Submitted by Descendants: George Frederick Jr., Louise Beckton, Rebecca Brown, and Robert Franklin SAUNDERS
John Alexander Sutton was born 8 February 1818 in Jasper, Hamilton County, Florida to Shadrack Sutton and Susannah Whitehurst. The first record found of John Alexander Sutton in Hamilton County, Florida is in the Book of Marks and Brands dated 2 August 1828 found at the Hamilton County Courthouse. John Alexander Sutton served in the Indian Wars in 1836, 1837, 1849 and 1856.
John Alexander Sutton is also listed in Florida Voters in their First Statewide Election May 26, 1845 by Brian E. Michaels. He is listed on page 50 as voting in Hamilton County, Florida, Precinct No. 2.
Before 1849 John Alexander Sutton had moved to Brooksville area in Hernando County, Florida. He was married to Mary Caroline Law 4 April 1849 near Brooksville in Hernando County, Florida. They settled near her parents who live near Spring Hill and resided there for nineteen years. Their first three sons were born while they lived in Hernando County. Their fourth son and last child was born in 1871 after they moved to Hillsborough County.
John Alexander Sutton served during the Civil War in the Florida Volunteers under Captain Law and also served as a County Commissioner in Hernando County in 1864 and 1866.
About 1868 the family migrated down to the area of central Pinellas County that is known today as Curlew. At this time this area was in Hillsborough County, Florida. The Sutton family homesteaded in this area and built a home, cleared land and planted crops.
In 1870 John Alexander Sutton offered to give land to build a Church on if he could have the honor of naming the Church. He named church Curlew Methodist Church in honor of the beautiful pink Curlew birds that inhabited the area.
John Alexander Sutton died 20 January 1880 at his home in Yellow Bluff, Hillsborough County, Florida and is buried at the Curlew United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Some ancestors of John Alexander Sutton still live in Pinellas County, Florida today and attend the Curlew Methodist Church that he helped build so many years ago.
John Alexander Sutton was first established as a Florida Pioneer in 2001