Sumter County, Florida

Do you have an ancestor, or knowledge of an individual, who was prominent within Sumter County at some time? Perhaps an ancestor who held public office, or who founded a school, church, etc.? 

If so, you are invited to submit a short description and biography of that individual. In the interest of space, please limit the information to 100 words or less. (Dates, names, and places are counted as one word.) One small photo of the subject will be accepted. 
 

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Dr. George McIntosh Troup Simmons, 1836 - 1897 
My grandfather, Dr. Simmons, was the first permanent doctor in Bushnell area. He and his wife, raised their six children about 2 miles out of town on Lake Annie, now called Simmons Pond. George was also a farmer and owned an orange grove and would ship his produce on cargo boats down the Wilhacoochee River. George was also a Mason and a charter member of New Hope Methodist Church in Isatachatta. He enlisted in his brother's co., Holman Felix Simmons Co., Co F., 8th Florida Infantry serving as assistant surgeon in Talladelga Hospital. He also served as a school teacher from time to time. He is Buried in Teema Cemetery. 

Submitted by: Barbara J. Daugherty

SPURGEON "JIGGS" UPSHAW
Jiggs played a prominent role in the early days of Sumter county cattleman. He managed the Monarch ranch for over 25 years and was a well respected member of the community. 

Submitted by: Douglas Sigmon

William Gready Hope 1816-1897 
William was born in Woodville, Mississippi, the son of "Captain" Adam Hope and Jane Gready. He ran unsuccessfully for county office there on two occaisions, served with the "Woodville Rifles" in the Mexican War under his neighbor Jefferson Davis, married Caroline Newell in Woodville in 1848, and when she inherited slaves from her father, the family moved to Amite, La., and after the War to Mckinney, Texas. William came to Sumter county to live near his oldest son in 1894, and died there at the age of 81. He is buried in the Stewart Chapel cemetery near Webster. 
He left a fascinating diary that describes life in Sumter County before the turn of the century. 

Submitted by Brett Hope

Andrew Benjamin Albritton  
Andrew Benjamin Albritton was born July 14, 1882 at Orange Springs, 
Florida (Marion County). He was the son of Arthur Jackson Albritton and Martha Ann Waldron both natives of Florida. After completion of his high school education he went into the mercantile business and raising cattle. He then entered the University of Georgia at Augusta and graduated in 1912 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. To earn extra money he would return home in the summers to run timber on the Ocklawha River. After graduation, he began practicing medicine in Wildwood and operating a drug store in downtown Wildwood until his death in May 1945. He was a Past Master of Wildwood Blue Lodge, member of the City Council and he served as a medical examiner during the World War and a director of the Bank of Wildwood. On June 27, 1915 Andrew Albritton married Thelma Caruthers daughter of David Crockett Caruthers and Anna (Caruthers) Caruthers. They had three children: Dr. David C. Albritton a practicing physician in Ocala, Fl., Agnes, a registered nurse, who married F. L. McGehee, Sheriff of Marion County, and Dolly who married John Bropson. Andrew had one brother Glover that lived in Sumter Co. 

Submitted by Kay McGehee Love

James Caruthers   
James Caruthers and his wife Elizabeth Hull were born in Burke County Georgia 
around 1800. James received Armed Occupation Act permit 389 in May 1843 and 
settled at Shady Brook in Sumter County. James established and operated a 
saw mill there. He is listed in the Marion County Commissions minutes as the 
builder of the first county courthouse, which was a log structure. The 
building was first used by the county commission on September 7, 1846. James 
was paid $225 for the job with an additional allowance of $80.00 for a judges 
bench, jury box and other interior furnishings. James died about 1848. His 
widow Elizabeth recorded her mark and brand Dec. 13, 1850. Her oldest son 
Thomas recorded his mark and brand in May 1850. 

James brother William Brinson born Dec. 2, 1808 in Burke Co Georgia,. He 
claimed his land under the occupation act April 17, 1843 and received permit 
365 at the land office of Newnanville (Alachua Co. Fl). he married {1) 
Millicent Hull (who died in a fire) (2)Delilah Hall in Alachua County on 
October 30, 1844. Delilah was the daughter of Soloman Hall. William died 
August 2, 1882 and Delilah died March 1893. Both are buried at Oak Grove 
Cemetary, Wildwood, Florida. Several descendants of the Caruthers brothers 
have remained in Sumter and Marion county Florida. 

