REDNECK EARRINGS IN YOUR FAVORITE BREW - REAL CHEAP!

Wear your favorite brew with pride! Just $5 a pair, plus $2 for shipping total. Great conversation pieces. Bartending fashionistas love them. They also make unique Christmas stocking stuffers. If you prefer, I can custom make a pair for you at the same price using your own bottle caps. Or I'll trade a pair for your collection of upscale bottle caps that yuppies like, namely expensive imports and micro brews. Will consider all consignment and wholesale offers. Email me at sfnewsgal (at) yahoo.com.

Will trade $10 Bob Evans gift card or bead earrings for bottle caps needed for art project.

HERE'S MY OFFER for YOUR BEER BOTTLE CAPS.
I have a $10 Bob Evans restaurants gift card (no expiration)that I won in a sweepstakes, only to discover there aren't any of these eateries near me. I would like to trade it for unscratched, unbent beer bottle caps, especially Corona, micro brews and imports or any uniquely designed metal twist-offs from other soda bottles. I will be using the caps in an ongoing project, so this blog doesn't expire. And if you don't have any caps, I'll consider a trade for junk jewelry that can be taken apart and recycled into new pieces or beads or findings or what have you.

SECOND TRADE OPTION.

I have a great number of hand-crafted earrings that I will also trade for bottle caps. Here is a youtube video of some of my jewelry (forget the etsy.com reference, however, as I quit listing these some time ago). Again, if you don't have caps, tell me what you do want to barter.

Here are a few pics:

Email me at sfnewsgal at yahoo.com. Thanks. Ann

My cousin Bessie Yoakum: Belle of New York

We both descend from George Yoakum of Greenbrier Va and Powells Valley, Tn. Her ancestor went to Texas and wrote the first state history there. He's buried by his good friend Sam Houston. But that story is for another post. My grandmother's married name was also Bessie Yoakum.

BESSIE'S FATHER: Benjamin Franklin Yoakum circa 1900

SOME YOAKUM HISTORY:

YOAKUM BIOGRAPHIES
From VAN BIBBER PIONEERS E-NEWSLETTER Vol. 4 No. 4 February 2001, Gary
R. Hawpe, ed.

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
Martha VanBebber and George Yoakum, Sr.
George Yoakum, Jr. and Mary Ann Maddy
Franklin Laughlin Yoakum and Narcissa C. Teague
Benjamin Franklin Yoakum

YOAKUM, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1859-1929). Benjamin Franklin Yoakum, railroad
executive, was born near Tehuacana, Texas, in Limestone County on August
20, 1859, the son of Narcissa (Teague) and Franklin L. Yoakum. At age
twenty he became a rodman and chain bearer in a railroad surveying gang,
laying the International-Great Northern Railroad into Palestine, Texas. He
later became a land boomer and immigration agent for the Jay Gould Lines.
He drilled artesian wells and brought European immigrants from New York to
farm the land of the Trans-Mississippi and Rio Grande valley. In 1886 he
became traffic manager of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway. In 1887
the town of Yoakum, Texas, was named for him. In 1889 he was promoted to
general manager of the railways, and in 1890 he became receiver. For three
years he was general manager and third vice president of the Gulf, Colorado
and Santa Fe. In 1897 he became general manager of the Frisco (St. Louis
and San Francisco Railway Company). Under him the lines grew from 1,200 to
6,000 miles. In 1905 the Frisco and Rock Island lines were joined, and
Yoakum was the chairman of the executive committee. This line was known as
the Yoakum Line and at the time was the largest railroad system under a
single control. His career was one of the most colorful of the many men in
railroad history. He knew each branch of work - engineering, traffic,
operating, and finance. In his later years he became very interested in the
farm problem. He was an advocate of an agricultural cooperative society,
growing and marketing farm products to reduce the spread between farm and
consumer. It is said that his genius made Hidalgo and Cameron counties into
agricultural communities. In 1907 Yoakum moved to New York, where he had a
farm in Farmingdale, Long Island. He became president and later chairman of
the board of the Empire Board and Mortgage Company. He wrote articles for
popular magazines and lectured about railways to clubs and labor unions. He
worked for farm legislation in Congress but deserted the Democratic party
in 1928, because he considered their farm relief programs inadequate.
Yoakum married Elizabeth Bennett of San Antonio, the daughter of a pioneer
Southwestern banker. They had two daughters. Yoakum died at his home in New
York on November 28, 1929.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Paul C. Boethel, The History of Lavaca County (San
AntonioNaylor, 1936; rev. ed., AustinVon Boeckmann-Jones, 1959). Dictionary
of American Biography. S. G. Reed, A History of the Texas Railroads
(HoustonSt. Clair, 1941; rpt., New YorkArno, 1981). Who Was Who in America,
Vol. 1.

The Handbook of Texas on line

--------------------

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
Martha VanBebber and George Yoakum, Sr.
George Yoakum, Jr. and Mary Ann Maddy
Franklin Laughlin Yoakum and Elizabeth Wright
Charles Henderson Yoakum

YOAKUM, CHARLES HENDERSON (1849-1909). Charles Henderson Yoakum, attorney,
state legislator, and United States Congressman, son of Narcissus (Teague)
and Franklin L. Yoakum, was born near Tehuacana, Texas, on July 10, 1849.
His father, a physician, educator, and Presbyterian minister, was the
brother Henderson King Yoakum, attorney and friend of Sam Houston, and
author of a two-volume history of Texas published in 1855. Charles Yoakum
was educated at Larissa College, Larissa, Texas, which his father served as
president, and at Cumberland College. Upon completion of his education,
Yoakum became a schoolteacher. He studied law in his spare time, was
admitted to the bar, and began a practice at Emory, in Rains County, in
1874. Two years later he was elected county attorney, a position that he
held for several years. Yoakum moved to Greenville, the county seat of Hunt
County, in 1883 and established a law practice. Three years later he was
elected district attorney of the Eighth Judicial District and remained in
this position until 1890. His experience in public office no doubt aided in
his election to the Texas Senate in 1892. Four years later Yoakum won
election, as a Democrat, to the House of Representatives of the
Fifty-fourth Congress. He declined a reelection attempt in 1898 due to ill
health and in that year, seeking a healthier climate, moved his law
practice to Los Angeles, California. He met with continued success in
business and legal affairs in California. In 1904, having received an
appointment as general attorney for the Frisco Rail system in Texas-a
system made up of the Fort Worth and Rio Grande, St. Louis, San Francisco
and Texas, and Paris and Great Northern lines-of which his brother,
Benjamin F. Yoakum, was chairman, Charles Yoakum returned to Texas. He
settled in Fort Worth, headquarters of the Frisco lines in Texas. Yoakum
died of a heart attack at his home on January 1, 1909. He was a lifelong
Democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the
Masonic, Odd Fellows, and Grand fraternities. Charles H. Yoakum was buried
in his family's plot at Myrtle Cemetery in Ennis, Texas.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Dallas Morning News, January 2, 1909. Fort Worth Record,
January 2, 1909.

The Handbook of Texas on line

--------------------

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
Martha VanBebber and George Yoakum, Sr.
George Yoakum, Jr. and Mary Ann Maddy
Franklin Laughlin Yoakum and Narcissa C. Teague
Finis Ewing Yoakum

Pisgah Home Founding by Dr. Finis E. Yoakum

Faith healer and social reformer, A medical doctor in Texas, Colorado, and
California, Finis Yoakum (1851-1920) gave up his lucrative medical career
following a personal healing miracle to found the Pisgah Home Movement in
Highland Park at the Christ Faith Mission/Old Pisgah Home. Born to Franklin
and Narcissa (Teague) Yoakum; his father was a country physician in Texas,
who later became a minister with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and
served as the president of their college in Larrisan Texas. A younger
brother, Benjamin Franklin Yoakum, was an important figure in American
commerce, serving as president of the San Antonio and Arkansas Pass Railway
and chairman of the board for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad
("Frisco") as well as several other major railroads and business enterprises.

In 1873, Finis took a wife, Mary. They had three sons and twin daughters.
Yoakum studied at Larissa College ultimately graduating from the Hospital
College of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky, with the M.D. degree on June
16, 1885. Following medical school, he specialized in neurological
disorders and finally occupied the Chair of Mental Disease on the faculty
of the Gross Medical College in Denver, Colorado.

