Confederate Veteran, Valentine V. VanHuss
Valentine V. Van Huss was a Confederate Veteran of the American Civil War. He served in the 8th Regiment of the Tennessee Cavalry for 3 years. Settling in Lakeland, Florida in 1885, he was a very successful businessman. He was responsible for establishing Lakeland's first Opera House and the Van Huss Building. In 1912, the Van Huss Opera House located at 122-28 E. Main St., Lakeland, was moved to the corner of Main Street and New York Avenue to make room for a new building. The new Van Huss building became the headquarters for Lakeland's first organization to promote tourism and serve the needs of its tourists on January 27, 1916.
According to the book, "Postcard Series, Lakeland," by Mary M. Flekke, Randall M. MacDonald, in 1908, Valentine VanHuss was the leader of a small group who organized a Lutheran church to be established in Lakeland. Meeting first in the VanHuss Opera House, the church officially became organized on 28 Feb 1909 and was located on E Orange Street near Tennessee Ave.
The original VanHuss Building, which was located at 122-28 E Main Street, was moved in 1912 to the corner of Main St. and New York Avenue. The second VanHuss building still stands at the corner of Main Street and Tennessee Ave.
Valentine is buried at the Bay Pines National Cemetery, St. Petersburg, Pinellas Co., Florida
Valentine had at least two children:
Orlando Sylvester VanHuss b. 23 May 1872, d. 25 March 1953
m. Daisy Kate Morris (unknown marriage date)
Orlando and his wife are buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Lakeland, Polk Co., Florida
Sarah M. "Sallie" VanHuss b. 12 Oct 1873, d. 17 Aug 1955
m. James R. Duggan on 23 March 1897, Polk County, Florida
Sarah and her husband are buried in the Oak Hill Burial Park, Lakeland, Polk Co., Florida
Valentine V. Van Huss was a Union, not Confederate, veteran of the Civil War.
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