HISTORY OF PASCO COUNTYEarly Residents of Pasco CountyA | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | ZThis page was last revised on July 25, 2008.
PATRICK McCABE (1849-1940) with his sons developed the Lake Kersey Nurseries of choice citrus stock. According to his obituary, he lived near San Antonio for 57 years, coming here from Woonsocket, R. I. He was a native of Millville, N. Y. His children included Mrs. C. A. Barthle of St. Joseph, Mrs. Ford J. DeHaven of Winter Haven, Mrs. S. W. Tomlinson of Jacksonville, John J. McCabe of Lakeland, and C. P. McCabe and J. R. McCabe of San Antonio. D. H. McCARTHY (1855-1943) was one of the developers of the citrus industry in Pasco County and served as a member of the Board of County Commissioners. He was born in Dedham, Mass., on Oct. 15, 1855, and died at his home at Lake Iola. A son was J. Ed McCarthy of Lake Iola. WILSON W. McINTYRE (1850-1942) came to what is now New Port Richey in 1912. According to his obituary, "He was a cabinet maker by trade and was a master craftsman. He operated a shop here for many years and had a wide circle of acquaintances." He was born in Canada but grew up in Maine.
ASHLEY McMILLAN (1853-1892) was born on May 17, 1853, in Irwin Co., Ga. He was one of seventeen children born to Malcolm McMillan and Rachel Sumner. His grandfather, Daniel McMillan b. 1778 and his wife Margaret Smith b. 1785 had moved from Cumberland Co., N. C., about 1806 to Camden Co., Ga. Along with his family, he brought his five slaves. Ashley's great-grandfather had come to America from Scotland in 1774. His name was also Malcolm McMillan b. 1746 and his wife was Mary McIntyre also of Kintyre, Scotland. When the civil war began in 1861, Ashley's father and the four oldest brothers went to fight. All returned except Daniel, the oldest, who had died from wounds received. About 1875 Ashley decided to leave his 93 cousins in Georgia to come to Dade City. He worked in the new citrus industry. Here he married Elizabeth (Betty) Sumner b. Dec. 28, 1857. She was the daughter of Robert Sumner and Caroline Sumner. They had three children:
In 1885 Ashley filed notice to homestead 120 acres in township 24 east of Dade City. This was signed by President Grover Cleveland on Nov. 14, 1888. On May 22, 1892 at the age of 39 Ashley McMillan died. He was buried at what is now the Dade City Cemetery. Elizabeth later married M. G. Drew. They had 3 girls, Mattie, Bessie, Sudie. Ashley's daughter Caroline (Carrie) married John Croft. They had eight children: George, Nathan, Aline, Ashley, Ruby, Horace, Emma, Aice. Carrie and John moved to Tampa in 1900 and in 1924 moved to Lake Worth. They are buried in Greenacres City. James Bethel, Ashley's oldest son, on Apr. 28, 1913, married Alice Lanier b. Feb 15, 1893 in Osceola County. She was the daughter of Clem. H. Lanier and Margaret Thigpen. Her grandfather, John G. Lanier, was also a pioneer of Pasco County. They had seven children: James Leon, Carrie Mae, Elba Aldena, Lucille Marie, Alice Lois, Rosa Lee, James Bethel Jr. James Bethel (J. B.) followed in the footsteps of Ashley in that he had a love of the land out east of Dade City on the River Road. Here he and Alice raised their family. He spent his entire life here. For over 40 years he farmed and raised cattle. He was successful at it. From Oct. 18, 1908, when he and Alice Lanier had the "experience" at the Withlacoochee Baptist Church and was baptized in the river, he remained a Baptist. The way he took care of his family was evidence of the man he was. After Mr. Drew died he helped his mother and helped to finish raising his three half-sisters. He also raised the younger brother of Alice's, Jerry Lanier. Uncle Jerry stayed there until he died in his 80's. J. B. had the first phone on River Road. As