HISTORY OF PASCO COUNTY

Early Residents of Pasco County

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BENJAMIN H. GAINES (1845-1895) was an early settler. He was born in Dallas County, Alabama, the son of Lewis Clark Gaines and Mary Jane Whitehead. He is shown as a 23-year-old farm laborer in the 1870 census. In the 1880 census he is a commercial fisherman. He is remembered for the Gaines orange grove which outlived him for more than a hundred years. Benjamin planted the grove and built a home for himself and his family about one mile east of the West Elfers Cemetery. He and his wife lived in that home for the rest of their lives. He married Rosannah C. Baillie (1847-1899). He was a trustee of the school board. Benjamin died Sept. 19, 1895. Children were: Anna Maria (1871-ca. 1875); Lewis Clark (1872-ca. 1875); Maud (1873-ca. 1875); Rosalee Victoria (1878-1910), married Samuel Benjamin Baker (1871-1914); George Benjamin Franklin (1882-1937), married Sarah; Bertha Mae (1884-1962), married Rhuben Gause (1880-1972); Lewis Clark (1886-1955), married Daisey Pearl Stevenson (1885-1969).

LEWIS C. GAINES (1886-1955) was a deputy sheriff of Pasco County for 14 years and was the senior Deputy Sheriff of West Pasco County at the time of his death. and also served on the police force of Tarpon Springs for several years. He was born in the area which became Elfers. A son was Basil Hugo Gaines (1912-1986), who became a Pasco County sheriff.

LEWIS GASKIN (1822-1905) and his family settled on Buddy's Lake (now called Lake Pasadena) in 1855, according to Historic Places of Pasco County. He was born in South Carolina. According to Vicki Oliver, he was in Jefferson County, Florida, in 1848.

JAMES D. GASKIN (1855-1917), a native of South Carolina, was an early settler. He married Martha Barnes (1856-1910).

LEWIS JACKSON GASKIN (1861-1930) was born Jan. 18, 1861, and died Aug. 13, 1930. Lewis Gaskins is shown as a farmer living at Earnestville in the 1886-87 Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory. He was a trustee of the Prospect School, which his children attended. In the 1900 census he is Louis J. Gaskins. In the 1910 census he is Jackson Gaskin. In the 1920 census he is Jack L. Gaskin. He married Frances Olive (1862-1932). She was born on July 28, 1862, and died Oct. 15, 1932. Her obituary listed survivors as sons W. N. of Lakeland, John of Ocala, and Vivian of Dade City, and one daughter Mrs. N. K. Williams.

JAMES LEWIS GASKIN (1875-1938), a farmer and cattleman, lived his entire life in Pasco County. He was born on Jan. 20, 1875, the son of James D. and Martha Barnes Gaskin. James Lewis Gaskin died at the home of his brother in the Prospect community on Aug. 14, 1938. His obituary listed as survivors three sisters, Mrs. Mary Childers, Mrs. Martha Knapp, Mrs. Emily Harrell, and seven brothers, Jude F., Matthew, Leroy, Fred, Lawrence, Mead, and Marvin.

WILLIAM MATTHEW GASKIN (1882-1944) was a farmer and lifelong resident of Pasco County. He was born on Dec. 5, 1882, the son James D. and Martha Barnes Gaskin. On March 24, 1943, William's oldest son, Cecil Gaskin, was killed in action in Tunisia. According to his obituary, survivors were two sons, Herbert P. Gaskin of Kissimmee and Cpl. Virgil W. Gaskin, AAF at Amarillo, Tex.; five daughters, Mrs. R. J. Storch and Miss Inez Gaskin of Tampa, Alma, Mildred, and Zuma Mae of Dade City; six brothers, S. M., L. M., J. F., Fred, and Marvin of Dade City, and Leroy of Tampa; three sisters, Mrs. R. F. Knapp and Mrs. Mary Geiger of Zephyrhills, Mrs. Emily Harrell of Tampa, and four grandchildren.

JOHN JACKSON GASKINS (1897-1945) was a County Commissioner who was engaged in the citrus and cattle business. On Feb. 21, 1945, he was killed by a Seaboard passenger train which collided with his truck at a crossing two blocks south of the station in Zephyrhills. His wife, driving behind him in their car, witnessed the accident. He became a county commissioner on Jan. 7, 1941, and was serving his third term when he was killed. He was a Pasco County native, a son of Jack Gaskins, a pioneer settler in Pasco County. He was survived by his wife Mrs. Ruth Arnold Gaskins, two brothers, W. N. Gaskins of Lakeland and V. C. Gaskins of Dade City, and a sister, Mrs. N. K. Williams of Dade City.

