My Father, Alec P. Vaughan, Jr. worked at Jacksonville’s Cecil Field his whole career. He worked in the public works area at both NAS Jax and Cecil . Working longer at Cecil there was a long-lasting friendship of staff developed with his leadership. He was a kind man and honest to the core.
Cecil opened 1941-closed 1999- Photo Credit: unknown
When we were growing up, the base, located on Normandy Blvd. near our home, was a place we frequented often. My Mother, a stay-home Mom and with a family with only one car would sometimes take my Dad to work giving us a car for the day. That would mean she would have to take him to work and pick him up at the end of his work schedule. We would all pile in the car before day break to take him, go shopping, run around and do car things and then return at the close of the day to pick up Daddy.
In the morning we could stay dressed in our pj’s or play-clothes but if my Dad wanted us to check out his digs, we had to dress the part and put on Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. Ugh! We all, the three of us, hated that, but the perk was, we got to go see Daddy at work, see the airplanes and meet all of these people who hugged and petted us. We liked that just fine. Who doesn’t like the bosses kids and we were well behaved. Daddy was kind-hearted but we were expected to mind our manners and we did.
During my Father’s time at Cecil Field, it was the largest Naval Air and military base in terms of land area with over 22,000 acres. He worked there from the mid 1940’s until his retirement around 1975. During that time, he managed public works including the telephone and communication office and in addition worked to provide furniture for Navy members and their families.
Telephone patent
We visited the furniture storeroom on occasion as well as the office where the phone lines were pulled in and out using an old phone switch, later called a phone jack. This, dating back to 1884 evolved over the years but was used into the 1960’s with ladies saying “number please” and making connections. That was always an intriguing visit.
U.S. military operator, 1967
Cecil Field was a full fledged Naval base and we spent much time on and off of the property as my Dad served well.
Since a visit to the Old City Cemetery on East Union Street, I realize there is a focus by the government of Jacksonville to improve the cemeteries in the city where rot and decay resides. There is though more than one battle of blight where the dead are concerned.
Tomb stone 1885-1932
Trying to research the history of the oldest downtown cemetery has piqued my interest and now comes an online map shared by Kelsi Hasden about the whereabouts of another old cemetery near downtown Jacksonville. After looking up St Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery on the City Council agenda, I see it’s one of the Black cemeteries getting distinction of being another of the old burial cites and will receive monies provided to improve it. I wanted a closer look. By its name, It was probably a plant by Bethel Baptist from downtown Jacksonville in the 1880’s. Bethel and First Baptist began together in 1838, and was the first Baptist church in the city. Both Black and White members worshipped together.
Military stone with cross at the top
This morning, I set out to find this southside church and cemetery. The cemetery was once under the care of St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church at some point was enclosed with fencing such that unless you know it’s a cemetery, its just a place of broken cement and where roaming feral cats and the possible homeless frequent. While there, I saw broken stones when peeking through the fence and multiple cats as well as a homeless bag-pack. I did not open it.
Feral cat among many
Using the map provided on the January 5th blog of “The Jaxson” write-up, I was able to go right to the location and photograph the remains of the remains. While looking through the view-finder on my camera I saw a tabby cat, grey Russian blue type and a solid black cat. Living beside an apartment complex and frequenting the dumpster area seemed like a good thing for them. They all appeared full and healthy but ran when I reached towards my camera to zoom closer.
The grounds are completely grown up with wood rot, tree growth and thick brush. Beneath all of that were broken tombstones, cement slabs and obvious lack of care for the dead. The two stones that I found intact were difficult to read but I was happy to see the cross boldly engraved at the top.
Florida Memory. com offers a document of the founding of this church to be 1880, located on “San Diego Road, 1/2 mile from Kings Avenue, South Jacksonville, Duval County.”
Florida Memory.com church doc
At that time this was a white building which was moved to the present site, and remodelled in 1917. It does not say from where it was moved unless it was closer to the cemetery? The present church is slate blue. The pastor is Carl C. Patterson according to the sign out front.