Samuel brother to William B. and James was also born in Burke Co. Georgia. 
He moved to another county in Florida. 

Submitted by Kay McGehee Love    

William W. Caruthers
William W. Caruthers was the son of James and Elizabeth Hull Caruthers. He was born in 1835 Burke County Georgia. His family moved to Florida around 1843. He served in Captain J.J. Dickinson's Company H of the 2nd Florida Calvalry during the Civil War. He enlisted at Flotard Pond where the company was formed and he was mustered out May 20, 1865. He drove cattle for the government during the time when cattle was driven to market in huge trail drives. He was a member of the Baptist church in Wildwood. He married Rebecca Duncan , born in Lancaster County, South Carolina and daughter of John and Jincy Duncan. In January of 1852 the Duncans left Lancaster County, SC along with the Crenshaw and Perry families, travelled by wagon train until they arrived in Sumter County March 1852. Many descendants from these families still reside in Sumter Co. William W. Caruthers died in Sumter County April 27, 1892 and Rebecca died 15 September 1904. They are buried in Oak Grove Cemetary, Wildwood, Fl.

Submitted by Kay McGehee Love

 Caleb Griffin was born in Georgia about 1818, probably in Montgomery County.  The identity of his father is unknown, but his mother was a widow named Civil Griffin. 

 Civil drew land located in Irwin County, Georgia in the 1820 Land Lottery.  She deeded this land to her son, Benjamin Griffin, in 1824 and the family moved from Montgomery County to Irwin County, Georgia.

 Caleb and his brother, William, volunteered for service in the Seminole Indian War of 1836-37 (Florida Department of Military Affairs.)  They served in Captain William Reed’s company of Florida Volunteers.  Caleb became ill with a fever while serving in the fall of 1836 along the springs of the Suwannee River.  Caleb never fully recovered, and suffered from asthma the remaining years of his life.

 Following his military service, Caleb returned to Georgia.  He married Emily “Milly” Carver about 1843.  He lived in present day Echols County for about eight years or until 1844, and then moved to Ware County where he lived on the Okefenokee Swamp until 1854. 

 Caleb and his family moved from Ware County to Sumter County, Florida in 1854.  Caleb, age 42, was enumerated on the 1860 census of Sumter County along with the following members of his household; Milly Griffin, age 41, George Griffin, age 16, Rebecca Griffin, age 14, Susan Griffin, age 12, Nancy Griffin, age 10, M. A. (Mary Ann) Griffin, age 8, Joshua Griffin, age 5, and Caleb Griffin, age 2.  Caleb’s Post Office address was “Sumpterville.”  Neighbors were Ann Godwin, Jane Ellis, Granville Bevill, and Henry Glover.  The value of Caleb’s personal estate was $170.00.  The 1860 Agricultural census shows that Caleb owned Farm Machinery and Implements valued at $5.00, and Livestock valued at $13.00.  He did not own any land.

 Caleb filed for an Old and Indian Wars Invalid Pension on 05 October 1888.  According to affidavits Caleb made in the application, he remained a “Union man” during the War Between the States.  However his oldest son, George W. Griffin, enlisted at Tampa, Florida on 01 August 1862 in Company “K,” 4^th Florida Infantry, Confederate States of America.  Caleb’s application for the Old and Indian Wars Invalid Pension was denied because he could not show that his asthma was caused by his service in 1836.

 Caleb and Emily were enumerated on the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Federal Censuses of Sumter County, and on the 1885 Florida State Census of Sumter County. 

 Congress passed the Indian War Service Pension Act of July 27, 1892, and Caleb applied for and received a survivor’s pension of $8.00 per month based on his service in Captain Reed’s Company in 1836 – 37.

 According to testimony given by Granville Bevill in support of Caleb’s invalid pension, Caleb was known to be a “man of truth and veracity.”  Mr. Bevill also stated that Caleb had been a member of the Baptist Church for over 30 years. 

