Barrs Family History & Genealogy

DAY, LAFAYETTE COUNTY, FLORIDA HISTORY AND HERITAGE
- SUMMARY EXCERPTS -
BOOK BY HOLMES MELTON, JR.
By Holmes M. Melton, Jr. October 1974 Mayo Florida

BARRS, BELL, NEWMAN AND MORGAN EXCERPTS

By Al Barrs, Jr. March 2000
Mayo Free Press 1973 Lafayette County 123 years old
1956 Lafayette County Centennial Year
Lafayette County Historical Society

#3 of a series:
Land purchased by Duncan Bell 1855; George W. Bell 1856 in northern part of
present county.

#4 of a series:
1830-40's Indians removal: Chief Osceola, Seminoles
1835 Halpatter-Tustennggee (Alligator Chief) and Cotzar-Fixico-Chopee (Mad Tiger) with 42 young warriors, 17 women and 6 children lived in the Cooks Hammock area. By the late 1830's Fish King and Tiger Tail moved in with 60 warriors along with other war party groups. Forts were erected to protect settlers.
1830 there was 525 listed persons on the census. No Indians or slaves
1840 there was 2,645 listed persons on the census. No Indians or slaves
1850 population was on the increase
Fort Atkinson was erected opposite Charles Ferry on the Suwannee River near southwest of Day Town on the south side of Lake Atkinson and several more in the Lafayette County area were built. These were log stockades with a watch tower and a couple of buildings for officers and troops.

#7 of a series:
Pat (Patrick) Bell, home on leave from his CSA regiment in Tennessee was almost executed by CSA Calvary troops for an alleged attack on CSA troops. He obtained a petition that declared that he was with his sick wife all that night. At Cooks Hammock's Hanks Settlement Mr. Oats was executed. Mr. Grisham helped Patrick “Pat” Bell with Colonel Camfield. Mr. Grisham eventually persuaded Colonel Camfield to put off the execution pf Pat Bell for 24 hours to give him a chance to prove his innocence. (This “Mr. Grisham” was probably Mr. Gressman, my GG Grandfather Alexander Gressman, born in 1812 in New Jersey and died before 1880 in Lafayette County FL; husband of Mary Gressman and father of Great Grandmother Lucian Virginia Gressman-Newman. “Lucy” Gressman-Newman was the mother of Grandma Bertha Lee Newman-Barrs, who married Oscar Marian Barrs.)

#8 of a series:
Civil war vets of Lafayette County: (GG Grandfather of AF Barrs. Abram Bell, and Enoch Bell, Patrick “Pat” R. Bell, William Bell, (Great Uncle of AF Barrs and brother of Great Grandmother Elizabeth Boyett-Barrs, wife of Isaac Newman Barrs. Edward J. Boyett, Richard T. Morgan, Murdock Newman, William H. Newman (George Cross Newman was living in Suwannee County but was also a CSA veteran, twice wounded once at Richmond Virginia where he was shot through the hand. James C. Barrs was living in Brooks County Georgia but was also a CSA veteran, captured with the CSA garrison at Ft. McAllister and imprisoned at Union Military Prison Fort Delaware until the war's end.) The father of Edward J. Boyett, John Ashley Boyett of Brooks County Georgia also served in the CSA and Seminole Indian Wars. He died in the CSA Jackson Hospital in Richmond Virginia and was buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond in 1865 where his two oldest sons had been buried in 1863. John Ashley Boyett was the GG Grandfather of AF Barrs.

#11 of a series:
Slave owners 1860: Mrs. Francis Morgan owned two (2)
The largest plantations were at Cooks Hammock and Old Town
Receiving mail at post office in 1860
1. Township 3 PO: Patrick Bell 22 farmer born Georgia; George W. Bell 32 farmer born North Carolina; Duncan Bell 60 farmer born Sampson County, North Carolina

#12 of a series
Bula Lafayette County Florida Post Office was next to Ivan's Ferry at old Luraville Bridge over the Suwannee River, which was 16 miles from Branford, Suwannee County Florida
1880 prominent farmers were: (GG Grandfather of AF Barrs.) Abraham (Abram) Bell 890 acres; J. W. Bell 160 acres; G. A. Newman 334 acres; A. J. Toole 280 acres; and J. F. Toole 332 acres
Old Town Post Office: G. W. Newman 40 acres

#13 of a series
Political office holders: 1931 Florida House of Representative, Fred P. Parker; Senator Fred P. Parker served as President Pro-Tem 1943-1945 when he died in an automobile accident on US#27 between Buckville and Perry Florida when a school bus pulled out into his path. He is buried in Day Florida cemetery with his wife Orle Morgan-Parker and their only child Dona Parker.