everyone else was doing in the 1920's, he also had an interest in the moonshine stills that abounded. Because his house was half way to the river, often he would see the federal and local revenuers going out to look for the stills. He devised a way of climbing the telephone pole and sending an SOS warning on down the road to others that they were coming. J. B. took an old farm truck and turned it into River Road's first school bus. He built benches on the back bed of the truck for the children to sit on. He would pick them up and take them into town to the Dade City Grammar School, and bring them in the afternoon. Later the county gave him a "regular bus" to drive. Later his niece, Eleanor Bryant, Harris took over the bus and picked up the kids on River Road for over 50 years. On Dec. 30, 1938, James Bethel McMillan died at the age of 58. He had been in poor health for about a year. There was an exceedingly large attendance at his funeral that showed the high esteem in which he was held by his family, friends, and Dade City. He was buried at the Dade City Cemetery. Jesse Sumner McMillan married Ellen Florence Hendry on Mar. 1, 1903, in Tampa. Ellen was born on Aug. 30, 1881, in Hillsborough County. She was the daughter of George Hendry and Sarah Ann Hague. They had two sons, James Grantham and Oland Hendry. They lived in Tampa for 25 years. Family stories say that Ellen was a lovely city girl and Jesse Sumner could not live the city life. They divorced and he came back to Dade City. He later married Ole Mae Knight. He served Pasco County as a deputy sheriff and was widely known as an excellent painter. On March 21, 1944 Jesse Sumner McMillan died at the age of 61. He died because of heart problems. He was buried at the Dade City Cemetery. [This entry was contributed by Susan McMillan Shelton.] JOHN BROWN McNATT was the first of the McNatt family to settle in Pasco County. He came from North Carolina and settled in Florida where he married Sara McGeachy. On July 16, 1851, John McNatt received the deed to his first 40 acres, of 160, from the state of Florida. This property was located in S11, T24, R19, less than two miles from old Fort Dade on the Withlacoochee River. Their children were 1. Jim, 2. Hugh, 3. John, 4. Margaret, 5. Catherine, 6. Rosie 1. JIM McNATT married Bettie Hancock. Their children were:
2. HUGH McNATT (1850-1912) was born on October 2, 1850. On Nov. 20, 1879, he married Mary E. Ryals (1848-1918). The marriage was conducted by minister of the gospel R. J. Bradley (Pasco County marriage records). Mary was born on Dec. 17, 1848. Hugh died on September 9, 1912. Mary died on February 1, 1918. Both are buried in the Loyce Cemetery. Children:
3. JOHN PATRICK McNATT (1858-1916) married Alice Pearce (b. Sept. 28, 1874; d., Sept. 10, 1916). She was the Aripeka postmistress from 1908 until she died. Children:
4. MARGARET McNATT married to Osias Mizzell. Child:
5. CATHERINE McNATT married Richard Johnson. Children:
6. ROSIE McNATT married David Gillett. Children:
WALLACE McNATT (1873-1927) built the second building in what would become New Port Richey, after the Sass Hotel, according to The Genesis of New Port Richey. The McNatt building, on Central Avenue, contained on the lower floor a store and on the upper floor a hall which was used for meetings, church, and school. The building later was known as the Idlewyle or Idlewile. On Feb. 3, 1912, the Tampa Daily Times reported, "Work has also been commenced on a new store which will be opened and occupied by Mr. W. R. McNatt." The 1910 census shows him as a farmer, age 37, and his wife Minne Rewis (whom he married in June 1904, his second marriage), age 24, living in Hudson. Both are buried in the Gillett-Loyce Cemetery. Wallace was born on Feb. 12, 1873, and died on Dec. 28, 1927.
