The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-01-08
GOVERNOR ALBERT w. eILcHRIsT

uGEudA DIT / dlldndSSCCf SAAC scat VI
government, is the only son of the
late General William E. Gilchrist, who
came to Florida from South Carolina
in the early 40's. He purchased a
large plantation near Quincy and be-
came an extensive planter. Soon al
ter coming to Florida he married Miss
Mary Elizabeth Waller of Greenwood.
S. c. 1t was while Mrs. Gilchrist was
on a visit to her mother at Greenwood
that the present Governor Gilchrist
was born, so he is not a native Florid-
ian. as has been generally stated by
the press of the state.
Governor Gilchrist's father ran for
brigadier general of militia in 1860 on
the democratic ticket, his opponent be-
| ing whig. He and his opponent be-
! ing extremely wealthy men for those
times made it a most spectacular and
exciting campaign, and in interest il
overshadowed all the candidates for
other offices. and everything was cen
tered on it. General Gilchrist con-
tracted pneumonia from exposure in
the campaign and died before the re-
suit OF the election was made known.
In 1873 Mr.. Albert ". Gilchrist won
! in a competitive examination and en-
tered West Point Military Academy.
He served there as a cadet private,
/ cadet sergeant and cadet lieutenant.
Although standing in the tens of his
class he was found deficient in eXper-
iimental philosophy, which caused him
to lose his place. AS a brigadier gen
eral Of Florida militia he was appoint
ed by President Grover Cleveland as
one of the board Of visitors to West
Point His Old professor Of expert
mental philosophy was still 2 teacher
at the academy. and General Cnchrist
recalled to him the incident Of his los
ing his scholarship because Of his rul-
/ ing against him. which was without
precedent
I'm 1905 Mr.. Gnchrisl was elected
! speaker of the house Of representa-
tives and was many times a delegate
TO various county and state coIven-
lions.
He has always been ambitious for
political honors and early predicted
/ his election to the various Offices he
has filed.
During the Spanish-American war
he held the Office of brigadier general
of Florida militia and through il tried
to procure a commission IN the army.
but failing. he enlisted as q private in
Company c. Third [. s. volunteer in
fantry, Col. P. H. Ray, commanding.
/ He was successfully promoted as lieu
tenant. captain and brevet major. His
! regiment was one of the few that did
/ service in Cuba and Major Gilchrist
won a reputation for the sanitary
measures he put into execution while
his regiment was stationed at one of
the seaport cities. His regiment was
mustered out of service in May, 1899
Mr.. Gilchrist holding the rank of cap
tain.
It may be interesting to our readers
to know that one of Governor Gil
christs colonial great grandfathers
. Col. Joseph Ball, was also the grand
father of George Washington. and an
other one of his great grandfathers
Col. Edwin Conway, was the grand
father of President James Madison.
/ Governor Cilcbrist has lived in Flor
ida all his life. Soon after leaving
West Point he became a civil cngi-
neer. He obtained q position with
the surveying corps of the Florida
/ Southern railway Crow the A. c. l.
which took him to ?unta Gorda. he
was very much impressed with its
future and located there, and that has
been his home ever since. He engag
ed in the real estate business, but
never sold lands on commission. He
bought large tracts of land, frequent
ly building homes on same, re-selllng
them. and was remarkably successful
During his incumbency of the office
of governor his mother, Mrs. James
G. Gibbs. of Columbia, S. c., will pre-
side at the executive mansion. Though
well advanced in years, she is still
quite active and recently made a tour
of Europe, and stood the trip well and
seemed almost as youthful as any
member of the party. She is a gradu
ate of the Limestone Springs. 5. c.
college, a famous college in its day
She has always been fond of society
During the civil war period Quincy
was the headquarters of Gen. Howell
Cobb. He had thirty-twO young mel
on his staff, which lent great activity
to the social life of the little village
and the home of Mrs. Gilchrist wa:
always the center of the social gale
ties. and she entertained lavishly and
beautifully.