People

This is a photo of Daniel F. McElveen and his wife, Araminta Allison McElveen.  I don't know when it was taken, but I have the original.  Judging by the dress and the photographic technology, it was probably taken circa 1890-1900.   They lived in Levy Co. between 1898 and 1927, so it could have been during this time.

This is of my mother, Frances McElveen Parish, and her father, D. Willard McElveen, taken at Sumner in 1914.

This photo is of my great-grandfather, Daniel Feninel "D.F." McElveen, that was taken about 1900.  He was born in Sumter Co., SC on 2 Sep 1850 and died in Rixford (near Live Oak), Suwannee Co., FL on 19 Sep 1927.  He moved to Live Oak, Suwannee Co., FL in 1871 and married Araminta Birchfield "Mint" Allison on 26 Feb 1873 at the Antioch Baptist Church, Rixford, Suwannee Co., FL.

D.F. McElveen was a section master for the railroad in Florida from 1871 through his retirement in 1927.  He and his family were living in Cedar Key in 1898. Between 1898 and 1927, he maintained the railroad tracks and they lived close to where the work was needed. They lived in Ellzey (1900), Montbrook (1909), Otter Creek (1922), and Sumner (1926) in Levy Co., with short stays in Lacrosse in Alachua Co. (1902) and in Live Oak (1922). They moved back to Suwannee Co. in September of 1927 to live with a son because of his poor health and he died there. D.F. and Mint are both buried at Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery.

Other facts about D.F. McElveen and his relation to Levy Co.:

He was a Charter Member and a Worshipful Master of the Otter Creek F&AM Lodge #132 in 1905.

He was appointed as a Justice of the Peace for Levy Co. on 11 Jun 1924 by Gov. Cary A. Hardee. 

He applied for a Pension for his Confederate service in a unit in SC on 4 Dec 1925, but it was denied due to lack of evidence because he was the sole survivor of his unit and all of his records had been lost.

 

D.F. and Mint were the parents of  6 children, 4 of whom reached adulthood:

Andrew "Laspyre" McElveen (6 Feb 1876-aft 1927)

Caroline "Estelle" McElveen (1 Jul 1879-16 Apr 1892)

John Windfield McElveen I (8 May 1882-1913)

Daniel "Willard" McElveen (13 Jun 1885-5 Jul 1962) [my grandfather]

Infant Daughter McElveen (Apr 1892-Apr 1892)

Jason Thomas "Jace" McElveen (13 Oct 1894-Jul 1983)

 

Several of his descendents lived in Levy and the neighboring Counties.  John Windfield McElveen I worked for the railroad and lived in Chiefland.  He and his wife, Jesse "Alpine" Hardee McElveen, are buried in the Hardee Cemetery west of Chiefland.  I'll send tombstone photos in another mailing.

 

One of Andrew "Laspyre" McElveen's sons, Harry Andrew McElveen, lived in Otter Creek and owned a gas station.  He and his wife, Rubye E., are buried in Ellzey Cemetery.  I'll send tombstones photos in another mailing.

 

Jason Thomas "Jace" McElveen lived in Cedar Key for some time and worked for the railroad.  He retired in 1957 and moved to Dade City in Pasco Co. as his main residence but kept a fishing cabin on Cedar Key for pleasure.  Jace and his wife, Effie Kathleen McCumber of Cedar Key, were the parents of 10 children who reached adulthood.  He authored a story in "Search for Yesterday."  Jace and Effie are buried in Dade City.

 

My mother, Frances Willard McElveen Parish, was born in Sumner in 1913 and is now 90-years- old and lives in NC.  Her father, Daniel "Willard" McElveen  ran the Commissary for Cummer Cypress Co. in Sumner from about 1911-1915.  I will send photos of the Commissary and some of the company's buildings in another mailing.  Willard moved his family to Hastings in St. Johns Co. on 3 Oct 1915 and eventually owned his own business in Hastings, McElveen Hardware, until his retirement in 1954. Willard and his wife, Margaret Frances "Fannie" Mobley McElveen, are buried in St. Augustine.

 

Andrew "Laspyre" McElveen lived in Otter Creek in 1920 and was living in Suwannee Co. in 1927 when D.F. and Mint went to live with him.  I don't know much about his side of the family or where he was buried.