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14 Towns and Plantations (Continued)

Page history last edited by Jefferson County Library 14 years ago

Aucilla

 

History is vague as to the beginning of a settlement at Aucilla, but early records show grants of land were made as early as 1832 in the neighborhood. It is certain that Jack Bellamy and William Bailey had, with forethought, selected that location for a village. As early as 1840 they petitioned the legislative council of the territory for a charter to build an Academy there, showing that a village had already been established. The majority of the pupils of this Academy were supposed to be supplied from the families of the surrounding planters. The first name of the village was Williamsburg. It is eleven miles from Monticello, and thirty-six miles from Tallahassee. The Aucilla river flows south, on the east side of the town, two miles distant, and from this river, the town obtained its final name. It may have been originally an Indian village, for the Indians were constantly traversing this river, and many tales of encounters with them have been handed down. The Indians had a natural instinct for selecting pleasing, healthy locations for their abodes, always near bodies of water, as their main mode of transportation was by canoes.

 

The first homes in Williamsburg were log houses and the first occupations were farming and sawing timber. The soil was a rich loamy earth, suited to all kinds of vegetation. The lands were well timbered with forests of virgin pine, oak and cypress. These assets attracted a number of sturdy, robust pioneers and their sons. When saw-mills were constructed, more commodious frame houses took the place of the long structures. In 1858 the main line of the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile railroad was completed, running through the center of the village. This was a great step onward in progress for this section. The name was changed to Number Four. Two pioneer settlers, Thomas and Horton, were the first merchants and the first physician was Dr. Emory, who opened the first drug store.

 

The trustees of the Academy were John Bellamy, A. B. Shehee, Lloyd S. Skannal, William Bailey, Elias Edwards, Abram Bellamy and Samuel Sessions. A small building was the first erected, and tuition was paid by those who could afford it. Later a system of common schools was established in the county. This system was a boon to planters of small means, but the wealthy citizens preferred to employ governesses and tutors, who taught at the homes of the planters. The Academy did not gain in prestige, but the system of free schools gave an impetus to education. Later a new school building was erected with a sufficient number of pupils to require five teachers. Several new stores opened and when a modern brick railroad station took the place of the old wooden structures, the neat appearance of the village attracted more settlers and the name was changed to Aucilla. At the present time the town numbers five hundred inhabitants. Several years ago the school district was bonded for a new building, modern, commodious and comfortable. A handsome brick edifice now presents itself to the eye on an eminence in the western part of the town. It was built in 1927 and is a credit to the community and a fruitful symbol of the spirit of education.

 

After the railroad was completed, two churches were built, a Methodist and a Baptist, in the eastern part of the town, near the cemetery. In the surrounding country are families whose fore-fathers settled in Jefferson county nearly a hundred years ago, rearing large numbers of boys and girls in comfort, if not in luxury, and sending them forth to take their places in the busy world. Among these are the Hamricks, Kinseys, Lightseys, Walkers and Hawks. In 1844, Penina Hamrick, the grandmother of the present Hamricks in Monticello and Aucilla , journeyed from South Carolina, with five sons, three daughters and her household commodities. Her husband died in South Carolina, and hearing of the cheap lands and wonderful advantages for farming in this state, she wisely decided to cast her lot and that of her children with Florida's fortunes. Their first stop was in Quincy; but something tempted her to journey on, through Monticello, stopping probably, for a resting spell, and then proceeding to Aucilla, where she and her family remained. Lands were acquired, a home was built, and very soon food for the family's consumption, forage for the cattle, and cotton for the skillful hands of the weavers kept all the family busy in their prdouction. The sons and daughters, marrying one after another, left the old home for places of their own. Penina married John Roweles and after he died she lived to an advanced age. Three of her sons were worthy citizens of Jefferson, fathers of large families, carrying on the farm work until their children were educated and settled in their several lines of work. Two of their sons, O. R. Hamrick, a dentist, B. J. Hamrick, the present county school superintendent, sons of D. J. and Julia Ann Hamrick are highly esteemed 'citizens of Monticello. Another family, descended from the pioneers whose achievements and activities formed a part of the early history of Aucilla, was that of the Bishops.

