ANDREW JACKSON FLOREY One of the few remaining citizens of Eagle Point who donned the blue and went to the front during the '60s is A.J. Florey, who for nineteen years has discharged the duties of postmaster here. He was born in Macon county, Illinois, on the 20th of April, 1840, and is a son of Israel and Elizabeth Florey. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother of Tennessee but they located in Illinois in 1828, and passed the remainder of their lives on a farm in Macon county. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Florey of whom five are still living. A.J. Florey was reared in the state of his nativity and educated in its common schools. When the call came for volunteers in 1861 he enlisted and went to the front as a member of Company A, Eighth Illinois Infantry, remaining in the service until honorably discharged at the close of hostilities. He participated in many of the notable battles of the war and was wounded at Fort Donelson in the jaw and the thigh. He was mustered out at New Orleans in February, 1866, and returning to Macon obtained work in a cooper shop. Feeling that he would like to try life in the west in 1873 Mr. Florey crossed the plains to Oregon, locating at Eagle Point and has continued to reside here. Nineteen years ago he was appointed postmaster and has ever since been the incumbent of that office. That he has discharged his duties efficiently is manifested by the period of his service and the regard in which he is generally held in the community. In 1882 Mr. Florey was united in marriage to Miss Etta A. Nye, a native of Jackson county, and to them have been born six children: Florence E, the wife of William Vonderhellen; Chauncey; A.J., Jr.; Margaret; Theodore R.; and Judge Taft. Mr. Florey cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and has ever since given his allegiance to the Republican party. He maintains relations with his comrades of the field through the medium of his membership in Harrison Post, No. 47, G.A.R., and has ever been loyal to its principles. He is a man of strong convictions and much determination of purpose and in his private as well as his public life has manifested the same high principles and stanch loyalty to what he believes to be right, he evidenced when he went to the front in the service of his country. The Centennial History of Oregon, p.473 --------------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Pat Hageman