EDWIN J. GASQUE (1865-1932) owned the Edwinola Hotel, which was named for himself and wife Lola. He was born in Marion County, South Carolina. His father, Jehu Gasque, a planter, was of French Huguenot descent. His mother's maiden name was Emeline M. Richardson. Edwin attended the University of Kentucky. He operated naval stores in Georgia and later in Florida. According to his obituary, he built many of the older residences in Dade City. In 1912 he opened the Hotel Edwinola. In 1902 he married Lola Mobley. Their three children were Edwin Jr. of Dade City, Mrs. Fred Varn of Jacksonville, and William R. of Dade City.

ELIAS JASPER GEIGER (1871-1942) was a prominent farmer and stockman of Zephyrhills and an uncle of J. Don Geiger, county prosecuting attorney. His children included two daughters, Mrs. Virginia Keller and Mrs. Angie LeHeup of Zephyrhills, and four sons, S. J. Geiger, Knights; Curtis and Victor Geiger, Zephyrhills; and Manuel Geiger, Tampa.

JAMES L. GEIGER (1874-1951) married Josie Louise Seale (b. Nov. 1, 1876; d. Sep. 2, 1921) on March 20, 1895, at Abbott (now Zephyrhills). Their children were Blanche, James E., William A., J. Donovan, and Gladys. In Oct. 1911 he announced his candidacy for sheriff of Pasco County, saying he was born near the present site of Zephyrhills.

CEPHAS GEIGER (b. 1895) is shown as the teacher at the Cootie School in school board minutes from June 1913, and is shown as the teacher at the Seven Springs School in school board minutes from July 1916. He was born Oct. 27, 1895, in Abbott (now Zephyrhills). His parents were Abraham B. and Lucinda Geiger, both born in 1866. On Feb. 15, 1916, the newspaper of Pasco High School reported: "The normal had a call yesterday from Mr. Cephas Geiger of Zephyrhills. Cephas is a strong teacher. He has just completed the term of his school in Lake county."

GEORGE A. GILBERT (1879-1979) was born in Leesburg, Ga., the son of James Ross and Maria Adams Gilbert. He served as engineer on various boats from 1901 to 1911. He gave up steamboating in 1911 and worked for a year in the Atlantic Coast Line freight office. In 1912 he bought a soda-water plant in Kissimmee and began bottling. He moved this plant to Haines City in 1913. In 1916 he and his brother-in-law G. H. Boring bought the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in Dade City. Gilbert married Alice Jordan (died, 1949) in Dade City in 1901. She was the daughter of Henry and Eliza Lanier Jordan, early settlers in Pasco County. Children: Thelma, Vera (Mrs. Turnbull), Christine (Mrs. Sam Slough), Imogene (died in infancy). [Information from his autobiography in East Pasco's Heritage.]

REV. MOZELLE L. GILBERT (1857-1951) came to Florida because of poor health in 1881 and first settled in Hudson, where he and his wife planted an orange grove and built a home, according to his obituary. In 1889 he was ordainted minister of the Primitive Baptist Church near Plant City. He was appointed by the Governor as the first school board member in 1887. He was chairman of the board for 12 years before becoming the Pasco County schools superintedent. He was a minister of the Primitive Baptist Church near Plant City. He was born in Mayfield, Kentucky, and studied law at Clinton College in Kentucky. For 34 years he was associate editor of Zion's Landmark, published in Wilson, N. C. He was editor-in-chief of the Baptist Watchman and associate editor of the Spiritual Land Council and the Primitive Baptist. He died at his home in Dade City. His obituary lists his survivors as his widow, Mrs. Levia Bennett Gilbert; seven children, Mrs. Carlos G. Hamilton, Lester Gold Gilbert, Mrs. Robert C. Millar, Jacksonville; Wendell V. and Clifford O. Gilbert, Dade City; Mrs. C. H. Smith, Arcadia; and Mrs. Aborn H. Smith Jr., Orlando, and 19 grandchildren.

JACKSON J. GILLETT (1832-1900) was born in Columbia Co., Florida, in Feb. 1832, the son of Anderson and Sarah Gillett. On June 19, 1852, he married Malinda Morgan, the daughter of Ephraim and Mary Parker Morgan. After Civil War service they moved farther down the peninsula. He died in Pasco County on Aug. 8, 1900. [Information from Cracker Times and Pioneer Lives: The Florida Reminiscences of George Gillett.]

JAMES LEE GREER (died, 1936) purchased from B. W. Blount a tract of land where he erected the largest sawmill in this part of the state around 1900. A post office is established at Greer on June 22, 1900. On Jan. 7, 1921, the Dade City Banner reported that "the saw mill of the Greer Lumber Co. at Greer, five miles south of Dade City, was destroyed by fire last night." He was later elected President of the Bank of Tampa and organized a lumber company in Tampa, where products of his mill were sold. The 1910 census shows him as 43 years old, born in Georgia. He died at a hospital in Albany, Georgia, on Jan. 30, 1936. A son was J. L. Greer Jr.