#14 of a series;
Small towns: 1918 railroad maps have Mayo Junction and Day listed

#16 of a series;
Name meanings and Indian translations:
1. Okefenokee Swamp - Hitchiti Ok; - Quivering Earth or Trimbling Waters, from names by Hawkins. Hitchiti Ok: means water and "Creek" Fenake meaning Trembling. Creek for land is Ekon and Fenoke for Trembling.
2. Suwannee River: Desoto called it "The River of the Deer" in 1539. Suwannee had many names; Suwannee is considered to be “River of Echo” by the Indians.
3. Tallahascotte: Indian town on the Suwannee River at Clay Landing. This was Seminole Town. White King was their Chief. Talwa means Town and Ahassee means old and Chee for little or little old town. Today Old Town is in the area of Tallahascotte.
4. Ichetucknee River: Itch-tuck-nee: 1778 map called it the Weechatooka and Weechatook-Ama; 1823 map called it Weechatomakee; 1823 map also calls it Weechatomoka Creek; Spring's map of 1848 calls it Hitchatucknee.
a. "Creek" words for Tabacco was Heche. Believed to come from "Creek" words: Wa = Water; Echo for Beaver; and Toka or Tomeka for Beaver Pond. Beaver remains have been found there.
b. An old Hitchiti Indian in 1922 pronounced Ichtucknee as "Oetcotukni" translating it as "where there is a pond of water." Pond was probably a beaver pond. There is no "pond" today.
5. Santa Fe River: "Santaffy" is a corrupted Indian term or name. The name is from a Fraancision Mission named Santa Fe de Toloco (Saint Faith of Toloco). Probably an Indian town located on the riverbank. Some think it to be "The River of Discards" mentioned by DeSoto in 1539 because of a big party argument that took place there.
6. San Pedro: Means Saint Peter in Spanish. A Franciscan mission named San Pedro San-Pablo de Poturbia or St. Peter and St. Paul of Poturbia.
Day: English word. Town named by Mr. John W. Day its founder. He and his wife are buried in the Day Town Cemetery.
Lafayette Count Coroner: Abram Bell April 23, 1866 to 1st Monday October 1867

#17 of a series
1880 census 2,441 people: 125 horses; 23 mules and a****; 140 working oxen; 490 milch cows; 8,776 head of cattle; 326 head of sheep; 4,940 head of swine; 820 pounds of wool;
8,135 pounds of butter; 1,258 male persons; 1,143 female persons; 597 people age 21 or over; 173 colored and 2,268 white; 2,436 of population Native Americans (born here); and 5 people foreign born.
1890 population 3,686
1900 population 4,987
1910 population 6,710
1920 report of towns: Day had a population of 70, was on the LOP&G Railroad (Live Oak, Perry and Gulf Railroad) and lay 13 miles NW of Mayo. Telephone connections: (G Grandfather of AF Barrs.) Isaac Newton Barrs and Company General Store; R. Evans General Store; Dayton Mercantile Company General Store; Evans and Barrs (A. J. Evans and Oscar Marion Barrs, I. N. Barrs son, General Store and Blacksmith (Grandfather of AF Barrs.) ; I. T. Fielding a Carpenter; James W. Fielding General Store; Fowler and Winderweedle Sawmill and Shingle Mill; Mercer Brothers General Store; Dr. J. L. Prine; Putnal and Lyons Drug Store; J. N. Rogers LOP&G Railroad Agent; B. Rowe General Store; Charlie Wilder Deputy Sheriff; H. A. and Winderweedle and Company General Store.

#19 of a series:
1910 Day had a population of 70; on LOP&G Railroad line; I. N. Barrs General Store; M. A. Adams General Store; Adamson Ashley and Company General Store and Turpentine: Buchanan Brothers General Store; Dayton Mercantile Company and General Store; J. C. Jenkins Grocery; Dr. James L. Prine Drug Store; Williams and Company General Store; and John W. Day County Commissioner.

#21 of a series:
1917-18 Day population was 100, on the LOP&G Railroad line; I. N. Barrs and Company General Store; Adamson and Company General Store; William J. Blackshear General Store; E. J. Boyett Grocer; Buchanan Brothers General Store; Wiley R. Davis General Store; A. J. Evans Blacksmith; J. G. Jenkins Grocery; Milford and Sons Gin Mill; and W. C. Winderweedle Drug Store.

#24 in a series:
Mayo: W. F. Bell Cahier Mayo State Bank ($30,000 capital)
Day population 100, LOP&G Railroad line; has Baptist and Methodist Churches; has a Public School; Telephone connections; Express Southern; J. W. Fielding was Post Master; Adamson and Company General Store; Buchanan Brothers General Store; J. W. Clawson General Store; Sarah E. Dicks Notary; M. J. Fowler Blacksmith and Notary; W. T. Rogers Grocery and Meats; J. O. Simonds Railroad Express and Telegraph Agent; J. J. Whitfield Notary; Williams Drug Company; and W. A. Wood General Store.
1925 County Commissioners: Oscar Marion Barrs of Day Florida; A. T. Folsom of Mayo; W. S. Sullivan of Mayo; J. J. Arnold of Branford; and G. H. Carlton of Steinhatchee.

#25 of a series:
Masonic Movement: Day Lodge #166 chartered on January 16, 1907. First officers: Melton Alonzo Adams: W. M. Arden; James Evans; S. W. and Sidney J. W. Adams. I. N. Barrs was a member.

#26 of a series:
1884 jury list: A. Bell; I. N. Barrs; Frank Folsom; A. J. Toole; W. H. Toole; J. F. Toole; Frank Green; Ronson Green; Thomas Morgan; A. L. Morgan; David P. Morgan; J. L. Bell; and G. W. Newman.

#28 of a series:
1877 George Cross Newman was Lafayette County Tax Collector and was commissioned for two years
1881 H. W. Toole was a county commissioner. Other county commissioners were I. J. Bell 1879; D. P. Morgan 1863; Levi J. Bell 1889, 1893 and 1895.
John W. Day was Justice of the Peace in 1881. Oscar Barrs of Day also served a term as County Commissioner.