On the evening of July 18, 1894, while on his way to organize a Class
Leader's Association for his Methodist Church, Finis Yoakum was struck by a
buggy operated by a drunken man. A piece of metal pierced his back, broke
several ribs, and caused internal hemorrhaging. A medical assessment of his
injuries predicted them to be fatal. Plagued by infection for several
months, he moved to Los Angeles hoping to gain relief in its mild climate.
In early 1895, he made a miraculous recovery during a dramatic healing
experience and by the Summer of that year he was again practicing medicine.
After his recovery Dr. Yoakum received visions directing him to create a
mission for the needy. He soon turned his home at 6044 Echo Street into a
mission moving himself and his family into a tent adjacent to his home. The
site soon grew with additions to his original Queen Anne home and the
conversion of an adjacent barn as a new tabernacle that also doubled as a
dormitory. He vowed to spend the remainder of his life serving the
chronically ill, poor destitute, and social outcasts. This is what gave
rise to the Mission Site still operating today.

While in Los Angeles, he associated with a number of churches speaking on
divine healing and hosting many camp meetings at the Mission site or along
the Arroyo Seco two blocks to the east. During the Azusa Street revival
gatherings in Los Angeles (credited as the founding movement of the
Pentecostal Church) he hosted many followers at the Mission site in
Highland Park. He named his Mission site, Pisgah Home after the hill where
Moses stood to view the promised land. By 1915, he had built an impressive
Tudor home just three blocks from the Mission at 140 S. Avenue 59. Most of
the labor to build this home came from Mission residents.

Headquartered from Christ Faith Mission on Echo Street, Dr. Yoakum created
a variety of outreach ministries throughout the Los Angeles area. These
efforts were called Pisgah, giving the Mission Site the additional name as
headquarters for many of these efforts. In 1911, Pisgah Home provided
regular housing for 175 workers and stable indigents and made provisions
for an average of 9,000 clean beds and 18,000 meals monthly to the urban
homeless, the poor, and the social outcasts, including alcoholics, drug
addicts, and prostitutes. Each week, Yoakum sent his workers throughout Los
Angeles to distribute nickels for the cost of trolley fare to Pisgah Home.
Other activities included the nearby Pisgah Store, Pisgah Ark (recovery
House for Women), Pisgah Gardens (rehabilitative center, orphanage, and
farm in North Hollywood), Pisgah Grande (3,225 acres for a utopian
community in Chatsworth), and a later donation of a 500 acre retreat center
and farm in Tennessee.

Dr. Yoakum was a controversial figure throughout the latter part of his
life. He was the object of a love hate relationship with the City of Los
Angeles, because his ministry at the Mission site attracted indigents to
the City from across the country, yet the City was happy to send many of
their own to him for care.

The site is closely aligned with the founding of the modern Pentecostal
church. Pentecostalism, a world wide Protestant movement that originated in
the late 19th century in the Los Angeles area, Kansas and in the Southern
Appalachian Mountains in the Southeast, takes its name from the Christian
feast of Pentecost, which celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the
disciples. Pentecostalism emphasizes a post conversion experience of
spiritual purification and empowering for Christian witness, entry into
which is signaled by utterance in unknown tongues, also known as glossolalia.

--------------------

Isaac VanBibber and Sarah Davis
Martha VanBebber and George Yoakum, Sr.
George Yoakum, Jr. and Mary Ann Maddy
Henderson King Yoakum

YOAKUM, HENDERSON KING (1810-1856). Henderson King Yoakum, historian, son
of George and Mary Ann (Maddy) Yoakum, was born in Claiborne County,
Tennessee, on September 6, 1810. He graduated from the United States
Military Academy at West Point in 1832. On February 13, 1833, he married
Evaline Cannon of Roane County, Tennessee; they became the parents of nine
children. In the spring of 1833 Yoakum resigned his lieutenant's commission
in the army and began to practice law in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He became
captain of a company of mounted militia in 1836 and served near the Sabine
River under Edmund P. Gaines. In 1837 Yoakum was mayor of Murfreesboro.
In 1838 he reentered the army as a colonel in the Tennessee infantry and
served in the Cherokee War. He was a member of the Tennessee Senate from
1839 to 1845 and as senator urged the annexation of Texas. On October 6,
1845, Yoakum established residence at Huntsville, Texas, and on December 2,
1845, was admitted to the Texas bar. In 1846 he was instrumental in making
Huntsville the county seat of Walker County. At the outbreak of the Mexican
War he volunteered as a private under John C. (Jack) Hays and served at
Monterrey as a lieutenant under James Gillaspie. With the expiration of
his enlistment on October 2, 1846, he returned to his law practice at
Huntsville, where Sam Houston was his close friend and client. Although a
member of the Methodist Church, Yoakum, in 1849, wrote the charter for
Austin College and served as a trustee for that school from 1849 to 1856.
He helped establish the Andrew Female College in Huntsville and in 1949
was appointed director of the state penitentiary there. In 1853 he became
"master mason" and then "high priest" of the Huntsville Lodge. In July of
that year he moved to his country home, Shepherd's Valley, seven miles from
Huntsville, where in 1855 he completed his two-volume History of Texas from
Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in
1846, for which Houston was said to have given him much of the information.
In the fall of 1856 Yoakum went to Houston to deliver a Masonic address,
attend to some courtroom duties, and visit his friend, Judge Peter W.
Gray. While attending court he suffered a severe tubercular attack and
was treated after being taken to Judge Gray's home, but weakened and died
there on November 30, 1856. Yoakum County, established in 1876, was named
in honor of Henderson King Yoakum. In 1936 the Texas Centennial Commission
erected a marker at the site of the Yoakum home in Shepherd's Valley.

BIBLIOGRAPHY George W. Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and
Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York (8 vols.,
New York [etc.]D. Van Nostrand [etc.], 1868-1940). Dallas Morning News,
August 21, 1932. Dictionary of American Biography. Harold Schoen, comp.,
Monuments Erected by the State of Texas to Commemorate the Centenary of
Texas Independence (AustinCommission of Control for Texas Centennial
Celebrations, 1938). Vertical Files, Barker Texas History Center,
University of Texas at Austin.

The Handbook of Texas on line
_____________

You can also review the archived postings by going to the following
internet address http//archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/Van_Bibber.

THE TENNESSEE BRANCH OF FINIS YOAKUM'S PISGAH HOME MOVEMENT

Established around 1920, this branch in Pikeville, Tenn., not too far from where George Yoakum once lived, is still going strong. Here's what the movement has posted at http://www.havenrest.net/mission.html :

WHO? HavenRest Farm is part of a larger Christian organization, Pisgah Home Movement, Inc.

We are a non-profit religious corporation, registered in, and recognized by The State of Tennessee, USA.



WHEN? In 1896, a medical doctor from Denver, Colorado, founded Pisgah Home Movement. His name was Finis E. Yoakum, and his original headquarters was known as Pisgah Home, located on Echo Street, in Highland Park, the first suburb of Los Angeles, California. About 1922, the parent organization was moved to the mountains in San Bernardino County, California. After a devastating fire in 1943, the organization moved for the final time to the Sequatchie Valley, in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, our current home.



WHAT? A greater vision for HavenRest Farm was visited upon members of the Board of Directors in the winter of 1993, at a special prayer and board meeting at the farm. The name A Haven of Rest was created (And later shortened to HavenRest); the farm/retreat was re-dedicated to serve God's ever-evolving purpose and master plan.



WHERE? HavenRest Farm is located about 2 miles southeast of Pikeville, Tennessee, at 326 Cooper Lane (Intersecting State Highway 30 E). The farm encompasses nearly 450 acres of pasture-land, crop-land, and forest. This is the famous Sequatchie Valley, utilized by forces of both the Union and Confederacy, in American Civil War history.



WHY? In our dedication to the Lord, we hope only to fulfill His will, and reap His divine pleasure.
In so-doing we seek:
Primarily to act as a physical sanctuary for meditation, inner healing, counsel, relaxation, and spiritual renewal for Christians, and their families. At HavenRest Farm the retreatants will experience an environment similar to how most Americans lived their entire lives a century ago, far from the cities' lights, pollution and congestion--out in the country, in the atmosphere of a working farm. There is NO formal activity structuring imposed. Our farm/retreat guests may decide exactly what their individual pace should be.



Secondarily, we serve as a rural retreat location for Christian groups needing a place to do church planning, business seminars, conferences, charity events, and for the younger, or rugged, outdoors-minded Christian individuals, a great camp-out site with lots of hiking trails.



“Come Away” to HavenRest Farm; be alone with God, in His nature.