St Nicholas Bethel on San Diego Road
The pastor at the time was J. C. Christopher serving from 1880-1885. It looks as though the city of Jacksonville will allocate funds in order to help get the graveyard cleaned up which will allow respect to be paid to the interments. There appears to be both military and civilian graves in the area. This will be no small job but kudos to the City Council for approving this project. Its current address is 2602 San Diego Road so there is a lot more than a cemetery clean up. There is the history to ponder.
When I think of “Granny Lee” as most everyone in the neighborhood called her, my mind goes to a true pioneer woman; gardening, blue berries, hard work and possum for supper. Even though she was no actual relation to me, while growing up, I visited her most every day, especially in the summer. She had a hitching’ post for my horse and on occasion helped me wash him down. Smokey, actually my brother Pat’s horse, was my prime mode of transportation from the age of 7 until my teen years when my parents bought me a used English racer.
Aunt Irene and Idell. Photo- Missy
At Granny’s, my bike was parked in the same spot of where Smokey would stand. I enjoyed my bike but it was Smokey that I used the most, even as a teen. Smokey had a “B-line” to Granny’s log cabin, which was to turn left on Crystal Springs and at a fast pace, ride through the crowded pine tree field near the blueberry patch she managed and kept.
Ezra and Idell’s log cabin, Photo- Ramey
Idell Virginia Highsmith Lee was born in Waycross, Georgia on December 23, 1906. According to Find a Grave, her father, James Carswell Highsmith married Minnie Slatery. Find a Grave has her having one sibling however, her grandson said there were two brothers, Benjamin and Hope and a sister Lillamay. Granny married Ezra Marmaduke Lee on April 19, 1923 at the age of 17 in Duval County, Florida. Her husband and brother are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida. Her parents are buried at Oaklawn Cemetery on San Jose Blvd. Granny and Ezra had one son, James. He had as many as 6 children. Her property, far more than 18 acres was located on the west side of Duval County. I remember James as a happy, jovial person who would gather with a ton of folks to play guitars out by Granny’s wooden home. I feel that I play guitar today because of my interest in their yard-jams back-in-the-day. James was quite an entertainer back then.
James Lee, Photo from Missy
While I never met her husband, Ezra, I heard a great deal about him for her love for him was strong. After 39 years of marriage he died on July 25th, 1962. Together he and Idell established a nice homestead with a great many acres of land, so she was comfortable in her life going forward. She also owned an “uptown house” on Marquett Avenue as her great granddaughter, Melissa Lynn called it, which has been her home for over 33 years. She says that Granny preferred the country and loved that old log cabin opposed to an “uptown” house.
Linda Lee and Idell, Photo- Linda(Grandson Stephen’s wife)
When visiting Granny on her property, she always had a spring and fall garden. She was a hard worker and had a “can do” attitude. With grandchildren living next to her, she spent a lot of her time caring for them as well. One thing odd about her, was her taste and raised in the country in Georgia there should be no surprise. There are times she would have possum in the refrigerator and I saw with my own eyes her skin one using boiling water and a knife. Now, that’s not a sight for the squeamish. I never ate anything out of her refrigerator that I didn’t ask what it was. ‘ Just sayin’.
Granny was a Christian and behaved like one. As a young person, she talked to me about Jesus and for years attended Blair Road Baptist Church, now called Promise Land. In her older years, when her car sat on blocks in the front yard, she rode their neighbourhood bus to and from church.
Somewhere around 1990 as she was needing help getting around, she moved in with her eldest grandson Stephen Lee, Sr. and his wife, Linda in Lake City, Florida. When she died in August of 1996 she was buried next to her beloved Ezra at Evergreen Cemetery. I visited there last week and researched to see she had a December 23rd birthday which is not on her tomb stone.
If you ride by her old property on Crystal Springs Road in Jacksonville, Florida, there is now a subdivision with $300,00 homes sitting where the old log cabin once stood. There are many memories there for me. I will forever remember Granny Lee and look forward to meeting her again one day in glory.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Missy Lynn, Stephen Lee, Sr., Find a Grave, Evergreen Cemetery
The Old Jacksonville City Cemetery on east Union Street has iron corn cobs and the shuck itself as fence posts. In actuality, they had to have once been so beautiful and even today are unique by any measure.The tops of some look just like a piece of corn with the shuck peeled back; even now, a piece of art. The iron fence posts are in some cases sturdy while others are failing. There are full fences around areas, partial fencing about others and fencing that is completely dilapidated to point they have been roped off with orange taping.