#35 of a series:
1823 Dr. Simmons and John Lee Williams were appointed to locate and designate a site as central as possible between St. Augustine and Pensacola.
a. Dr. Simmons was to ride a horse from St. Augustine to St. Marks and;
b. Mr. Williams was to go by boat from Pensacola to St. Marks.

If not for fate the Florida State Capitol would have been on the Suwannee River. Dr. Simmons was most impressed with the area. He would have chosen it for the State capitol. They left a journal of the search for a capitol site. Dr. Simmons left St. Augustine on September 21, 1823. A good accounting of his travels through the Lafayette County area are found in his journal.

#38 of a series:
1850 census: James A Newman born Georgia; Thomas Fielding 36 born North Carolina; Duncan Bell 55; George Bell 22 born North Carolina;

#41 of a series:
1870 "one-room" schools: One teacher was G. G. Newman
There were 43 schools in Lafayette County in 1887. Each had a Supervisor in Charge; Brewer Lake had B. W. Rogers
1893 Four Mile Creek had C. I. Terry and Brewer Lake had E. I. Janney
1890's Four Mile Creek School had W. Fielding
(NOTE by Al Barrs, Jr: in the late 1940's and early 1950's the Alfonso Barrs, Sr. family lived in the Four Mile Creek school house. Wayman Franklin Barrs was born there in 1947. To the best of my recollection it had 2 large rooms, 4 small rooms and a large porch around three sides, plus a two-hole outhouse. When we lived there, there was a hand operated water pump out by the dirt road that turned at the corner of the fenced yard and ran south to west to Florida State Road #53 today. There was a horse lot, barn, corncrib, and equipment shed and hog pens.)

#42 of a series:
Earliest settlers according to land records in Tallahassee: William H. Newman 1860.
Mayo Town Council: W. F. Bell, Member and Fred P. Parker 1929 member; W. F. Bell Clerk, Fred P. Parker President of Council

#43 of a series:
Fort Atkinson: A temporary U. S. Post 3 miles west of Charles Ferry on the Suwannee River. (Fort Atkinson was built on the south side of Lake Atkinson which is located southwest of Day.) Fort Atkinson was established January 18, 1839 by Company "C" 6th Infantry, Lt. James Monroe, Commanding Officer. Named in honor of Colonel Henry Atkinson, 6th Infantry. The fort was abandoned on July 6, 1839. (NOTE by Al Barrs, Jr: There is a Lake Atkinson adjacent to the fort site where I caught my first black bass with my Dad 'Fonso' Barrs one rainy day and was baptized there as a member of the Brewer Lake Baptist Church Day Town.)
Fort Atkinson was a wood stockade fort with 2-story lookout and lower story for garrison of officers and troops.

#45 of a series:
1897 Brewer Lake Baptist Church began operating. Minister J. T. Farnell of Day and George R. McCall was Clerk; (I joined the church in the 1950 and my father 'Fonso' Barrs helped build the church that stands there today. There have been three churches: A log church, a white wood church and a cement block church. I remember attending the white wood and cement block churches when I was young as well as the current block constructed church.)

#46 of a series:
Public Roads: On October 6, 1891 a decision was made to lay out the following roads: A road from New Troy to the Madison County line, known as the Air Line Road; a road connecting Bell's Mill Creek from Brewer Lake to Mayo: a road to intersect Brewer Lake Road near Hezekiah Brown's running by way of Scrub Hammock and intersecting said Brewer Lake Road at Mayo near James W. Brown's known as the Flat Woods Road; and other roads in the county.

Appendix: Miscellaneous pictures and notations/articles
Pg 89 Day Junior High School built 1933 for $107,800.00 by WPA labor. It had 7 classrooms, an office, lunchroom, book storage room (library), a large gym/auditorium was added during the 1950's. The school was consolidated with Lafayette High School in Mayo in 1961-62 school term. The building burned down on March 10, 1961. It was insured for $22,000. All records were destroyed. (NOTE by Al Barrs, Jr: I attended from the first to the fifth grade and Grand Ma Bertha Barrs worked in the lunchroom after Grandfather Oscar Barrs died in 1940, when I was one year old. There were originally clay basketball courts in the back to the west of the building where we played basketball and shot marbles. The grass fields to the south and east were playgrounds for softball, baseball and track events. The Crest Tooth Paste Company made a film, sometime in the 1950's, to make an advertisement that showed the students coming out of the school, which I was in but have never viewed the advertisement. Individual rooms were heated by potbellied stoves or heaters using oak wood.)

Four-Mile Creek School pictures and students of 1906 are shown. The school was located 12 miles north of Mayo and 5 miles north of Day, ½ mile off SR#53 to the east by Uncle T. L. Morgan's farm, which straddled SR#53. School was located about ½ mile north of Grandparents Wilford Franklin and Anne Maude Morgan-Bell's farm and home; from and ¾ mile north, northeast from Oscar Marion Barrs' farm, where I was born (AF Barrs). When we lived there Aunt Orle Parker owned the farm. First Cousin Doyle Bell's farm is about ¾ mile south, southeast and he now owns his Dad's farm (Uncle Richard Bell) and Grand Pa Wilford Bell's farms. Doyle still lives there.

Pg 92
Early Day FL (1st) two-story wooden school picture of 1910-1911 school term

Pg 99
Old Day FL wood structure Drug Store picture: 1903 across from Post Office. Operated by B. H. Putnal, in Picture. On west side of SR#53 and across dirt street on north side of resent Day Post Office is where Great Grandfather, I. N. Barrs had his General Store and where Grand Parents Wilford and Maude Bell later lived until Grand Pa's death in 1970. Grand Ma Bertha Lee Newman-Barrs also died in Day in 1970. Both Grandpa Bell and Grandma Barrs were buried in the Day Cemetery.

