Petrovitch Demenscheff

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Petrovitch A. Demenscheff was born in Petrograd, Russia in 1850. His family was of the nobility with large estates. He was the first cousin of Prince Petroff and a captain in the Imperial Guard. He received training as a forester managing his large family estates, which would serve him well in the future.

In 1880 he was exiled from Russia, and with his wife, children and servant immigrated to America, Anglicizing his name to Peter Demens. He settled in Longwood and worked at a sawmill. He eventually managed then bought out the owners, started a contracting business, which led to his entry into the rail business.

Petrovitch A. Demenscheff was the head of the Orange Belt Railway that brought narrow gauge rail to the citrus community know as Largo in 1886.