Emily “Milly” Carver Griffin died between 1885 and 1888.  Caleb died on 12 September 1898 in Sumter County.  Caleb and Emily’s graves have not been located.

 The children of Caleb Griffin and Emily “Milly” Carver are:

 1.         George W. Griffin.  He was born 07 January 1844 in Ware County, Georgia and died 21 April 1906 in Polk County, Florida.  He married Narcissa Black, daughter of Edmund and Edith Black, on 10 February 1865 in Sumter County, Florida.  She was born 10 February 1865 in Coffee County, Alabama, and died 29 January 1925 in Polk County, Florida.  George and Narcissa are buried in the Collins Cemetery in Polk County, Florida

 2.         Rebecca Griffin.  She was born about 1846 in Ware County, Georgia, and died on 24 December 1934 in Sumter County, Florida.  She married (1) Unknown Newberry.  She also married James Davis on 25 Jan 1880 in Sumter County, Florida.  He was born on 27 January 1842 in Wilcox County, Georgia, and died on 28 October 1919 in Lake County, Florida.  Rebecca is buried in the Fender Family Cemetery, Lake County, Florida.

 3.         Susan Griffin.  She was born about 1848 in Ware County, Georgia, and died on 20 February 1936 in Lacoochee, Pasco County, Florida.  She married (1) Moses James Lacy on 15 January 1878 in Polk County, Florida.  She also married (2) James Norman on 08 October 1880 in Sumter County, Florida.  She also married (3) James Lanier 09 Feb 1909 in Hernando County, Florida.  Susan is buried in the Fender Family Cemetery, Lake County, Florida

 4.             Nancy Griffin.  She was born about 1850 in Ware County, Georgia, and died after 1920.  She married (1) Unknown Manner or Manning about 1878.  She married (2) William Hardy Crawford on 09 March 1917 in Sumter County, Florida.

 5.            Mary Ann Griffin.  She was born in March 1853 in Ware County, Georgia, and died about 1908 in Sumter County, Florida.  She married William Hardy Crawford on 18 August 1875 in Sumter County, Florida.  He was born in October 1850, and died in April, 1921.

 6.         William Joshua Griffin.  He was born 24 January 1856 in Sumter County, Florida and died on 20 October 1930 in Polk County, Florida.  He married Caroline Roberts on 02 November 1876 in Polk County, Florida.  She was born 31 January 1856, and died 05 December 1946 in Polk County, Florida.  William Joshua and Carolina Griffin are buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery at Polk City, Polk County, Florida. 

 7.         Henry Caleb Griffin.  He was born 05 March 1858 in Sumter County, Florida, and died 16 Jun 1935, probably in Hillsborough County, Florida.  He married (1) Anna Virginia Grimes on 30 August 1882 in Polk County, Florida.  She was born 17 Jan 1863 in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, and died 08 May 1944 in Lakeland, Polk County, Florida.  He also married (2) Sabra Abigail Griffin on 08 April 1886 in Polk County, Florida.  She was the daughter of Frances Griffin and Sarah Boyett.  She was born 28 October 1867, and died 23 February 1913.  Henry Caleb and Sarah Abigail Griffin are buried in Antioch Cemetery, Thonotosassa, Hillsborough County, Florida.

 References: 
Florida Department of Military Affairs. Florida Militia Muster Rolls Seminole Indian Wars, Vol 9.  1999.

 Green, Linda.  1860 Agricultural Census, Sumter County, Florida.  Retrieved online 06 October 2007 from http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/fl/sumter/census/1860agri.txt.

Woodruff, Jim. Fender Family Cemetery.  Retrieved online 26 August 2006 from http://www.rootsweb.com/~flcemet2/lake/fenderfam/fenderfam/htm

1850 U.S. Federal Census, Ware County, Georgia
1860 U.S. Federal Census, Sumter County, Florida
1870 U.S. Federal Census, Sumter County, Florida
1880 U.S. Federal Census, Sumter County, Florida
1885 Florida State Census, Sumter County, Florida
Sumter County, Florida Marriage Records
Polk County, Florida Marriage Records

Submitted by  tmcgowin@earthlink.net