 

Bellamy

 

The name of Jack Bellamy has been familiar to Jefferson county's citizens for more than a century. His parents were Abram and Claramond Bellamy of South Carolina. The name was originally spelled "Belle-Ame", indicating their French origin. Jack Bellamy came to Florida in 1819, settling at Hogan's Creek or Cow Ford, then a small settlement on the St. John's river. In 1821, he was one of the three settlers who planned a map and laid out a town at that point, naming it Jacksonville. With him was his Wife, Margaret Bell, and five children. His son Abram, was the first lawyer in J acksonville, but, as better opportunities to advance in his profession could be found in St. Augustine, he made that his home. Jack Bellamy and his family, with the exception of Abram, moved to Jefferson county in 1824. His youngest son, Bethel, born in 1812 died unmarried; his daughter, Sarah, born in South Carolina in 1808, was married to Colonel Burch of the United States army; his oldest daughter, Elizabeth Mary, born in 1804, was the wife of General William Bailey; and the second son, William, born in 1802 was united in marriage to Emmala Ann Simkins. When the territorial council agreed to build a road, twenty-five feet in width, from Pensacola to St. Augustine, Jack Bellamy was given one of the contracts. He owned two hundred slaves, and as soon as the road was surveyed by his son-in-law, Colonel Burch, he started them to work and built his portion of the road, which extended from the Ocklockonee to the St. John's river at St. Augustine, finishing it about 1824. It was a fine clay and sand road, and as picturesque a one as ever was seen in the South. Wide spreading live oaks bordered each side, their branches intertwined and woven together with cherokee rose vines, yellow jasmine and wild honeysuckle, which, in springtime was a mass of luxurant, colorful blossoms. The state contracted with builders of roads and public works in the early days of the territory, to grant to them tracts of virgin timbered lands in renumeration for their services. In this way, Jack Bellamy became the owner of several thousand acres of land, eight miles east of Monticello, along the old Jacksonville dirt road. It was an expanse of beautiful, hilly country, with woodlands and streams abounding. He built his home on a red clay hill, in a grove of hickory nut and live oak trees. Onehalf mile to the southwest, a private or family burial ground was laid out and a brick wall surrounded it. Today it is a most interesting place to visit, especially to the many Bellamy descendants in the county. The master was an industrious planter and a man of business acumen, which resulted in his becoming one of the wealthiest land owners in the State. He believed in educating the youth of the country and as early as 1840 he planned an Academy at Aucilla, by applying for a charter. He took an active part in the county's history, his name frequently appearing in documents and records of all kinds. In 1827, his son, Abram, moved with his family to Jefferson county, from St. Augustine. In 1825 he had married Eliza A. Williams, whose mother was of Spanish descent. Abram was born in South Carolina in 1800, and took a great interest in the development of Florida and that .of J efferson county, especially during the Indian Wars, but in 1839 he succumbed to the strenuous life of those hard, pioneer days. He was an intellectual man, full of mental vigor, a brave patriot and an upright r. citizen. His widow with six children consisting of one son, Burton, and five daughters, two of whom ' were twins, inherited Abram's wealth, which was a large fortune. He had been endowed with an inheritance from his grandfather's estate, and with a legacy from his father, which, added to his own accumulated property and that of his wife, insured her and her children comfort and luxury. She made her home in Macon, where her children could be benefitted by the advantages of a college town.

 

When Jack Bellamy died, his home and many acres of land were left to William, his youngest son, who married Emmala Simkins. They were the parents of four daughters; Elizabeth, Margaret, Emmala and William, who was named for her father. A few months after her birth William Bellamy died, and having no sons, his wife had to take upon her shoulders the onerous burden of running a plantation of many acres and numerous slaves. She had a good overseer, but her duties must have weighed heavily upon her, for, in a few years, her health failed and she was laid to rest by the side of her husband. Her sister, Elizabeth Simkins, was married to Dr. Waller B. Taylor, a physician of Monticello. Their home was the original house, which later became the Dixie Hotel, and it was there William and Emmala's two older daughters made their home, until old enough to attend colleges in Georgia and South Carolina. Behethlands Brooks, the grandmother, had the care of the two small daughters, until her death. Smith Simkins, the brother of Emmala, was their guardian. William Bellamy, like his brother, Abram, received a legacy from his grandfather, also a bequest from his father, which made him a man of wealth. Consequently, at his death and that of his wife, his daughters inherited large estates and slaves. When their college days were over, it was not long before the young cavaliers of the county began to pay their addresses to the heiresses. Elizabeth became the wife of Dr. George Washington Parkhill, the son of John Parkhill of Leon County. They were the parents of Emmala and Charles Breckenridge. Emmala became the wife of the late Dannitte H. Mays. Charles B. was an eminent lawyer of Pensacola, then of Tampa. After serving as Judge on the Florida Supreme Court bench for several years Captain G. W. Parkhill entered the Confederate service in '61 and was killed at Gaines Mill, near Richmond. His descendants today are the Parkhills, Kelleys, Gills, and Spindler, also Beckwiths, Lowrys and Parkhills in Tampa. The second daughter Margaret was married to Richard Turnbull, eldest son of Dr. James Theodore Turnbull. Her inheritance from her father is now known as the Bellamy Plantation. Their home was built on a hill, in the midst of a grove of hickory nut trees, that sloped gradually to the former highway between Jacksonville and Tallahassee. This house burned, and only an overseer's house took its place until the plantation changed hands.

