned by Sim Otis along with C. W. Hagerman who was identified as President, and F. B. Hagerman was Secretary. The extent of their involvement was not researched.
Also, at this same time, Otis Lumber Company sold to P. Tomasello for $4,000.00 a two-thirds interest in the same property, mill and equipment.
In addition, Otis Lumber Company agreed to sell all their pitch pine logs at the mill or in streams, to Robinson Point Lumber Company for $10,000.00. The 1,740 acres, the mill site and the equipment sold for $6,000.00 of this $10,000.00, leaving the value of the logs at $4,000.00. They also sold all the goods in the store at the mill of Otis Lumber Company at Robinson Point, Florida, for $806.80. Sim Otis was probably not out of the picture yet, as Robinson Point Lumber Company was a co-partnership composed of P. Tomasello and S. Otis. (However, this S. Otis could have been Sim's brother, Sylvester H. Otis.) The agreement also allowed Otis to store lumber at no charge until it could be removed. Robinson Point Lumber Company incorporated in 1899 according to their Charter and Notice of Incorporation.
On May 3, the following year, 1899, Simeon and Frances E. Otis sold almost all their holdings to Peter Tomasello. These holdings consisted of 1/3 undivided interest in lands (probably over 3,000 acres) and the mill, plus their 1/2 interest in Robinson Point Lumber Company. Tomasello paid $3,500.00 cash, plus assumed the debt of about $750.00 which Otis owed, which Tomasello was to satisfy. Otis even sold all his personal property except for a sailboat christened "Dewey", 2 pairs oyster tongs, 1 horse and buggy, his personal tools, effects, and household furnishings. He probably had decided to move to Mulat, because about 8 months later he purchased a parcel along the railroad track and the bayou for $100.00. The exact location of this land was not determined, but he purchased this from Warren E. Urch and Agnes Urch. Could this have been the house site?..."
http://gen.culpepper.com/ss/p43355.htm