WILLIAM JAMES McNATT (1846-1924) was a Confederate soldier. He was born on Feb. 28, 1846. He married Elizabeth McKinney on Apr. 4, 1872, in Hernando County. He died at Loyce on Dec. 10, 1924, according to an obituary in Southern Argus. A son was William Raymond McNatt, q.v. WILLIAM RAYMOND McNATT (1874-1943) was a lifelong resident of Pasco County. He had a store at Loyce during the operation of the sawmill at nearby Sagano, and was later a farmer in Darby before moving to Dade City in 1925. He was born in Pasco County on Sept. 19, 1874. His obituary listed survivors as his wife, Mrs. Beulah McNatt; four sons, Bryan McNatt, Zephyrhills; Everett McNatt, Lakeland; Fred McNatt, Charleston, S. C.; Pvt. Howard McNatt, Army Air Force, Santa Ana, Cal.; twin daughters, Miss Inez McNatt of Fort Myers and Miss Irene McNatt of Quincy; two brothers, John B. McNatt, Twin Lakes, and Theodore McNatt, Brooksville; two sisters, Mrs. Ira Boyd and Mrs. John Oliver of Brooksville; eight grandchildren. WILLIAM JONES McNATT. His obituary, which appeared in a Dade City newspaper on Jan. 3, 1928, reads:
William Jones McNatt, well known farmer resident in the Loyce section, died at his home Thursday from Bright's disease. Funeral services were held from his late residence on Friday afternoon and his remains were laid to rest in the Loyce Cemetery, Rev. Mr. Barton officiating. Mr. McNatt was the son of pioneer settlers in Pasco County and was born in this county 53 years ago. He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. T. J. Oliver of Tampa and Mrs. I. H. Boyd of Loyce, and three brothers, W. R. McNatt of Dade City, C. T. McNatt of Loyce and J.B. McNatt of Twin Lakes. [According to Jeff Cannon, census records indicate that the persons named in the obituary were his children rather than his siblings. Cannon provided most of the McNatt material on this page, using materials from Walter McNatt. Many members of the McNatt Family are buried in the Gillett-Loyce Cemetery.] JAMES McNEIL (born, 1843) was born in Marion County on June 21, 1843, according to his confederate pension application. He was a veteran of the Civil War, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Florida Infantry. The 1870 census for Anclote shows James McNeil, age 25, a farmer, with Martha, 21, John, 3, and Donald J. 3/12, and John Southern, Amelia and Amelia Ann residing in the same household. They are listed immediately after Samuel H. Stevenson. The 1880 Hernando County census shows McNeil was a widowed school teacher. It shows a son J. S. McNeil, age 12, and a daughter M. J. McNeil, age 8, both attending school. In November 1882 McNeil purchased property in S 6, T 26S, R 17E, east of what is now New Port Richey. His property is located in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park. According to a sign posted there, he and his wife Martha and three children lived in a small log cabin and farmed the land. The remains of a well, animal pens, a cabin, and a family grave can be seen today. Minutes of the Pasco County school board from Aug. 8, 1889, show James McNeil as the teacher at the Baillie School. School board minutes of Aug. 21, 1890, indicate McNeill resigned as Supervisor of School No. 25 and was replaced by W. J. Baillie. His confederate pension application in 1905 shows that he had one son and two daughters at that time. He is buried in an unmarked grave at East Elfers Cemetery.
FREDERICK MEYER (born, 1819) and his brother Franklin B. founded the community of Anclote in 1867, building log cabins about 100 yards west of the present Anclote Cemetery on property they purchased from Captain Hope. FRANKLIN B. MEYER (1825-1871) and his brother Frederick founded the community of Anclote in 1867, building log cabins about 100 yards west of the present Anclote Cemetery on property they purchased from Captain Hope. His name is also spelled Benjamin Franklin Meyer. His son Robert S. Meyer (two years old in the 1870 census) was a keeper of the Anclote lighthouse from October 1889 to February 1933. Another son was Wyatt Jackson Meyer, q.v. WYATT JACKSON MEYER (1869-1958). A 2007 St. Petersburg Times article has: Meyer's descendents trace their roots to the area back 138 years. It was 1869, when Meyer's parents traveled the five days by oxcart from Ocala to the north bank of the Anclote River to settle in the wilderness area that would become Anclote. They erected the first log cabin along the north bank, planted citrus trees and began sowing the seeds of a family, and a community, that would help shape the history of the Tarpon Springs area. That same year, Meyer was born. He is believed to be the first child born in Anclote who was not American Indian. He would eventually work in the area's fledging sponge industry, before it came to define Anclote and the Tarpon Springs area. Meyer also had a hand in Pasco County real estate, owning and selling land throughout the area. He helped build the Anclote