Isaiah David Hart is the Founder of Jacksonville, Florida with no known photo.

Sisters Pat and Marien formerly of Jacksonville, Florida used to talk about “Uncle What’s His Name”.  It seems there was the photograph in a fancy frame of an unknown man on the wall of a prominent relative of the family for which no one knew his name. It apparently hung on the wall for many years to the point that it became funny to relatives and friends alike,  as they walked towards, by and around this unknown soul. They called him “Uncle What’s His Name”.

Sometimes I wonder about Isaiah David Hart, the founder of Jacksonville who married Nancy Nelson in Duval County in 1818 according to the records.  Could his mug be on the wall of some family member and they not know he’s the actual founder of Jacksonville, Florida?  There is no known photograph of him and many historians like myself have tried endlessly to find one.  And, why is there no photo?

Isaiah  D. Hart was a prominent man who held not only a great deal of power but held high offices in Jacksonville and Florida.   His father’s family was  from Pennsylvania and he died in St. Johns County.  His Mother was from Loudoun County, Virginia. Both are buried in Jacksonville’s Old Cemetery. Hart’s Mother birthed four children according to Find A Grave but some say twelve children. There are no family photos among many youngins’ and their families?  

According to Find A Grave, Hart himself had 7 children but I don’t see Julia listed so even that history is sketchy.  Those listed are:  Oscar B. Hart, Ossian B. Hart, Laura C. Hart Farrar, Lodiska Hart Beers, Isaiah David Hart, Daniel William Hart and Nancy Hart.  Of those 7 children only one has a photo on the grave listings and that is of Ossian who became the 10th Governor of Florida in 1845.  Was Isaiah or any of his siblings at this inaugural event and if so where are the photos?

Isaiah David Hart wore many hats…He was a planter, ranch owner, plantation owner, slave trader (not to his credit), Deputy U. S. Marshall in East Florida, Clerk of County Court in Duval, Commissioner of piolatage, railroad investor, 1939 member of the Whig Territorial senate and one of the founders of the Whig party.  His children held different and various jobs in the city of Jacksonville and Ossian was the 10th Governor of Florida. Where in the world are the photos of this man, surely someone has at least one?

Could there be a photograph of Isaiah David Hart on the wall of some family member with them all calling him “Uncle What’s His Name”? I certainly wonder…..If you solve this, I’m in need of this photo. Please contact me…..

UPDATE: In Dena Snodgrass’ article in the JHS, Volume V “Papers”, she writes…”Listed among his belongings were a clock and a watch at $100. each; a portrait of himself at $25….” SO, there was a portrait of him at some point. I wonder on whose wall it can be found as “Uncle What’s His Name”?

See you tomorrow,

Sources: Florida Memory, Wikipedia, COJ., Jacksonville Historical Society Papers, Vol. V, Photos- Cracker Barrel Restaurant- 1-2-23