Koko-Nola, Early Newspapers of Pensacola and the McVoy-Roche Families

309 West Chase – 1920s Home of Henry M. Roche and Virginia McVoy

The other day I received this email from a member of the Escambia County list group:

Ann, I know that you were interested in info on one of the addresses on Chase Street. You were looking at the house across from our office on 306 W. Chase Street. When I was going through the death records on FamilySearch, I found that Henry M. Roche and Virginia McVoy lived at 309 W. Chase Street in 1921 & 1924. Janet

Always curious about folks who lived in my neighborhood, I did a bit of googling on this couple. Janet sent some information, and I located other tidbits:

They are listed with two other family members on page 95 of St. Michael’s cemetery register:

Henry M. Roche – 11 Sep 1857 – 13 May 1924
Virginia McVoy wife of H.M. Roche
– 27 June 1949 – 1 Dec 1921
Mrs. Daisy M. (Holst) Roche died 20 Feb 1967
aged 81 years
Miss Leona Josephine Roche died 1 June 1975 aged 69 years
They are quite near the Rhoulac Anderson-Mrs. Warren E. Hargis Anderson
cemetery, where John Whiting Hargis and Edythe Grant Hargis are also buried.

Henry Roche’s occupation: In the March 7, 1905 Pensacola Journal, he was elected recording secretary and a delegate to the Central Trades Council of the Pensacola Typographical Union on page 10.

In the Feb. 9, 1907 issue: Wm. Fisher and Wm. A. Blount to Mrs. Virginia Roche – The west 10 feet of lot 12, block 11. Maxent Tract. $95.

In the June 14, 1907 issue: J.J. McCaskill to Virginia Roche, Lots 13 and 14 in block 31 Belmont Tract - $1 and other consideration. (Note: sold in 1909 below)

In the Nov. 4 1909 issue of the Pensacola Journal: Henry M. Roche to Lee Daniell, $1 and other cons. – Lots 13 and 14, Blk. 31, Belmont Tract. In that same issue, C.U. Thiesen sold A.M. Avery for $1000 and other cons. a lot with 93 feet on DeSoto St. by 141 on Baylen St. in the S.E. corner of Blk. 50, Belmont Tract.

What seems to be a real plum, however, are the Roches' Spanish heritage. Virginia’s family is on this list (along with my children’s ancestral members: Pedro Suarez and Thomas Commyns. Of course, also listed are the ancestors of the people who built my house in the 1890s: Gonzalez and Bonifay.) If you’re not from Pensacola, you may not realize that this year marks the 450th anniversary of our founding by the Spanish. Although a hurricane wiped out that first colony, we still lay claim as America’s “first place” for European settlement, earlier than any of the first English settlements we studied in grammar school.

Colonial Inhabitants of West Florida proven by the Galvez Committee:

Pedro de ALBA
Jose MAURA
Mariana Pingrow BONIFAY
William MCVOY
Josefa CABERA
Fernando MORENO
Thomas COMMYNS
Ysabel NICHOL
Francisco DAUPHIN
Francisco PALMES
Francisco DE LA RUA
Maria Josefa Antonia RODRIQUEZ
Josefa FALCON
Salvador RUBY
Andrea GONZALEZ
Pedro SUAREZ
Salvador GUERRA
John SUNDAY
Ysabel HIDALGO

I found a google guidebook to old Spanish correspondence among Cuban archives, and among them were, for example, letters dating to 1781 that were directed to Martin Navarro by: Galvez, Havana; Enrique Grimarest, Mobile; … Henrique Roche, Pensacola. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think Henrique Roche and Henry Roche might be related. I wonder if anyone has ever gone to Cuba and made copies of these hundreds (thousands) of letters? And if so, has anyone translated them? It looks like years of work, but what a fascinating time period! Do you know if any of this type of material is available locally? I have corresponded with a Vanderbilt professor, who researches the early black families, many of whom lived in my neighborhood, and she tells me:

I’m afraid that Cuba is not integrated into the usual system of archives where
you can make requests and receive information or copies of documents…nor do they
have things on line. Normal citizens do not even have access to internet.

I have worked in church records not controlled by the Cuban state but I
have only been digitalizing black and Indian records…those are available at
http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/ecclesiasticalsources/home

But you may have better luck trying the Spanish archives on line. Those are excellent…just Google PARES and it links you to seven archives in Spain and has a simple search function.

Regarding the McVoy surname, it appears that the earliest in Pensacola I can find bearing that name was an agent of James Innerarity, the famous Pensacola trader. Bonnie McVoy Treon, who has posted many tidbits on the McVoy family online, found a John MacVoy listed as a private in the British Army’s West Florida Royal Foresters. In a google book called Mr. Jefferson’s Lost Cause: land, farmers, slavery and the Louisiana Purchase, by Roger G. Kennedy, there is an intriguing reference:

In 1814, the British, finally free of Napoleon, could redirect their forces against the Americans and began to arrive along the coast in force. The officers in charge of their expeditionary forces were badly briefed, however. The Creeks and Seminoles were consistent, but the partners of The Firm (trading company) were switching sides. James Innerarity was entrusted with weapons and supplies for the Indians and to keep up the good work of stirring up the blacks. Innerarity withheld those supplies put into his care, whereupon the Seminoles and Red Sticks showed their economic sophistication by annulling the cessions of land just made to The Firm and scalping those of its employees who strayed into the backcountry.
Still under misapprehensions about the loyalty of the former Tories, the British commander at Pensacola informed its Spanish governor of his plans to attack Fort Bowyer, Mobile and then New Orleans. The governor confided in his confessor, Father James Coleman. Coleman promptly passed the word to another visitor to his confessional – Innerarity. Innerarity dispatched an agent named McVoy posthaste to Fort Bowyer, to acquaint the Americans with what the British had in mind. Forewarned, the garrison made a massacre of the British assault. Finally the British understood. After retreating to The Firm’s plantation next to the fort, they freed nine hundred slaves and put to the torch all its buildings. Some of those slaves subsequently joined the coalition against the Americans, as did many released from The Firm’s plantations in East Florida. An indignant Inneraritiy wrote John Forbes: “Time was when the name of Englishman was honorable, now it is synonymous with nay it is a term to designate a man capable of every thing that is low, vile, base, villainous, atrocious.”
Comfortably within the fortifications of Mobile, (Andrew) Jackson laughed at the British flotilla beyond the barrier islands and commenced moving at his own pace against Pensacola, the possession of Spain, a neutral state.

A few other postings about the McVoy family:

Bonnie McVoy Treon Posted: 29 Feb 2000 12:00PM GMT

MARTIN MCVOY, SR./ Born 5-14-1841, PENSACOLA, ESCAMBIA CO>CO FL. Son of WILLIAM MCVOY of PENSACOLA and JOSEPHINE HERNANDEZ MCVOY. He was raised as ROMAN CATHOLIC and had several siblings. Eldest brother was JOSEPH MCVOY, b.1839 and WILLIAM MURRELL MCVOY, B.1843, CHARLES LEBARON MCVOY (went by LEBARON) and THOMAS E. MCVOY and a sister ANN MCVOY and VIRGINIA MCVOY. MARTIN came to BALT.MD possibly as an apprentice machinist and may have been draughted (drafted) to serve in the UNION ARMY. The entire rest of his family were Confederate.

Bonnie McVoy Treon also posted this McVoy resource:

This copy of my family's MCVOY line excerpted from the
MCVOY FAMILY BIBLE which was in the possession of
BELLE MCVOY MCSWEEN 1966-1967, who was a resident of
PENSACOLA FLORIDA:

This only includes my line which is all that was sent to
me. If anyone out there has the rest of the FAMILY INFO.
PLEASE CONTACT ME AT: BONNIE MCVOY TREON gatreon@ctc.net

MCVOY BIBLE:

1966-1967, Owner, Mrs. Belle M. MCSWEEN, and listed her
address at that time in PENSACOLA.
(UNREADABLE NAME- DUOHY???) BIBLE, pub. by JOHN DOYLE, 294
PEARL ST. (either KY or NY -- COPY is very light.)- 1836
WILLIAM MCVOY, b. 29 AUG 1776, s/o JOHN and ISABELLA MCVOY, m. 12 Feb. 1799, and d. 2 SEPT.1835 ?
MARGARET MCVOY, wf. of WM. MCVOY and d/o GERALD & ANN BYRNE
was b. 3 Nov.1783.
ALEXANDER MCVOY, b. 8 OCT. 1801, d. 24 NOV. 1801
ANN MCVOY, b. 21 Oct.1803
WILLIAM & GERALD MCVOY, twins, born, 12 Feb. 1806,
d. 6 AUG 1806
THOMAS MCVOY, b. 5 Sept 1807
MARY MCVOY, b.22,?,1807
JAMES & DIEGO MCVOY, twins, b. 1 Nov 1814, and d. 15 Nov 1814
JOSEPH MCVOY was born 17 MAY 1818, d. 30 OCT 1822
JAMES ALEXANDER MCVOY, b. 28 APR 1822, d. 26 JUL 1865
MARTIN MCVOY b. 15 NOV 1825, d. 22 APR 1841
WILLIAM MCVOY,b. 25 MAY 1812, d. 27 MAY 1879
THOMAS MCVOY b. 20 MAR 1846
W.M. (WM.MURRELL) MCVOY, b. 17 FEB 1843, d.24 APR 1918
C.(Charles) LEBARON MCVOY, b. 13 AUG, 1851, d. OCT 1916
VIRGINIA MCVOY, b. 27 JUN 1848
JOSEPH MCVOY, b. 17 APRIL 1839, s/o WILLIAM & JOSEPHINE
MCVOY, m. 27 NOV 1867, d. 26 DEC 1910
MARION H. MCVOY, wife of JOSEPH MCVOY, and d/o JAMES &
ELIZABETH P. BRYAN, b. 23 APRIL, 1849. (Born) Boston MA,d?
*****note from Bonnie, it is written elsewhere she was born
in Canada and died young at age 22.
MARTIN MCVOY, s/o WILLIAM MCVOY and JOSEPHINE MCVOY was b. 14 MAY, 1841. (*** Bonnie's great grandfather!)
ANN MCVOY, b. 23 AUG 1844.
JOSEPHINE MCVOY, wife of WILLIAM MCVOY, b. 13 JAN 1813,
d. 4 JAN 1874
MURRELL MCVOY & CECELIA ROCHE were married 27? APRIL 1882?
(note: his name was WILLIAM MURRELL MCVOY)
MURRELL MCVOY d. 14 APR 1918
WILLIAM MCVOY was b. 19 OCT 1883, d. DEC? 19??
ISABELLA MCVOY b. 6 MAY, 1885
MARION (MARIAN?) b. 15 FEB 1888, D. 13 SEPT,1888
FELO ANDREW MCVOY b. 4 FEB 1889, d. 9 JUN 1910
HENRY MITCHELL MCVOY, b. 22 SEPT, 1892 & d. 5 NOV 1934 at a
Government Hospital in AUGUSTA,GEORGIA
CECELIA ROCHE MCVOY, b.20 MAY 1861, wife of WILLIAM MURRELL
MCVOY, 5 JULY 1941

Ms. Treon seems to have discovered the connection between the very Irish-sounding McVoy surname and its Spanish connection:

I found these same names on the 1788? Canary Migration Ships' lists to Louisiana! I know they HAVE to be connected! In my family, ISABEL MELIAN married a JUAN MACABOY or later spelled as MCVOY and MCAVOY.
She is listed in the 1783 Pensacola Census but he is not.
OTHER SURNAMES connected with my MELIAN include MADRID, de MADRID,
MCVOY,MCAVOY,MACABOY,MCABOY,MCBOY,HERNANDEZ,FERNANDEZ,HERNANDES,
BYRNE,BYRN,BYRNS,BYRNES,PALMER,ALLMAN,(ALLEMAN?),GONZALEZ?,ROCHE,
BOUSAGE,STICKNEY,PAGELS,PAYEN, and a couple more I can't think of right
now. The locations include SAVANNAH,GA,USA (PRE-1776),ST.AUGUSTINE,FL,USA.

From "Spanish Plat Books of Land Records of the District of Pensacola, Province of West Florida, > British and Spanish Land Grants 1763-1821 Translated Manuscript by Fernando J. Moreno 1895" compiled by Billie Ford Snyder & Janice B. Palmer Copyrite 1994 Antique Compiling Co., PO Box 36335, Pensacola, FL 32518 (I'm not sure they are still in business - maybe Janice gets this list if so - please let people know) Possibly you can get this book through interlibrary loan - it has a lot of information regarding the land, etc.

> McBoy, Guillermo 220, 411, 423, 424, 425
> McBoy, William 180, 231, 422
> McVoy, Ana 471
> McVoy, William 137, 474

================
THIS 1907 ARTICLE MENTIONS ELVIRA CHRISTIAN McVOY:

THE PENSACOLA JOURNAL SUNDAY MORNING JANUARY 13 1907Delightful Entertainment in
Honor of “Young Old” People

Friday night Mrs. M. P. Bonifay delightfully entertained her friends at
her handsome home on Romana street.
The house was prettily arranged
for the entertainment and the evening
was spent very merrily.
The guests of honor were Professor
L. E. Allen and Mrs. Elvira Christian
McVoy.
Mrs. McVoy blushingly admitted
that she had passed her eightieth
summer while Professor Alln gallantly
announced that he was seventy-
nine of the third inst.
Mrs. McVoy and Professor Allen
were the musicians of the evening, the
professor with his fiddle and Mrs.
McVoy as an accompanist.
The musical programme consisted
of “General Lee’s March,” “General
Jackson,s March,” “Haste to The Wedding,”
“The Campbells Are Coming,”
and a number of other selections
which were like a fragrant breath
from the days of their youth to the
musical performers, and the guests
agreed that Professor Allen and Mrs.
McVoy were the youngest old people
in the state.
The dining room was handsomely
appointed for a luncheon and at nine
thirty o’clock the guests were invited
in. Fourteen covers were laid and
the menu embraced everything delicious
and appetizing.
With laughter and pleasant conversation
the hours flew by, and beforethe guests
were aware the time arrived for bidding
each other good night, after sepnding
a very pleasant evening.
Those present at the party were
Mrs. Elvira McVoy, Miss Margret
McVoy, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Harrell,
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Rupert, Mrs. Josephine
Rupert, Mr. Fred Muller, Mr. Britton,
Misses Hatton, Mrs Lounesberry, Miss
Emma Gentry, Mrs. M. P. Bonifay,
Professor I E Allen and Mr. Miller.

There was a Hatton family living at 400 West Gregory, next door to my house at this time, and I suspect the above misses were from that family.

MCVOY BOTTLING OF KOKO-NOLA

On May 14 of that same year (1907), John M. McVoy, Ernest Y. Morgan and Gamuel J. Morgan published a notice of incorporation that was the charter of the Pensacola Bottling Works. The “general nature of the business” was to be manufacture, bottling, buying and selling of soda water, kokonola, syrups, extracts, and similar products. Doing a google on the intriguing word “kokonola,” I discovered a history of Coca-Cola, which reads in part:

Coca-Cola began its history in the late 19th Century. The original recipe was developed by a pharmacist named John Slyth Pemberton. He originally made the recipe as an alcoholic beverage mixed with coca, kola nut, and damiana with its purpose being to help people feel better. People were to have one teaspoon of it, and then drink a glass of water.

In 1887, Pemberton sold Coca-Cola to Asa Candler for twenty-three hundred dollars because he was in poor health and was largely in debt. A year later, Pemberton sold the rights to Coca-Cola again to four more businessmen because of an ongoing morphine addiction. At the same time, Pemberton’s son Charley Pemberton began selling his own version of Coca-Cola. To clear the confusion, Pemberton stated that the name of Coca-Cola belonged to his son, but the other two manufacturers could continue to use the formula.

… Because of Coca-Cola’s success, there became many imitators. So in 1919, after the war and production restrictions were ended, lawyers of the Coca-Cola Company prosecuted brands such as Koke Company, Karo-Cola, Curo-Cola, Sola-Cola, Koka-Nola, and Taka-Cola. Source: http://socyberty.com/history/history-of-coca-cola/).

A google book, Pure Products, Volume 6 published in 1910 found that Koco Nola Co. was found to be misbranded because the syrup contained cocaine, without that substance being shown on the label. The company was prosecuted, found guilty and fined $100. It seems pretty obvious the “koca” reflected the cocaine in the bottle even if the label didn’t. Later labels were labeled “dopeless” – and I suppose that’s where the “Dope” nickname for “Coke” originated.

Pensacola Bottling Works was a confirmed franchise of Koca Nola. These bottles are now highly collectible You can view the actual Pensacola Bottling Works Koca Nola bottle at www.fohbc.com/PDF_Files/KocaNola_Sp2005.pdf .

On Nov. 12, 1909 the Pensacola Journal noted that Cantonment farmer Joseph McVoy, who advertised his grist mill and cotton gin in the same issue, won several first-place prizes at the Baldwin County Fair, including gallon new syrup, short staple and six handles of oats. On May 24, 1907, Joe McVoy, a Confederate veteran, was heading to Richmond, Va., for a Confederate reunion and to attend the Jamestown Exposition.

In reading back issues of the Pensacola Journal, I found one very informative article on the history of Pensacola newspapers, with a reference to typographer Henry M. McVoy. I will close this section with that article and a few other newspaper tidbits. Ann

Title: The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, December 20, 1908,
Christmas Edition, Section 5, Image 39

A JOURNALISTIC TRIUMPH
By Donald McLellan
Gratifying indeed it is to the loyal Pensacolian to look upon and
comprehend today’s Journal, a representative and leader in Florida
journalism, and one whose opinions count for and stand for something. It is
a source of congratulation that the city is able to boast of a paper of such a
standard of excellence, for, however widely divergent may be our individual
opinions, we must act fairly and confess that your paper today is a type of
successful venture demonstrating that though some of us disagree and “cuss” at
it at times, The Journal clearly stands out as the leader in the West Florida
press, and holding its own with any daily published in the state of Florida.
But the purpose of this article is not that of extolling the paper which
is published in the daily morning field of our city. On the other hand,
it is a cursory review of the journalistic graveyard, for which this city
has an unenviable fame.
As far back as the writer is able to remember, when the contents of a blue-backed speller were being driven into a stubborn brain, the old Pensacolian is recalled. That was when the types were all handled with the nimble finger; and it is with pleasurable recollection that the bulky weekly paper is recalled. Received at Bagdad, then the home of the writer on Sunday mornings, it was a veritable treat.
Pensacola news was dished in terse style, indicating that there was a force of well-trained but unsuccessful men at the helm, for it was not long before the paper ceased to arrive, and the Sunday morning visitor was known to have passed to a last resting place.
Even at the time of the Pensacolian’s demise, there was being published the Commercial, edited by the lamented J. Dennis Wolfe, whose pungent style of writing is remembered and re-read with interest until this day.
That was a daily, and it flourished like the green bay tree, only to
be added to the field of newspaper failures. With it went the hopes and
ambitions of one of the most powerful editors that the state has ever
produced, but he afterwards entered the journalistic field as editor of the
Times when that paper made its appearance in a little office on Baylen
street. Its existence was not too long for its patronage and management
did not succeed.
Previous to that publication, however, it is recalled that the well-known Frank Phillips had a lively paper, the Advance-Gazette, which as its name implied, was the merging of two publications. That paper also went the way of its predecessors. Copies of the issues of the eighties may be seen at several points in the city.

The Daily News

The Daily News, the original of the Evening News, now being published,
made its appearance with Messrs. Witt and O’Connor the helm. Those two giants of journalism were not slow in showing what a newspaper was, and although composition bills were enormous, a number of hand “cases” being operated at all times, the paper lived through many trials and tribulations going through several complete changes of management as well as ownership, and finally living today missing but one issue, and that was upon the occasion of the great storm of several years ago, when the office was flooded and linotypes, presses and motors were lifeless through the inactivity of the electric light plant.
There are many in Pensacola today who are able to tell of the vicissitudes through which the News has passed, yet existing and being published in the local afternoon field. The ill-starred Argus was another venture, launched first in the weekly field and being later merged into a daily, a syndicate having secured the control from J.H. Hamilton, a local newspaper man who yet resides in Pensacola. The Times
was the outcome of this control, but its failure to make good with the Pensacola
public is fresh in the minds of comparatively late comers.
A competitor, the Star, under the editorial management and ownership of Julius Menko, soon secured the control, and under the name of the Times-Star, it was published, but not for long. Something was radically wrong, and it soon found a grave
beside those which had been launched in the past.
The Daily Globe, a production by I. B. Hilson, who afterward became identified with the News, was another grave-finder in the journalistic cemetery. Under very trying odds, this paper’s existence was maintained for some months, publishing both a daily and weekly issue, but at that time the News was in its heyday of success and held to the lion’s share of the patronage both in the local and the foreign advertising field. It was then under the management of W.M. Ball, and was hand-set from start to finish.

The Pensacola Press

A third daily soon made its appearance and had a sorrowful existence, although the proprietor was said to have expended wads to make it a go. That was the Press, published by John Denham, now deceased. It made a brave fight for a living, but the odds were against it. Unreliability was possibly the mill-stone which finally led to a final swamping of the Press. Mistakes, known in newspaper parlance as “bulls”, were too frequently appearing in its columns, and during the life of the present Journal, it was merged into the afternoon field, later suspending publication. This paper started out with brilliant prospect, but could mot overcome the tide of a decided unpopularity, which met it soon after its appearance.
Mr. W. M. Loftin, for many years connected with the News, launched the seed of what turned out to be the most successful of the many attempts at local newspaper-making. He started the Weekly Pensacola Journal, which shortly before his sad death, was
merged into a daily. How the present energetic editor and manager of The Journal
secured control just prior to the well-known originator’s death is not news to the Pensacola public today, and soon after F. L. Mayes and an associate secured absolute control and management, the paper soon forged to the front, today representing a lot of hard work, a great improvement over any paper ever successfully published in the morning field and a triumph of journalism over which the present editor may exult with pardonable pride. And, although in its 10th year of publication, it has never missed an issue, even going through the memorable September storm with success, although considerably damaged mechanically.
Those of the Old School And of the old school of editors and printers, there are not a few who occupy silent sleeping places in the cities of the dead within the city limits. The aged J. Dennis Wolfe, whose writings today are yet read with avidity, occupies a certain mound in beautiful St. John’s cemetery. The lamented John O’Connor and his former business Partner, the well-recollected John C. Witt, sleep in the same enclosure in that burial ground. And another mound holds the mortal remains of the lamented William M. Loftin. In another cemetery, the silent and revered St. Michael’s, recline the remains of several old printers of the
old school.
Arthur Quina, Frank Jeudevine and William Bauer, all at one time on the News, have been gathered unto their fathers and are in St. Michael’s. In the same place the remains of Emmet Touart may be located. He was for many years a pressman on the same paper, working with the three printers already named.
Ed. H. Ackerman, another printer, occupies a place in St. John’s, I believe,
although I do not state it as a fact. My recollection is that he was buried
there. Col Ike Vincent, who was associated with Mr. Hamilton on the Argus is buried in Alabama, his death having Occurred since he left here and it followed a long illness. Three other printers of what we are pleased in reminiscent moments to refer to as the old school, are yet in Pensacola.
Henry M. Roche is a partner in the White printing house, Peter McLellan is with the Journal, and Henry Jeudevine is with the Mayes Printing Co. These old “comps” are full of tales of the early printing trade in Pensacola. A younger member is J. L. Bierne, who holds a reportial position on the Journal. “Jack”, as his friends are pleased to reter to him, can also in reminiscent moments relate interesting life experiences covering the local field.
Many traveling printers who held cases on the local papers are heard from at frequent intervals. Our friend Cleveland of the DeFuniak Herald, is one of them.
There are several others who have been lost sight of completely, but who probably have responded to their last “thirty,” and have gone to their reward.
All of the above, when taken into consideration, will naturally serve to make the loyal Pensacolian feel a kindly pleasure in having the Journal yet with them, And for one the writer hopes that the days of a newspaper’s vicissitudes are a thing of the past, so far as The Journal is converned. May it be the pleasure and ability and task of the present editor and manager to issue many, many more Christmas editions, and to look back with a degree of superiority up the newspaper-wreck-bestrewn past.

For those of you who didn't grow up in the newspaper business, reporters used to add the notation -30- to show the completion of a story - hence the above reference to a last "thirty" above.

The 1905 Halloween Night Fire in Pensacola

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062268/1905-11-01/ed-1/seq-1/

ENTIRE BLOCK SWEPT BY FLAMES
DAMAGE WILL AGGREGATE $300,000

FLAMES SPREAD
WITH GREAT
RAPIDITY

Whole Brent Building a Roaring
Mass Within a Few Minutes

MANY TERRIFFIC
EXPLOSIONS
When Fire Reached Stocks of
Powder and Cartridges


LARGE PLATE GLASS STORE
FRONTS SHATTERED AND
GLASS DRIVEN ACROSS THE
STREET IN SHOWERS -- SEVERAL
FIREMEN NARROWLY ESCAPED
SERIOUS INJURY -- BUT
SMALL AMOUNT OF CONTENTS
OF BUILDINGS SAVED.

Probably the worst fire in the history of Pensacola for a period of ten or fifteen years occurred early this morning when almost the entire block, Garden street, south to Romana, was destroyed. The los entailed by the conflagration is estimated in the neighborhood of three hundred thousand dollars.
Hundreds upon hundreds of people, who were awakened shortly after midnight by the cries of fire and the general alarm calling out the firemen, congregated upon the streets and watched the firemen and volunteers as they battled with the flames.

Discovery of the Fire

The fire was discovered about 12:25 by two young men who were on their way home. They were attracted by sparks falling through the floor of the Osceola Club kitchen into the building which was soon to be occupied by the L. &.N. as a city ticket office. They quickly ran down the street and notified Watchman Way, who sent in an alarm.
The fire trucks to respond found the buildings in a smouldering state. No flames were discernable, but as far south as Main street, the burning and smouldering timbers could be plainly smelled. Several streams immediately began to play upon the building, where the fire seemed centered, but apparently the entire section of the block from the Hannah drug store to the Blount-Watson building was in flames the flames burst forth, evidently coming from the new Brent building.

Flames Burst Forth

There was a roar as the fire came through the roof and within a few minutes the building was a mass of flames. Ladders were quickly paced and firemen climbed to the balcony where they played upon the fire, but with little result, as it continued to spread with great rapidity. A second and general alarm was then sent in calling out all of the trucks of the city.

Big Building Ablaze

While the firemen, with numerous volunteers from the ranks of citizens were fighting, it was noticed that smoke was rapidly emerging from every window in the big Blount-Watson building. The fire had been carried through the corridor or hallway of the Brent building to that of the Blount-Watson one and secured a good lead upon the men. Volunteers with ladders quickly entered the second story of this building and endeavored to save the valuable library of Blount & Blount and partially succeeded, not ceasing until the flames broke forth with such terrible fury that they were driven away.

The Wind Grows Stronger

The fire continued to gain upon the firemen. The Bruce sporting goods house was among the first to reach such a state that no goods could b saved from it. Several terrific explosions occurred, each driving flying glass across the street. For some time previous to the blaze reaching that place workmen were engaged in removing goods from all of the stores, but when the explosions of the powder and cartridges occurred, no one would venture near. While a large amount of material of this character had exploded during this time, the heavy explosions were caused by spontaneous combustion, blowing out the big plate glass windows. Later when the blaze reached the portion of the Bruce store the small cartridges began to explode and sounded like Gatling guns in action.

The Oseola Club

The Oseola Club seemed to be the point where the fire was mainly centered. The entire upper portion of the stores was in a mass of flames. The firemen fought bravely under Chief Bicker and at one time it was feared that two or three of them would either be seriously injured or lose their lives. This was directly after an explosion in the Bruce store. The flames had then reached the roof of the Oseola club and the awning of the building caught fire shutting off several firemen from the ladder on which they had ascended. Marshal Schad, who was on the scene quickly saw the condition of the men and directed streams of water which played upon them and the ladder with the result that they were able to leave the burning gallery, although scorched and with their clothing burned. The explosion injured them slightly.

Greek Fruit Store.

The Greek fruit store, adjoining the drug store of Sidney Kahn, was the next to go, sparks falling from above, and it was only a few minutes afterwards that Mr. Kahn’s store was in flames. The Forbes Furniture store was next in line, and here the fire raged, the strong wind carrying the blaze up the stairway and feeding rapidly upon the furniture contained in that place. The firemen had a stubborn fight here, and more than once did they have narrow escapes from falling glass and galleries.

The Big Building

There seemed to be a lull in the fire’s southward progress at that time, but it went north, first breaking out on the lower floor of the Blount-Watson building. The flames seemed to break out at once in the offices of the McDavid-Hyer Company, the Gordon & Brown Hardware Co. and Thos. C. Watson Co., and it was only a few minutes before these places were gutted. About this time the flames broke out on every floor of the Blount-Watson building and it was quickly seen that this building was doomed to destruction.
Persons who were in the building endeavoring to save property were notified to leave the building, as it was becoming dangerous to longer remain there. They quickly left and all turned to saving the property south of the Osceola Club.

A Hard Fight

Here the firemen fought their hardest. Every line of hose available was strung, every man of the department was on buildings, galleries and at plugs, in an effort to stop the spread of the fire south. The idea of the chief was to stop the fire at the south end of the Osceola Club, and all efforts were centered there. Chief Bicker centered his forces at that point and notwithstanding the strong southwesterly wind and the big gain of the fire, the men held their own in the hard fight, receiving valuable assistance from citizens who were on the streets and who showed a willingness to help in the work.

Feared Block Would Go

For a short time, after the wind began to rise, it was feared that the entire block would go, and some even predicted that the entire business district from Garden street to Intendencia or Government would be burned. Persons as far south as Intendencia street began moving out their stocks, and the livery stables on that street got their horses and vehicles out upon the streets.
Sparks and pieces of burning timbers, in some instances as large as a bat, were falling in all directions, especially on the residences and cottages at the corner of Romana and Baylen streets, and every moment it was expected that a new fire would break out.

Water Pressure Good

While the pressure of water was nothing extraordinary when the fire was first discovered, the pressure continued to increase during the course of the big blaze and within thirty minutes the streams coming from the hose seemed to be very strong.

Mobile Assistance

When news by long distance phone reached Mobile, Chief Price of the Mobile fire department, quickly ran one of his engines out and placed it on a car, preparatory to leaving at a moment’s notice. A long distance phone from Mobile notified the Pensacola city officials that the engine with a full crew of men were ready to leave at a moment’s notice for Pensacola, should their services be necessary.

No Fatalities

Although numerous narrow escapes were witnessed by spectators during the course of the fire, there were fortunately no fatalities resulting. There was a great deal of uneasiness especially when the fire was burning in the hardware and sporting goods houses for fear that a large amount of powder or cartridges might explode. Several of the firemen were slightly burned and injured during the fire fighting, and serious injuries were sustained.

The Insurance

But little could be learned regarding the account of insurance carriers by those who were burned out, but the following amounts were estimated on the property given:

Brent Building ….. $40,000
Blount-Watkins Building … $25,000
Gordon Brown Hdw Co stock … $10,000
J. Geeker’s Fruitstand … $1,000
Hannah Bros. Drug store … $8,000
F.B. Bruce …. $2,000
L. Jacoby … $3,000

The insurance of the others, E.M. Anderson, C.H. Turner, G. Neri, Osceola Club, and the various offices upstairs in the Brent building and the Blount-Watson building could not be learned.
The fine law library of Blount & Blount, valued at $30,000 was almost all destroyed only a few of the books being saved.
Thos. C. Watson & Co. saved most of their most valuable records, but all of their office furniture and a large part of their books and records were lost.

The Fire Under Control

It was 3 o’clock before the fire was got under control, though the place was still burning at 5 o’clock this morning. While the Neri ice cream stand was more or less damaged, the fire practically stopped with the Osceola building, the extreme south part of which was occupied by Laz Jacoby.

A Shower of Sparks

From the time the flames burst through the roofs of the buildings, a perfect shower of sparks rained down upon the buildings to the south, falling as far as Zarragossa street, and it is a miracle almost that the whole tier of blocks from Garden street to the bay did not burn. Had there been any kind of breeze blowing nothing could possibly have saved that portion of the city.

Horses Were Taken Out

When the fire began to spread and it was feared that it might sweep the whole tier of blocks down to the custom house, the horses in the livery stables on Intendencia street were all led out to places of safety and were not taken back until the fire was gotten under control.

Walls are Down

Practically al of the walls of the buildings from Garden street to Neri’s ice cream stand, a distance of 500 feet along Palafox street are down, the most of them falling out into the street. The debris will have to be removed before the street car traffic can proceed on that street this morning.

Wicke & Co. Escape

Wicke & Co. Escape, whose plumbing establishment was just at the rear of the Blount-Watson building on Garden street, escaped without damage, although the building got very hot.

Origin of the Fire

The porters at the Osceola club stated that they left there at about 12:15 a.m. and that they saw no fire in the building when they left. F.B. Bruce said that he was in his store until 9 o’clock and that during the evening some one seemed to be doing a great deal of pounding and packing upstairs and that some of the straw in the rear of his building was carried upstairs, apparently for the purpose of packing something. Who was doing the packing and who carried up the straw could not, however, be learned.

Electric Circuit Cut Out

At 3:25 o’clock Marshal Schad ordered the electric circuits all cut out, thereby leaving a large part of the city in total darkness. The Journal officer’s light went out with the rest and the motor that runs its machinery also stopped. This caused some delay in getting out the paper and a part of the fire report could not be gotten into type for the first edition.

The 1906 Hurricane that Devastated Pensacola

I just discovered the Library of Congress' 1905-1906 images from the Pensacola Journal editions. I'm reading the issues day by day to get a feeling of reporting back then. Having seeped myself in Pensacola history for the past few years, I find many "aah" moments when I recognize a person, a business, or government leader. As I was reading about the D'Alemberte wedding in Greenville, Ala., the ads of bookstore owner John Coe and his promise of a new opera house for Pensacola, and the fond farewell statements made at the passing of Dr. J.M. Brosnaham, I also read about the growing troubles of the emperor of Russia, anxious moments about Cuba and the thriving shipping industry here. Then I recalled that 1906 was the year of one of the most devastating hurricanes in our history. When I lived in San Francisco, 1906 was always recalled as the year of one of the most devastating earthquakes in our history. So I moved up to September 27, 1906, edition pictured above.

While the Library of Congress has done a great job preserving these issues and posting them up for us to read, the OCR translation still leaves a lot to be desired and I have cleaned this up.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062268/1906-09-27/ed-1/seq-1/

Pensacola Journal
VOL IX NO 232 1
PENSACOLA FLORIDA THURSDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 27 19O6
PRICE 5 CENTS

MOST TERRIFIC TROPICAL HURRICANE
PENSACOLA SWEPT BY GREATEST AND
MOST DISASTROUS STORM IN HISTORY
Whole Water Front Is Strewn With
Wreckage and City Is Almost Devasted
TEN LIVES ARE
REPORTED LOST
Big Bayou and Many Houses
Along Bay Front Are
Swept Away

LOSS WILL RUN INTO MILLIONS
AND MONTHS WILL ELAPSE
BEFORE DAMAGE CAN BE REPAIRED OR SHIPPING BUSINESS
AGAIN FULLY RESUMED

The most terrific storm in the history of Pensacola or since the village of Pensacola on Santa Rosa Island was swept away 170 years ago broke over this city in all its fury Wednesday afternoon and kept up with increasing violence until about noon today when it moderated to a considerable extent. During the height of the storm property valued in the millions was destroyed and it is stated that at least ten lives were lost although the names of those supposed to have been drowned cannot be ascertained at this time.
The greatest loss was to the shipping interests and a large number of ocean going vessels, tugboats fishing smacks, launches and craft of all kinds are wrecked upon the beach, the wreckage being strewn from Magnolia Bluff to the entrance of the harbor. During the height of the storm, people of the city were panic stricken, many believing that a repetition of the Galveston disaster was imminent, and large numbers of people took refuge to the higher portions of the city braving the high wind and stinging rain in the hope of reaching a haven of refuge.



Duly Bulletined

While the approach of the storm was bulletined by the weather department and although it was believed that it would be felt in this city, the idea prevailed that as usual Pensacola would escape the full fury of the hurricane. When the wind reached a velocity of sixty miles an hour on Wednesday night, it was apparent that Pensacola was in the track of the storm, and every effort was made to protect property of every description. People were driven from their homes along the water front, the conveyor of the L. & N. elevator was carried away, trees were uprooted, and vessels in the harbor began to drag their anchors, being slowly but surely forced upon the beach.
The tide was the highest on record, and terrific waves, lashed to fury by the howling gale broke upon the beach, carrying all before them. The entire waterfront was inundated, the water reaching as far as Main street, and all the residences along Main street, many in the vicinity of Muscogee wharf, and houses along the entire waterfront in the western portion of the city were either carried away completely or damaged to such an extent that they were uninhabitable.

Ten Fatalities Feared

As far as can be learned, there are about ten fatalities. Capt. John Walters of the launch Pauline, which berthed at a wharf at the head of the slip between Palafox and Baylen streets, was seen near his vessel about 10 o’clock last night but has not since been heard from. The vessel sank in the slip, but if the captain drowned, his body has not been recovered.
Last night, when the first of the heavy gale accompanying the storm struck the city, a party of nine were seen in a boat near Fisheryllle. Four were rescued, and it is believed that the other five perished. The wife and child of Tom Harris, who runs the store at Palmetto Beach, are said to be among the dead. Two children are reported to have been drowned in the vicinity of Muscogee wharf, and it is also reported that three men were drowned at different parts of the waterfront.



Some Narrow Escapes

Several narrow escapes are reported. Two negroes were taken from a house near the corner of Intendencia and Cevallos streets this morning after the house was half submerged. One of them, an old woman, was sitting on the mantel piece with her feet hanging in the water when found by the rescuers who were forced to swim to the house at imminent peril of their lives.
Early Wednesday afternoon, the surf was reported breaking over Santa Rosa island and is believed that the waves have cut the island in two, which would account for the height of the tide, to some extent. Every effort to see the island by the aid of marine glasses was futile, but it is believed that the pavilion is wrecked, and a rumor was current on the streets at noon that the Life Saving Station had also been blown away
Three vessels were reported in the gulf late yesterday afternoon, and they certainly have not yet made port. What their fate has been can only be surmised and it will be several days before the extent of the calamity to shipping will be known even partially.



Waterfront Havoc

The havoc along the waterfront seems to have been evenly distributed, every section suffering greatly. The storm serried to be most severe in the western portion of the city, but the damage is so great in all sections that it is impossible to make any reasonable estimate of it.
Along the eastern waterfront, the damage was great. The bridge over the entrance to Bayou Texar, which was covered completely with wreckage, is said to be badly damaged, although the extent of the damage cannot be learned until the storm subsides. It is also said that the entire waterfront from the city to Escambia Bay has been badly damaged, being washed away in places. The Escambia trestle was under water yesterday morning.
South of the Bayou Texar trestle, a number of small buildings were wrecked, most of them being located on or near the waterfront. The wind in this section, when the storm began, was not severe, East Hill offering protection while the wind remained in the east. When it veered to the south, however, the full fury of the storm was felt, and great damage done.

PHOTO: Beautiful Bay Front Residence of W. H. Knowles just completed at a cost of $75,000. The veranda was washed away by the storm and the whole front is settling down as a result of the undermining effect of the water.

Muscogee Wharf Wrecked

Muscogee wharf, the magnificent structure of the L. & N. R.R. Co., is practically a wreck, having been broken in two in the middle, and the tracks on either side of the main deck washed away. Thirty eight coal cars which were on the wharf have gone overboard and five large vessels which were at the wharf when the storm began are hard ashore near the head of the wharf. These vessels are the Norwegian bark Superb, Italian ship Olivero, Swedish bark Alfhild, Portuguese ship Ferere, and one other vessel whose name could not be ascertained. The office at the end of Muscogee wharf is completely washed away.
The boom between Muscogee wharf and Wright's mill (now owned by the
Escambia Land and Manufacturing Co.) was broken and the timber cast adrift, this timber and wreckage of every description being jammed upon the beach in a torn and twisted mass. Wrights mill is practically destroyed, the big mill building having been totally wrecked by the storm and the three big wharves washed away. Last night, something over 2,500,000 feet of lumber was stored on the wharves and in the yards of the company, but this morning not a stick was left. The only parts of the plant that remain are the planing mill and a dry kiln recently constructed, and both of these are badly damaged.



Boats Wrecked

West of Wright's mill wharves, a number of pleasure boats were anchored last night, but all have been wrecked and not a vestige of them remains. The tug Celestine, owned by the Escambia Land and Manufacturing Company, is also a wreck, being sunk at the west of the mill property. The entire basin at the foot of East Government street is a mass of timbers and wreckage, and the houses in this vicinity are all more or less damaged, one being torn entirely from its foundations.
The ditch that runs through the Wright's mill property caused the water to back up in the low ground north of Intendencia street, where several cottages occupied by colored people were inundated, the water in places reaching a depth of ten feet. As far as can be learned, there were no fatalities in this section, although many narrow escapes were reported.
The home and bath houses of Frank Segari, at the corner of Zarragossa and Cevallos streets, were completely wrecked, the waves not only washing away the buildings and piers but a number of fishing and oyster boats and even the ground
upon which the Segari residence stood. At an early hour this morning, the waves were breaking clear over the site of the house, not a sign of which remained.
The house on the south side of Zarragossa street immediately opposite the Segari residence was twisted around by the force of the wind and waves and badly wrecked. Next to this house is a small frame residence standing directly on the beach, which was only saved from being washed away by the fishing smack Chapman, owned by Saunders Co., which was washed ashore directly behind it and acted as a breakwater. The building was badly wrecked. All the houses along the beach in this section of the city suffered greatly.
The property owned by Mayor Bliss at the corner of Zarragossa and Florida Blanca streets suffered greatly, the bath houses being completely washed away, and the celebrated pier, which caused so much controversy in the city council being entirely removed by the elements. Two of the large palm trees which the mayor recently planted on his property have been washed away, the fences blown down and the beach cut away by the force of the waves.
About the greatest havoc was wrought along east Main street, the south side of which has been completely washed away. Beginning at the corner of Zarragossa and Florida Blanca, every house clear to the De Silva mill has been destroyed, and the mill which caught fire from some lime, which water managed to reach, is a total loss. The houses on the north side of East Main street are all more or less damaged. Saswell’s fish house at the foot of Alcaniz street is completely destroyed and all of the fishing vessels are ashore. A number of sail boats and launches which were kept in the basin near the fish house have also been wrecked.
A large sailing vessel lies half submerged on the rocks which form the timber boom off the foot of Alcaniz street and is in a dangerous position. It is the general opinion that the vessel will break in two as soon as the tide goes down.
The wharves of the L. & N. R.R. Co. were badly damaged by the storm, and immense quantities of freight that were stored upon them will be a total loss. The conveyor on the Tarragona wharf is completely demolished, and a large portion of the pier has disappeared. The damage to Commandancia wharf is also great, a number of vessels having been thrown clear to the platform.
In the slip between the wharves, several vessels found a safe haven from the storm, among them being the coasting steamer Tarpon, which was due to leave the city on its eastward trip on Tuesday night, but which was held in port owing to the storm signals. The large vessels are sunk in the slip between the wharves, and one is aground to the west of the slip. The tug Flanders managed to get in the slip before the heaviestortion of the storm broke, and is among the few vessels in the bay that was not damaged.
Sullivan’s wharf, which was used by the Pensacola, St. Andrews and Gulf Steamship Co., is a complete loss, only the shore end remaining.
In the slip between the head of this wharf and the Palafox street wharf, several vessels are ashore, among them the tug Okaloosa. The Florence Wetherbee is sunk at Palafox wharf, only her upper works being out of the water.
The entire plant of Saunders Co. is in ruins, and the wharf is practically destroyed. The main building was shifted to the west of its original location, and what now remains of it is tottering on the edge of the pier. Palafox street, which was inundated as far as the tracks of the Terminal Co., is filled with rubbish of every description, including timbers, lumber, reefs and pieces of vessels that were destroyed during the storm.
The Barge office at the bulkhead of the slip between Palafox and Baylen streets was badly damaged, the balcony being blown away by the wind, and the slip is literally jammed full of rubbish and wreckage, a number of vessels being mixed up with it. Several launches have been sunk in the slip -- in fact but few escaped damaged. All of the boat houses and buildings of various descriptions that occupied space on the sides of the slip have been blown away, and the rear of many of the buildings fronting on Palafox street suffered severely.
The plant of the Warren Fish Co. on Baylen street wharf is completely wrecked, and all of the vessels that were at the pier have been blown ashore. West from the Baylen street pier, the scene is one of ruin. Vessels of every description are upon the beach, some of them left high and dry by the receding waters. Others are smashed beyond all hope of repair. The ship yard is a total wreck, and a number of vessels that were undergoing repairs are badly injured. The steamer Columbia, which has been on the waves for some time, is wrecked, as are several of the vessels of the Dunwody-Aiken Towboat Co., which owned a large pier and had an extensive plant a little west of Baylen street. The houses along the bayshore from Barcelona street to Perdido are in ruins, and all along the shore innumerable vessels of every description are scattered as far as the eye can reach.
The tug Simpson, one of the largest in the harbor, is hard and fast on Sullivan’s ballast crib. The Simpson attempted to get to sea at 6 o’clock last night with the expectation of being able to weather the storm, but was forced to turn back and was run on the rocks to save her from being a total loss.
The Monarch and Mary Lee are high and dry with their noses almost in Pine street, but both can be floated with comparatively little loss. They were damaged to some extent by the wind and waves but were in a fairly safe position. The ship Avon was driven ashore near the end of Baylen street wharf, but will probably be saved with little loss.
A report from Fisherville at 2 p.m. is to the effect that the many homes along the bay shore in that vicinity suffered severely, many being practicallyl ruined. The new residence of Laz Jacoby which is some distance back from the waterfront was completely turned around and the building badly damaged. The home of Mitch Jacoby was also badly damaged, and a large fishing smack the Haskins and the big lighter Iris were thrown into his yard on the bay side. The Fisher residence was also damaged considerably, and all wharves and docks swept away. The Perdido wharf was also badly damaged, but the full extent of the damage could not be learned during the afternoon.
Reports from along the bayshore south of Fisherville are meager, but an impression prevails that immense damage was done.
=======================================

Pensacola Journal, Sept. 29, 1905 page four

Mrs. LeBaron Gonzalez and Son Are Drowned
Husband Makes Attempt to
Save Them, But His
Efforts Proved Futile.


Mrs. LeBaron Gonzalez and son George, twelve years of age, are among the drowned. They perished across the bay, where they, with the husband, had gone on a pleasure trip. Mr. Gonzalez made a heroic effort to save his wife and son, but without avail. The story is one of the many sad ones resulting from the hurricane.
Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez, who reside at the corner of Alcaniz and Wright streets, went across the bay several days ago to spend a week or ten days fishing. They were in one of the houses there when the hurricane struck it and the place was carried away.
The husband, wife and son started for a place of safety, the husband carrying the boy, owing to the depth of the water that was then driving across the place. They battled with the storm for hours, the water continually growing deeper and deeper, until the exhausted wife was also taken in the arms of the husband. He struggled on the best he could in the middle of the night, with the waves dashing over him.
Finally, the wife and won were drowned, both having become exhausted and the bodies were washed away from the frantic husband by the waves.
Mr. Gonzalez, half-dead, finally succeeded in reaching the Dunham place, when he, with others, was brought back to the city yesterday. He was badly bruised and so weak and exhausted that he could not walk last night without assistance.
The body of the boy was recovered yesterday and brought to the city, and is now held at Pou’s undertaking parlors. Search is now being made for the body of Mrs. Gonzalez.

Mrs. J.F. Mathews and
Two Children Drowned

Information was received by the railroad officials yesterday to the effect that Mrs. J.F. Mathews and two chidren, the wife and daughters of the tender of the Escambia bridge, are among those to perish in the storm.
Mr. Mathews with his wife and children and an assistant were in the cottage that stood on the bridge when the hurricane struck that section. The house was carried away with the structure, and the mother and children were evidently drowned, but their bodies have not been recovered.
Parties from Ferry Pass came to the city yesterday and reported that Mathews and his assistant had both been found alive near that point. They had clung to wreckage from the bridge and had thus been saved.

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P.S. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake occurred about 6 months earlier on April 6. Here is a photo of City Hall after the shake. I didn't realize the dome survived. It is now gold-plated and the entire City Hall complex beautifully restored.

A Flag for Aaron's New Boat

Aaron's new boat will be named the Insta-Gator.




There are places to sleep and cook downstairs, as well as a head (isn't that the name for the bathroom on a boat?)

Valerie and Aaron and their pirate's booty.

My daughter Teresa and I bought a pirate flag from Peg Leg Pete's restaurant in Pensacola Beach for a boat-warming present for my son Aaron and his wife Valerie. It's just like the flags wafting on the roof at Peglegs. Teresa went back to Colorado before we remembered to give them the present, so I did a video for him as Valerie opened the package. That way Teresa could be with us virtually.

A video taken at Sumo Sushi before the volcano, cowboy, dragon and dragonfly rolls were served!. This one's for Teresa.

Peg Leg's first opened in March 1991. The menu was simple at first - but that included what's still the best, namely shrimp and raw oysters. The kids meals (be sure to pick the grouper nuggets) comes with a plastic pail that can be used later to make sandcastles or hold shells at the beach. Wednesdays when Teresa in town mean only one thing: 25-cent oysters at Peg Leg's. She eats 2 dozen at one sitting without batting an eyelash.

Teresa protects her oyster stash.

Tim, Mikela, Teresa and I visit the beach after dinner at Peg Leg's. Jodi took the photo.

Mik blows a kiss to her favorite pirate. (Or is Captain Jack Sparrow still No. 1?)

Mikela hits the water in the summer and the ski slopes in the winter. What a life.

Teresa steers the boat while Aaron and Valerie pull in a grouper.



The happy couple. If you think Aaron catches all the fish, think again. Valerie won 2d place is a recent fishing competition. She brought in about $700 with of prizes!





Here are some of Valerie's winnings!