John Baggs Johnston

John Baggs Johnston son of Joseph Marion Johnston and Nancy Ann Baggs was born 20 Sept 1857, Johnston Station (now Ludowici), Liberty CO, GA, died 26 Oct 1932, St. Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 23 May 1883, Carterville, St Johns CO, FL, to Mary Ketus Carter, dau of George W. Carter and Keziah Grooms, born 19 June 1864 San Mateo, Putnam CO, FL, died 2 June 1957, Flagler Clinic and Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. Both buried Pellicer Creek Cemetery, St Johns CO, FL.

The family is listed on page 83 of the 1900 census of St. Johns County with his occupation given as "Woodsman" and residing in the Haw Creek area. In the 1910 census of St. Johns County the family is listed on page 64 with his occupation given as "Surveyor." The family is listed on page 35 of the 1920 census of Flagler County with his occupation given as "Farmer - General."

They resided on the Old Kings Road just north of Pellicer Creek where he had an orange grove as this industry was in its infancy in Florida but lost the entire grove in the big freeze of 1894-1895. He sold his place and moved his family to the southern part of St. Johns County when this area was very sparsely settled.

With only a few families in this section of the county their oldest children would return to their grandmother's at Carterville to attend school so three neighbors, J B Johnston, Aldridge Hunter and Jim Miller, built a one room log school house and the first teacher was Charlie DuPont. This building also served for church services in the community.

He surveyed for English Company, for a sawmill at Neoga and for Wilson Cypress Co of Palatka. He would take a tent and be away for weeks in other areas for Wilson Cypress Co. He made the original surveys for much of the land now in Flagler County.

When the family first moved to this area, he would ride his horse to Dead Lake then go in a row boat to Crescent City for supplies or take the horse and wagon to St. Augustine. Later stores were opened in Espanola, a post office was established in Espanola and a school was opened there. Beside the usual fruit trees, grape vine, vegetable garden he grew a large patch of sugar cane and they made their own syrup and brown sugar. He was a pioneer in the Irish potato farming in this area and his farm has been in continual operation since then by descendants.

Mr and Mrs Johnston were members of the Bunnell Methodist Church and were charter members of Bunnell Chapter No. 93 Order of the Eastern Star. He was an Organizing Charter member of Bunnell Lodge #200 F & A M, previously belonging to Ashlar Lodge #98 in St. Augustine.

Although his only political office was one term as County Commissioner in 1927, he was very active in politics even before the creation of Flagler County, as his acquaintance with the politicians in St. Johns County when he resided at Carterville gave him a knowledge of the county government that made his opinion valued by many in this area.

Mrs Johnston and the older girls had a home industry, braided hats and fans from cabbage palm buds and made baskets from pine straw and wiregrass and sold them to stores in St. Augustine and also would ship them by the barrel to Miami. These products were very much in demand by the tourist.

After J B Johnston's death, Ketus Johnston moved to Bunnell. Issue;

1. Ernest Walton Johnston, born 27 Feb 1884, Carterville, St Johns CO, FL, died 26 Aug 1966, Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married Laura Louise Burnsed, dau of James M. Burnsed and Georgia Ann Davis, born 08 Sep 1886, Matanzas, St Johns CO, FL, died 14 Dec 1909, buried Pellicer Creek Cemetery.

They had two boys, Albert Bartholomew Johnston and Ernest Carlton Johnston. Please see the sketch on Ernest Walton Johnston for additional information on this family

Ernest Walton Johnston married 2nd, 22 Jan 1911, St Johns Park, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, Mabel Minna Fink, dau of Daniel C. Fink and Margaret Louise Jones, born 10 June 1891, Micanopy, Alachua CO, FL, died 27 Feb 1961, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. Both are buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

They had three children, Margaret Mary Johnston, Ernest Walton Johnston, Jr and Daniel Claude Johnston. Please see the sketch on Ernest Walton Johnston for additional information on this family

Additional family information can also be found in the sketches on James M. Burnsed and I. N. Songer.