The wording on a great many of the tombstones is unreadable. There are broken tombs and evidence of grave-robber thieves in their mischief. Who would dare disturb the dead I wondered as I walked through the yard?
In a few areas the piles of debris and old plastic flowers discarded in a mountain of trash and dirt appear weathered and old. Some say the city keeps the cemetery and that the police patrol it. There is little evidence of it being kept except for perhaps the cutting of grass. Cemeteries are supposed to visited and kept by the families, flowers laid upon graves on special occasions but it does not appear so here. There is hardly any evidence of tear drops being spilled.
Much of the cemetery hosts the bodies of some of Jacksonville’s oldest resident dating back to the mid 1800’s. I did not look at every grave today but just taking an overview found a variety of dates such as: 1811- 1879 1822-1871, 1825-1884, 1816-1878. The plaques at the front of the cemetery indicate City Cemetery was established in 1852. Pleasant Gold, author of History of Duval County says there were possible graves interred there before that date. It was designated an historic landmark of Jacksonville, as it should be. A new-looking sign at the entrance says “Old City Cemetery Restorations” to be completed Spring of 2023. Walking about there are areas cordoned off with yellow and orange taping. Restoration here is long overdue and being the cities oldest interment the sooner the better. While I’m not much for government intrusion, in this case, there is definitely a need.
Every soul is important and there are some notable names having been buried in the Old City Cemetery such as:
At least thirteen “Hart” interments including Daniel C. Hart, Elizabeth Streetman Hart, William Hart, William L. B. Hart, Solome H. Hart, Oscar Hart, Henry Hart and Carol Jean Hart.
Of note, the parents of Jacksonville’s founder, Isaiah Hart, William Hart and Elizabeth Streetman Hart which are listed in the Hart family Bible as having been buried here.
Also, Oscar Hart , the Jacksonville’s founder’s son was disavowed by his father Isaiah David Hart. Oscar was a mover and shaker in his own right. Maybe he was too much like his father? In 1835, he was a private in the Florida Militia climbing in rank to a Lieutenant. In 1846 he was Clerk of Court in Duval County, Married Virginia Crews with no known children. He became an attorney, Adjutant General, Commissioner of Deeds in Jackson County, a private Confederate soldier in 1863, Attorney at Law in Duval in 1870. He is mentioned in the Hart family Bible. Others buried here include…
Steamboat Captain Captain Jacob Brock (July 5, 1810- September 22, 1876).
Brigadier General of the Confederate States Army, Joseph Finnegan( November 17, 1814- October 29, 1885).
Edwin Martin-Editor of the Times Union newspaper.
Clara White, (July 4, 1845- July 21, 1920) A Black woman, together with her adopted daughter Eartha serving as humanitarians and philanthropists. In 1900, she was teaching and living at 804 Pippin Street in Jacksonville.
Eartha M. White, Born, Nov. 8, 1876- Eartha was adopted by Clara White and together they served the Black community. She died on Jan. 18, 1974.
Transcriber of the Christmas song, Silent Night, Holy Night from German to English and the second Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida.
The 15th Governor of Florida, Francis P. Fleming ( September 28, 1841- December 20, 1908).
Names such as the L’Engle, Bowden, Martin, and more have been buried in Old Jacksonville Cemetery. Louisa Burritt and her three children along with Judge John Locke Doggett and while there is no grave stone, it is believed Napolean B. Broward, a river pilot and 19th Governor of Florida may have a grave there. ( Pleasant Gold refers to this in History of Duval County, Florida). There are also 6 other “Broward” graves in the Old Cemetery.
