After getting into politics he quickly gained influence and local and statewide respect and was instrumental in the establishment of Flagler County, Florida in 1917.

He was a 32nd degree Mason (both Scottish and York rites), and was elected as Worshipful Master of the Bunnell Lodge No.

The Bunnell Development Company started an advertising campaign aimed at people in the northeastern United States and placed ads in northern newspapers.

These challenges fueled the desire of local residents to petition the Florida Legislature for the creation of a new county.

An independent county also meant that local community leaders would have more control over political, administrative and economic decisions.

A local delegation attended the 1917 session of the Florida Legislature with intentions to convince the state Senate and House of Representatives that a new county needed to be established.

He returned home to Bunnell, Florida but struggled to overcome influenza complicated by double pneumonia.

The Environmental Sensitive Land funds, approved by the voters of Flagler County in 2008, purchased the property.