bradford county

HON. JOHN P. WALL.

The history of Putnam county bears the impress of the individuality and ability of John P. Wall, who has in various ways been identified with its material development and with its political activity. He is now representing his district in the state senate and his official record is one which reflects credit and honor upon the state that has honored him. He was born in Burwell, South Carolina, January 24, 1848, and comes of Irish, English and Welsh ancestry. His parents were Elija and Mary Angeline (Roberts) Wall, who were also natives of the district in which their son was born, but in 1849 removed to Florida. The father came of colonial stock. His father, Herdy Wall, served throughout the seven years of the Revolutionary war, enlisting from North Carolina, his native state. His parents died of the bubonic or black plague and the grandfather of our subject, thus left an orphan, was reared by James Knight, who was childless and adopted him. On coming to Florida Elija Wall settled at Putnam Hall, in Putnam county, where he spent his remaining days. He was born July 4, 1797, and his wife on the 3d of July, 1809. It was his custom and he never failed to invite the surrounding country to celebrate his birthday, usually holding a barbacue. He was a man most careful in his dress, always wearing immaculately white linen, and this characteristic is symbolic of his innate refinement and culture. He always engaged in agricultural pursuits, developing and cultivating between three and four hundred acres of land with the aid of his negroes. He was one of the first settlers in this part of the state and secured his land from the government. His nearest neighbor at that time was at Hawthorn, fifteen miles away. Indian trails were everywhere visible, for the red men had left the state only in 1838. He was one of the first representatives of his county in the state legislature, where he was a colleague of Colonel F. L. Dancy, while Judge Putnam was senator from the district. Mr. Wall was always deeply interested in public affairs, but was not a politician in the usually accepted sense of the term. He had to go to the capital by stage and horseback, for there were no railroads at that time; but he resigned after one session, being disgusted with the management of political affairs. He was, however, a lifelong democrat and a believer in the principles of the party. He died August 30, 1890, having long survived his wife, who passed away March 8, 1858. The family numbered ten sons and two daughters, of whom John P., the seventh in order of birth, and James L., of Clay county, are the only ones now living. George, the eldest, served with the Palmetto Regiment of South Carolina in the Mexican war and was killed in the charge at Cherebusco, Mexico. George (second of the name) died in childhood in 1851. Thomas P., who was at one time representative from Clay county in the state legislature, became a captain in the Seventh Florida Regiment during the Civil war and died at Cumberland Gap, leaving three sons and one daughter. Elizabeth E. passed away January 27, 1854. Angeline Ursula became the wife of B. W. Powell and at her death left one daughter. Stephen Jackson served for four years in the Civil war, being an orderly sergeant of the Second Florida Cavalry, and died at Putnam Hall, leaving one son. Roan L., who was an officer in Captain Moseley’s company of the Seventh Florida Regiment, died leaving two sons and a daughter. Rienzi G., who was a private of the Second Florida Regiment, was taken sick while at the front and returned home, where he passed away. Lawrence D. served for four years with the Second Florida Cavalry, was afterward for three terms the representative for Bradford county in the state legislature, and died in January, 1913, leaving two sons and three daughters. Belton S., who served for three years in the Second Florida Cavalry under Captain Stephens and after the latter’s death, under Captain Gray, afterward went to Missouri and served for three years in the United States regular army on duty against the Indians. He was a fine looking man, of soldierly bearing, and was a fearless fighter. He stood six feet and one inch in his stocking feet and was the only red-headed member of the family. He had three sons and three daughters. John P. was the next to him in the family. James L., of Clay county, has four sons and five daughters. After losing his first wife the father married again and had two daughters by that union: Mrs. Hortense J. Ward, of Alachua county; and Mrs. Florence L. Goodson, of Putnam Hall.

Since the removal of the family to Putnam county in 1849 Hon. John P. Wall has continuously made his home within its borders and now owns and occupies the old homestead upon which his father first located and which he secured from the government. There are about three hundred acres of land with ninety acres under cultivation. He has upon the place an orange grove and other fruits, and he also engages in stock-raising and general farming. At one time he engaged in the operation of a sawmill and also carried on merchandising at Putnam Hall before the building of the railroad. He has handled considerable real estate and it was he who secured the right of way for the railroad. He is also president of the Independent Fruit Growers Association of Lake Geneva and Putnam Hall. Deeply interested in all that pertains to the progress and welfare of the community, he has cooperated in many movements for the general good, and his labors have at all times been of a character that have contributed to general prosperity as well as to individual success.

In politics Mr. Wall has been a lifelong democrat and his fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability have again and again elected him to public office. For fourteen years he was justice of the peace and his decisions were ever strictly fair and impartial. For two years he was a member of the county school board and twice he was offered the trusteeship of one of the state educational institutes but declined. He has been closely connected with the work of framing legislation in Florida and was elected to the lower house of the general assembly in 1893, 1895 and 1897, and again in 1901, 1903 and 1905. In 1911 he was defeated for state senator by twenty-one votes by S. J. Hilburn, who later resigned, where upon Mr. Wall was elected to fill the unexpired term without opposition. His long service in the general assembly has enabled him to take an active and prominent part in shaping state legislation, and his influence has, again and again, been found an active factor in championing movements which have resulted beneficially to the state.

In 1872 Mr. Wall was united in marriage to Miss Nannie L. Wilson, who was born in Clay county, Florida, April 13, 1856, and has been a lifelong resident of this state. Her parents were Jesse and Mary (Knight) Wilson, whose parents were natives of Georgia but pioneer settlers of Florida, where their last days were passed. Mr. and Mrs. Wall have become the parents of nine children. Belton Percy, the eldest, resides in Jacksonville. He was a railroad man for twenty years, being for sixteen years with the Florida East Coast Railroad, during which time he rose from the position of brakeman to train-master, but has now retired from the service on account of his health. Jesse Verner, a traveling salesman, makes his home with his parents. John P., now an able attorney of Seattle, Washington, was graduated from the Washington and Lee University, making the finest record of any man in the school from Florida, standing first in his class. Dr. W. W. C. Wall, a graduate of the Southern Dental College, of Atlanta, Georgia, engaged in the practice of his profession in Washington. He served in the Spanish-American war as a member of Company D, First Florida Regiment. During his service his health became impaired, resulting in his death at Putnam Hall, November 19, 1912. He left a widow, son and daughter, who are now in Seattle. Mary B. is the wife of E. W. Watkins of Putnam Hall. Annie B. is the wife of W. J. Deal, of Montezuma, Georgia. Henry Essie is a teacher in Palatka high school. Alice Irene is at home. Worth Bagley died at the age of four years.

Mr. Wall is prominent in Masonic circles. For forty-two years he has been a member of the fraternity, has filled all of the chairs, and for many years has been worshipful master. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Baptist church. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which he has been accorded due recognition of labor and he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his county. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of Putnam and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development. The terms “progress” and “patriotism” might be considered the key- -note of his character, for at all times he has been actuated by an intense fidelity to his state and her welfare.

Source: Pages 42-44, Chapin, George M., FLORIDA 1513-1913, Past, Present and Future, Four Hundred Years of Wars and Peace and Industrial Development, 1914, 742 pages.