“Infant Thomas”- ( September 22, 1923-September 22, 1923-) “Created and maintained by Billy Walker on Findagrave offers some info . There is no photo of the grave but a death certificate instead with the cause death being “stillborn”. Heartbreak yet the graveyard is unkept.
Over the years various groups have taken on projects there including reworking the covered deck area and adding names and plaques to different projects. “Find a Grave” has many listings by “Cousins by the Dozens” and other.
In 1854, it is believed that one year old Ally started the Scarlett Fever epidemic and is buried there.
Maybe an epidemic of restoration could occur in the spring as noted on the restoration sign. There is so much more…
On 5:53 PM January 1, 2023, a call was received on the cell phone from a “No Caller ID”. Not being sure who it was, no answer was made. After the cell phone ping, listening to the message was immediate. The “No Caller ID” was from a Jacksonville police officer about a break-in report in what he knew as the Biltmore area. Over time, he would learn this was also referred to as “Nanville”. Nanville is bound by Old Kings Road, Lane Avenue, Commonwealth and Edgewood Avenue. It was established somewhere around 1984.
The break-in occurred between December 29- December 31 and the thief got away with all of the lights in the house. In other words, the robber stripped the entire house of electrical wiring and more than likely rolled it all away inside of a yellow top, also known as a recycle bin. The police were called and a police report was made regarding the “Nanville theft”.
The property at 5345 was once a very nice home and owned back in-the-day by the Driggers family. As recent as last year, their names were still carved on the wooden towel rack in the bathroom and was only removed due to a remodel.
The premises had been vacant for over 6 months and listed on multiple MLS realtor sites. The hope was to sell it quickly during this buyer’s market 2022 but up to this point, no takers.
Now, with no electricity wiring, it would be even harder to unload. The house listing was dropped in price due to the electrical wire issue and right away investors were willing to take a look at the opportunity.
The insulation and theft mess from stripping out wires from the ceiling had not been cleaned so when a call came in to view the property on Saturday morning, January 7th at 10:00 AM, a trip with a broom, mop and trash bags to the vacant house was made.
After the clean up, and about 8:31 AM shots rang out in the neighbourhood. “Pow”, “Pow” “Pow” went the Jacksonville officers pistol with shouts… It sounded like “Police! “Police!” There was a skirmish and a small dog rounded the above-ground pool at the end of the road as several officers took off running after the suspect on foot. There were four police cars, #3515, #2749, #1014 and a fourth moving too fast to see the number but all, located on the West end of the neighbourhood with one speeding toward 5345, while another went west on that same road.
Neighbors began to come out of their homes watching all of this commotion. A young mother apparently feared with her children by her side and ran back in to safety. To my knowledge, they did not catch the thief.
After getting my own self to safety, my girls got this text:
“I’ve been in a police shoot-out in Nanville but I’m okay. Just letting you know.”
If you ever want to get a quick call-back from a family member just tell them you’ve been in a shoot-out. They will call right away. Oh, and if they catch the scrapper, I’ll let you know. 1-8-22
For real. If you book a dinner at the now known “longest running dinner theatre in the Nation”, the Alhambra you can hear the work of the 1960’s singer, Patsy Cline. You’ll think you’ve seen her. For sure, you will have heard her famed music. You’ll find yourself singing along.
Alhambra Theatre since 1974
Gail Bliss stars as the famed singer in “A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline” from January 5 to February 5th. This is to be her “Farewell Tour” so don’t miss this opportunity. There are other shows up and coming as well, so give it a try. It will not disappoint.
So, yesterday and based on author, Tim Gilmore’s 2015 article about Jacksonville founder, Isaiah D. Hart’s “Tomb Tower”, my grandson and I set out to find where Hart was first buried before being moved to Evergreen Cemetery. Truly, it was a little scary as there were drifters and obviously noticeable people both White and Black, on some type of substance in the area. It was early in the morning and as many as 10 homeless were in and about the carcass of what is left of history where the old 1966 Heart of Jacksonville Motel once thrived. Some were sleeping beneath the walls of the old block building and others gathered in a small group talking. Some were literally “out of it” and others actually showed friendly to my 9 year old grand and myself. They saw us with cameras and for once I did not click when I saw them, out of respect I suppose.