Pg 101:
Day street photo 1901-02: First building on right was Brent-Rogers Grocery Store

Pg 104:
Day School about 1905 with students and teachers; Wesley Rogers; Russell Fielding; and John Ashley Rogers

Pg 107: Day Post Office
Post Office established October 7, 1892. Hezekiah Brown was Postmaster
1892 James W. Fielding was appointed Postmaster for 1903-1907: James W. Fielding served until 1920 as the Day Postmaster.

Pg 111: Steam Boat on the Suwannee River
Picture of steam boat Bell of the Suwannee, Capt. Bob Ivey September 29, 1896. On December 1889 it sank in a hurricane off Dead Man's Bay in the Gulf of Mexico.

Pg 115: History of Day FL picture of John W. Day founder of Day Town, FL.
Day received its name from one of the oldest residents, John W. Day, who came there from Alabama in 1876. Mr. Day and his brother-in-law came down the Suwannee River and stopped at the old McCall Ferry, better known today as the Allen Mill Pond. Here Mr. Day stopped and told his brother-in-law that he wanted to stay. Mr. Day did just that, and built a house in or near Day where Mr. H. J. Williams lives today. It is located just to the southwest of the Day Cemetery and east of SR#53. Part of the original house is still used as a dwelling for Mr. Williams in the1970's.
In 1893 C. M. Frair opened a general store and operated it until 1896
In 1894 Brown and Rogers opened a store and ran it for 2 years
About 1892 Mr. John W. Day, Mr. Hiram Rogers and Mr. Roger's brother went into a co-partnership and operated a Cotton Gin, store and Grist Mill. This lasted four years and then Mr. Day bought out his partners.
The first school opened in 1897 in a small log church of the Baptist denomination. Three years later, the first doctor came to Day. He came directly from medical school. He was dr. J. L. Prine. Dr. Prine married a local woman, Maime Rogers and practiced in Day until his death in 1946 (NOTE by Al Barrs, Jr: He was probably the doctor who delivered me on March 11, 1939 and gave me up for dead 6 months later when I contracted both double pneumonia and whooping caught.
Mr. Coley Fowler of North Carolina came to Day and established a blacksmith shop in 1901. He also bought a cotton gin and gristmill for Mr. Day that he operated until about 1910 or 1911. Mr. Fowler then sold the gristmill to Mr. Milford who ran it until the bowl weevil came along and almost wiped out the cotton enterprise.
During the period from 1904 to 1905 Day began to grow
Isaac Newton Barrs and the Buchanan brothers each put-up large general stores in Day in 1904.
The LOP&G Railroad came to Day in 1905. Its coming was celebrated with a big fish fry. At this time Day had become more assessable because of better means of transportation. Until the train began running in 1905 groceries and merchandise were either hauled to Day from Madison by mule and wagon or by steam boats, which ran the Suwannee River and landed at the old Seed Landing 2 miles east of Day near Mayo Junction.

History of Day Town Lafayette County Florida:
J. W. Day was born September 18, 1847 in Alabama belonged to member of Brewer Lake Baptist Church in Day and died July 9, 1927. He and his wife, Mary Elizabeth are buried in the Day cemetery. Mary Elizabeth Day was born January 15, 1839. She was also a Baptist and attended Brewer Lake Baptist Church in Day. She died October 13, 1918 and is buried in the Day cemetery. Mr. Day was a farmer and merchant, a deacon in Brewer Lake Baptist Church and a member of the Masonic Lodge Number 166 in Day, Florida. In 1910 Mr. Day was elected Lafayette County Commissioner and was re-elected in 1912. Mr. Day was in the Confederate Army and was captured on a bridge over a river in Columbus Georgia. He came to Lafayette County soon after The War ended and settled at the community where Day is now and Day Florida was named for him.

When a drug store was set-up in 1905-1906, Day had begun to take on the appearance of a town. Trees were planted along the main paths of traffic, other buildings were erected and people started moving to town.

In 1908, the W. O. W. (Woodmen Of the World: The largest fraternal benefit society with open membership in the United States, Woodmen of the World was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, by Joseph Cullen Root on June 6, 1890. In addition to providing life insurance protection to members, Mr. Root believed that Woodmen of the World members, through their local lodges, should be an active volunteer force within their communities, helping those in need.) was organized in Day. This meant much to the town. In 1907 the Masonic Lodge (#166) was organized and also meant a great deal to Day. Isaac Newton Barrs was a member of Day Masonic Lodge #166.

A Methodist Church was established in 1910. During the period 1912-1920 Day had a modern telephone system and was connected to Mayo by telephone. A few of the old phones were still in Day (1970's) but not in use.

In 1908 a Dr. Goodale came to Day and set-up an office. He practiced in Day for several years and then left. A Dr. Hall moved to Day in 1912 and practiced for 2 years. He was called into military service and was killed in action in World War One.

