06/18/2026
This evening we bring you a masterful resurrection of a long ago lost little boy. His marble memorial had been dislodged, tossed aside, carelessly abused, and seemingly forgotten until the dawn of the year, 2026.
⭐️⭐️PLEASE read all the way through as there is an AMAZING story wrapped up up within tonight's presentation.
●● We bring to you, Franklin Eagle Eye ●●
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⭐️Franklin Eagle Eye was born nearly 117 years ago on October 12th, 1909. He lived but for 224 days, having passed away on May 24th, 1910.
⭐️Franklin had no confirmed birth record or death certificate, BUT I did find a curious if not impersonal obituary written for him. In it, his mother is mentioned but not by name. When Franklin passed, she was described as an actress who was working in Havana, Cuba when he lost his life. His address, and this is important, was 401 1-2 Fortune Street in downtown Tampa.
⭐️When I first discovered his stone, it was dislodged from the gravesite and facing the wrong direction. I have since corrected that.
⭐️His surname, "Eagle Eye" is intriguing for many reasons. Was he from a Native American, Seminole tribe?? Around 1910, Seminole Indians in the Tampa and South Florida area were in a period of transition, moving from isolated, traditional lifestyles toward increased interaction with the growing white population, including early involvement in tourism. Their appearance was characterized by vibrant, hand-sewn clothing, with the very early emergence of their signature patchwork, and a distinct, resilient, and proud demeanor.
⭐️Now THIS is interesting: The street (Fortune Street) and neighborhood where Franklin passed away is deeply rooted in Tampa’s history, bearing the name of pioneering local icon Madame Fortune Taylor (1825–1906). Born enslaved, she was brought to the region prior to freedom reaching Tampa’s African Americans in 1864. Shortly after, she and her longtime partner, Benjamin Taylor (1824–1869), began building their lives just north of town along the eastern banks of the Hillsborough River. In May 1866 they became one of the first Black couples legally married in Hillsborough County. Drawing on their agricultural knowledge from South Carolina and Hernando County, Florida the couple established themselves as some of Tampa's earliest citrus farmers. In 1868, Benjamin secured a homestead claim for their 33-acre plot, where he built a home and planted 70 fruit trees, including orange, guava, peach, and plum. Tragedy struck in 1869 when Fortune Taylor’s beloved Ben passed away, but she persevered, managing their homestead alone for the next six years and transferring the claim to her name. Her hard work paid off in 1875 when Edward A. Clark, a real estate developer, CSA Veteran of the American Civil War, and former Tampa mayor, helped her gain free and clear title to the property. Clark then bought 28 acres of the land to design the layout for the City of North Tampa. Right at the heart of his new city plan was Fortune Street, cutting directly through the property she had fought so hard to keep. By the first decade of the 20th century, the street was a highly trafficked artery for pedestrians, horse-drawn carriages, and early automobiles flowing between downtown, the expanding cigar factories, and residential areas in West Tampa. This was where this evening's honoree was born in 1909.
⭐️Although there are other graves nearby, none of them are connected to Franklin.
Franklin Eagle Eye... Beloved son, forgotten no more...
Before and After
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Thank you so much for everything, always...
Until we meet again..
Be well
TGC