Laura, State and Orange Streets
At the borders of “Laura Street between State and Orange Streets”, the place remains a morass of “social rot and desperation” as described by Gilmore on 9/26/2015. So, man’s life without God has not changed. It is a reminder, I told my grandson that “we all need a Savior to save us from ourselves. “
It’s hard to envision but it was there the 35 foot tall “Old Hart Monument” as described in the 1992 Jacksonville Historical Society journal once stood. By the photograph in the journal, it appears brick and was fenced.
Jacksonville Historical Society, 1992
After spending time on this old motel block near Confederate Park, we drove to Evergreen Cemetery where we saw the now approximate 12 x 30 x 60 inch flat tomb where Hart and his family were moved. It says “ The Family Tomb of Isaiah David Hart The Founder of Jacksonville”.
Speaking of life without God. Hart owned slaves and was constantly working in an effort to make money. It is said that he became “respectable” after founding Jacksonville. I hope that meant he found Christ because while there is still a tomb no matter its location, he’s not there. ( If you know what I mean).
See you tomorrow,
Sources: Jacksonville Historical Society Journal, Jaxpsychogeo.com, personal visit.
Isaiah D. Hart, the founder of Jacksonville died September 4, 1861 at the age of 68. He was born in Georgia before moving to King’s Ferry along the St. Marys River . He came to the Cowford, (former Jacksonville), planned and had platted the area into streets and a township in 1822. T. Frederick Davis, author of History of Jacksonville wrote: “At one time or another he owned nearly all the land now known as the old city, and the most of Springfield”. We know he also owned property in West Jacksonville out by Bulls Bay as documented in old records, by former historians and recently online at Wikitree.
Geological map, Florida Memory
It is believed that he had seen the business of Dawson and Buckles near the St. Johns River where two men who opened a general merchandise store and were finding success being near the place where people crossed, fording cows and the like. Hart purchased 18 acres of land in the area and established a town, now called Jacksonville, Florida.
Map based on trip to area 1-5-23
As a young man, Hart was in favor of Spain returning Florida and joined in the Patriot raids which “raided Florida plantations for slaves and called and drove them northward into Georgia selling them”. About that time he married Nancy Nelson and as the United States took control of Florida Hart was busy securing land in the Cowford and other Florida areas beginning to make his fortune.
By 1840, Hart and his family were living on his Paradise plantation in West Jacksonville. According to a census taker in 1850 he was named as a “planter” with his estate being valued at $35,000 having 48 slaves(21 female and 27 male). By 1860 his owning had diminished having 12 female and 14 male slaves.
Hart had 8 children and at his death his son Ossian was assigned to settle his estate. Ossian chose to live at the plantation Hart owned on the outskirts of Jacksonville near Marietta in now West Jacksonville even though Isaiah had other property. These were Civil War years and change was on the rise.
The Civil War began in April of 1861 and with Hart’s passing in September of that year, times were beginning to change even in Florida. By the 1860’s, Hart was quite established.
The Civil War and the battle about emancipation was on the minds of many. Although two of the most significant battles did not occur in Florida until 1864 near Olustee and Lake City, Hart’s ,Paradise Plantation in West Jacksonville was only 40-50 miles from those battle areas. Change was on the rise.
Only 4 years before his death, in 1857 Hart added all of his property holdings to the Jacksonville map and established a public square. After his death the family deeded the village green which was known as City Park to the city. In 1800 Civil War veteran Charles C. Hemming installed a 62 foot tall confederate monument and the park was renamed Hemming Park about 1898 and remained so until the unrest of the police killing of George Floyd. This sparked outcry nationwide. In 2020, the City Council voted to change the name of Hemming Park to James Weldon Johnson Park in honor of a former Black Jacksonville musician and “accomplished resident.”
