The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-20


lasting friendship between himself
and the American general
The Gonzalez family has been in
past years so Intimately associated
with the life of Pensacola, connected,
as ii is, by marriage with the best
families, vitalized and irivigorated by
the blood of noble Castilian Dons,
that 4 few facts about lis progenitor
NAV not be out of place in this arti-
Gle. DON Manuel came 10 Pensacola
in 1884, volunteer sollier: serving
with homer in the Spanish army He
was appointed Indian agent in 1892,
showing great ability in management
of affairs connected with the various
tribes, and obtaining great influence
over them. and establishing peaceful
relations, that were uninterrupted un-
til the vaccinations of the English
in 1914 stirred them into hostility.
Don Manuel Gonzalez was at one
time in charge of the Spanish commits
sary. large store-hOu3e -ituated on
the site occupied now by the whole
sale grocery of Lewis Bear, and of
course facing on the Plaza This
building in later years was converted
into a city market. Here the thrifty
housewife, and vender haggled over
the price Of the necessarles of life,
and the major-domo of noIe affluent
houses. purchased without question,
the available Injuries. Perhaps the
most popular section of his market
was the coffee stand. where those
who were early abroad, and others
who had not yet retired. met to sip
the exhilarating beverage that had
become so necessary to the Spanish
temperament, and which, TO suit
spanish taste, must be black as
night. strong as love, and hot. as hell. :
So it was served at the old market
stand with an accompaniment of hot
calas. a sort of fried cake, the COM
pounding of which is only understood
by the old Spanish cooks of slavery
times.
Many Land Grants.
That Don Manuel Gonzalez was
man whom 1.-The king delighted to
honor" is apparent from the concess-
ions, or grants of land, made In his
favor by the Spanish government.
He owned large cattle range, ex-
tending as far north as Gonzalia, and
encircling the city on the east, as
far as Gabaronne on the bay shore.
| A tall chimney still stands at that
uoint. and like some ancient obelisk,
marks the site Of some dead and gone
industry. "a -,
After the FforiSzs kecame United
states TERRITORY. Don Manuel refused
to Join the body of his compatriots
who. rather than ipay tribute to Cae-
sar." broke home and fam:iy tiles ana
migrated to the Spanish colonies OF
South America. He was appointed. 10
a responsible post In the American
sr;ny in 1922, and continued a citizen
of Pensacola until the time of his
vh;nb aoarrrrec7s In 1SaS O.
Peter Gonzalez.
| Mr.. Peter Gonzalez, a son of Don
Manuel. was foremany years the agent
/ or manager of the stage coach line,
running between Pensacola and the
eastern shore of Mobile bay. that be
! ing the only means of public travel
| in those days, unless horseback rid
| ing was preferred. 1t is recorded that
Bishop PORTER made visitations to the
various parishes of the Mobile diocese
| ON horseback in 1926. Perhaps there
are some who remember the old
ride and tie method by which two
men might take long trip with one
| horse. One rode to certain point,
the other following on foot. When the
DESIGNATED point was reached. the rid
or dismounted, tied the horse and
left him for the use of the man wdo
| had started on foot, when the same
program was repeated.
A little incident narrated by Mr.
Peter Gonzalez in connection with the
stage coach line will demonstrate the
force of habit.
"A driver who had been IN his EN-
/ play, making the trip regularly, with
out intermission for number of years
| finally decided that holiday was due
4 T.: Hi rE was
granted When he again reported fol
| work, Mr.. Gonzalez inquired as to
what disposition he had made of his
| time. The query elected the fact that
| having passed SO many years of hi:
! life on top of the coach, he had NJ
| interest elsewhere. and so had fol
lowed the coach, over the accustomed
| route, on foot.
| Mr.. Peter was the father of Mr.. F
| Gonzalez. known to the public as {
| man OF wide charity and at the tinnt
| of his death proprietor OF the Golal
Mills
| Another weIl-remembered name is
tIhat of Major Samuel u. Gonzalez
| holding that commission in the Amer
lean army, and also at one time col
lector of ports. He is still spoken o
as a representative type of the oil
-
/ rous toward women and upright in al
his ways.
The Gonzalez family is allied eithe
/ by ties of blood or marriage will
many of the oldest Spanish families
The Morenos, Bonifays and Yniestra'
4 are all close connections.
Again Dropped Out OF Sight.
After JacEson's expulsion of the
English i'm 1914 Pensacola again drop
ped out OF sight, enjoying period o
somnolent inactivity. The stirrin.
business enterprises that had from
time TO time increased the prosperit.
| and furthered the development o
Florida's (and incidentally. Ca Pensa
cela's) natural resources, had been liz
angurated by the English Or Amer
4 cans, for although good soldiers chi
| Various and brave. an easy-golng indo
lence is national characteristic o
the Spanish people.
The reply of an old fensacolial
"a