 

Richard and Margaret were the parents of eleven children, four of whom are living. Their descendants are the Turnbulls, Carrolls, Sloans, Maiges and others. In order to give their children more advantages, a house in Monticello was purchased and the family occupied it, which is the one that is now owned and occupied by W. L. Maige and his wife, who is the granddaughter of Richard and Margaret Turnbull.

 

The third daughter of William and Emmala Bellamy was Emmala, the wife of Richard Call Parkhill, a first cousin to G. W. Parkhill, and also his brother-in-law. Their home was on a plantation, west of and adjoining those inherited by her two sisters and a modest house served as their home until Captain Parkhill built the house now occupied by Mrs. J. B. Horne. Here his family of one son, G. W. Parkhill of Jacksonville and four daughters were reared. When he was wounded in the battle of. Fraziers farm, it took some time for him to recover. In the meantime he was married and became a settled planter. One day he called up all his slaves, to talk to them and instruct them in their work. He counted them and found four or five women were absent. Having inquired from their husbands the reason, he was told they were at home with young babies, all of whom were boys. "Captain Dick" gave one of his characteristic whoops and said he would give them their names. Each one was named for a southern general. Beauregard, who goes by the name of "Unc Bori," is still living and is the narrator of this incident, told to him by his mother.

 

The fourth daughter of William and Emmala Bellamy was married to Junius Turnbull, the second son of Dr. Theodore Turnbull. Their plantation joined that of Richard Turnbull on one side and Captain R. C. Parkhill on the other. Before his marriage Junius Turnbull was preparing himself to be a physician, following his father's career, and was at the University of Virginia when the Civil War swept all of the young men either into her armies or into service at home to help provide supplies.

 

Junius Turnbull was among these and when his time came to enlist, tho very young and not anxious to leave his studies, he answered his country's call. He is listed among the surgeons of the army, so he must have been an assistant to some older head. Soon after the war he married and identified himself with plantation life. He made a good planter, tho probably at the expense of a better career as a physician, but the aftermath of the war prevented the continuation of his college life. He was a man whom everyone trusted and respected. When William Bailey met his tragic death in prison, Junius Turnbull was made guardian of his fatherless children, and performed this duty with discretion and integrity. He was tax assessor of the county for 16 years and never had a superior in that line of work. The children of Junius and William were seven in number, four of whom are living. Their descendants are the Turnbulls, Mays, Hailes, Andersons and others. The plantation has been sold, also those of Richard Turnbull and Capt. R. C. Parkhill. The fertile soil of the acres that once nurtured the seed of cotton, corn, sweet potatoes and sugar cane, now feeds the roots of row upon row of hardy pecan trees, beginning to bear rich, tasty nuts. The Bellamy plantation is now a stock farm and nut grove under the ownership of James Kelly, of Huntington, West Virginia.

 

Lamont

 

When the stage coach was the only means of transportation for the public between St. Augustine and Tallahassee, a daily stop was made near the center of Jefferson County, at Barbour Hill, on the Old Spanish Trail. Here the horses were exchanged for fresh ones, the incoming mail delivered and the outgoing mail received, and the journey continued. This was the principal event of the day. On the crest of the hill was a store operated by Sam Beazley, who was also post master, the post office occupying one corner of the store. He was one of the first planters in this section. In 1863, stage coaches having been discontinued, travelers had to journey to Monticello and there board the train. The post office was then moved to McCains store, where a cluster of houses were grouped about a grove of oaks. This settlement was called "McCains Store," then someone humorously conferred upon it, the name of "Lick Skillet." When Honorable Samuel P . Turnbull, who resided at Panola or Turkey Scratch, was delivering a political speech to the citizens of this section, in his campaign for representative to the legislature, he remarked upon the unfitness of such a name for this beautiful, tree shaded village, and suggested the dignified name of "Lamont," in honor of Cornelius Lamont, vice-president during Cleveland's administration. Lamont had recently visited Florida and his visit was fresh in the memories of the citizens, who welcomed the name and adopted it.