Key Lighthouse, where his brother, Robert S. Meyer, served as assistant and principal keeper for 43 years. In 1915, Wyatt Meyer built a home on Lake Tarpon, where he raised six children. "He's really, really Old Florida," said Rachel Spilman, 82, of Tarpon Springs, the oldest daughter of Meyer's oldest child. Spilman is one of the last living links to Meyer, who died in 1958 at 88, leaving 19 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren among his descendents. Another grandchild is Spilman's first cousin James Seeley, 85, who traveled with his wife from Rocky Mount, Va., for Sunday's reunion. "He was one of the original sponge fishers," Seeley said proudly. The home Meyer built on Lake Tarpon is now gone; it was demolished a few months ago to make room for new housing. PHILIP CABEL MICKLER (1868-1942) represented Pasco County in the state legislature and was identified with the development of the cattle industry in Pasco County. He was born in Lake City on Feb. 17, 1868, and came to Pasco County "fifty-five years ago," according to his obituary. He was married to Mrs. Lizzie A. Mickler. Their children included two sons, J. E. of Lacoochee and C. P. of Trilby, and two daughters, Mrs. Lester Crum of Miami and Mrs. Arthur Dees of Trilby. MICHAEL LAWRENCE MILBAUER (1894-1964) was a real estate agent, insurance agent, and philanthropist in New Port Richey. He was a native of Marion, Wis. He moved to Montana in 1917 and following an army enlistment worked for the Montana Elevator Co. from 1920 until 1936. He came to Florida in 1936 and purchased land in Elfers where he started a chicken business in connection with farming operations. In 1939 he acquired a real estate license and bought and sold land from his home from 1939 to 1945, when he opened an office at 101 Main Street. He was one of the founders of First Federal Savings and Loan of Pasco County. A son, Richard J., was an attorney who practiced in Clearwater. STEPHEN EDWIN MILLEN (1860-1940) was one of the early school teachers of Pasco County, teaching for ten years at Blanton and at other county schools. Later he devoted his time to farming and poultry. He was born in Elkton, Ky. In 1881 he moved to what is now Pasco County with his parents, Taswell and Sarah Gardward Millen, who bought property a few miles north of Dade City. He was survived by a sister and a brother. JAMES BERRY MILLER (1830-1915) was listed among the farmers and grain planters in Blanton in the 1886-67 Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory. His obituary, which appeared in the Pasco County Weekly News of Trilby on June 18, 1915, follows: Blanton, June 18 - The community was saddened and shocked Tuesday, when early that morning came the tidings of the passing on of James Berry Miller, more familiarly known as "Berry." While Mr. Miller had been in poor health for the past three years he had at times shown marked improvements, and up to within four or five days of his death was active and keeping in touch with his business affairs. On Tuesday of last week he was taken with an acute stomach trouble and from this time on grew rapidly weaker, and in the early hours of morning (Tuesday) the burden was laid down. Berry Miller was known as thrifty, enterprising and progressive, and was successful in the various pursuits in which he engaged. He was an exceedingly large hearted man, generous to a degree, ever ready to help those in distress. In 1886 Berry Miller was united in marriage to Miss Matilda, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James O'Berry, a prominent family in this part of the state. He is survived by the widow and four children, two sons and two daughters, as well as three brothers and two sisters, to all of whom we extend our sincere sympathy. Interment was made Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, near Dade City, and was attended by a very large gathering of relatives and friends. The impressive burial services consisted of the beautiful ritual of the Masonic order, of which the deceased was a prominent member, conducted by a large attendance of members of both the Trilby and Dade City Lodges. [Transcription provided by Jeff Cannon.] SAMUEL EDWARD MILLER and his wife Amelia Ann settled in Pasadena in Pasco county. The citrus grove they planted there froze in the 1890s, and the family moved to the coast, thinking it would be warmer. He owned the land in Port Richey later known as Martha's Vineyard. In January 1916 the New Port Richey Post reported, "A large variety of fruit is grown by Mr. Miller, including several kinds of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, manderines, kumquots, guavas, etc. Mr. Miller finds excellent markets for his fruits; packing and shipping direct from the grove." Miller's Bayou is named for him. His daughter Bessie Ellen Miller (1876-1960) married Charles Voorhees (d. 1925); among their children was Walter M. Voorhees [West Pasco's Heritage].
