Putnam County FlArchives Biographies.....Savell, J. F. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 February 20, 2015, 12:24 am Source: Vol. II pg25-26. The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923 Author: History of Florida, Past and Present SAVELL, Rev. J. F., pastor of the First Baptist Church of Palatka, is a native of Florida, and for over 20 years has been engaged in a busy program of useful work as teacher, student and pastor. He was born in Santa Rosa County, Florida, son of M.. J. and MARY ELIZABETH (PARKER) SAVELL. The Savells are of Huguenot ancestry, and early established homes in the mountain regions of North Carolina. Two brothers came to Florida in the fifties, locating in the western part of the state. These two brothers were separated during the Civil war, one of them never returning. The other, grandfather of Rev. Mr. Savell, put up a sawmill twelve miles from Milton, Florida. He reared a large family of daughters and one son, M. J. SAVELL. The latter was born and reared in Florida, spent his early life in school, on the farm in about an old fashion water sawmill, and was a pioneer in Santa Rosa County. He died at Mobile, Alabama, in 1902. Of his thirteen children five sons and three daughters are now living, J. F. SAVELL being sixth in order of birth. Rev. Mr. Savell left home at the age of fifteen to make his own way, earning the means to achieve the education that satisfied his ambition for a thorough and effective work. He had a common school education, and after a period of work he entered Bagdad Academy in Florida, spending two years there. He also attended Richmond College in Virginia, and graduated Master of Arts from Howard College in Alabama. He attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky, and about that time was made pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Birmingham, Alabama, and while there he was ordained to the full work of the ministry. Subsequently he went to Rochester, New York, to complete his education, attending the University of Rochester, and graduated in 1905 from the Baptist Theological Seminary of that city. While a student in the seminary he was pastor of the University Avenue Baptist Church. After leaving Rochester Rev. Mr. Savell was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and in 1909 removed to Fayetteville, Tennessee, and in 1912 to Nashville. In December, 1917, he became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Palatka, and his work for that congregation has been exceedingly fruitful during the past five years. He found a membership of a little more than two hundred, and during his pastorate has received into the church 455 members. The church at the corner of Oak and Fifth streets was built about fourteen years ago and has a seating capacity of about 500. Plans have been accepted by the trustees for a larger and better building, with a seating capacity of 800. Rev. Mr. Savell has always combined a deep interest in education with the active ministry, and has taught as supply on many occasions in places where he has lived. At one time he was co-principal of one of one of the three first grade high schools in Tennessee. While in the ministry he also acted as reporter for a daily newspaper and for a time was editor-in-chief of a small paper. For over two years he has been boy scout master at Palatka, and recently was elevated to deputy scout commissioner. Governor Hardee appointed him probation officer of Putnam County, Florida. Rev. Mr. Savell is a Knight Templar Mason. Rev. Savell on December 29, 1889, married MARY B. CAMBROM, of Fluitville, Tennessee, daughter of E. J. and MARTHA CAMBROM. Their children are: MADDIE BUENA, LION MORTON, JAMES MERAE, JOSEPH FAYRON, ALILI BENJAMIN, QUILA VISTA and SIPTA VIRGINIA, all of whom are living. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/putnam/bios/savell93bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/flfiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb