Florida Pioneer Biographies

Submitted by Descendant:  Erman Edward MURRAY John A. Whitehurst was born about 1815 in Georgia, he first settled in Hamilton County, Florid about 1835.  He fought twice, in 1836 and 1840, with the Florida Militia during the Seminole wars. He settled in Benson County (now Hernando) about 1841 with his…

Submitted by Descendants:  Halley Jr., Halley Bronson III, and Halley BRONSON IV Jesse Wiggans was born Tatnall County, Georgia and moved to Columbia County, Florida where he enlisted in Captain W. B. North’s Company of Florida Volunteers and served from January to June of 1836 and was discharged at Fort…

Submitted by Descendants:  Vivian “Babe” Carter DAVIS; Jessica Harper HOOVER; Sylvia “Peggy” Carter MANN; and Paul Vaughn WYNN John Daniel Williams was born in Tattnall Co., Georgia in 1816.  He came to Columbia Co. Florida, with his parents, William Williams & Sarah Harvey Williams sometime in the early 1830’s.  On…

Submitted by Descendants:  John Albert and John Edward BURNETT John Daniel Williams was an early pioneer of Florida during the Territorial Period (1821-1845) of the State’s history.  He was the son of William Williams and Sarah Harvey and was born circa 1814 at Bryan County, Georgia.  In the 1830’s he…

Submitted by Descendants:  Jetti Rae, Luke Quin, Rafael Quin, and Virginia Belle GODWIN; and Dena Elizabeth JOHNSTON Manning Jiles Williams possessed a true “pioneer” spirit.  At the fledgling age of fourteen (born June 21, 1823), the young Georgian answered the call to Florida and volunteered for the first of five…

Anna E. “Annie” HILLIARD Submitted by Descendants:  Holly Hill, Riley Davis, and Taylor Hill HAYNES; Caroline Grace, Jonathan Bennett, Michael Robert, Robert Lewis, and Robert Lewis HILL Jr. Although the exact date and location of William Henry Willingham’s birth remains a mystery, the 1840 census shows his residence as Ware…

Submitted by Descendants:  Waldo W. DAVIS and Gloria Beatrice Ann HART William Henry Willingham was born 18 April 1816, possibly in Oglethorpe, Georgia.  William voted in the 1845 state election in Columbia County and served four enlistments in the Indian Wars. He married Anna. E. “Annie” Hilliard on 23 July…

Submitted by Descendants:  Debbie, Jann, & Alexis ROTSTEIN Oral history tells us that Charles L. Wilson was born in Bangor, Maine in 1818.  Charles L. Wilson registered to vote in the 1845 statewide election in Mineral Springs, Columbia County.  He married Lydia Gillett.  Their first daughter, Susan Elizabeth Wilson, was…

Submitted by Descendants:  Corey Ryan, Karen Lyn, Kaylee Ann, Maedell “Mae” Routh, and Max Clinton CARR, Jr.; Kaitlin Courtney, Kimberly Kay Carr, Kristin Nicole, and Lindsey Kay MARTIN; and Glenn Franklin ROUTH When you consider the professional positions he held and his beautiful handwriting you expect to find Henry C.…