JOHN JOSHUA MIZELL (1875-1943) was a farmer. For many years he served on the arrangements committee for the reunion services held each year at the historic Townsend House Church which his family helped establish. He was buried in the Townsend House Cemetery. He was married to Mrs. Caroline Mizell. Children included Woodrow Mizell and Mrs. Hazel Blackwell. WILLIAM LEE MOBLEY (1835-1915) was a Confederate veteran and an early tax collector of Pasco County. He was born on April 23, 1835, in Georgia, and died in Dade City on Feb. 15, 1915. He married Nancy Roberts (1838-1923). The following is excerpted from his obituary: Col. Mobley was one of the early pioneers of this county, coming here soon after the Civil War ended, and was one of a band of settlers who braved the perils of the wilderness, and with ax and plow made a clearing and started the great development work of this county. He was always a leader of every worthy movement, and served the county faithfully for sixteen years in the capacity of tax collector, his last term of office expiring the first of January of this year. During his long and useful life in this county Col. Mobley was always accounted a friend by all who came in contact with him. He was a true Southern gentleman, a man of education refinements and culture, and was always read to lend a helping hand to one less fortunate than he. No stranger was every turned away from his door, but all had a hearty welcome. William's father was James H. Mobley, who came to Florida in the early 1850s. HEZEKIAH JAMES MOBLEY (1859-1944) was a long time resident. The following is excerpted from his obituary: He was born in Pavo, Ga., on January 9, 1859, and at the page of seven years came to Dade City with his parents, the late William L. and Nicy Roberts Mobley from their native home of Georgia. During his long life, the deceased had engaged mainly in farming and also in stock raising. He also dealt in real estate and bought and sold considerable property in and near Dade City. About fifteen years ago, he bought and developed his present farm. ... The deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Alice C. Mobley; three brothers, J. A. Mobley, Dade City, E. I. Mobley, Zephyrhills, John Mobley, Dade City; and three sisters, Mrs. J. O. Baker, Miss Fannie Mobley, and Miss Mattie Mobley of Dade City. JEFFERSON DAVIS MOBLEY (1862-1932) was a pioneer settler, having lived in the Slaughter community for about 40 years. He was born in Georgia on July 8, 1862, and died at his home in Slaughter on Aug. 12, 1932. According to his obituary, he was survived by his widow Mrs. Rhoda Mobley, three daughters, Mrs. Louis Ward, Mrs. A. L. Peacock, and Miss Bertie Mobley, and four brothers, Led. G. B., H. M., and J. A. Mobley. JOHN A. MOBLEY (1872-1940), known as "Captain Jack Mobley," spent his entire life in the Slaughter community, according to his obituary. He was born Mar. 13, 1872, and died on Aug. 7, 1940. He was survived by his widow, three daughters, Mrs. Charles Johnson and Mrs. Henry Weeks of Slaughter, and Mrs. Charles Outlaw of Kissimmee, one son, James Mobley of Tampa, and a brother Henry Mobley of Plant City. JAMES HENRY MORAN (1852-1922) was one of the original settlers in Port Richey. He was born in Barre, Mass. He married Alma H. Fosdick on July 2, 1888. He left Boston for New Port Richey on April 27, 1912, arriving when it was "nothing but a jungle and wild lands," according to his obituary. In the early days he was president of the Settlers' club and was active in civic affairs. He was the proprietor of a feed store and he served as the second station agent in New Port Richey until 1920 when he retired from the business. He was President of the Board of Trade in early 1922. According to his obituary, "He had a great love for children and was ever a champion of their rights for better educational facilities. His funeral was attended in a body by the students of the high school as a mark of the esteem in which he was held by them." A 1920 newspaper shows an advertisement for Mrs. J. H. Moran, teacher of piano. GEORGE MANDY MORRISH (1849-1929), born in England, was described as a fruit-grower living at Anclote in an 1886 genealogy book. On April 8, 1885, he married Adeline Child Hubbard (b. Mary 24, 1857). The Florida State Gazetteer (1886-87) has “G. M. Morrish, prop. Palmetto House, gen. mdse. and agt. Fla. Land & Col. Co.” According to History of Tarpon Springs by Robert Franklin Pent, “Mr. Morrish, an Englishman, moved in with his family and became the grocer and postmaster [of Anclote], Mr. Craver having moved out.” More information is at http://www.floridaroots.net/morrish_line/morrish.html, which includes a link to a photo. Children:
FREDERICK M. MOUNTS (1892-1955) was a teacher at the Zephyrhills School before being appointed Principal of Pierce Grammar School in New Port Richey in 1939. He held that position until 1948. He was born on Sept. 1, 1892, in Moravia, Iowa, and died on June 28, 1955, at River Junction, Fla. He is buried in Oakside Cemetery in Zephyrhills. |
FRED K. MARCHMAN (1912-2005) was a long-time educator in Pasco County. He
was born Jan. 28, 1912, in Daleville, Alabama. His father was the
School Superintendent in Dale County, Alabama. His mother taught in a
two-room, two-teacher school in Shiloh, Alabama. Because Fred had sat
in on his mother's classes starting at age four, he was enrolled in
school at age six in the third grade. In 1927, at age 15, he graduated
from Citrus High School in Inverness as valedictorian. He required
special permission to enroll at the University of Florida because he
was under 16. He first taught at Brandon in 1932 while his parents
lived in Plant City. He received a degree from the University of
Florida after he had begun teaching, as college degrees were not then
required. He moved to New Port Richey when he joined the faculty of
Gulf High School as a math teacher at the start of the 1934-35 school
year. He recalled that his starting salary at Gulf was $105 per month
for a seven-month term, but his pay was lowered to about $96 the
following year because of a lack of funds. In December 1940 he married
Marguerite Cassels (born, 1916, in Ocala). She had joined the Gulf
faculty in January 1940 after teaching previously in Webster, Florida.
