Submitted by Descendant: William Thomas TUTTLE
Isaac Nathans was born in Philadelphia. At about age 46, Isaac settled in Quincy, Florida, sometime before the 1820 census, with his second wife and five children. All counted, Isaac had three wives, seventeen children and at least five slaves. He remained in Quincy for about thirty-two years and was buried in a prominent grave site in Quincy’s West Cemetery after attaining age seventy eight.
Isaac’s obituary states: “For a long time he has been a citizen of this place (Quincy) and was intimately connected with the early history of this county (Gadsden).” Isaac was among the early settlers of Quincy. He quickly became an election official and active in the Masonic Lodge. Lodge records indicate that he was given the responsibility to establish a school room for children of the area. As an occupation, Isaac owned and operated an inn for public and stage trade.
Isaac was the patriarch of his large family. In 1843, four of his son-in-laws were living with their families in Quincy. Two were lawyers, one the postmaster and the other a carpenter. One of the lawyers, Abraham K. Allison, later became the sixth Governor (Acting) of Florida. Family members and perhaps others referred to Isaac as the “Old Major”. It is thought that he had been a Major in the War of 1812. This rank can be found on his restored gravestone.
Isaac Nathans was first established as a Florida Pioneer in 2001