"The Way It Was" Newspaper Column on Baker County, Florida History, 1976 part 1 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gene Barber (no email address), through Carl Mobley (cmobley@magicnet.net) USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. This file may not be removed from this server or altered in any way for placement on another server without the consent of the State and USGenWeb Project coordinators and the contributor. *********************************************************************** THE WAY IT WAS ------------------------------------------------------------ William Eugene "Gene" Barber, Artist, Instructor, Historian & Genealogist authored a series of articles for the Baker County Press entitled "The Way It Was". His articles covered all aspects of Baker County pioneers lives in a colorful, entertaining, as well as, educational manner. At an early age, Gene possessed the desire and ability to interview the 'Old Folks'. He was as talented in the use of the pen, as he is with a brush, choosing his words and expressions in a way to paint an exciting and interesting story. The following are Gene's articles composed and written in 1976. Contents: * Williamsburg - The Town Killed By A Hill * The Florida, Atlantic And Gulf Central Railroad * A History Of The Canady Fort * The Florida Record * Okefenokee's Chesser Island * The Glen St. Mary Nursery - George L. Taber, Pioneer * Some Notes On The Crews Family * Historical Notes On The 'Georgia Bend' * St. George And Other Communities * The Burnsed Settlement And Oak Grove Church * The Powers Pioneers * Earn Harris And The Discovery Of The Taber Azalea * The Beginnings Of Lake Butler * Raiford And The State Prison Farm * Our Minorcan Heritage * Educator Waits 63 Years For High School Diploma * Mose Thompson * The Story Behind Ellicot's Mound * From The Diary Of Charles W. Turner * County History Relatively Unknown, But Unique * A Chronology Of Baker County's Past 500 Years (in part 2) * The Turner House - Among City's Oldest (in part 2) * The County Via The Eyes Of An 1885 Guidebook (in part 2) * Methodism In Baker County (in part 2) * Mrs. Fraser And The Yankees (in part 2) * 'Sugarman' And The Polecat In The Mailbox (in part 2) * The Beginning Of Woodlawn Cemetery (in part 2) * American Settlement In Spanish Florida (in part 2) * The Seminoles Arrive (in part 2) * Early Residents And Roadways (in part 2) * Historical Potpourri (in part 2) * Historical Potpourri (in part 2) * The British Colonial Period In Florida (in part 2) * Historic Barber Home Is Site Of Art Studio And Museum (in part 2) * The War Of 1812 To Cracker Horse Trading (in part 2) * How The County Figured In The Election Of 1876 (in part 2) * Republic Of East Fla. (in part 2) * Spanish Florida Seen Through The Eyes Of A Northern Visitor (in part 2) * Prehistoric Man In Baker County (in part 2) * Maryann Hicks (in part 2) * A Cracker Christmas (in part 2) * An Incident Of The Seminole War - Part one (in part 2) _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday January 1, 1976 Page Two The Way It Way-Gene Barber Williamsburg - The Town Killed By A Hill One of the early stockholders in the Floridan Atlantic, and Gulf Central Railroad (the present Seaboard Coastline) was Samuel Neil Williams, Sr. He was born in 1814 in North Carolina, a son of a Welsh immigrant. His wife, Eliza Smith, was born in 1823 in Darien, Georgia. As a timber buying agent for the New York company of Eppinger and Russell, he began to visit Jacksonville in the mid 1840's, purchasing his first land there in 1846. In 1850, he moved his family there while he was working the present Baker County area, buying hundreds of acres of virgin timber land for $1.00 an acre. An epidemic of scarlet fever in Jacksonville prompted him to move his family to Cedar Creek north of Sanderson in 1862. After the Civil War he returned them to Jacksonville while he built a fine two-story house just south of the railroad on the east bank of the Little St. Marys River. His spacious frame house was completely plastered and surrounded by giant water oaks. Several acres were planted in fruit trees under the care of a man named either Raulerson or Register. Mr. Williams moved his family into 'Williamsburg' just prior to 1870. In October of 1865, according to an item in The Jacksonville Times, Mr. Williams was elected to the Florida House of Representatives from Duval County for Baker County. As a stockholder in the railroad company, he worked to have his small community used as the railroad depot in this area of central Baker County. But, his influence as a stockholder could not overcome the fact that the incline at Williamsburg was not conducive to locomotor stops and starts. The station was given to the younger community of Darbyville (MacClenny) about one mile and a half east. His last move was to Olustee, where, for reasons yet to be discovered, several others involved with the financially troubled railroad lived. He died there in 1881, and was buried in Old City Cemetery in Jacksonville. His widow, who died in 1889 at her son Richard's home in MacClenny, left an estate of $250.00 to her surviving children, an unfortunate end to the story of a man who tried to build a city. THE WILLIAMS FAMILY RECORD The first four children were born in Darien. Henry Clay, born in 1839, and John Jasper, born in 1843, died in infancy in Darien. Florida, born 1841, married Robert W. Cone of Olustee. He was a son of Aaron Cone of Bulloch County, Georgia. Florida is buried in Old City Cemetery, Jacksonville. Samuel Neil, Jr. was born in 1848. His first wife was Victoria Thompson, widow of James E. Barber. His second, and more successful marriage was to Florida Virginia Harvey, daughter of Capt. John and Mary Ann Johnson Harvey. Sam was buried in Pinkston Cemetery north of Whitehouse. Mattie, born 1850, married Sam A. Bryan. She lived, and is buried at Starke. Eliza Rebecca, born 1853, Jacksonville, died in infancy. Roland was born in Jacksonville in 1855. He worked for the Jacksonville Fire Dept., and died as a result of an accident while rushing to a fire. His burial place is Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville. Georgia was born in 1857, in Jacksonville. Her husband was James Lorenzo Wolfe of Georgia. The Wolfes lived in MacClenny, and are buried in Woodlawn (the Misses Mae and Rosa Wolfe, daughters of Georgia, still live in MacClenny on South College St.) Belle Daniel, born in Jacksonville in 1859, is buried in Old City Cemetery. Her married names were Roberts, Anderson, and Quinn. Richard D. was born in 1862 at Cedar Creek. His wife was Eliza, daughter of John and Sarah Rowe Alford. His burial place is Woodlawn. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday January 8, 1976 Page Two The Way It Was-Gene Barber The Florida, Atlantic And Gulf Central Railroad Dr. A.S. Baldwin of Duval County was a farsighted gentleman who began agitating and evangelizing for a railroad to connect Jacksonville with the interior of the state. He and his associates believed that $250,000 would be needed to lay tracks from Jacksonville to old Alligator Village sixty miles inland. Financial support came from private individuals, the state, the city of Jacksonville and Columbia County. In May of 1855, a majority of voters in Jacksonville supported an issuance of $50,000 in municipal bonds, with the proceeds; to be used to purchase capital stock in the company. The Columbia County commissioners were also authorized by their voters to issue $100,000 in bonds, the proceeds of which were to also be invested in capital stock in the railroad company. The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, a state program, was organized in January of 1855, and the rail company applied for, and received help. In addition to other aids, the Board granted state lands along the rail right-of-way amounting to about 200 000 acres (the section of land involved with the Shuey-Sessions tract as written in the 29 October article is one such grant). The Town Council of Jacksonville granted tax-free concessions and generous depot rights-of-way. Numerous articles appeared in both Jacksonville and Alligator newspapers in attempts to secure popular support. And, with all the optimistic turns spurring them on, the Board of Directors appointed F.F. L'Engle to begin surveying the 60 mile route. The Board originally consisted of Dr. Baldwin (for whom the town of Baldwin was named), president; J . S; Sammis; T. E. Buckman H.A. Timanus, J.M. Baker (for whom Baker Countv was named); and J.P. Sanderson (who lent his name to the former Johnsville Station). Progress went much slower than expected. By June of 1856, only nine miles of roadbed, not quite as far west as Whitehouse, had been readied. A yellow fever epidemic in 1857, complications involved in purchasing the iron from England, the astronomical salaries created by one dollar a day, each for work crews that sometimes numbered 150 men, and shortages of labor all hampered the railway's completion. A celebration had been planned in early March of 1858 when the tracks were completed to Baldwin, A tragedy marred the day when, according to the ALLIGATOR INDEPENDENT PRESS, the "contractor for laying the iron...from Jacksonville to Baldwin was accidently killed by being struck with a bar of iron...just as the last piece was being laid that completed his contract". In spite of the accident, events began to look up. Train service for freight and passengers between Jacksonville and Baldwin was instituted, and by November of 1858 the entire grading of the road to Alligator had been completed. In June of 1859, the tracks were at the crest of Trail Ridge, and in November Olustee Station was being served by the railroad by the locomotive "Jacksonville". The final 1000 tons of iron arrived from England in January 1860. Plans were made to celebrate the completion in both Jacksonville and in Alligator Town. Made dignified by the approach of a railroad, the little community also dignified itself by assuming the new name of Lake City. Free barbeque, speeches and other festivities awaited the eight hundred visitors to Lake City from Jacksonville. The few inhabitants between Trail Ridge and the Columbia County line had little part in the celebrations (they were not even consulted on the renaming of their principal little community of Sanderson). Several had come out of the woods to see the big locomotive thunder through, many would later buy an excursion ticket to wildly ride the rails, but, on the whole, they waited quietly as the railroad brought them the first prosperity they had ever known. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday January 15, 1976 Page Two The Way It Was-Gene Barber A History Of The Canady Fort Until very recent times, there stood on the banks of Joniken (listed as Joaquin on old maps) Branch south of Moniac an old structure called by various names; Canaday Blockhouse, the Old Fort and Moniac Cabin. One historian has given its erection date as 1799 and that its original site was near North Prong Church but was ferried across the river to Georgia in the early 1800's. Still others believe that the original cabin was built by an Indian ancestor of the Canaday clan and inherited by John Canaday or his Indian wife. The first known John Canaday to enter the area was born in 1797 in South Carolina, probably a son of Henry who was of a North Carolina Huguenot extraction. Both John and Henry, and Henry Jr., Martha and Edmund Canaday were in Lowndes County in the mid-1830's, and the Henrys were still there as late as 1850, but John had moved down to near the headwaters of the St. Mary's River in old Camden County. John's wife Sarah, called Sarie, had been born in Georgia in 1800. Their known children were Jackson 'Jack', born either in 1826 or 1837 (records give conflicting dates), and who died young and single; Elizabeth, born 1823 and married Westberry 'Wes' Raulerson; John Milledge, born 1827, and married Sarah Ann Howell; and Henry, born 1829. All were born in South Carolina. Although no certain date can be given the Canaday Blockhouse, it is known by the family that Mr. Canaday was living there at least by 1832, and probably killed there by, warriors under the command of Bolech (Billy Bowlegs) around 1838. A short time before the 1838 Indian raid, a family named Howell had moved down from upper Georgia and settled at a place later known as 'Moonshine' and now called 'toledo'. An attack by the Creeks destroyed the homestead and supposedly killed every member of the family except an infant who was carried into a cane patch by a female slave and hidden. Reared by William and Nancy Raulerson, she grew up to be the wife of John M. Canaday, Jr. There is a story about the Canaday family, but not told or accepted by the family as a whole, that the wife, Sarie, of the elder John Canaday was a sister of Billy Powell known as Osceola. The story could be very easy to accept; Osceola and his mother did live in the vicinity of the Okefenokee Swamp around 1814-15. Sarie was scalped but not killed by the renegade Creeks because of her supposed Indian blood, and many of the descendants possess the handsome good looks shown by the Osceola portraits. Some drawbacks to the tale are that Osceola's two sisters were left behind in west Georgia with their father, most contemporary historians agreed that young Billy Powell (Osceola) was the only child with his mother Polly Ann when Andy Jackson confronted them near the Suwannee, two women whom claimed to be Osceolas sisters were found living with Creek husbands in Oklahoma in later years, and such an illustrious ancestress as the sister of Osceola would certainly have been mentioned many times by the older heads. If indeed the same blood runs in the veins of these Baker County descendants of John Canaday as ran in the veins of the patriot Osceola, it is to their credit, and it is hoped that proof can be produced. The Canaday Blockhouse was finally slowly and ignominiously destroyed by vandals because it had lived past its usefulness. Its roof leaked and neighbors needed the lumber to patch houses and to burn for fuel. Only a very few, handicapped by lack of ownership and funds, were able to see the value of looking at a house here in our own Charlton and Baker Counties that was built only a generation after the birth of our nation, a house that weathered the awful hurricane of 1895, that withstood flaming arrows, that housed and protected ancestors of thousands. The past is done and cannot be recalled for correction; the future is not even a promise; but, we have a marvelous possession called the present and there is no other time but the present to vow to preserve our old buildings that have served us so well in the past. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday January 22, 1976 Page Two The Way It Was-Gene Barber The Florida Record When collecting the history of an area, it is impossible to stop at county lines; kinship, social and economic ties easily cross the boundaries of political units. And, with this in mind, we present some gleanings from a west Nassau County newspaper of 1886. The FLORIDA RECORD began weekly publication in Callahan in 1885. O.J. Farmer was editor and W.A. Mahoney was proprietor, and they proclaimed in the masthead that their area was the 'Land of Sunshine, Prosperity, Health, and Happiness'. In the four-page issue of September 25th, 1886, the motto regarding health seemed a bit odd with twenty two ads and references to medicine, four about doctors and a wealth of notices regarding illness. Mayor S.D. Jones, who also advertised 'everything you want to eat and wear', had held court the previous Tuesday morning. The reporter who covered the court story claimed that "everything had been so quiet for the past month that even a dog fight would be hailed with delight by our citizens". From Dyal's Station came news by Messrs. B.G. Dyal and H.C. Picket that J.J. Mizell was offered the Democratic nomination for senator from his district. In the same communication, it was announced that Mr. Mizell declined the nomination. The last ice cream festival, of the summer for Callahan was announced. Ice cream, cake and other refreshments, as well as a pleasant time was promised. Dr. E.H. Wright and son of King's Ferry rented a downtown building from B.G. Dyal to open a drugstore. Mr. A.E. Braddock purchased a lot near the railroad from the same Mr. Dyal. The writer of the above items foresaw a building boom for Callahan makinq references to several sawmills nearby. The RECORD was uncompromisingly Democratic in its politics, calling for a final ousting of the state's remaining Republicans. There were a number of references to the Charleston earthquake. The following paragraph is copied from the Bryceville news section. "A protracted religious service has been going on at Brandy Branch school house about six miles distant since last Sunday, under the direction of two Baptist divines, Revs. Hall and Kickliter. Up to the present there have been no new members added to the church. It seems funny that people will so soon forget their dependence on a higher Being for life sustenance. If reports be true, most of that whole community would have joined any Christian organization on the night of Aug. 31, when the earthquake was shaking them so badly, and no doubt then many promises were made that are now forgotten. But then, 'When promises come from wickedness, tis weakness to believe them'. Also from Bryceville comes the notice that precinct 11 had chosen its delegates to the county Democratic convention in Callahan. W.S. Motes was selected chairman and H.L. Mattair, secretary. Delegates were Thomas J. Peterson, H.L. Mattair, J.S. Surrency and alternates were N.A. Hicks, S.J. Woods and W.R. Adams. The schedule for the Florida Railway and Navigation Company did not list Darbyville-MacClenny on its itinerary. In fact, with the wood-burning locomotor taking only one hour and 25 minutes to travel from Baldwin to Lake City, it is doubtful that it took but a few minutes to refuel and rewater at the old Darbyville stop on the present east side of MacClenny. The H.W. Alleger Co. of Washington, N.J. advertised "strictly first class organs for $50 on up to $250, stool and book,...warranted five years." O.Z. Tyler, and Co. of 44 West Forsyth, Jacksonville, advertised that they furnish undertakers with orders at all hours of the day or night promptly executed. Among other services, embalming was a specialty. And, buried at the bottom of the second page is a borrowed editorial from the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION which closes with "...Rush,...that is why the undertaker treads on our heels. It is a lightning express schedule from cradle to coffin. But we cannot slacken our speed: To 'get there' is our main object, and it is the undertaker's too. Are we not 'getting there' a little too early?" _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, January 29, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was-Gene Barber Okefenokee's Chesser Island William Thomas Chesser and his wife Mary Elinor Kirby, with their children, formed an ideal self-sufficient community within the Okeefeenokee Swamp. They grew all their foodstuffs, raised sheep and cotton for their clothing, and set up a civil defense system. They bought nothing which could be made by hand by themselves. Metal was brought into the swamp to be fashioned in their smith for wagon fittings and plow gear. Broken and worn-out metal pieces were reworked and reclaimed as firedogs and nails. Cattle grew fat quickly on the lush growth within the swamp. Their flesh was dried or fried down and preserved in crocks of lard. Their hides were tanned into harnessing or shoe cobbling material. When hogs were killed in the winter, everything was used except the squeal. Even ropes were braided at night by the firelight (it didn't rate very highly as entertainment, but it helped pass the short while between sundown and bedtime). Some essentials, such as salt, were bought 'outside'. However, money was seldom used, if possible; the Chessers were great trappers, and they bartered pelts for outside supplies and rations. And, it was simply a commodity they never had much of. William Thomas Chesser was born in 1814 in old Appling County, Georgia a son of Thomas Samuel and Louisa Chesser. Thomas Samuel was born just prior to the Revolutionary War in South Carolina, probably a son of Revolutionary Soldier John Chesser. Family tradition gives them an old country background of Holland. After the Second Seminole Indian War, William Thomas made his way into old Camden County, and in 1842, he moved his family into the southeastern corner of the vast Okeefeenokee Swamp, located just south of the present Suwannee Canal Recreation Area at Camp Cornealia between St. George and Folkston). The small island became known as Chesser Island. His brother Samuel and sisters Sarah and Martha continued on down into Florida, settling the north and east sides of the Alachua Territory. Another sister, Harriet Emeline Copeland, remained in Camden County. William Thomas and Mary Elinor were married in Tattnall County on August 25, 1833. Their children were Thomas Tennyson 'Tom' who married Lucretia Dedge, Martha Emeline Jane who married Thomas P. 'Tom' Petty, Moab Columbus 'Buck' who married Hettie Osteen; William M. 'Bill' who married Zilphia Hicks, John Edward who married Easter Crews, Samuel Archie 'Sam' who married Sarah Altman, Robert Allen who married Lizzie Eugenia Altman, and Hardy who died single. All, except Tom, were born on Chesser Island. Tom, Buck, and their brother-in-law Tom Petty were conscripted into the Confederate Army. Being opposed to the war, irrespective of who was fighting, they deserted above the swamp. They came down through the swamp and according to those who heard the story from those who saw the boys, they were so swelled by mosquito bites and brier scratches that they were not recognizable. These men lived out the duration of the war in the swamp, surviving on game they shot and supplies left at a designated place by the family. Their excess game was left to be picked up by the hard-pressed family who left salt and other provisions. A time and a place was set for the exchange. The men and the family did not meet during this entire time, and so they never had to lie when the military asked if they had seen the deserters. Whenever troops of either army (U.S. and C.S.A.) moved near, or other danger was close a large conch shell horn was blown at the 'big house'. The runaways removed themselves deeper into the Okeefeenokee. The conch horn continued its purpose as an alarm after the war. Whenever a member of the family or others were overdue from the swamp, or varmints were menacing, or other trouble was present, the horn was sounded. All were to stop whatever they were doing, and run to the 'big house' for instruction. Children, under threat of an unforgetable beating, were cautioned to never blow the horn or remove it from its place on the front porch. The Chessers eventually moved away from the island except Sam and Allen. Sam's son Tom, who passed away a few years ago, continued to live on the island until 1958, and was the last Chesser to live there. Martha and her husband Tom Petty settled near the St. Marys River. Hardy never married, and died at 23 years of age. Returning home from plowing, he stopped at a huckleberry bush to pick some berries. As he was backing out of the tangled growth, a rattlesnake struck him, and he died shortly after (it is strange that so many of this family have been bitten by rattlers, and Hardy is the only one ever known to have been bitten in the swamp). Bill Chesser (the ancestor of the Baker County family) settled on Trail Ridge southeast of Brandy Branch in Baker County. From the local judge's office the following homestead exemption items were listed for 4 March 1886; 1 horse, $55; 10 head stock cattle, $60; 8 head goats, $7; household and farming tools, $50. As the list showed, the Chessers still used very little money because it was still a commodity they still had little of. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, February 5, 1976, Page Two The Way it Was-Gene Barber The Glen St. Mary Nursery George L. Taber, Pioneer George Lindley Taber was an extraordinary man; at twenty seven years of age, he was given by his doctor the option of remaining in the north and living no longer than six months, or he could find a gentler climate and survive, perhaps, as long as a year. He chose to go south, do those things he had always wanted to do, and thus lived forty eight more years and revolutionized Florida Industry. Born in Vassalboro, Maine on the 18th of October 1854, a son of George and Esther Pope Taber, he was descended from a long established (since 1630) New England family of Gaelic background. His education was received at Oakgrove Seminary, Vassalboro, and the Moses Brown Friends School at Providence, Rhode Island. Mr. Taber was united with the Society of Friends (Quaker). This religious training, combined with Yankee industry, evidently made for a competent and credible business man, for he was, when 24 years old, a trusted employee of the Chicago Board of Trade, and, later, held a seat as one of its Directors. Owing either to the harshness of the New England and Chicago winters or to the rigors of the hectic post Civil War boom, his health failed. As was stated in the first paragraph, Mr. Taber came south, picking Florida to die. The Fernandina, Jacksonville, St. Augustine areas was the end of civilization in 1881, and it was the more centrally located city of Jacksonville that became his headquarters. While staying at the fashionable hotels and possibly visiting the curative spas of the vicinity, he discovered many new friends, his six foot and four inch frame filled out, and he recalled a daydream which used to invade his no-nonsense New England mind; "Could I make a living out of the land?" By various conveyances, Mr. Taber began to travel out from Jacksonville, and on one of those trips west, he detrained at a flagstop across the river from Darbyville. He talked to the locals and recent northern immigrants, surveyed the soil and existing farms, and decided he would try his hand at agriculture. He purchased several acres of an extensive abandoned cotton plantation, and with the help of a friend, Mr. Beeth, erected a log cabin and cleared land. In addition to his subsistance crops, he set out several fruit and nut trees with the idea of shipping to northern markets. The natives were cooperative and offered advice and assistance in the mysteries of budding, grafting, and urging growth from the Florida sand and clay. A new imposing dwelling house of sawmill lumber was built, and the little cabin utilized as office and packing house. In 1882, Just one year after he began, the optimistic young nurseryman issued his first catalogue, naming his nursury and shipping station 'Glen Saint Mary'. In 1883, after deciding that he apparently was not closer to eternity than anyone else, he returned north to marry. Mrs. Gertrude (nee St. John) Small of Kent, Connecticut. He brought his bride to his new and spacious home,'Linwood', built on New England lines complete with a Yankee widow's walk atop the two story structure. His only concessions to cracker architecture were broad porches, high ceilings, and a separate kitchen for safety and summer comfort. In the 1890's, Florida suffered a number of freezes which destroyed food crops and ornamentals throughout the state. Many fledgling growers returned north broke and disqusted. Mr. Taber immediately began searching for new freeze-resistant strains of citrus and ornamentals to revive the ailing nurseries. In his biography included in the American Historical Society's 'Encyclopedia of Biography' is the following quote: "His greatest contribution to the work of the horticultural society was given after the freezes of 1894 and 1899. He led the movement for the rehabilitation of the industry and the development of new industries". ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday February 12, 1976 Page Two The Way It Was-Gene Barber George L. Taber, Family Man And BusinessmanPart Two Of A Series Until the 1880's, Floridans citrus crops were mostly confined groves and backyard plantings and these were subject to the unpredictable late winter freezes peculiar to the region. In the almost frost-free area of the lower peninsular land was still relatively wild and waiting for the Messrs. Flagler and Plant to send down their railroads. Mr. Taber needed, then, freeze-resistant citrus strains, and he began to search out, and experiment withn such novelties as the satsuma orange. In 1910 or 11, he purchased the rights to a revolutionary orange named for its developer Mr. Lue Gim Gong of Deland. This hardy fruit made north Fiorida orange production a practical reality, and its introduction in 1912, plus the new satsumas (which he made a Florida household word), and the use of freeze and disease-reistant Trifoliata root stock established the state's citrus industry. No doubt, the taste of citrus among a widened northern market increased a demand that prompted many newer pioneers to tap the southern peninsula's growing potential. The Flagler and Plant rail systems reached southward, as much to bring citrus back as to take invalids south. Mrs. Taber died in July of 1903. Unquestionable a person of taste and culture, as evidenced by her possessions and genealogy, she remains somewhat of a romantic mystery to the family. In November of 1905, Mr. Taber and Miss Mildred Willey, daughter of John C. Willey of Maine, were married in Boston, Mass. Marriage had disrupted medical studies for the new Mrs. Taber, for she was well into her schooling toward a Doctor of Medicine degree. Mrs. Taber left her cozy and cheerful New England home and society to travel with her husband "...to the ends of the earth". She later confided to her daughter-in-law, Emily, her shock and dismay as she entered the large dark house. However, it took the young bride little time in flooding the home with sunshine and gentle company. With the help of long-time cook Miss Idella 'Doll' Alexander and a staff of local domestics and outside men, 'Linwood' became a social center of Baker County and a novel Sunday excursion goal of Jacksonvillians. 'Miss Millie' quickly became acquainted with Jacksonville's first families, became a communicant of the Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal), and became mother of a son, George, Jr. In 1907, after having traveled through the state and deciding, his original location was best for most nursery stock, Mr. Taber incorporated the Glen Nurseries, involving men of importance in the horticulture industry, including the brilliant botonist Harold Hume. In 1913, the little log cabin was removed to make way for an impressive office of brick. Scores of Baker Countians were employed by the nursery. In fact, Glen Nurseries employment probably had the greatest influence, to date, on the county's population shift. For instance, from Cedar Creek, the Georgia Bend, and Nassau County came, respectively, such families as Harvey, Hodge, and Higganbotham, to name but a few. The success of Mr. Taber prompted others to compete in the lucrative business. The Griffins, Tracys, and Bradleys of New England established the Griffin Nursery (later called the interstate Nursery) a little east of Glen. Farther east, C.F. Barber began his Turkey Creek Nursery. The nursery boom was on, and 'Baker County grown' was synonym for horticultural excellence. Mr. Taber cooperated with Turkey Creek to sponsor a blue ribbon display in the 1903 (first) Florida State Fair at Tampa. Still later, he returned to his old working city of Chicago for the World Trade Exposition, and, this, established an international market for his plants. The writer well recalls his first geography lessons; jumping and riding the dinosaur-shaped and sized bundles while depot agent Hardy spelled and located such fantastic places as Venezuela, Russia, Japan, and England's Kew Gardens. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, February 19, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was-Gene Baraber Some Notes On The Crews Family - Part One Unlike so many of Baker County's big families, the Crews clans cannot be traced to a mutual ancestor who settled here. The several sets who migrated into southeast Georgia and northeast Florida, however, seemed to originate 200 years ago in coastal South Carolina. This indicates the probability of kinship during the time of the Revolution. In the 1830's and 40's, there appeared in Camden (Charlton) County, Georgia and Nassau and Columbia (Baker) Counties, Florida several Crews families. All were farmers by vocation and most inclined to large families. Particularly in the Bend Section, there were the brothers A. Graham, Micajah 'Mack', Calvin, and possible Bartley. It.is believed they had two sisters (perhaps cousins) named Sophia and Keziah, both of whom married Jesse Green, at different times of course. Their father has yet to be determined. He was killed, as a young man, by Indians soon after his move to Camden County from South Carolina. The best candidate for their father is Alexander (born in 1802), whose wife's name was Sarah. This Alexander lived in Nassau County in 1830, moved back and forth across the territorial line, and was supposedly killed in an Indian raid between 1838 and 1841. Alexander, born 1773, to Revolutionary Soldier John Crews of Charleston District, South Carolina. Of the orphaned Crews' children, Keziah was the oldest. She was born about 1820, and married Jesse Green. She died about 1845 in Camden County. Bartley was born in 1822. His wife's name was Mary Elizabeth, thought to be a daughter of Jeremiah 'Jerry' Johns. A. Graham, born in Georgia and is believed to be a daughter of Henry Bradley. A. Graham died in 1905, and he and his wife are buried in Emmeus Cemetery near St. George. [Note cwm. Archibald Graham Crews born ca Feb 1823, son of Roger & Elizabeth Mitchell Crews, married Honor Civility 'Sis' Bradley 20 Feb 1850, daughter of Henry.] Micajah 'Mack' and his wife Sarah Jane are buried at Boones Creek in Charlton County near the Okeefenokee. Sophia, born 1827, married her widowered brother-in-law Jesse Green. They moved to Nassau County and she died in 1905. Calvin had sons, but none were remembered by his relatives. He married into "some Nassau County or Georgia connections", and no more is known of him. One of his sons, Dave, carried a reputation as a "bad man", and is believed to have been murdered in Charlton County ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, February 26, 1976. Page Two The Way It Was-Gene Barber Some Notes On The Crews Family - Part II It seems there were at least, three distinct major migrations of the Crews' family into southeastern Georgia; the latter 1700's the period of the Second Seminole War and Reconstruction through the 1880's. Among the middle migration was the widowed Rebecca Elizabeth 'Becky' Crews, probably a cousin or niece of the Crews subjects of last week's writing. She settles near present St. George around 1840, and her descendants number greatly in Baker County. As far as can be determined, Becky was born in South Carolina in 1830 or before. Her children were John C., who married Martha Johns (daughter of Riley and Sarah Leigh Johns); Berry, who married Triss (last name unknown); Tom; Martha; Francis Bartow, who married Isabella Taylor (daughter of Gordon S. and Eliza Sellars Taylor); and William, who married Fanny (last name unknown). During, or soon after the Civil War, Becky moved across the river into Florida, settling on the road leading west for old Ft. Moniac. With her were sons, Tom and Joney Raulerson. Many of her children and grandchildren followed her and contributed much to the economics and politics of Baker County. Although one Crews, alone, could fill a book with interesting anecdotes and tales, the simple and sad story of Mrs. Martha Crews' death remains one of the writer's favorites. In 1902, she took her sewing to her front porch, sat down on the porch edge and began cutting out overalls for her son, Owen. While engaged in a labor of necessity and love, she passed away. The cabin, built by her husband John C. in 1854 and later owned by his brother Berry, can still be seen on the loop road above Baxter. Samuel Crews also moved to Camden County during the Second Seminole War. He was born about 1790 in Beaufort District, South Carolina. His wife was Elizabeth. They left Beaufort District about 1837, and moved to Ware County (that part now Echols). After living there, near the Florida line, through the Indian War, they removed to Ft. Moniac on the Florida side of the St. Marys. Samuel and Elizabeth evidently had marital difficulties since they were often living separatly, she usually moving back to Georgia to Camden County. He was supposedly buried near Ft. Moniac around 1865 and she survived him several years. Their known heir to remain in the Baker-Charlton area was Samuel Lemrod. He was born in 1830 in South Caroina and married Harriet Raulerson, a daughter of Nimrod. Their many descendants live in Baker and Charlton Counties. There were several others of the Crews' name to settle in the vicinity, but even less is known of them than the foregoing. One was another Samuel Crews, born in 1809 in South Carolina. He lived near the aforementioned Samuel near Ft. Moniac, and is believed to have been a soldier during the Seminole War. His wife was Mary E. Jones. They moved after the war to the south end of New River County where Samuel died in 1865. Mary Crews, born in 1820 in Georgia, brought her three children, Charity, Rebecca and Isham into the Baxter section from Camden County soon after the Seminole War. It is almost certain she returned to Georgia prior to the Civil War, but her discendants eventually migrated back to Florida. Roger Crews, born in 1808 in South Carolina brought his wife, Minerva, to Nassau County from Camden during the Indian War. Their children were Sam, Sarah Ann, Isham and Josh. Also with them were two other children, Jane and Sam (relation unknown). This family moved across the river to the Big Bend section and then into Baker County for a short while. Additions and corrections on the Crews' Family would be greatly appreciated. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, March 4, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber Historical Notes On The 'Georgia Bend' Referred to even on the maps of the Revolutionary War period as "the Big Bend of the St. Marys Rivers", this southern pocket of Georgias Charlton County is socially and economically bound to Florida's Baker County. And, Baker County has depended on that section for the great majority of its population. From a line drawn from Traders Hill to the headwaters of the St. Marys River above Moniac, then south to the St. Marys, and bounded east and west by that same river is the geographic location of the Big Bend. The Bend was, at one time, the southernmost limits of inland colonization by Anglo-American pioneers. Traders Hill was the last outpost of civilization before the wagon and cart trains headed into the new U.S. territory of Florida. Here, they found the last food rations and other provisions, and, here, was the limit of navigation on the St. Marys for cargo-carrying ships. In 1802, Maj. Archibald Clark damned up Spanish Creek nearby, and set up the oldest industry in the Bend and southernmost industry in the U.S. Operated by water power, the upright saws sent many Bend trees down the St. Marys as lumber until supplanted by steam mills. The only skirmish of the War of 1812 in our area was when Capt. Wm. Cone and 28 Americans halted a British advance sent to destroy the Clark mill. Soon after, Seminole attacks forced the establishment of Ft. Alert by the army (the soldiers' duty of alerting the settlers prompted the name). In 1832, the post office of Traders Hill came into being with John Mizell as postmaster. From Traders Hill, a trail led southward skirting the Okefenokee to Camp Cornealia and Chesser Island. Camp Cornealia was named in 18?0 for the daughter of Capt. Henry Jackson of the Suwannee Canal Company. Toward the turn of the century, Camp Cornealia gained prominence as a sawmill site. Chesser Island, dating from 1842, was never an economic center, but was community of some size with a school as late as the early 1900's. The trail, long since grown over, crossed Hog Pen Branch and passed near Ellicot's Mound (a marker of 1795 indicating the headwaters of the St. Marys River proper). Moniac's past is somewhat shrouded in mystery. It is known that the earliest settlement there was in Florida a few miles away near Ft. Moniac. The fort, according to Charlton County historians, was named in honor of a Creek, or Creek-related, chief on whose trail the fort was erected in 1838. Others believe that Moniac was a Creek in the service of the U.S. Army. The fort stood until 1858 when the Seminole troubles were declared at an end. As Raulerson's Ferry, near North Prong Church, became important with increased migration and crop hauling, the population began to drift south, and, for a while, Moniac was a rather nebulous community. The Dyal-Upchurch Corporation opened a large sawmill there in 1898, employing hundreds. The mill's rail transportation, known as the St. Marys Railroad, was later sold to the Georgia, Southern, and Florida Railroad for three million dollars. For a while, Moniac was Charlton's most populous community. From Moniac, a 'beat-out' road followed an old southerly Indian trail to Jonniken (Jernigan) Branch. This was the home site of Capt. Aaron Jernigan, a slave trader and Indian War Army officer. The road forked south of the stream, the western route crossing Baker Branch near North Prong Church. Other waterways crossed were Barber and Tiger Branches. Grandison Barber lived in the 1830's near here, accounting for the name of the one stream and the other was undoubtedly named for the local 'tiger' (panther). The eastern fork continued toward the south, passing by Sandusky School. At the Thrift Settlement, the roads joined above the Smith Bridge to cross the St. Marys into Florida. In 1850, Dr. Francis Marion Smith moved from Elbert County, Georgia to Traders Hill. He was, in addition to a practicing medical doctor, a licensed Methodist minister. In 1861, this influential citizen of Charlton County was chosen as one of the two delegates to the secession convention at Milledgeville. He voted against secession which seemed to not reflect the wishes of the majority of the county. Back in Traders Hill, he was declared 'persona non gratis', and asked to move. His son James C. Smith was operating a turpentine still and sawmill at Sandusky, about, seven miles north of Macclenny. The elder Smith joined his son there, building himself a stately home which he named 'Montesuma'. The Smiths' holdings were quite extensive, and due to their Florida business and Dr. Smith's practice and preaching circuits in Baker County, they build a bridge across the St. Marys. Dr. Smith, his wife Lucretia, his son, and daughter-in-law are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery south of Macclenny. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday March 11, 1976 Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber More Historical Notes On The 'Georgia Bend' The Bend, being heavily populated in the last century, was criss-crossed with many roadways and trails, though few could be termed major. Among the most important was the Traders Hill (later known as the St. George) Road. From Macclenny, this ancient trail crossed the St. Marys River where later a bridge was built and named in honor of the numerous and influential Stokes family of the area. The bridge was about two and a half miles east of the Smith Bridge of last week's writing. The very old Jacksonville-Tallahassee Road, dating from the 1830's, swung northward and touched the river at this point. From there, travelers and traders turned north into Georgia to Stokesville. This little community was well populated with the Stokes and other families into the first two decades of this century. Stokesville boasted a church, and a little to the north, a school. This post office, established in 1906 with William H. Stokes as post master, Continued until 1918. Across the river from the Stokesville school was another community closely connected the area, Nassau County's Bryce's Camp. Founded soon after the Civil War by George Bryce of Atlanta, the large turpentine and lumber camp began to drift into two communities around 1915-20, Bryceville to the east and Brandy Branch to the west. Like so many other settlements of that time, it moved with the economy, and when trees played out in the vicinity it moved to where trees were. Unbelievable as it might seem, much of the wild country we see about us now simply was not here fifty to a hundred years ago. Much of the land was denuded, including parts of the great Okefenokee. The Traders Hill road then ran east of Trail Ridge crossing Green, Spring, and Tiger Branches to Suggs Mill. A check of a topographic map might make one wonder why the route did not take advantage of the high sandy ridge; the Bend 'Great Divide' was relatively free of boggy places and contained streams to ford or bridge. First, this relic of prehistoric oceanside dunes was usually too dry from runoff and was possessed of hardly any soil nutrients. As a result, the pioneers remained close to the river for transportation for themselves and their lumber, and for better farming. Now steadily running true north, the little roadway crossed Mill Branch. This little stream has been dammed since the early 1800's by various individuals and families to provide power for saws and grits grinders. Some of those families have been Suggs, Nelsons, Hodges and Hicks. A little north is Saucer Branch, named for a pioneer turpentine distiller from west Florida, John Milton Saucer. Saucer Branch's sister stream on the Florida side was Deep Creek (not to be confused with the Deep Creek between Baldwin and Trail Ridge). In Revolutionary days this waterway was called Deep Run Creek, and it formed the southwest limits of English settlement and the northeast boundry of the Seminole hunting ground. Skirting the eastern edge of Schoolhouse Bay, the road passed Chism School. To the east, and on the river, was Emmeus Primitive Baptist Church and Cemetery. This church was constituted in 1858, a short while after it had been established as an arm of the Sardis Church near Traders Hill. The charter members came from both sides of the river, and they were Thomas Crawford, A.P. Murhee, William B. Connor, Mary Connor, and Sarah Johns, all names well represented among Baker Countians' ancestors. Among the early pastors were William R. Crawford, John C. Crawford, John D. Knight, and W.O. Gibson. Clerks in its early history were Henry M. Gainey, R.S. Davis, R.N. Chism, A.W. Hodges, N.S. Connor and D.W. Connor. During later years the church disbanded for lack of membership, and most of its remaining members tranferred to North Prong across the Bend in Baker County. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, March 18, 1976 Page Two The Way it Was - Gene Baraber St. George And Other Communities To speak of downtown St. George became a sad local joke within the past several years, but, at one time, that little community's downtown was a serious reality. The crossroads between Jacksonville and south central Georgia and the old north-south Yelvington Trail attracted several settlers who milled, farmed, and operated mercantile outlets for the surrounding pioneers. Among these were the Gaineys, an old Nassau and Camden Counties family with Spanish background, and the area was early known as 'Gaineyville'. The first recorded name of the settlement was 'BattenviIle', in honor of Isam Batten. The tramroad came through in 1898, and the station's postoffice, Battenville, was established. The following year, post master John R. McNeil renamed the station for himself. When the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad bought the Dyal-Upchurch tramroad in 1900, the stop was named Cutler for their general traffic agent John W. Cutler. For many years, the two voting districts of the area were Cutler (later St. George) and Gaineyville, the railroad being the dividing line. In 1904, P.H. Fitzgerald, publisher of the American Tribune at Indianapolis, Indiana, formed the '1902 Colony Company'. As in earlier pioneering projects, each stockholder was to receive a certain amount of land and would be required to make certain improvements. In December of 1904, Mr. Fitzgerald purchased 9,000 acres from the Georgia, Southern and Florida RR. By 1906, Mr. Fitzgerald had purchased much of present St. George, and Cutler was no more. He named the little community in 1905 in honor of his deceased son George. With its transplanted population, St. George grew into a little city of more than a thousand residents. Its, downtown maintained 54 businesses and several masonry buildings (Macclenny, at the time, could only boast of one such structure). The Bank of St. George, owned by John F. Blake, operated from 1910 to 1916. The Gazette began publication in 1905, and was replaced by the Outlook in 1911. The Outlook folded in 1913. John Harris; the Gazette's publisher is still active at 100 years plus in Folkston. Mr. Fitzgerald, the founder, became involved in a federal lawsuit regarding irregular business practices and his colonization company went under. The court ordered the sale of remaining colony land, and the funds received built a brick school building. Unlike some of her neighbors, Charlton County has maintained the handsome structure and used it for seventy years, proving it unnecessary to erect a new school house every Generation. As the Bend's timber and valuable farmland played out and the local citizens began to feel crowded by the newcomers, a great population shift took place. Several families of long standing sold out to the Fitzgerald company for 5 and 10 cents an acre and moved to Nassau, Duval, Baker and Columbia Counties, Florida. The new bustling nurseries industry attracted many to the Macclenny-Glen Saint Mary area. One example of those migrants was Mrs. Sarah Thompson Hodges, widow of John Hodges. She sold hundreds of acres and transferred her large family to south of Macclenny. Mrs. Hodges was later immortalized as the midwife in Harwick's 'Possom Trot'. Following suit were the families Crews, Lauramore, Harris, Johns, Johnson, Burnsed and others. Farming alone could not sustain St. George and when many attempts to bolster the economy failed, most of the colonists returned north. A few hardy souls remained, including a group of Union veterans. The old gentlemen from the Grand Army of the Republic finished their lives peacefully among their former enemy and now rest in a special plot within the St. George Cemetery. Further north on the Yelvington Trail lies the now defunct mill camp of Toledo. It was the namesake of Toledo, Ohio, home of the brothers J W. and R.B. Brooks who set up their mill in Charlton County in 1887. Two doctors served the sprawling encampment of several hundred souls. A money order post office was established in 1895, and tram road was laid to Traders Hill. Financial trouble killed Toledo in 1898. However, the post office was revived in 1899. In 1905, it died again, but was re-established in 1909 and survived until 1930. In an earlier article (the Canaday Fort), it was erroneously stated that Toledo was once called Moonshine'. That community was not within the limits of the Bend, however. To the northwest of St. George, near the Okefenokee, is the Boones Creek Cemetery, and Church. Once the nucleus of an extensive community of Crews, Stokes, and Roberts families, there remains no more than a beautifully kept burial grounds and a little meeting house of the old Cracker Primitive Baptist architecture. In 1881, an infant, and first child, of Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Jeff Roberts died and Mrs. Roberts traded a cow and calf for three acres of land on which to bury his baby. This plot, called the 'Roberts Cemetery' for years, gradually assumed the name of nearby Boones Creek. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, March 25, 1976 Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber The Burnsed settlement And Oak Grove Church Southwest of the old Smith Bridge and located on the Jacksonville - Tallahassee Road was a community of pioneers known in the last century as 'the Burnsed Settlement.' James M. Burnsed had lived there soon after moving into this area of Florida in 1840. When he moved closer to the Cedar Creek section in the 1850s, two of his children, Adolphus 'Doss' and Cynthia, remained to rear their families. Their families were large and when other pioneers, Thomas, Rhoden, Howard, Powers, Hodge, etc., added their numbers, a log schoolhouse was build for their education. Called both Burnsed and the more euphonious Oak Grove School, it became one of the county's largest. It was typical in our rural past that school buildings served many purposes other than education. Sometime in the mid 1880's one of those other purposes was a mission of the Primitive Baptists of the Georgia Bend to their relatives and friends on the Florida side. Mr. Sylvester Lyons began to regularly preach in the small log structure, and when the school was phased out to be replaced by the Garrett School to the east, Oak Grove Church was established. Although the church was not consituted until 1912, and early records have been difficult to come by, a map of the Eppinger and Russell Timber Company shows a church located there in the 1890's. The Burnseds were engaged in the timber business, cutting and running logs down the St. Marys River to Traders Hill. Doss Burnsed's son Peter was considered the best log runner in the area, sometimes walking them the complete trip to prevent jams. But, in 1892, young Peter Burnsed walked his last log. Peter and his brothers had crossed over into Georgia, probably to attend a frolic. The weather was rainy, and upon returning to the Smith Bridge, they discovered it had been almost washed out by the flooding water. All the boys but Peter had crossed when the final hold of the wooden bridge onto the sand bank gave way and it went rushing down the river with the logs. "How're you going to get across?" they yelled. "I'll show you how," he answered, and rolled a log from the bank into the water. While walking it cross he fell into the swift water and was not seen again for 31 days. Relatives and neighbors camped along the river, searching and watching for the body day and night. Finally, the badly decomposed corpse was found and gathered into a sheet to be brought home. His father's home was near the Oak Grove School and Church and young Burnsed was laid to rest in the shade of the old oaks which had given the area its name. This was the beginning of the Oak Grove-Burnsed Cometery. Years later, young Jimmy Lyons, son of one of the first preachers and later judge of Baker County, cut the lumber at Stokesville in the Bend for the present structure at Oak Grove. Corrections on the Crews Families Part II Although the census records stated Rebecca was from and born in South Carolina, she told her family her home has been North Carolina. That mistake was not so bad, but the writer should clear up other more serious discrepancies. Becky's children were, and married, respectively, John C. md. Martha Johns; Thomas C. md. Mary Electa 'Triss' Sapp of Blackshear; Berry md. Arilla 'Rillie' Sapp, sister of Triss; Emily Narciscus 'Ciss' md. Mack Raulerson; William Shelton md. Isabella 'Belle' Taylor. Many thanks to Mrs. Sarah Burnsed of Glen St. Mary for her help and for calling my attention to the errors. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, April 1, 1976 The Way It Was - Gene Barber The Powers Pioneers According to family stories, the Powers clan had one of the most unusual beginnngs to their migration of any known in our area. Survivors of Indian attacks on wagon trains west are a common fact in our county's history. However, the two Powers boys, ages 12 and 13, who started the Georgia-Florida families were involved in exactly the opposite. Soon after acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase, a Powers family was traveling east, rather that west, when they were attacked by Indians on the east bank of the Mississippi. The only two survivors of the incident were the two aforementioned youths. From the scene of the attack somewhere in either West Florida or the Mississippi territory, they made their way to Georgia. One, supposedly named Alexander Hamilton, settled in east-central Georgia, and this was the line which would, in another century and a quarter, make the Powers' Hotel Annie in Macclenny one of the state's most famous eating places. Before enlisting for service in the War of 1812, he had a son, Alexander, and serveral years later, in 1819, he had another son named James C. born in the south Georgia county of Appling. Soon after his marriage to Sarah Thornton, James C. 'Jim' left Appling for Nassau County, Florida. He and Sarah were located there during the 1840 census. Soon after, they removed across the St. Marys into Camden (now Charlton) County where most of the children were born. After farming his homestead in the Bend, he moved back to Appling sometime prior to 1850. His moving spirit caused him to migrate once more just before the outbreak of the Civil War back to Charlton County. This final homeplace was above the Smith Bridge and to the west of the old Yelvington Trail (approximately the route of present 121). Jim and Sarah had the following children; James Hamilton, born 1842, married Nancy Tomlinson; George Alexander, born 1849, married (1) Jane Weingold, (2) Lottie Lamb; Reubin, died in Orange County; Richard, born 1851, married Mary Burnsed; and Louvice, born 1845, married Adolphus 'Doss' Burnsed. Simeon, born 1843, and Serica, born 1845, were with the family in 1850, but their relationship is unknown. In 1863, mail service was a hit-and-miss affair in our area, and families depended on each other for delivery. On such an occasion, Mrs. Sarah Powers had received a letter for a Florida family, and with her 14 year old son Alex, walked the short distance to the state line to deliver it. Her only means of crossing the river was by a footlog, and the water was swelled by floods. She lost her footing and disappeared into the rapid water, Alec tried to save his mother and almost drowned. With the outbreak of the Civil War, James Hamilton had volunteered for service. He fought at Bull Run and Manasses, and taken prisoner at Newport News, Virginia. Soon after the war's end, Alec and Reubin left for south central Florida, and the other children married and moved across the river into Florida. Jim was left alone to spend the remainder of his life alone in the Bend. He died Just before the turn of the century at the home of his son James Hamilton. James Hamilton had inherited some of his father's restlessness, for when he returned from the Confederate Army, he began a series of moves. His first farming was done on the Stallings Place just north of the St. Marys River in the Bend. He left that 400 acres for a plot just north of there known as the Flat Place. His itchy feet took him next to near Jacksonville on the banks of McGirts Creek. Poor land and oak runners whipped him out, and he searched nearer home for land. A few miles southwest of his father's home lay some attractive hilly land owned by a Mr. Mott (an early Baker County businessman and politician). In 1875, Mr. Powers negotiated for 160 acres which contained a little cleared land and a large seedling pecan tree for the sum of $400. On a high hill near the big pecan tree, Mr. Powers constructed a log house. He had evidenthy found his home, for he remained there until his death in 1897. Behind the present Powers house is a small cemetery where Mr. Powers and most of his family were buried. Unfortunately, the little burial ground cannot be used by the family today because of certain Florida laws regulating burials. Ninety-three year old Mr. Rufus Powers can often be seen each fall still collecting the nuts from the ancient pecan tree which was old and large when his father moved there in 1875. It is comforting to know that some things remain. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, April 8, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber Earn Harris And The Discovery Of The Taber Azalea One is surprised at what one discovers at an art show. While in Jacksonville recently at such an affair we ran across a distant relative-in-law and an interesting bit of information regarding one of the county's most famous products. The story is as follows. In the mid 1920's, a few years prior to the debut of the George Lindley Taber azalea in the Glen Nurseries catalogue, a young production (propagation) assistant discovered it as a sport off an established variety. Ernest 'Earn' Harris noticed a freak branch on an otherwise one-of-thousands Homasaki azalea of a medium to deep lavender-pink type. He called his immediate supervisor (who was also his father-in-law) John O. Barton to investigate. Mr. Barton's experienced eye recognized the strange branch as a possible sport and new variety. He, in turn, called the attention of botonist, Harold Hume, to the plant and he aggreed that it warrented observation. He directed the men to prune away the normal plant, leaving the sport to grow alone and unhindered. Mr. Harris placed a sign by the little shrub directing that it be not dug, pruned, or tampered with. In time, the sport bloomed. It was watched with interest and then admiration as the blossoms opened profusely into the most attractive azalea, as claimed by some, produced since the plant was first captured and improved from the wilds. Mr. Hume asked Mr. Barton to begin propagation of the new variety. Hundreds of little cuttings were made and cared for in the greenhouse. They, in turn, were cut into many more propagations until within a very few years several thousands were ready for the market. That, was incidentally the same year Mr. Taber, Sr. died. When the azalea, labeled with the number 21 was to be included in the catalogue, the office staff (Messrs. Aubrey Greene, Steele, Hume, et al) called in Barton and Harris to consult with them on the name. Someone suggested the name of their deceased boss. All agreed, and in 1929, the revolutionary George L. Taber azalea graced the cover of the Glen Nurseries. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, April 15, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber The Beginnings Of Lake Butler From 1858 to 1861, Baker County shared a common government with Union County in the name and form of New River. The county line overlap of such pioneer families as Driggers, Richardson, Dobson, Roberts and many others strengthened our ties. Lake Butler was the trading center for Baker County's Possom Trot community. Lake Butler (the body of water, not the town) has carried a number of names, among them 'Lake Randolph'. Unlike most geographical features which finally evolve into a final name, this scenic little lake reverted to its first Anglo-American appellation. During the first Seminole war the years following the War of 1812, Gen. Andrew Jackson received word of a particularly troublesome cheiftain in the southeast Georgia section. This cheiftain, Bendoris by name, was among the many early Seminoles who had populated the area around and near the great Okefenokee in the latter half of the eighteenth century. Encouraged by the Spaniards, he made repeated raids on the south Georgia population, each time retreating into Spanish Florida. While on the banks of the Suwannee, Gen. Jackson sent a detachment under a Capt. Butler to destroy Bendoris. Bendoris, meanwhile was plundering newly settled Ware County, Georgia. Capt. Butler trailed the raiders south across the Georgia-Spanish Florida line at Blount's Ferry near the present Fargo site. Bendoris' town was south of present Lake Butler on Odom's Spring, and to protect their families, the Seminoles met Capt. Butler on the north side of the lake. There, they engaged in a fierce battle in which both Bendoris and Capt. Butler were killed. Capt. Butler and his fallen men were buried on the north bank of the lake, large mounds marking the sites for almost a century until they were worn away. Bendoris' followers deserted the area and traveled to the Alachua prairies several miles south, defeated once again and increasingly bitter. Among those U.S. Army survivors was Private Elisha Green of Georgia, a man who had seen service throughout West Florida and much of upper central Florida under Andy Jackson. About ten years later (1889), he talked several other pioneers into making the trip with him as he returned to the vicinity of his battle with Bendoris. Among them were Bill Wester, Bill Driggers, and Bill Richardson, all destined to be progenitors of large Baker and Union clans. During the second Spanish colonial period (1783-1821) the main east-west trail lay to the south of Lake Butler. The Americans needed a more direct route to the new capital of Tallahasse, and so John Bellamy's new military road ran to the north of the lake, and there the little community grew into an important stage stop. From an inn and horse-changing station, the town spread rapidly. However, population shifts and the coming of the railroads in the 1880's determined that Lake Butler Station on the south side was to become the main city. The north side town is hardly a memory. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, April 22, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber Raiford And The State Prison Farm Where the Johnstown Road crossed the New River - Palestine Road in old New River County, a loose but sizable community grew up (census records show several families near there from 1850 through 1880). From Georgia came the Sapps. From Baker County's north end came Conners and Taylors. From old Saint Augustine came the Alvarez family. And, among the many others came Hunter Warren Raiford. Hailing from Haskinsville, Georgia, Mr. Raiford boarded with Mrs. Dora Tyson in the middle 1890's. He soon had a turpentine distilling operation nearby and he established a commissary and post office. The first railroad through the area was the Cummer Line, built in the 1880's for the use of the Cummer Line and Lumber Company. Many Baker County families owed their livelihood to the construction and operation of this railroad, including such One of the early residents of Raiford was Baker County's Henry Jones, a son of John Paul Jones of an earlier article. His sons Clifford and Joe were postmasters in the new little post office. Henry joined forces with Dennis Andrews in 1900 to names as Bell (Beal), Thompson, Jones, Rosier, etc. The rail line later became the Jacksonville and Southeastern, which ran to Newberry and in 1901 became part of the Atlantic Coastline. ?? build a store and cotton gin. They were later joined in partnership by John and Jim Ritch. Mr. Andrews left the company and built another larger store and gin. Soon, the growing fever hit, and Raiford boasted nine stores, including a meat market, dressmaker shop, millinery, three drug stores and two barber shops. The turpentine and cotton business prompted the establishment of the Citizens Bank of Raiford and the Raiford Weekly Tribune newspaper. The boom of the 20's caused the incorporation of the town with Nelson 'Nelse' Ritch as mayor. As early as 1899, a legislative committee had investigated the convict lease system and finding it largely deplorable, urged the state to terminate the practice and locate the prisoner on a productive state farm. In 1913, the state prison farm was begun nearby and in 1914, all the convicts not leased out to private individuals and companies were transferred there. In 1923, due to a scandalous convict death in a lease camp, all prisoners were finally placed in Raiford with the exception of raod work camps scattered about the state. At first, Bradford Farms (one of the early names owing to the fact that the site was still located in Bradford County) was the holding place for one hundred able bodied men, the sick, tubercular and all women. The State Road Prison force, established in 1915, handled all the rest. The first superintendent was Mr. D.W. Purvis. He was followed by Mr. J.S. Blitch (the superintendent's home during his tenure can be seen accompaning this writing). Holding that position today is Baker County native L.E. Dugger. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, April 29, 1976, Page Two The Way it Was - Gene Barber Our Minorcan Heritage Part One - Canova Movie buffs of the 40's, when asked to name the most popular singing hillbilly comedian of that era, would answer quickly 'Judy Canova'. A most unlikely surname for a cracker girl, but that same pigtailed singer of 'Puddin Head' had a great-grandfather who fought with the Confederates at Olustee in 1864. From the Appinines of Italy to the island of Minorca, to New Smyrna in wild Florida in 1778, came the Canovas. When Andrew Turnbull petitioned the British king for permission to establish a colony of Greeks and Minorcans in Floridan he set in motion a strange and sad migration. Turnbull's overseers were reportedly unjustly harsh. The Greeks, still chafing from their subjection by the Turks, and the Minorcans (and some Corsicians), still chafing at their ill treatment from everybody, were only halfheartedly willing to trade one cruel master for another. The colonists ran away by the hundreds, and when Florida was given back to Spain in 1783, New Smyrna Plantation was empty. The unfortunates scattered themselves from Saint Augustine (the Canovas settled there) to Fernandina. A sprinkling went to the lower southwest coast, the old province of West Florida, and into the interior to live with the Seminoles. Some Minorcans entered Florida's interior during the Civil War. Discovering the smoldering resentful Latin population was not going to take the oath of allegiance during the Federal occupation of St. Augustine, the army banished many of them from the city. Several families were welcomed in Lake City, among them were some Canovas. Whether they included the Baker County family of that name is not known. In Jacksonville, Paul P. Canova, an Indian War veteran was found in records predating the Civil War and he died in Jacksonville in 1886. His son, George P., was born in 1844 in St. Johns or Duval County, and was a member of Company D, 1st Florlda Cavalry during the Civil War. He saw action at Olustee, and, after he was honorably discharged, moved to Sanderson. George P. married Diana Green, a daughter of pioneers Elisha and Elizabeth Driggers Green. For several years he operated a store and cotton gin and owned large tracts of land in and near Sanderson. Besides his sizable holdings in Sanderson, an Eppinger and Russell timber map of the 1880's shows additional extensive acreage near the Bradford County line. Throughout Reconstruction, Mr. Canova remained an ardent Bourbon (unreconstructed Democrat). He once ran as an independent Democrat, but refused to accept the seat in the Florida legislature because he thought it was unfairly won. In the rough times after Reconsstructionn Mr. Canova was shot, and his unknown assassin was never apprehended. Footnote: (In the 12 April article 'The Beginnings of Lake Butler', paragraph 7, Elisha Green's return to Florida should read '1829' rather '1889', and special thanks to the Lake Butler Woman's Club's HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, May 6, 1976 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber Our Minorcan Heritage Part Two - Ponce When we cook up a mess of 'perlow,' throw an extra handful of red pepper and sage into our sausage, admire a cracker's olive complexion and thick black hair, or name a child after Grandma Marguerite, Uncle Carlos, or Aunt Marianne, we are unconsciously indulging in our Minorcan heritage. Although none remain of the old Mediteranean names, their blood still courses within many Baker County cracker families. One of those Spanish-Minorca progenitors is the (Ponce) family. Francis Domingo Ponce was born in 1785 in or near St Augustine, a son of Juan Ponce. As a merchant, he moved to Fernandina in the early 1800's and in 1808 or 1809, he married Mrs. Mary Villalonga. Mrs Villalonga was a widow of Juan Villalonga of an old St. Augustine and Fernandina clan. Her father was Juan Secondino Acosta. Juan Secondino Acosta was born in Madrid, Spain and, after living in New Smyrna, St Augustine, and Fernandina, was commissioned by the king of Spain to be keeper of Moro Castle in Havana, Cuba. While in Cuba, he died and was buried there. His father Juan Dominga Acosta was the first postmaster in Florida, and his mother was of Italian-Greek ancestry from Smyrna, Greece. Juan Secondino Acosta, by his several children, is the ancestor of many of the names Higganbotham, Gainey, Tison, and Johnson, in the Nassau, Chariton, Duval, and Baker Counties area. In 1812, the Ponce's second child was born, and Fernandina was captured by American George Matthews (he was not known and loved for his gentlemanly treatment of His Catholic Majesty subjects). The war of 1812, pirates, American raiders, and renegades of all nations made living in Fernandina unhealthy, and Mr. Ponce took his family inland, preferring the Indians to the former company. During the First Seminole War, he was a volunteer, helping to protect the coastal farms, towns, and St. Mary's River border. In 1820, a fifth child was born, and Florida was ceded, in practice if not in formality, to the United States by Spain. The Minorcans, although loyal to the crown in the past, felt not enough allegiance during the transfer of flags to quit the territory with the Spaniards. Mr. and Mrs. Ponce remained, and were among the first to move into the wilds of western Nassau County, farming and selling merchandise along the River Road near the St. Marys. Around 1833, Mrs. Pons (the name had become anglicized by then) died, and Mr. Pons next married Martha (last name unknown). Martha was a Baptist, and Mr. Pons' Catholicism was weakened by many years of nonpractise, and, so for a while, they attended the Pigeon Creek Church on the St. Marys River. Around 1841, they moved into old Columbia County where Martha joined the Providence Baptist Church on the 14th of Septmeber, 1844. By 1850, the Pons family had moved back to Nassau County, leaving some of his children in Columbia County (present Baker County area) to marry into the Anglo-American Crackers. His vocation was listed on census records as 'merchant', and his estate was probated in Duval County in 1866. A son by his first wife was Francis J. He was born in 1833 in Nassau County, anq his wife's name was Marcella. Francis Pons was a superhuman person who, as clerk of court in Baker County, undertook to re-write and re-record every deed destroyed by the courthouse fire of 1877. He, asked for, and, received, no extra compensation for those tiring hours. Francis lived in Sanderson and was a merchant and landowner there, owning much of that community south of the railroad. His son Francis, Jr. was active in politics, and was Treasurer of the State of Florida in the late 1880's. His other son Charly was reputedly active with the ladies, and was known to settle arguments with a pistol. Francis, Sr. had a rival across the tracks by the name of George Canova. It is ironic that Mr. Pons owned land south of the railroad and was buried in a cemetery (Cedar Creek) on the north side. His rival, also of Minorcan descent, owned land north of the railroad and was buried on the south side(South Prong-Green's Creek). And, another little note of no importance, but too good to throw away: Francis, Jr. married Zuella, a daughter of Humpy Smith who moved to Fishbone (wherever that is). _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, May 1, 1976 What would you think of a man who took 63 years to get his high school diploma? Better yet, what would you think if you knew that in the meantime he went on to earn a Batchelor, Master and Doctor of Philosophy degree in psychology, launching a career devoted to the education of others including appointment to the prestigious position as Dean of Furman University? Indeed it sounds unbelievable put it happened here this week. The man is John G. Holt, 82, now retired and living in Macclenny. The diploma is from Fitzgerald High School, class of 1912. The way, it happened, Holt, then a young man 18 years of age, had to move to Mississippi with his family in May of 1912, just prior to graduation ceremonies at Fitzgerald. As he remembers, it was quite a disappointment particularly because he was to have been valedictorian. He had alreay prepared and in fact had begun practicing his speech. But when your family goes, you go. Even though he attained his high school diploma in spirit, John Holt never actually had possession of one. That didn't stop him from gettig a job a short while later as principal of a small country school in Ashton, Georgia. World War I intervened and he saw service with the Second Marine Corps Division on the dreaded fighting fields of France returning home wounded to later enter Furman in Greenville, South Carolina while at the same time supporting a wife and two children. From Furman as both a graduate, and later dean, Holt's academic career continued to blossom with a Master Degree from the University of Virginia in 1924 and later, a PhD from American University in Washington completed in the early 1950's. The absence of his high school diploma, in fact, had long since been forgotten and according to him, didn't make much difference until now. It did make a difference to the current Superintendent of Fitzgerald Public Schools, James Y. Moultrie. He discovered the missing diploma predicament when reviewing records of the old high school there. He traced Holt's whereabouts checking through Furmnan and even out to Wyoming where Holt worked in the late 40's and 50's with Indians as social worker-teacher. The contact was finally made here and Monday of this week, John Holt received a new, blue vinyl covered diploma. I'd completely forgotten about the high school affair, but I cherish this delayed diploma more than all the others put together," beamed Holt Monday afternoon. An accompanying letter from Moultrie stated "In recognition of the advanced education you have received and the many contributions which you have made in the fields of public and higher education since you left Fitzgerald in 1912, we are pleased to award you this delayed diploma from Fitzgerald High School. I hope that it will give you much satisfaction as you add it to your collection which, I am sure, brings you many memories of a successful career. In an interesting sidelight, Moultrie added that all 12 of the original Fitzgerald graduating class of 1912 are still living. Other than the deanship and years of teaching psychology at Furman, Holt spent five years up until 1930 as one of the founders of the old Georgia State College for Men , originally located in Tifton, Georgia and now in Atlanta. A several year stay here during the 1940's, Holt tried his hand as owner of a jewelry store in Macclenny and later as a farmer. For one year during the way, he was principal of the old Taylor School. From 1958, through 1960 he was instrumental in the establishment of Birdwood College in Georgia and after moving to Savannah in 1960 he later founded the Southside School. Holt generally shys away from much discussion on past academic achievements, but his small apartment here in Macclenny is known to contain innumerable mementos dating back over 55 years when he insisted he be admitted to Furman after by chance observing a phliosophy class when in Greenville recovering from a war wound. Not at all bad for someone who had to wait 63 years for a high school diploma. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS Thursday May 13, 1976 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber Mose Thompson, Accidental Pioneer The land of Florida has always seemed to elicit fantastic tales of fairyland scenery and get-rich opportunities. It was no different in pre-Civil War days than during the land-boom 20's. Up in South Carolina, middle-aged Mose Thompson listened to the stories of his step-son and son regarding how one could just throw seeds on to the ground and harvest their produce within two or three weeks. He heard them tell of friends who were getting rich on groves of oranges. They had been down into the wild semi-tropical 'paradise' earlier visiting friends and relatives, and with each telling of their adventures, the better became the land they told about. And so, in 1852, Mose loaded his wife, the former Mary Williams, baby John, and their household goods and family Bible onto a little pony cart equipped with a wooden axle, and left Edgefield, South Carolina for the land of promise. Walking along side were stepson Rance Williams, sons Tom and Roe, and daughters Lizzie and Vic. Their goal was a little roadway junction in the northeast corner of central Florida called 'Banana' (just a couple of miles south of present Melrose in Alachua County). Among the first of many troubles to beset the little band of pioneers happened when they forded the Savannah River near Augusta. The wooden axle broke, and the cart body floated away from the wheels. Mrs. Thompson held her baby and Bible above water and only a minimum of damage was sustained by the household goods. Time was taken on the Georgia side to mend the cart and dry its load. At the end of sixty days they reached the St. Marys River and Florida. Not far from the site of the present concrete bridge across the river on 121, there was a pole bridge. As they crossed, the little horse slipped through the cypress poles and crippled himself. On the Florida side, they camped for the, night and planned for tomorrow. Tomorrow brought no better news, for the pony was still unable to resume pulling. The family waited. The oldest boys were impatient to get on with the journey, but their father was not noted for his drive and action and he waited. Mrs. Thompson, not noted for her tolerance and understanding, continued the constant nagging that had been the themesong of the trip. A man happened along, and suggested that Mose take his family down the road (near the present route of 121 and called the Yelvington Trail) to an abandoned house and camp there. Mose not only accepted the suggestion, but decided to stay the season so that his wife and children could make a crop. The well, old in 1852, could still be seen until a few years ago on the east side of 121 on the banks of a small pond of water north of Macclenny. The house was adequate, and after one season, Mose decided not to rush things, and stay just one more year. Rance and Tom became increasingly eager to get on down to Banana, and after helping with the first crop, left the family to its own devices. Mary and the children made another crop and then another until the Mose Thompson family was firmly rooted, by accident, in Baker County soil. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, May 20, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber Part Two Mary Thompson - Resourceful Pioneer Woman Mary Thompson was a hard working woman who milked the family cows, plowed and hoed the fields, and maintained strict discipline over her children. She made butter, formed it into half-pound balls and kept it stored in crocks of brine. She stored her eggs in the smokehouse, small ends down in the sand. Their ripe peaches, with home-made cane syrup, were converted into peach brandy, also stored in crocks. When she had enough produce, she loaded it and one or two children in a wagon, and traveled to Jacksonville to trade. Although she was illiterate, she could outfigure, in her head, any clerk who was using paper. She compared prices, reckoned values, added, and multiplied with the world's best computer.. her brain. She returned home with goods and some change to begin the process again. Her husband, Mose, pursued a different form of trading. As a cobbler and furniture maker, he took his wares to Baldwin. His 'trading' usually took from one to two weeks, necessitating several trips to the Baldwin tavern. When he returned home, a few days to a few weeks were required to recover from his exhaustive 'trading'. During these periods, it was difficult, if not impossible, for him to exert himself through work. Today, it is called 'hangover'. It was on one of those trading trips to Baldwin that Mr. Thompson decided to "teach an Irishman a lesson and send him back to where he belongs." The Irishman, big and brawny from working on the new railroad through Baldwin, decided he didn't care to return to where he belonged, and slapped Mr. Thompson down. Mose figured his timing was wrong and tried again. The Irishman floored him again. A third time Mose tried and was downed. His opponent asked if he wanted to try once more, to which Mr. Thompson replied, "ol' Mose thinks he's learned to let well enough alone." Mose never owned his homes, but was forced to move whenever the owners made legal claims. One of his homesites was the old Eli Hicks place near Macedonia (called the Rube Crawford place). Another was in present Macclenny (in the backyard of the Eldred Jones') on Willingham Branch (Brickyard Branch). His final home was south of Macclenny in a house provided for him by his youngest son John (site of Paul Rhoden's home). Mrs. Thomnson never refused aid to the needy, although "Lord knows," remarks descendants, "she was, herself, in the worst circumstances." She assisted travelers, providing them beds and food. Her less fortunate neighbors also came to her for food and clothes. The Thompsons became charter members of the Bethel Baptist Church south of Macclenny in 1877 and remained faithful practicing members until their deaths. Mrs. Thompson and her daughter Victoria were remarkably quick tempered and difficult to live with. Mr Thompson best described them with an oft repeated comment as he sat leaning back on the front porch, "that Mary Thompson is meaner'n hell a mile, and Victoria ain't slow a quarter." Mose Thompson died in September of 1882, and was the first interment in Woodlawn Cemetery. The widow lived with relatives and spent much time at the Macclenny Hotel, where her grandchildren and great-grandchildren read to her from her old Bible brought down from Carolina many years before. It should be mentioned that she was quick to correct any slip or mistake made in their reading, practically having committed the entire volume to memory. She died in 1898 at 91 years of age. Mary Thompson would have been proud to have known that her adopted grandson was the Baptist Church's first foreign missionary sent out from Florida, and, the writer is rather happy for that little slippery pole bridge, for without it he might never have known Baker County as his home; the Thompsons were his great-great-great grandparents. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, May 27, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber The Story Behind Ellicot's Mound No sooner had the fledging nation of north America secured her independence than she began tidying up her boundries. One of her most vexsome boundries being between the commonwealth of Georgia and the Spanish colony of Florida. A treaty negotiated in 1795 by Thomas Pinkney of the U.S. and the Spanish government called for, among other things, a survey of the border between U.S. territory and Spanish Florida. The thirty-first parallel was agreed on, and Andrew Ellicott was engaged by the American government to run the survey. Mr. Ellicott arrived in Natchez, West Florida on the 27th of February with an escort of about twenty men. Spanish Governor Goyoso evidently, along with the entire government in Madrid, suspected the Americans of using the survey as a plot to gain more control of Florida. The rebellious and trying attitude of the Governor prompted Ellicott to ask for and receive further detachments under Lt. Percy Smith Hope. In this tense atmosphere, Ellicott began his work and trip on the 9th of April. Gov. Goyoso joined him later. The governor's lack of cooperation and severe Indian attacks forced Ellicott to retreat from the Apalachicola River, where he began the survey to St. Marks on the Gulf Coast. From St. Marks, he sailed, 18 October, around the Florida peninsula to St. Marys, Georgia at the mouth of the St. Marys River. He was joined there by a small party who had traveled overland from the Flint River in West Florida. Camp was pitched on Point Peter on the St. Marys. While on the St. Marys, Ellicott reported a deep snow, measuring eight inches in some places. The surveying party began its investigation to determine the headwaters of the St. Marys River for the purpose of connecting that point with Ellicott's beginnings on the Apalacicola and thus fixing the Spanish-American line. From early maps, the Anglo-Americans and Spanish, had been aware of the north and south prongs of the St. Marys and now surveyor Ellicott was to explore both as well as what has become known as the 'Middle Prong'. The surveying party of Americans and Spaniards made its way up the brown waters of the St. Marys to Traders Hill, south to Trail Ridge, west to the Little St. Marys (South Prong), and along that stream until Ellicott had decided its candidacy as a headwater stream was poor indeed. They backtracked to the mainstream, and continued west and north to the fork of the middle prong. That run was only intermittent and likewise an unlikely source. When he reached the great Okefenokee where the tannin-stained stream emerged uninterrupted and relatively strong, he declared that to be the true source of the St. Marys River. There, in the northeastern corner of present Baker County, Ellicott directed his party to throw up a sizable mound of earth as a marker. He made no further efforts to connect to east and west by a surveyed line, but reported that the disputed boundry began in the west at his beginning on the Apalachicola and ended at his considered source of the St. Mary's. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday June 3, 1976 Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber From The Diary Of Charles W. Turner (Part One) On the 8th of May, 1869, Charles W. Turner arrived in FIorida. The scars of war were still much in evidence in Jacksonville. But, he had left worse scars in his home of Memphis and Mississippi. Now, he was searching for a new beginning and home. In typical tourist fashion he took a coastal-river excursion on a schooner captained by Thomas Leach. His journal records the embarking date as 17 June 1869. On 19 June, they grounded on an oyster bar near the mouth of the St. Johns and remained there until next high tide. He commented on Pable Plantation (between Jacksonville and the beach), and entered notes on stops at Palatka, Mandarin and Green Cove (he took a swim in the springs). But, nowhere did he feel he had found a home for his family. As his granddaughter noted 107 years later, "grandfather looked all around for a nice place to buy and live." Hearing of a new county in the relative wilderness west of Jacksonville, he took the train to Sandersonn the county seat, and there found land that struck his fancy. Land was plentiful by reasons of remoteness and reclaiming by the loyal reconstruction state government (It should be noted that Mr. Turner, although a native New Yorker, was not, and, would not be a carpetbagger). A Mr. James S. Barnett was engaged in a lumber and naval stores operation and held the power-of-attorney for a number of Civil War widows and orphans and disillusioned and disenfranchised ex-Confederates. Mr. .Turner went to his camp southeast of Sanderson and purchased from him as agent for George J. Smith, the Smith farm. The Smith farm was located on the main Jacksonville-Lake City Road (south of present I-10), six miles east of Sanderson (the only community in the county other than Olustee in 1869) and about one mile south of the railroad, and on the west bank of the Little St Marys. This land was part of the first recorded private land transaction in the county, being part of that parcel sold to Richard Mott by Josiah Gigger (Geiger). Twelve years later, it would be purchased by George L. Taber to become part of his Glen Nurseries. Mr. Turner's new home place consisted of 160 acres, 50 acres of which was under fence. There were 100 bearing peach trees, 10 orange trees, 6 quince, 6 figs, 5 pomegranates, several bananas, a log dwelling house, a corn crib, stables, a cabin for the black man Moses and a smokehouse. Some of the fruit trees were later incorporated into the horticultural stock of the Glen Nurseries. The Turner family arrived at the farm Sunday, December 5th, 1869. A grey horse named Billy was bought for $160. Moses, found a wife Myria. With children Walter, Irene, Edgar, baby Charles, Jr., Moses and Myria, and horse Billy, they settled in while wife Martha, accustomed to better facilities, cooked Christmas dinner over an open fire in the fireplace. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday June 10, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber From the Diary Of Charles W. Turner (Part Two) January 5th brought the coldest night of the year (24 degrees). Mr. Turner bought a sow with 9 pigs that day. He, Walter, Edgar, and Moses fought woodsfires on the west and north all day. It broke out again on the 6th, and Mr. Turner and Walter battled it until Moses arrived and assisted in bringing it under control. On January 10th, Charly went to secure his deed to the farm. He and Mr. Barnett went to Mr. Richard Mott's house in Sanderson to view the original deed given by Geiger to Mott. After satisfying his shrewd Yankee mind that the land was clear, he paid $800 to Mr. Barnett, agent for George J. and wife Mary S. Smith for the homestead. The locals were friendly and helpful. On the 19th of January, 1870 Mrs. Penny (nee Alexander) Barber called on the Turner Family. She lived about 4 miles to the east (near the present intersection of I-10 and 228), and, within two months, would be widowed by Florida's only major state-wide blood feud, the Barber-Mizell Feud of central Florlda. Also, on that day, he received a bundle of corn, bean, and grape seed from a friend, Mr. Ames, of Las Cruces, New Mexico Territory. On January 31st, 1870 he recorded his deed. February 4th: Jackson Mann called on the Turner's to request medicine for his wife. Mr. Turner was knowledgeable in the medical arts, being referred to by the natives as 'Dr. Turner'. On the 6th of February, Moses skipped out, leaving his wife Myria behind. Mr. Turner entered into his journal that he went to Mrs. Lizzy Barber's for chickens (her home was on the site of the Earl Knabb home situated on the south city limits of Macclenny). While returning with his three laying hens, he noted the May rains had raised the St. Marys uncommonly high. On Saturday, May 19th, 1879, Walter Turner, later to become postmaster at Macclenny (as yet not founded), fired a shotgun for the first time in his life. He killed two quail with that first shot. Sunday, 20th May: Walter and Edgar, called 'Bud', attended Mr. Mann's Church (Mt. Olive Methodist at Manntown). The entire family was faithful in church attendance, always remaining loyal Methodists. In the fall of 1870, a hurricane destroyed all the crops in the area. The Turners lived on Indian cornmeal bread, salt pork, and a little fruit through that winter. In the midst of these hardships, Mr. Turner was quick to be thankful that his farm was possessed of the best water in the country. Charles was appointed postmaster at Sanderson soon after he arrived in Baker County. Because of the three to four hour round trip to the job, he, in turn, appointed a deputy postmaster to serve in his absence. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday June 17, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber From The Diary Of Charles W. Turner (Part Three) As Charly Turner stood on the Mississippi river bank of June 6th, 1862 and watched the great gunboat battle off Memphis, he was caused to later remark in his diary, "I, my father, and my grandfather have stood on the bloody fields of war in defense of this once glorious union". Indeed, he, his father, and grandfather believed in the United States, and all served to preserve it. An ancestor, George, Saul (Sowle) was a signer of the Mayflower Compact and served various civil offices in Massachusetts Colony. Charles Turner ancestors fought with the Rebels in New England against King George. His father Eli was a soldier in the War of 1812, helping to preserve that hardwon independence. Charles W. Turner was born on the 7th of June, 1828 in Durhamville, Onieda County, New York. His wife, of old Dutch stock, was Martha Fraker. He moved, with his father Eli, to Howlett Hill in Onandage County, New York, and worked in the city of New York. At twenty four, he volunteered for the U.S.Army during the War with Mexico, and was stationed at Ft. Gibson in the Cherokee Nation. On July 17th, 1848, his unit left Ft. Gibson to march to California via Santa Fe. He recorded in his journal his enjoyment at hunting buffalo and small game. He wrote of seeing wild horses and of Indians stealing the soldiers horses from camp one night. The troops arrived after 56 days of travel at Santa Fe on September 12th, and were informed that peace with Mexico had been secured. The soldiers were discharged to return home as best as they could. Civilian Turner decided to remain in New Mexico for two years, entering the grocery business. He left New Mexico Territory in 1850 with nearly $2,000 in gold and a warrent for 160 acres service bounty land. He wandered throughout the west, arriving in St. Louis, Missouri June 1, 1852. Charles toyed with a longstanding wish of attending college. He, instead, chose to continue working in order to send financial help home to his father who had become blind in his old age. Charles became an agent for Aetna Insurance Company, and traveled extensively in the west and south selling the relatively new service to pioneers and plantation owners. Whether he returned home to marry or found his bride on his travels is unknown, but in 1854 or 55, he took the seventeen year old Miss Fraker as his bride. They lived in Mississippi not far from Memphis, Tennessee where their first three children were born. After the war, he began his search for a "a nice place to buy and live", and thus we are returned to the beginning of our narrative. The epilogue of the Charles W. Turner pioneer story was, according to descendants, as follows. He died at home on the 13th of June, 1872, and was buried on the grounds of Mt. Zion Church near Sanderson. Dr. P.A. Holt of Lake City attended him and pronounced him dead. Rev. J.R. Burnett of Sanderson officiated at the funeral services. The widow survived him until 1895, and was buried in Macclenny's Woodlawn Cemetery. During the past year, we have tried, with this historical series to present a lucid perspective on what created the area we call Baker County and home. We researched and wrote of the pathos and comedy of our ancestors, of events odd and history-changing, of good times and bad. If sufficient attention was granted, it would have been noted that not one of the pioneers attained any measure of success for himself or security for his progeny without a struggle. Sometimes, as in the case of Charly Turner, it was "...on the bloody fields of battle...". If they were permitted to look down on us, some, if not most, would be hard pressed to understand our discussions for a Bicentennial celebration. Small wonder, for they were too busy making it possible for us to celebrate America than think about future Fourth of July festivities. We are among the first generations to truly, have the time, finances, and facilities to memorialize those pioneers and say " thank you". We are possessed of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to teach ourselves and our kids the worth of all that spilled blood, sweat, and tears. No generation has ever been more in debt to its past or, faced with a greater charge to the future than ours. Just in case they can look down on us right now, and just in case we will have to join them face to face later on, perhaps we should give some thought to a Fourth celebration that amounts to a little more than a beardgrowing contest and a street dance. Maybe, we should let them know we are capable of more and better. An army commander stationed at Lake City in 1866 said, "the locals of this city and neighboring Baker County show no enthusiasm for celebrating Independence Day". People and times really don't change...do they? _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, June 24, 1976, Page Two The Way It Was - Gene Barber County History Relatively Unknown, But Unique At the end of this little offering of historical notes honoring our Bicentennial year, we trust we may editorialize a bit about our heritage, attitudes, and direction. Baker County of 1976 is an end product of a long and unique, and relatively, unknown history. It is a story of poverty and paradox. We have entered the history and guide books via but two counts; the Battle of Olustee (referred to as near Lake City rather than in Baker County) and being possessed of quaintness and color (meaning moonshine manufacturing and drinking, a marriage mill, and floor-stomping frolics of olden days). Baker County was created not out of necessity, but to honor a regional politician, and she was created by a 'nation' rather than a state (between Florida's secession from the U.S. and her entry into the C.S.A.). For generations she has been an area of extremes with hardly any middle ground. Her citizens have been mostly rich or poor, but seldom ever middle income. Until the past thirty years or so, only a handful could boast of higher education while the majority of the remainder did well to recognize their own names. Baker County has been under martial law twice, ravaged by yellow fever and influenza epidemics, crippled by severe freezes, and had her population decimated by feuds and assassinations. Hurricanes have wreaked havoc with her buildings and roads. She has felt fire, earthquake, and war, and, at times, the censure of the state. But, perhaps the cruelest of all, because it was so unwarranted, were the gibes and labels given by sister counties and news media. In spite of it all, Baker County has quietly provided people, products, and services for which she has received, and asked for, no reward, recognition, or thanks. The first Floridian to assume a Presidential cabinet post graduated from the Baker County school system. Besides several other valuable members of her legislative delegation, she Provided the state with history's most able Secretary of the Senate. A Baker Countian was the wife of a Governor of the State of Florida. That fact is perhaps not as important as is that, as a young pretty girl, she looked up at the important visitor to her school and said, "I'm going to marry that man and be Firt Lady one day" Our county was honored to have one of her number appointed to head the Florida Sheriffs' state organization. One citizen received the coveted laud of the sports world in All-America football. Another citizen was bestowed the title of President Emeritus in the Florida Cattlemens Association for his work in helping salvage and boost the cattle industry. Baker Countians have served as Presidents of the Southern Nurserymen's Association and American Nurserymen's organization. And, surpressing little humility in the telling, Baker County also gave a president for the nation's oldest and one of its most prestigious state art organizations. Believing in the preservation of home and independence, Baker County sent her numbers to defend her ideas of democracy. Many Baker Countians are descended from Revolutionary Soldiers, and some of their ancestors fought with Andy Jackson in 1812. Yet, when Englishmen moved into the county during the latter 19th century, they were accepted and assisted. Baker Countians battled the Seminole, but, recognizing greatness and patriotism named their children in honor of Osceola. Most cared little for the politicians War Between the States, but rose strong, and united against the invaders. Years later, they received the former Union soldiers as neighbors, friends, and relatives, harboring little, or no, bitterness. Many answered President Wilson's call to aid Europe during the 'War to End War', and some remained in Flanders. But, to use an old but very .... Japan's whereabouts, but many went to battle her during the even greater World War II. Some came home, when they did come home, in boxes. They left limbs, guts, and minds in Korea and Viet Nam. One made the ultimate sacrifice in the Lebanon Crisis, leaving a heliport to bear his name with honor. They left us widows, orphans, and grieving parents who taught us acceptance, sacrifice, humility, and the power to begin again. They left us living and the privilege of deciding our future. It seems strange that all we have been able to do with our inheritance has been to create an ego paradise in which some of our highest goals are to foul once pretty county roads with beer cans; visit Disneyworld; speak obscenities in public; own, one each, color TV, CB, and motor home camper; break school windows; and be otherwise engaged in the pursit of happiness. We had hoped to see the powers-that-be and citizens of influence use this Bicentennial year to establish a heritage museum before the opportunity was lost as was the year of our Centennlal. We had hoped to see the stacks swelled at the Baker Free Library by the donation of books in memory of local pioneers, patriots, and citizens. We had hoped to hear responses to the repeated calls of the Bicentennial Committee Faithful Few. We should have been warned a year ago at one of our biggest programs; our crowd consisted of four men and two children, and one of the men apologized that he had to leave early to throw some feed out to his cows. But, to use an old but very true cliche, it's never too late.