Fred Marchman entered military service after the 1941-42 school year.
He somewhat reluctantly returned to teaching at the start of the 1946-
47 school year at the request of Gulf High School Principal Red
Stevens, who told him he was desperate for a math teacher. In 1953
Marchman became Principal at Pierce Elementary School (later Richey
Elementary School); he held that position for 17 years. He recalls
using his own pickup truck to move much of the furniture from Pierce
Elementary to the new Richey Elementary School over a four-day
Thanksgiving holiday. Marguerite Marchman had joined the faculty of
Pierce Elementary before her husband, first teaching a fifth- and
sixth- grade class and later becoming librarian. Fred Marchman was a
member of the New Port Richey City Council for three terms. In
September 1971 he became the full-time assistant Superintendent of
Pasco County schools and in September 1972 he was appointed
Superintendent by Governor Askew to fill the unexpired term of Chester
W. Taylor, who had resigned. In 1995, at a New Port Richey Rotary Club
luncheon announcing the Fred K. Marchman Endowed Scholarship at PHCC,
Walt Casson said he still felt strange calling his former teacher
"Fred" instead of the more formal "Mr. Marchman." "That gives you some
idea of the respect I have for him. Fred is the best math teacher I
have ever known. Beyond math, though, you taught us other things:
honesty, integrity, dependability." Fred Marchman was born Frederick
Marchman, with no middle name. His mother submitted his name as Fred'k
Marchman on a form; that was misinterpreted as Fred K. Marchman, a name
he liked and later adopted. The Fred K. Marchman Vocational Center
(later the F. K. Marchman Technical Education Center), which opened in
the fall of 1984, was named for him. Marchman died on Feb. 19, 2005.
One of two sons, Frederick K. (1944- ), taught science at Tarpon
Springs Middle School; a grandson, Brian, taught at Gulf High School in
the 1990s and later in Gainesville.
JAMES W. McKAY (1869-1952) operated McKay Shoe Repair on Main
Street in New Port Richey for many years, beginning in 1926, according
to the recollection of one of his sons. He came to New Port Richey in
1924 according to his obituary. He was born in Boston on May 27, 1869.
McKay served in Florida during the Spanish-American War, and moved to
Florida from Massachusetts after the war, first settling in Dunedin,
and then New Port Richey. He married Elizabeth R. (1878-1961). Their
children were Reine McKay, a daughter who died shortly after birth in
1907; Helen Ross McKay (1908-1964); Allen William McKay (1909- 1983);
Chester Rufus McKay (1910-1942), who was killed in World War II and for
whom VFW Post 7987 is named; George Logan McKay (1911-1984); and James
Gordon McKay (1913-1985; GHS '34).
WALTER IRVIN McNATT (1898-1981) was born about twelve miles west of Dade City on Jan. 3, 1898. In 1908 his family
moved to Aripeka, where his father put up a store. According to Florida Cracker Days,
he moved to a home on U. S. 41 in 1935. He worked most of his life in
the lumber industry in Pasco County, and lost an arm in an accident. He died on Sept. 29, 1981,
and is buried in Gillette-Loyce Cemetery.
He married Clara Richardson.
A newspaper article apparently from the late 1950s has: "Walter I. McNatt,
who has been lumbering in this area for over 40 years, recently
opened the Bayonet Point Lumber Yard for the convenience of those
in that community. McNatt, with his wife, Clara, live near
Gower's Corner in the Bayonet Point area. He has been
a resident there for 61 years. The McNatts have one son, Walter Jr.,
of Richmond, Va., who plans to associate with his father in the near
future."
