The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-12-31

the history Oh PENSACOLA is so clOSely
interviewer, no claim is made to any
great amount of research, nor to
originality of any kind. The compil-
alton is taken from Historical
Sketches of Colonial Florida" by the
late Richard L. Campbell, noted jurist
and historian, and wherever purposes
of condensation permit, the exact and
beautiful language of the historian
is closely followed. Judge Campbell
who made his home at Oalfield, near
Pensacola, was the father of Mrs.
E. c. Smith, Mrs. w. S. Keyser, of
Pensacola, and Mrs. Frank n. Reus,
of Mobilize. M. R.
The old landmarks of Pensacola
are fast passing away, with the en-
croachments of modern life, and the
building of greater city. But there
still remain few historic spots,
which time has not quite demolished,
and about which tradition has woven
garlands which are imperishabIe.
Strangers to the city invariably
notice the old brick building on Main
street, which may be plainly seen
from the bayshore car line-an old,
weather beaten building of two sto-
ries, now almost destroyed by mex
orable time.
This old building and the land adj
jacent is the most historic perhaps of
any spot in Pensacola.
This was an old English trading
post, built about 1855 by William
Panton, of the firm of Panton, Leslie
and Company, of London. The man
sion of Mr.. Panton, merchant pA;nce
of those days, stood nearby, but was
destroyed by fire many years ago.
The building that remains in
state of partial preservation, was
the store and warehouse, and was
the trading post for the Indians of
West Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Tennessee and West Georgia.
The building is claimed by some to
be the Oldest in Pensacola, and has
the distinction of having existed un-
der two monarchies and one repuh
lie. 1t is said that the brick of which
it was constructed was brought from
the island of Jamaica.
About this spot centers one of the
most romantic stories of Pensacola's
historic past, for it was here that the
noted and highly educated half
breed chief of the Greek Indians,
Aleandxer McGillivray, died, and his
remains were buried in this garden,
though the exact location of his grave
is unknown.
During the days when Florida was
a colony, the Indian trade that ex-
listed between the Creeks and the At
lantic coast, was an inviting field for
cupidity and enterprise, and many
were the adventures from the Old
World who came to this part of the
country soon after arriving at
Charleston and Savannah. Some of
them, fascinated by the wild life of
the forest, made themselves homes IN
the Creek nation, and found wives
among the Greek maidens, who in
form, feature and habits were supe-
rior to other tribes.
Among these adventurous spirits
was Lachlan McGillivray, youth of
good Scotch family, of Dumglass,
Scotland. A few years found him a
successful trader. On one of his vis-
its to the Hickory Ground, q promf-
nent Greek town on the Coosa, stu
ated near the present site of We
tumpka, Alabama, he became ac-
quainted with Sehoy, Marchand, a
young woman whose mother was a
full blood of the Hotal-gee, or Wind
family, and whose father was a
French captain who had been MUIR
dered by mutineers at Fort Toulouse,
few miles from Hickory Ground.
That meeting resulted in marriage.
Shortly afterward, McGillivray made
a home, and established a trading
house, not far from where he met his
Indian wife.
OF that marriage, Alexander Nc
Gillivray was the first born, Sophia
the next, and Jenette the third.
The father became exceedingly
prosperous, partly in consequence of
his alliance with the chief family of
the Creeks, and in few years found
himself the owner of two plantations
on the Savannah river. His trading
journeys, however, still had attrac-
tons for him. When Alexander was
fourteen years old he induced his
wife to let the boy go with him to
Charleston, and remain there to be
educated. After having been in
structed sufficiently for the purpose
he was placed in a counting house:
but having acquired a taste for
learning, that occupation became in
tolerable to him. His father, accord
ingly, determined to yield to the
boys bent of mind, and found him a
highly educated teacher in a clergy
man of Charleston. With that assist
ance, and sedulous application, he be-
came a Greek and Latin scholar, and
besides, made a rapid and extensive