FRANK I. GREY (1883-1956) arrived in New Port Richey in 1912 for a short vacation, and decided to move to the area. On Nov. 19, 1914, the Tarpon Springs Leader reported in its Port Richey news column: “A pleasant event of the week was the wedding of Frank I. Grey and Miss Mary Casey, two popular young people of this town which took place in Tampa Thursday Nov. 19. The bride is a native of Noblesville, Indiana, coming here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Casey, a year and a half ago, and Mr. Grey came here from Lynn, Mass., last fall. The best wishes of their many friends go with them in their new relations.” Their first son, James E. Grey, was the first boy born in New Port Richey. The couple opened Grey's Market and later was employed in real estate with George R. Sims and in 1924 he opened his own office, merging it in 1927 with Henry Dingus Sr. His obituary in the New Port Richey Press of Oct. 18, 1956:

Frank Irving Grey, 73, realtor and pioneer of New Port Richey died early Monday morning in Tampa's St. Joseph Hospital. He was born in Rowley, Mass. and settled here 43 years ago at the age of 30. A civic leader from the early boom days up until the time of his death, he served as mayor of the city as well as councilman, a member of the Board of School trustees and helped organize the first church and post office in the area. He was in the real estate business with a partner, Henry Dingus, Sr., for many years and just recently opened a new office on West Main street with his two sons. He and his wife had the honor of being the first couple to be married in the City of New Port Richey after its founding. Was a member of the Community Congregational Church, the Quarterback Club, Shuffleboard Club and was at the forefront of practically every civic and fraternal order organized in the city. Survivors include his wife, Mary E.; two sons, James E. of this city and William F. of Port Richey; two sisters, Mrs. Alta Noyes of Newburyport, Mass and Mrs. Olga Witham of Rowley, Mass; one brother, Harry C. of this city and seven grandchildren. Funeral services took place Wednesday at the Community Congregational Church with burial at Pine Hill Cemetery. Duval Funeral Home in charge. Pall bearers were: Henry Potter, Henry Falany, Desmond Little, H. J. McIntyre, R. W. Fowler and Fred K. Marchman.

HENRY CLAY GRIFFIN (1852-1933) was the second mayor of Dade City, an early sheriff of Pasco County, and the owner of the Griffin Drug Co. He was born in Bainbridge, Ga. According to his obituary, he was in charge of construction of the Orange Belt railroad (later the Atlantic Coast Line) from Sanford to St. Petersburg and other construction projects of various kinds. For six years he was personal claim agent for the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. He served as Sheriff of Pasco County from 1896 to 1904. He was the Supervisor of State Prisons during the administration of Governor Gilchrist. Upon the death of his oldest son Clarence, H. C. Griffin took charge of the Griffin Drug Store and hardware business, remaining in charge of the drug business until his death. He was survived by two sons, Dr. L. S. Griffin of Jacksonville and Henry C. Griffin Jr. of Dade City, and two daughters, Mrs. George S. Finch and Mrs. Floyd Carmichael of Atlanta. Another son was James Clarence Griffin (1874-1915), a prominent Dade City businessman.

JOHN WESLEY GURNEY (1844-1926) was born in Massachusetts, the eldest son of Abner and Armelia (White) Gurney, a lineal descendant of Samuel and Susannah White of the Mayflower. He was a Civil War veteran. He and Julia Armina Gurney (1851-1934) were married on Feb. 22, 1874. They came to New Port Richey in the fall of 1920. Their daughter:

• Jennie I. (1877-1978) was born in Savoy, Mass. Her father was finding winters more difficult to endure, so she bought a house, sight unseen, at the southeast corner of Adams St. and Delaware Ave. She worked in the insurance office owned by Gerben DeVries and later purchased the business and renamed it the J. I. Gurney Agency. In 1927 she married Elisha Andrew Miller (1873-1946), a local building contractor and member of city council, and changed the name of the insurance to the E. A. Miller Agency. She was the first organist and choir director of First Methodist Church. On her 100th and 101st birthdays she was honored by city officials and church friends.

JAMES GILLILAND GUTHRIE (1840-1898). According to WPH, "A Dr. Guthrie who came to the Hudson area about 1883, from Missouri, was the first doctor in western Pasco according to all the old records. He remained in Hudson only a short time then moved his practice to Tarpon Springs." An 1886-87 directory shows J. G. Guthrie as a physician at Gulf Key. According to The Blue and Gray Tour, he moved his family to Tarpon Springs in 1891, where he also engaged in sponging and owned several orange groves. Guthrie was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania. He served as a nurse in the Civil War and later earned a degree in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. He then served as a doctor for the U. S. government before moving to Sparta, Illinois, in 1877.