Ossian, Hart’s son had been born in Jacksonville in 1821. He was educated in Jacksonville and Washington, Dc according to the Governor’s Association. He studied law and was admitted into the Florida bar. Serving in the Florida Legislature as a one-term member in 1844 he became Florida supervisor of elections and helped in the restoration of the state. Hart was a Unionist and avoided the Confederate army due to medical concerns. When his father died, he managed his father’s property dividing the estate. His father was one of the richest men in Florida owning stocks in” the Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Railroad, the Jacksonville Natural Gas Company, the Banks of St. Johns County a steamship line, a great amount of property and 53 slaves” From that time of 1861 until after the Civil War, he worked in government serving in 1873 on the Supreme Court. He was elected the 10th Florida governor. Ossian’s position on slavery was in helping them and offering freedom as he managed his Father’s 30 year old plantation estate.
It is said that Hart’s slaves were freed after his death and when his son served as governor worked in an effort to help with the freedmen and new accomplishments and freedoms for Blacks. For example, Ossian Hart appointed the first Black superintendent of public instruction, Jonathan Gibbs during the Reconstruction era.
Ossian Hart came down with pneumonia while serving as Governor and died in office on March 18, 1874. He is buried next to his father in Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida.
There’s so much more, so….
See you tomorrow,
SourcesL The Governors Association, Wikipedia, Ancestry, Canter Brown, T. Frederick Davis, Wikitree, Geological map, Florida Memory.
Indeed it was not but I could visualize just the same.
Found in the yard of Lachapelles off Bulls Bay Rd.
I felt as if I might have found a remnant of the old Isaiah David Hart Plantation which was called “Paradise” and located West of Bulls Bay in West Jacksonville, Florida in the 1800s. Of course, Hart himself would have more than likely been riding on a wooden buckboard, buggy or carriage. Hart established the town of Jacksonville, Florida along the River St. Johns in 1822. He is counted by many as the actual 7th resident in the city and his brother, Daniel being the 8th but Hart is most known for being responsible for platting the city and having the streets laid out for an actual town which was called Cowford .(There are some who say the 2nd resident but…). Cowford, as it was called, was at a narrow place in the river. Its renaming was later suggested by John Warren to be named after Andrew Jackson the first provisional governor. Hart grew the area and later had a thriving Plantation West of Jacksonville in near-now called Marietta.
Today, I witnessed tall and I mean huge pine trees, willowing moss hanging from the massive Oak trees, dirt roads and several tributaries seemingly flowing from the Cedar River. Birds of every kind, especially blue jays, were talking among themselves and flying all around. All of those were marked items describing Hart’s former, some 2,000 acre plantation. There was no obvious log cabin or out-buildings built in the mids 1800’s that were present in today’s visit to the Bulls Bay area, but there was a buggy that I could definitely envision Hart or maybe his son, Ossian, who also lived on this land and was the 10th Governor of Florida riding in. (I am quite sure that was not his either but I still could envision it).
Over the years, this rural area has been used for sand excavating, sewage disposal, solid waste, borrow pits, drainage, reservoirs, waste land, marsh, swamps, animal out-growth, and of late, a slew of trucking and auto businesses tucked often on dead-end streets along Bulls Bay, Commonwealth Avenue and Prichard Road. The majority of the land though is pristine and unbothered. There are acres and acres of tall timber and agricultural promise.
This seems to have been built in the 1920’s or later-
In 1999, the City of Jacksonville purchased 1,222 acres which is now called Bulls Bay Preserve. There are a lot of wetlands, and tributaries from the Trout River, Ortega River and Cedar Creek waterways.
Bridge/water way # 724283
The Baldwin- Rail Trail is on the edge of this area with opportunities to hike and ride mountain bikes in flat Florida. There is even a “small waterfall” which is highlighted on the JaxParks page.
Walking/Biking trail running East and West parallel to commonwealth.
You are encouraged to visit the area where Jacksonville ’s founder once lived.
See you tomorrow,
Sources:
JaxParks, Visit Jacksonville, Jacksonvilleblogger.com, Wagon- Guy Lachepelle
Go visit: 8017 Old Plank Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32220
Isaiah David Hart is the Founder of Jacksonville, Florida with no known photo.
“Uncle Whats His Name”-Cracker Barrel
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”.
Uncle “What’s His Name- Cracker Barel
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”?
