The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-02-19
BURIAL PLACE
FAMOUS CREEK
CHIEF LOCATED
BELIEVED TO BE IN YARD OF OLD
TRADING POST IN PENSACOLA,
AND HOUSE WHERE HE oPER-
ATED Is STILL STANDING THERE

Indissolubly linked with the history
of the gulf coast during it's early days
Is the name Of Alexander McGilvray,
and his name is spoken often In
reminiscent way.
McGillivray, the half-breed chief OF
the Greek Indians. seems, from all &C
counts procHable, to have been Pen
sacola's original merchant prince and
captain of industry. Although details
Of his operations are Of course lacking
1t is certain that in 1875 he was a
powerful factor In the crude CONNER
cial doings Of this section. McGilliv-
ray, whose father was Lachlan Nc
Gillfvray, a wealthy Scotch trader,
held both the love and esteem of the
Greek Indians, and it was through his
advice that they opposed the revolted
colonists of Georgia. Later this cost
the elder McGillivray his property in
this section, through confiscation.
Relatives Of the son were In business
also at Mobile. under the firm name
OF Swanson & McGiIlivray,, after
wards Swanson & Strothers, and
Alexander is believed to have been a
silent partner with large financial in
terests in that firm. At this time
the Indian trade, however, was con.
fined almost exclusively to West Flor
ida on account of the revolt of the
eastern colonies, and Alexander Nc
Gillivray waxed fat and prosperous
from the proceeds of his shrewd sa-
gacity.
McGillivray is said also to have
been silent partner in the immense
hICinaCC IN
Mobile at this time by the firm of
Panton, Leslie & Co., which was later
absorbed by John Forbes & Co. By
1889 this firm. aided by McGillivray's
influence, had acquired such a trade
that goods to. the amount of $4,000
were carried in stock. It's fleet con-
sisted Of fifteen schooners, and it had
branch houses at several places, in
Guiding st. Johns, st. Marks. st. Au.
gusttne, Mobile and Chickasaw Bluff.
Panton died in Pensa cola in 1904.
The firms with which McGillivray
was connected are said to have been
In effect the agents Of Spain in GER
tain trading conducted with the
Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws and
Cherokees, and the same is largely
true of the individual trading he did.
One William Augustus Bowles at this
time attempted to influence the In
dams, especially the Creeks, against
McGillivray, but his efforts in this di-
rection were short lived, for McGilliv-
ray captured Bowles in 1892 and turn
ed him over to the tender mercies of
the Spaniards.
AS indicative Of McGillivray's bust.
ness influence it is recorded that the
houses with which he was connected
began to lose money Immediately af-
ter his demise. His death took place,
according to Mi1fort, a French travel
er, who married McGillivray's sister.
at IL p. m. Feb. IL, 1893, in the home
OF William Panton, in Pensacola. This
house, still standing, is said by some
to be the Oldest in Pensacola. It is
claimed that the brick Of which It is
built were brought from jamaica.
The remains Of McGlHvray were
| buried In the garden Of his home,
though the exact location of the grave
Is uncertain. Visitors to Pensacola
for Mardi Gras, Feb. 20, 81 and %.
| VIII be interested in paying a visit to
this Old building and viewing a struc.
ture that played so important a. part
| in the history Of the city and In the
| life OF this famous Greek chief.
The days OF McGillivray belong to a
time now dead. Pensacola is a mod
ern city, INTELLECTUALLY and COM
mercially, but the impress left by this
p1noeer trader-this complex charac-
ter. well loved by many, hated by 9th
ers, highly educated and holding over
lordship with the Creeks and other
red mems strong one, and Is one
OF those scores upon scores Of things
which serve to make Pensacola so
distinctly city of rare historical rich.
ness