Obituary of Francis J. Pons (1833-1891), Baker County, Florida

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Francis J. Pons,
Obituary from the Florida Times Union, Jacksonville, December 25, 1891
 
          F. J. PONS DEAD.
               
The State Treasurer of Florida Passed
     Peacefully Away Last Night.

He Was of the Old Spanish Stock, Born
 on Amelia Island in 1833-A Wife and
    Nine Children Mourn His Loss.

Special to the Times-Union
    SANDERSON, FLA., December 24. Francis
J. Pons, state treasurer of Florida, died at
his home here at 9:45 p.m., after an illness
extending at intervals over the past two
years.
    His disease was cancer of the stomach,
and all that medical aid could do was directed
toward a cure, or at least an alleviation of
his sufferings.  Nearly a year ago he was
prostrated with a severe attack and for many
days his life was despaired of, but he rallied
     
     -F.J.PONS PHOTO HERE-

and again resumed his official duties at
Tallahassee.  His last illness began less than
a month ago, but his condition was not con-
sidered dangerous until Wednesday of this
week.
    This morning it was apparent that the end
was not far off, and the Reverend Father
Kenny of the Church of the Immaculate Con-
ception in Jacksonville was summoned to the
bedside of the dying man.  All his children-
nine in number-were notified of their
father's condition, and at 5 o'clock last night
they were all present with the exception of
C. F. Pons of Fernandina, who was expected
on the night train.
    At 5:30 p.m. the attending physician in-
formed the TIMES-UNION correspondent
that the patient was sinking very rapidly
and that there was no possible hope for his
recovery-that he was likely to die at any
moment.  From that time on he failed per-
ceptibly every moment and just before 10
o'clock passed peacefully to his final repose.

    Francis J. Pons, state treasurer, was born
in old Fernandina, on Amelia Island, in
March, 1833, and received his education in
the schools of Fernandina and Jacksonville.
Since the year 1857 he had followed mer-
chandising as a business and had resided in
Sanderson, Baker county.
     In 1875** he was sent to the legislature from
Baker county, and afterward held the office
of clerk of the circuit court for twelve years.
In November, 1888, the people chose him
state treasurer.
     Besides the nine children which survive
him he leaves a wife and a large number of
grandchildren and other relatives to whom
his death will be a severe blow.  The late
state treasurer was a man of  far more than
the ordinary ability and was held in high
esteem by all who came in contact with him.
His position as state treasurer he filled with
acceptability to the people and the present
administration of the state, and his death is
a great loss to Florida.



**This date was transposed in the obit,
incorrectly typed as 1857.