From 1905 to 1915 Day had eleven stores, two Cotton Gins, a Grist Mill, a Blacksmith Shop, a Stave Mill, school, Livery Stable, Post Office, meat market, boarding house (The Day House run by Mrs. Rogers and her sister G Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Boyette/Barrs, wife of G Grandfather Isaac Newton Barrs, who owned The Day House. It was a two story wooden building that stood near but east of where I. N. Barrs’ General Store stood on the edge of the Brewer Lake hammock. We only have pictures of the I. N. Barrs’ General Store which was built in 1904. The LOP&G Railroad came through Day in 1905 and a depot, siding and water tower was built.), two churches, two doctors and a barbershop.
In 1915 Dr. Dicks came to Day with his family and stayed ten years. He then moved to St. Petersburg, Florida.

In 1933 a new school was built (1-10 grades), named Day Junior High School and used until March 1963 when it burned to the ground. In 1933 a Church of Christ was established, but was discontinued in 1945.

All roads in Day were graded in 1938. Six years later (1944) a Church of God was established.

In 1946 a hard surfaced road (SR#53) was put through Day. The paved road ran North and South from Madison to Buckville Florida where it met US#27. US#27 ran east to Mayo, Lafayette County, Florida and West to Perry, Florida.

In 1950-1951 a new Missionary Baptist Church was built. This came 62 years after the first Baptist Church was established in Day. The originally established church is still in operation and is named the Brewer Lake Baptist Church (2009).

The future may hold many good things for Day. Day is in the middle of a permanent farming community where people live and help each other. (NOTE by Al Barrs: Unfortunately and sadly this has not come to pass. Today (2009) there are no operating stores in Day...only a small Post Office, a church and a few residents remain along with the new Day Community Center which local families hold their annual family reunions.)

In 1910 a Methodist Church was established in Day. It had a small membership and services were not held regularly. The church was discontinued in 1922. A Church of Christ was formed in 1944, but it was discontinued in 1945. The Church of God organized in 1944 and is still in operation. A Missionary Baptist Church was formed in 1888 and had 9 charter members. The first sermon was preached by Rev. C. H. Frier on March 17, 1887. The membership had grown to more than 200 persons (1970's) and has held that number well. Today it is growing and expanding.

The first Missionary (Brewer Lake) Baptist Church was a little log structure and soon became overcrowded. In 1891 a new church was built. From 1891 to 1948 this church was re-modeled 3 times. (NOTE by Al Barrs: The first church I remember attending was a little white wood church with a tall steeple. It sat south of the present Brewer Lake Baptist Church on the edge of the Brewer Lake hammock. It had varnished wood floors, walls, ceiling and furniture. Even as a child I thought it was the most beautiful building I had ever seen. All other buildings and homes in Day were of unpainted wood construction. I anyone reading this Day history has a picture of that church I would love to receive a copy…Al Barrs [contact link])

During this period many converts walked the aisle of this church (I, AF Barrs and my sister, Evia Loye Barrs joined the Brewer Lake Baptist Church, in the mid-1950s and were baptized in Lake Atkinson).

Following is a partial list of pastors of Brewer Lake Missionary Baptist Church of Day Florida:
1902-03 S. G. Davenport; 1903-04 J. T. Farnell; 1905-08 I. R. Clements; 1908-11 S. S. Proctor; 1911- ?? J. T. Farnell; 1920-23 S. G. Ward; 1923-31 A. M. Parker; 1931-37 Tom W. Allen; 1937-?? W. H. Gray; 1941-?? S. G Ward; 1944-45 M. J. Fowler; 1945-46 John R. Collins; 1946-47 J. D. Robinson; 1947-51 John R. Collins; 1952-53 W. L. Rollins; 1953-54 C. F. Hooker; 1954-56 W. D. Hudson; 1956-57 C. F. Hooker; 1957-58 J. H. Hayes; 1958-61 Eugene Boxley; and 1962-__ W. W. Tyre. (NOTE by AF Barrs: Aunt Orlee Morgan-Parker, widower of Senator Fred P. Parker was a regular in the Brewer Lake Church when I was a boy, she sat in a specific phew and location every Sunday. She would drive in from her home in Mayo. She donated a great deal of money to the church and regularly bought new song books and furnishings. She was a real church patriot and I hope she is historically attached to the church.)

Day Junior High School:
The first school in Day was taught in the log church from 1887-1904. In 1904 the school was moved back to Day. In 1933 the first school building was burned, but re-built there later. This building housed the pupils and expanded to a five-teacher school. A new school was built in 1933. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) started a lunchroom at Day in 1940.

The General Electric Company donated a refrigerator and the Pet Milk Company gave a three-year supply of milk to the school. In 1942 the state and federal government took over the lunchroom system. A gymnasium was built onto the school in 1952. It was also an auditorium with a raised stage and piano. The school burned on March 10, 1961. Students were transferred to the Lafayette County High School in Mayo Florida, the County Seat of Lafayette County Florida, beginning the 1961-62 school year.

Timeline of Events of Day Lafayette County Florida:
1878: John W. Day settled in the Day Town area
1888: Brewer Lake (Missionary) Baptist Church was formed
1892: A U. S. Post Office was established
1892: A Grist Mill, Cotton Gin and general store was established
1893: C. M. Frier was operating a store
1894: Brown and Rogers ran a general store
1897: First public school was taught
1900: First doctor established a medical practice
1901: First Blacksmith Shop was established
1904: Isaac Newton Barrs builds a large general store
1905: Buchanan brothers build a store
1905: LOP&G Railroad came to Day
1907: Masonic Lodge #166 was built
1908: Woodman of the World was established
1910: Methodist Church established
1933: A new public school was built (Day Junior High School)
1933: Church of Christ established
1938: Roads in Day were first graded
(1939: Alfonso Barrs, Jr. was born on Oscar Marion Barrs' farm to “Fonso” Barrs and Evia Adetha Bell-Barrs, their second child but first son.)
1940: WPA started school lunchroom program
1944: Church of God established
1946: Hard surface road built through Day (SR#53)
1947: Baptist Church begins fulltime services
1950: New Baptist Church is constructed using on-site made concrete blocks
1952: New gym/auditorium added to Day Junior High School
1961: Day Junior High School destroyed by fire

