Sumter County, Florida, USA
Biographies
Sumter County Home Page
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.?
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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
Thomas Preston Caruthers Sr.
Thomas Preston Caruthers Sr. the son of Preston Caruthers and Marion Perry was a lifelong resident of Oxford, Florida being born there on August 26 1889. In January 1910, he married Hattye Bowman, daughter of Richard Pope Bowman and Addie Odell. Thomas Preston and Hattye raised four children, two of whom still live in Oxford. He was a highly respected farmer, a man of his word and a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Oxford serving as Sunday School Superintendent for thirty-six years and church deacon for sixty years. His grandchildren and great grandchildren fondly called him “Papa”. During their lifetime “Papa” and “Grandma” lived and farmed land located on highway #301 just south of Oxford. In “Papa’s” later years when his health prevented him from farming full time, he sold his watermelon and cantaloupe seeds to all the area farmers. “Papa” died August 19, 1971. He and “Grandma” are buried in Pine Level Cemetery, Oxford, Florida.
Submitted by Judy Hux Rainey
Caleb Griffin
Emily “Milly” Carver Griffin died between 1885 and
1888. Caleb died on
12 September 1898 in
Woodruff, Jim.
1860
1870
1880
1885
Submitted by tmcgowin@earthlink.net