 

The first church in Lamont was a Missionary Baptist. Later a Primitive Baptist house of worship was constructed, and then a Methodist body of Christians was organized. After the passing of stage coach days, there were no means of transportation for Lamont citizens except by private teams, and as almost every male member of the community farmed, all possessed .teams of some sort. Each Saturday at sunrise, the animals were harnessed to the -vehicles, wagons, buggies, or surries as the case may have been-the family dressed, clean and neat, the products of the farm packed into the conveyance, with provender for the horses and mules, and a lunch for the folks and away they would go to the county seat, passing others bound for the same place. The day was spent in trading and bartering, exchanging raw products from the farm for the needs of the household and commodities not producible on the farm. There has been a radical change in transportation since the advent of automobiles, which has affected the remotest farm.

 

When the Atlantic Coast Line railroad rebuilt the road in 1926, making it continuous to Tampa, it was the first railroad to pass through Lamont.

 

Though modern methods of lighting the homes and supplying water to them have been made possible by means of the Delco system, yet the old town well, bricked around, three feet from the ground, under the handsome, moss-draped live oaks of the central square, is a picturesque symbol of days of yore. Lamont's population consists of farmers, lumbermen, merchants, teachers, preachers and one doctor. The newest highway, Number Nineteen, connecting Tallahassee with the west coast of South Florida passes through the village. There is much traffic on this paved road and citizens of the interior are kept in touch with the outside world.

 

Wareland

 

In 1837, a large tract of land near Lamont was acquired by Colonel Thompson Ware, of Edgefield District, South Carolina. He was born in 1786 and first settled in Georgia, then in 1836, came to Florida. His plantation was called Wareland. He was a man of firmness of character, and business ability, but his life work was shortened by his death in 1842, at the age of fifty-six years. His eldest daughter, Grace Ware, was born in South Carolina in 1810. In 1860 she became the third wife of General William Bailey. She was greatly beloved by the whole community and lived to be ninety-one years old. Her sister, Mary Arinton Ware, born in Georgia in 1816, became the wife of Smith Simpkins. She was the mother of two children, Mary and Thompson B. She died in 1864, and the children made their home with "Aunt Grace." Thompson B. married Sarah Croom, and Mary was married to David Manley. When Mary died, at the birth of her second child, "Aunt Grace" provided a home for the two children, her great niece and great nephew, until her death in 1901. The only son of Colonel Thompson Ware was William H., who was born in South Carolina in 1813. He married Agnes Ormond, who was born in Scotland in 1816. Their family consisted of four daughters and two sons. The eldest daughter married C. H. Hopkins and died leaving one child, Agnes to the care of her mother. The second daughter was the wife of Hardy Croom; the third daughter, Caroline, was the wife of W. B. Denham, II, and the fourth daughter Grace married and lived in Texas, where her two brothers Thompson B. and Ormond H. had previously settled and married. When the branch railroad from Monticello was in course of construction, William H. Ware was in charge of the work. The negroes worked in squads, the first one girdling the trees on the right of way, and the next squad felling, as they followed the line of trees. William Ware was so intent on the workmen ahead, he did not hear a shout from those following, warning him of a falling tree, and before he realized his danger, he was struck to the ground and killed. His wife's home was later in Monticello, on the lot where C. A. Simpson built his home several years ago.

 

The next oldest daughter of Thompson B. Ware was Eliza, the wife of James R. Tucker. They were the parents of Joel H. Tucker, an esteemed citizen of Monticello, who married Esabel Denham and reared a family of five boys and one girl.

 

Croom

 

Adjacent to Lamont was another plantation owned by Church Croom, neighbor of the Wares. Their families were closely allied by their proximity as neighbors and by inter-marriage. There were two sexons, Church and Hardy, the latter marrying Minnie Ware. Two daughters Julia and Sarah Croom completed the family. Sarah was married to Thompson B. Simpkins whose mother was Mary Arinton Ware, and Julia was married to J. H. Randolph of Tallahassee. Church Croom and his wife, who was Maria Bond of Leon County j had three children. Their daughter, Louise Griffis, now owns a part of the old Croom place, and with her husband and children makes it her home. Wareland was owned in later years by Samuel P.- Henderson, a resident of Lamont for many years but at the present time it belongs to the estate of Dannitte H. Mays.