The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-20

uISu DIT HIS uOule III Marion county,
Florida, May 2, 1904, at the age of 81
years of age, reflects type of citizen
ship that should be characterized in
history, not for the purpose alone OF
paying tribute to the man and his
family, but with a hope of pointing
out to those who are building citizen
ship, some valuable information that
might be utilized.
Returning from the war of the six
ties to his home near Fort Mccoy,
Fla, perfect specimen of physical
manhood, with the exception of a
slight wound in the thigh, young,
vigorous, straight as an Indian and
as active and energetic as could have
been found throughout the entire
South, unlike many of his age and
opportunities, Mr.. Thomas did not sit
down and complain with long idle
tales of the devastated condition of
his country and wonder what people
We're going to do to earn a living, but
with hope wreathed about his fore
head like a golden ray of sunshine
| cross a clouded sky, he brushed away
the said pictures of the past four
years, and banished the thoughts of
future failures from his mind and set
to work all the physical and mental
forces within his power to the re-
pairing and rebuilding.
He began by carefully selecting a
tract of land which would meet the
requirements of conditions and built
thereon a comfortable cabin. a garden
and some barns, making everything
convenient and permanent as posi-
BILE under the existing circumstances
Then he added partner to the bust
ness in the person of a devoted wife,
a beautiful girl who had been reared
under all the Christian influences of
an old-fashioned Methodist home In
some respects the homesight could
possibly have been an undesirable
one-twenty miles from Ocala, the
principal mode of transportation the
old-fashioned horse cart. But there
was future, and whatever it might
be these good people were determined
to work out the best side Of it.
With large odds against him, Mr..
Thomas 'began producing such pro-
ducts from his little farm as would
supply the necessities Of life, hauling
homemade sugar, cotton, ETC., to
Ocala and exchanging 1t for such ne
cessities as he could not produce at
home. He never thought of hating in
despair, or stopping to consider an OBJ
stacle, but with that vim and vigor
that characterized his life as a soldier
he successfully fought the battles of
life, adding to his home and farm and
live stock until the scythe of time
chilled the faithful breast and stayed
the strong arm that had wrought so
we'll
The Horse Shoe-Mr. Thomas's Home
l first visited this interesting home
in 1888, when it was at it's best, and
Mr.. Thomas was in the bloom of A
happy life, surrounded by an interest
ing family whose chain was unbrok en-
by death or marriage, and all the
| Injuries of modern country home.
| Looking south from the pretty build
ing ones eyes ran along the pic
turesque road which led through a
thick hammock of fine old trees
from whose snarly old limbs long fes-
toons of Spanish moss swung to and
| fro in the gentle 'breeZes and little
grey squirrels hid themselves from
the passers in the thick clusters of
vines. A forest of pine and palmetto
hung its smokey-green curtain cross
the east, while to the west was the
large plantation and pastures, where
herds of cattle and flocks of sheep
browsed at will and young colts
frolicked on the meadow, and when
the autumn sun was in its purple and
golden of evening, the waving fields
of rfpening grain lent tint to the
picture unparalleled in landscape. To
the north were the barns, the sugar
works, the garden, the old-fashioned
smoke-house, and various other build
ings. Besides a pair of farm mules,
Mr.. Thomas always kept a dozen
horses for saddle and harness. He
spent practically the latter twenty-five
years of his life in the saddle, and
his individual saddle-horse, and COM
plete woods or herdsmen's rig, water
proof coat, whip, spurs, wallet, ETC.,
and 1t was said of him that when he
| failed to drive a cow, or herd of cat
tie, that no one else need go.
Having spent much time riding in
the woods with him 'mongst his stock.
have observed some of Mr.. Thomas
| personalities. Strange to say, that
having spent so many years continu-
ously in the saddle he was perfectly
straight and erect to the last. He
| was as perfect figure in the saddle
at sixty as he was at sixteen. And
this Woodworking old pioneer, who
solved the problems of life against
great odds. seldom arose early in the
morning, but he didn't always stop
when the sun went down. With a
hard days riding ahead of him, have
seen him sit at the breakfast table
and chat leisurely with his family. or
friends, when the hot sun was an hour
high. But at shutdown he was just
as probably going from. as to-
wards, home, and perhaps ten miles
away at that, but. there was ever
faithful hands that saved his supper
and kept the coffee hot, for he was
sure to come home.
In the latter days of Mr.. Thomas's
life time, The Horse Shoe was a
scene Of many visitors, and among
them were some distinguished people.
Mr.. Christian AK, the young Balti-
more millionaire, who spent a large
sum of money in Marion county, and
his estimable wife, who, by the way,
are two of the kindest and cleverest
of all Florida's winter visitors, made
frequent calls at the Horse Shoe
while the master was there, and spent
many delightful hours in and around
the old country home. An incident
recall was while party of people
from Chicago, who were wintering in
Florida, were visiting The Horse