THOMAS MEIGHAN (1879-1936), a noted star of silent films, had a winter home in New
Port Richey during the boom years. He intended to make movies here. A
theater which opened in New Port Richey in 1926 was named for him. A
brochure prepared for the later sale of his home indicated it had 13
rooms (4 master bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, 3 servants' bedrooms, 3 baths).
The swimming pool was 60 by 33 feet with a bath house with covered
patio and two dressing rooms, each containing a toilet and shower. The
property was 4.15 acres, with 683 feet of frontage on the river and 641
feet of road frontage. The New Port Richey Press reported on
Jan. 20, 1928, that Meighan was in town inspecting the construction of
his 16-room home at Jasmin Point, which was scheduled for completion by
Feb. 15. Meighan was born in Pittsburgh and died in Great Neck, N. Y.
His brother was architect James Meighan, who donated the land on which
the Hacienda Hotel was built.
REV. JESSE M. MITCHELL (1869-1935) was the first state senator from Elfers,
elected from the 9th district in 1923 to 1927. He also served from 1927
to 1931 (Ash). Before then, he had been a member of the Pasco
County Commission. He was born in Alabama on May 23, 1869, the son of
Levi Eiland Mitchell. He was brought to Florida in 1871, and grew up on
a farm four miles west of Dade City, working on the farm in the summer
and attending school for a few months in the winter. He attended the
Florida Seminary of the Methodist Church at Leesburg, where he acquired
sufficient knowledge to enter the Methodist Conference on trial as a
preacher. After serving successfully for two years, he suffered a
failure of voice which obliged him to retire from active service.
However, he continued to preach occasionally to fill in vacancies, and
in some instances hold special services. According to Bellwood,
"He became a minister in the Methodist Conference, but as best
remembered, never held a pastorate, rather devoting his time to
organizing and building churches and doing evangelistic work." In 1895
he married Nola Irene Cox, a native of Kentucky, and they had one
daughter, Jessie Gertrude (born, 1896, in Dade City), who became the
wife of Kenneth E. Hope. According to an old register of the Hudson
Methodist Episcopal Church, Mitchell was appointed by the Methodist
Conference as pastor in December 1898 [West Pasco's Heritage].
His first wife having died, Mitchell married a second time in Dade City
on Feb. 23, 1901, to Ida Mioma Hay (1876-1980), daughter of Jesse
Taylor Hay. They had one son, Wilford Berry Mitchell, who married
Margaret Nyman. An adopted son, George Bruce Mitchell, married Mildred
Chairs of Tarpon Springs. In 1904 he moved to western Pasco County,
settling at what would become Elfers. According to a biography, "He
contributed all the lumber used in the building of the Methodist Church
at Elfers (now the First Baptist Church) and also for the church at New
Port Richey, and gave material assistance in the building of many other
churches. Recognized as a leader, he served twelve years as County
Commissioner and was chairman of the board during that time; was State
Senator for six years; Mayor of Elfers; a bank director, and organizer
and operator of the first citrus packing company." In 1915, Mitchell
preached the funeral of Lewis Draft, age 5. It was the first funeral in
New Port Richey. On Jan. 7, 1921, the Tarpon Springs Leader
reported that Mitchell had "again" been elected chairman of the Pasco
County Board of County Commissioners. In 1923 Frank Zane Rankin
purchased Mitchell's home and resided there until 1926 (Julie Obenreder
in West Pasco's Heritage). The Elfers West Pasco Record
of April 27, 1922, reported that "Mr. Mitchell has been a resident of
Pasco County for fifty years, seventeen years of which has been spent
in the section now known as Elfers and New Port Richey." The New
Port Richey Press reported on Dec. 11, 1925, that Mitchell was
elected the first Mayor of Elfers "this week." According to
Bellwood, a committee of leading Democrats in the state visited
his office in the Elfers Bank building to ask him to run for Governor,
but he declined. According to an old time resident, the first telephone
in western Pasco county was installed in the early 1900s in the store
of J. M. Mitchell in Elfers. Mitchell died in Tampa on Jan. 12, 1935,
and was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery, three miles west of Dade City.
IDA MIOMA HAY MITCHELL (1876-1980) was the second wife of Rev. Jesse M. Mitchell. She was born on Oct. 20,
1876, and died on Aug. 18, 1980. According to West Pasco's
Heritage she was born at Seven Springs. She was a daughter of Jesse
Taylor Hay and the granddaughter of Capt. Samuel Stevenson.