One of the first automobiles owned by a Lafayette County resident was owned by John Adams of Day. Other early owners of automobiles were John Day, Coley Fowler and Will Winderweedle. (NOTE by Al Barrs: Aunt Orlee Morgan-Parker's husband, Fred P. Parker who would become a State of Florida House of Representative member, a Senator and President of the Florida Senate, owned the Oldsmobile Dealership in Mayo Florida as well as several farms in Lafayette County. Aunt Orlee owned the first 'Dynaflow' (automatic) transmission equipped Oldsmobile in Lafayette County, FL. As soon as it was delivered to her I remember her driving it up to our farm, which she owned (Four Mile Creek) to show to my Dad, ‘Fonso’ Barrs. She was really proud of that transmission.)

Page 125: History of County Schools
The school was organized in the town of Day in 1907 from Brewer Lake. Later a 2-story building with lodge upstairs and classrooms downstairs was constructed. This building was replaced by a similar building, the only difference being, the stairway was outside rather than inside the building. When enrollment increased an "el" was added projecting southward. The next step in the evolution of the Day school was the conversion of the old Methodist Church into classrooms in 1930. The last school in Day was constructed in the late 1930's under the WPA Program.

Page 134: The Steamboat “Louisa” in later 1800's picture
Capt McGruder operated the “Louisa” between Cedar Keys to Ellaville on the Suwannee River.

Page 138: The Salt of the Earth
Stories about the Florida Salt Roads and "Salt Works" on the Gulf of Mexico: (NOTE by Al Barrs: GG Grandfather James C. Barrs of Nankin, Lowndes County, Georgia and father of G Grandfather Isaac Newton Barrs of Day, took his family and relatives along with some of Samuel Porter’s slaved to Wakulla County, Florida to operated a Salt Works at the mouth of the Wakulla River in Wakulla County Florida between about 1855 to 1860. James C. Barrs was the ‘Overseer’ of Sam Porter’s plantation in Brooks County, Georgia. James Campbell Barrs and Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs had one child, Henry J. (Andrew or ‘Ander’) while living in Wakulla County FL. Later Andrew J. Barrs purchased Federal Homestead land in Lafayette County, FL where he farmed. Henry “Ander” J. Barrs first married Emma Shiver about 1891. He then married Adeline Driver. Henry J. Barrs died in Taylor County Florida at the home of his son James C. Barrs. His descendants told me (AF Barrs) that he one of the first persons to be buried in the Day Cemetery. During the I. N. Barrs Family Reunion in Day in September 2008 we placed a headstone on Henry J. Barrs’ grave. GG Grandfather James C. Barrs purchased 360+ acres of land in Taylor County, Florida in 1861. James C. Barrs took his family back to The Nankin District of Brooks County Georgia after the Union marines and a Union gunship destroyed the Salt Works on the Gulf of Mexico. He then enlisted in the 81st Georgia State Militia during 1861-62, then enlisted at Quitman Georgia in the CSA 11th Georgia State Calvary for 6 months in 1863, and yet re-enlisted again in the Georgia State Infantry Reserves and was captured by Union General Sherman's "march to the sea" forces at Ft. McAllister near Savannah Georgia and was transported to Ft. Delaware Military Prison where he was released after signing "The Oath" in 1865. GG Grandfather James Campbell Barrs would sell his land in Taylor County and move from Brooks County, Georgia to South Columbia County and establish Barrsville in Columbia County, Florida and a Barrs General Store in 1871.) GG Grandfather John Ashley Boyett, father of G Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Boyett wife of Isaac Newton Barrs and his son Edward J. Boyett, who lived in Day after The War were also captured at Fort McAllister. They were interned at the Union Point Lookout Prison Camp on the coast of Maryland. Ashley and Edward Boyett were released from Point Lookout Prison Camp in exchange on February 13, 1865 at Coxes Landing on the James River, Ashley Boyett was hospitalized and died in the Jackson Hospital in Richmond, Virginia on March 1, 1865 and was buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia on March 2, 1865, where his two oldest sons had died and been buried following the Battle of Chancellorsville, in which they participated. They had been buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in 1863. Edward Jasper Boyett lived and returned to his family in Brooks County Georgia and died in Fenholloway, Taylor County, Florida in 1925. At one time Edward Jasper Boyett and his Mother Nancy Hollwell-Boyett lived in Day. GG Grandmother Nancy Boyett died in Day on April 2, 1892 and is buried near her daughter Mary Elizabeth Boyett and Isaac Newton Barrs in the Day Cemetery. Edward J. Boyett died in Fenholloway, Taylor County, Florida in 1925 but was buried in the Day Florida Cemetery.)

Page 140-147: Maps
Barrsville, Columbia County Florida 1877 Map
Barrsville, Columbia County Florida 1884 Map

Excerpts transcribed by Al Barrs, Jr. April 2001 e-mail [contact link]
Summary Revised June 16, 2009
Thanks to Shirley Barrs/Clark of Branford Suwannee County Florida and Larry Barrs, Shirley’s brother, of Virginia for the loan of Mr. Holmes M. Melton, Jr's “ LAFAYETTE COUNTY HISTORY AND HERITAGE” 1974 book.

- FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES AND USE ONLY -

GG Grandfather JAMES C. BARRS' CSA SERVICE 1860-1865

James C. Barrs, along with his brother, William Barrs, was in the Brooks County Georgia Militia as part of the 81st Battalion during 1861-62. He then enlisted August 4, 1863 at age 42 in Quitman, Brooks County, GA in Captain Wiley W. Groover's 11th Georgia Calvary, Georgia State Guards of Company "D" Confederate States of America for a regular enlistment of six months, as did his oldest son James Henry L. Barrs (Born 1845 in Lawndes County Georgia.) and his brother William W. Barrs.

James C. Barrs was 5'7" tall, had dark skin and hair, and blue eyes. James C. Barrs then on May 6, 1864 enlisted again in Quitman, Georgia in Company E, 1st Regiment (Symon's) of the Georgia Infantry State Reserves CSA for the duration of The War. He was appointed 4th Sergeant. His Company served at the City Lines in Savannah, GA from May 6, 1864 through June 30, 1864. They then served at Camp Fleetwood from July through August of 1864. His Company's final billet was at Fort McAllister, GA from September until the fort was captured on December 13, 1864 by Union General Sherman's forces.

He was admitted to Hospital #2, Savannah, GA on August 18, 1864 for a lengthy illness (Typhoid Fever). He was furloughed home on September 19, 1864. He was "demoted" to Private upon returning to his unit.
He was captured at twilight, along with the rest of the Fort McAllister garrison, on December 13, 1864 and sent to Hilton Head Provost Hospital with Typhoid Fever to be treated and await transport to a Northern Military Prison.

James C. Barrs had fortunately not been killed or wounded in battle. All captured CSA troops from Fort McAllister were sent to Hilton Head, South Carolina to await Union transportation to prisoner of war camps in the North. James C. Barrs was admitted to the Union Military Provost Guard Hospital in Hilton Head, SC with Typhoid Fever on January 10, 1865. He survived the Typhoid Fever and was sent to the Fort Delaware Union Prison. He arrived at Fort Delaware Prison on March 4, 1865. He was released from Fort Delaware Prison on June 16, 1865 after signing "The Oath" that he "would not bear arms against the United States of America ever again." He was sent to New York, NY by way of Philadelphia, PA and put on a boat with 500 other released CSA prisoners and sent to Jacksonville, FL. One young CSA veteran, Samuel Lewis Moore, wrote a vivid account of the events that has since become a part of Jefferson County, Florida's history records.

Title: "BEST WHITE FRUIT CAKE ON EARTH"

Description:
In memory of Mom (Evia Adetha Bell-Barrs/Knouse) who clipped this fruit cake recipe from the Mayo Free Press of Lafayette County Florida and passed it on to my wife Sue (Priscilla) Jones-Barrs. I can attest to the fact that it is the very best fruit cake on earth...Try it!
Al Barrs, Jr. BARRS FAMILY HISTORY Website

Ingredients:
5 large eggs
½ lb. butter (don’t substitute)
1 cup granulated sugar
1-3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
¾ lb. glace cherries
1 lb. glace pineapple
4 cups pecans
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp. pure lemon extract
½ tsp. baking powder


Directions:
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy
Add well beaten eggs and blend thoroughly.
Chop nuts and fruits in medium sized pieces.
Mix with part of flour.

Sift together remaining flour and baking powder.
Fold into egg and butter mixture.
Add flavorings.
Mix, then add fruit and nuts, mixing well.

Pour into greased, paper-lined tube pan.
Place in cold oven and bake at 250 degrees F. for 3 hours
Cool in pan on cake rack.


Number Of Servings:The whole family...

Preparation Time:Not long...bakes in 3 hours.

The surname Barrs originated in Old Nomandy as de La Barre meaning 'of the barre.' A 'barre' meant a barrier or gate. The surname may have originated as "the keeper of the gate."

Since Viking farmers settled Old Normandy and generally migrated from Denmark during severe winters that made farming and raising livestock difficult to impossible we believe our ancestors originated in Denmark. Hopefully our Barrs DNA Project will sort that part of our family history out soon.

From Old Normandy the de La Barre family drifted into France and there we find the de La dropped and Barre used as the family surname. Several towns and locals are named Barre. Later the name evolved into Barres.

When familes migrated to Briton, probably with or shortly after 1066 AD when William the Conqueror fought and won the Battle of Hasting to claim the throan of Briton.

Sometime in the 1300 to 1500s the French spelling of Barres evolved into Barrs, as spelled by Briton church and government scribes. Three major Barrs families can be found in Warwickshire, which is where my earliest ancestor is known to have lived in Bulkington Village, William Barrs who died in 1560. His grandson moved his family about 15 miles to Thurlaston Village in 1612. His oldest son settled across the valley east of Thurlaston in Toft Hamlet and became a farmer. His descendants farmed in Toft Hamlet and nearby Dunchurch Village. The Barrs family attended the parish church in Dunchurch Village and farmed a large portion of the chursh's land holdings. The Barrs built a 'Furier" (Blacksmith shop)in Thurlaston that also eventually became an animal hospital. One Barrs became a veternarian surgeon. The building still stands today and is a private home. On the drive in the rear is a horse shoe and the words "Old Forge."

My first ancestor to immigrate to America did so in 1750. He was named John Barrs born March 5, 1727 in Toft Hamlet Warwickshire. He inherited his father's estate even though he was the youngest son of John Barrs, his father. He stopped off in Asta Juxta near Birmingham and married Sarah Spears in the parish church in FEB 1749. John and Sarah Barrs settled in what is today Lenoir County North Carlina and bought plantation lands for farming and ranching. Their oldest son, John Barrs, Jr. and John Sr. served in the Revolutionary War. John Jr. took over the Barrs plantation when his father became to old to manage affairs. After John Jr. died his sons moved to Twiggs County Georgia and South Carolina. My GGG Grandfather Arthur Barrs bought plantaion lands in Tiwggs County and there had six children. He died in 1863. After his death the family, including his wife Nancy Elizabeth Campbell, moved to Lowndes County Georgia, which eventually divided into Brooks County Georgia in 1858. My GG Grandfather James C. Barrs enlisted four times in the CSA, was captured by General Sherman's troops defending Ft. McAllister near Savanna Georgia and spent the rest of the war in the Fort Delaware Military Prison. Upon his relaese he sold land he had bouht in 1861, moved most of his family to Columbia County Florida, established Barrsville and operated the Barrs General Store. My Great Grandfather stayed in Brooks County, married Mary Elizabeth Boyet and moved to Lafayette County Florida sometime in the early 1880s. In Day Florida he build a large general store, a two story hotel to support the cotton gin and built three large amily homes during his life time. He was a member of the Day Masonic Hall. See Barrs Family History DATABASE at By Al Barrs, Jr.

Early History of Lafayette County Florida
By Al Barrs, Jr.

Fort Atkinson: A temporary U. S. Post located 3 miles west of Charles Ferry on the Suwannee River was established January 18, 1839 by Company "C" 6th Infantry, Lt. James Monroe Commanding Officer.

Fort Atkinson was named in honor of Colonel Henry Atkinson, 6th Infantry. The fort was abandoned on July 6, 1839. (NOTE by Al Barrs: One hundred years before I was born in Lafayette County.)

Fort Atkinson was a wood pole stockade fort with a 2-story lookout tower in a corner and a lower story for the garrison of its officers and troops.

Fort Atkinson was built on the shore of Lake Atkinson in Lafayette County to counter Indian attacks on the settlers in the area. The Brewer Lake Baptist Church in Day Florida used Lake Atkinson, in later years, for baptisms when Brewer Lake was dried up. I (A. F. Barrs) was baptized in Lake Atkinson in the 1950's. I caught my first black bass with my Dad 'Fonso' Barrs one rainy day while wading and casting artificial plugs. Dad also caught a 14-3/4 pound bass in Old Grassy Pond west of our home, the old Four-Mile Creek School and behind Uncle T. L. Morgan's home west of State Road #53.

LOP&G: The LOP&G Railroad came to Day Florida in 1905. It's coming was celebrated with a big fish fry. At this time Day had become more assessable because of better means of transportation. Until the train began running in 1905 groceries and merchandise were either hauled to Day from Madison by mule and wagon or by steamboats, which ran the Suwannee River and landed at the old Seed Landing 2 miles east of Day.

The Day Florida LOP&G Railroad Depot. We called it the "Lop-'n-gopher" during the 1940-50's when I was growing up in Lafayette County. The official name was the 'Live Oak, Perry and Gulf Railroad.'

I only got to ride it once with Grand Ma Bell. I had been staying the summer at her and Grand Pa Bell's farm. My folks lived in Tallahassee at the time and she took me home on the LOP&G and Dad picked us up at the end of the line as I recall or we may have switched to another line, I don't remember the details. I also remember living at Day and the LOP&G conductor would occasionally toss off a hand full of fresh oranges for we kids to hustle out and pick up. That was a real treat. Grand Pa had two Satsuma orange trees growing at his farm, but Grand Ma was might sting with them. She would reward us with one on special occasions. And, they were the best oranges I ever ate! The depot was located north of the Day Cemetery across the dirt road and rail line and on the dirt road running up to State Road 53. We loaded many boxcar loads of watermelons on the siding between the depot and the wooden railroad water tank, which we used for swimming when we could sneak up to the top.

The tracks ran between Grand Pa Bell and Uncle Richard Bell's farms and east of Aunt Orle Parker's farm where we lived. This was where the old 'Four-Mile Creek School house' stood. We lived in the old school house and boy was it big to we kids. My youngest brother, Wayman Barrs, was born there. We had lots of fun walking the LOP&G railroad tracks and trestle over Four-Mile Creek, which ran to the south of the old school and north of Grand Pa Bell and Uncle Richard Bell's farms.

There was two sand bottom lakes behind the old Four Mile Creek school where we would swim and take badly needed baths after a long day cropping tobacco. I hunted squirrel in the oak hammock along Four-Mile Creek many times with a single shot Remington 22 rifle Dad gave me. During droughts the creek would dry up because of the St. Mary's canal digging in San Pedro Bay. Then, all the kinfolks would come and we would take chicken wire and seine the lakes and have a big fish fry.

Day's Masonic Lodge: The Day Masonic Lodge Number 166 was established in 1907. Great Grand Pa Isaac Newton Barrs was a member. He and Great Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Boyt or Boyette-Barrs have Masonic head markers in the Day Cemetery.

©Copyrighted Article June 10, 2001 by Al Barrs Greenwood, Florida. All Rights Reserved.

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