2. Minnie Mae Johnston, born 04 Dec 1885, Carterville, St Johns CO, FL, died 20 Jul 1942, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 8 Oct 1911 at the Johnston home near Bunnell to William Henry (Doc) Deen, son of Henry Deen and Nancy Miles, born 06 Oct 1873, Appling CO, GA, died 04 Feb 1962, Bowman’s Nursing Home, Ormond Beach, Volusia CO, FL. Both buried Pellicer Creek Cemetery, St Johns CO, FL.

The had three children; William Welch Deen, Mary Ketus Deen, and John Curtis Deen. Please see the sketch on William Henry Deen for more information on this family.

3. Isham Lafayette Johnston, born 01 Mar 1888, Carterville, St Johns CO, FL, died 30 Apr 1959, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 11 Aug 1920, St. Johns Park, Flagler CO, FL, Mary Alice Reynolds, dau of William Victor Reynolds and Martha E. Robinson, born 18 May 1896, St. Louis, St Charles CO, MO, died 11 Mar 1968, Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

He was one of the first farmers in the Bimini area. They then moved to West Palm Beach where he was employed by the county until they opened a restaurant.

Later operating a restaurant in Daytona Beach where its rapid growth necessitated moving in to large quarters and then building their own restaurant called Johnston's Coffee Shop. It became one of Daytona's most popular restaurants.

After retiring from the restaurant business they moved back to Flagler County and bought a farm in Bimini from C O and Pauline Sisco Magee (modest house and 180 acres of land) and also built a house in Flagler Beach. After disposing of the farm and the beach house they built a home in Bunnell and lived their until their death.

Mrs Johnson opened Oceanshore Realty in Flagler Beach and operated it for several years until it was acquired by their foster son - Don Moore

Isham L. Johnston was a Charter Member of Bunnell Lodge F & A M and was a Charter member of Chapter No 93 Order of the Eastern Star. Issue;

(1) Unnamed Infant Son, born 11 Sep 1923, FL, died 12 Sep 1923, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

(2) Foster son - Donald Richard Moore, born 27 Dec 1927, Lake Geneva, Walworth CO, WI, to Fred Donald Moore and Alma McMeem, died 10 Apr 1889, married 23 Aug 1948, Waynesville, Haywood CO, NC, Betty Lee Sawyer, dau of Elbert Theodore Sawyer and Clittie Minerva Robertson, born 06 Feb 1930, NC, died 12 Oct 1988, Waynesville, Haywood CO, NC.

He came to Flagler CO in 1951 were he was engaged in farming and was a real estate broker associated with his mother in the Johnston Realty Company of Flagler Beach.

He was appointed deputy sheriff for the Flagler Beach area, and went on duty 1 July 1953. He took the place of the deputy formerly held by "Zip" Edmonson who resigned to accept the post of city marshal in Bunnell.

He was appointed Flagler County Tax Assessor in Sep 1964 to replace Dewey D Moody who did not seek re-election in 1964 but died in office. He served as Tax Assessor for several years before owning and operating Oceanshore Realty in Flagler Beach. He sold the business and moved to Waynesville, NC where he entered into the Real Estate business. Issue;

A. Donald Richard Moore Jr, born 17 Nov 1949, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, married Carol Linda Alderman, day of Osteen Alderman. Issue;

a. Daniel Martin Moore, born 01 Apr 1968, Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 23 Jul 1996, Flagler CO, FL (Unknown)

b. Janet Susan Moore, born 04 Dec 1970, Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL

B. William Franklin Moore, born 25 Jan 1955, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL

C. Anita Ann Moore, born 26 Mar 1958, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, married 12 May 1979, First Baptist Church, Waynesville, Haywood CO, NC, Terance Kim Painter, son of Carl Painter Jr and Ruth Elizabeth Mincey, born 26 Mar 1956, Haywood CO, NC

4. Mary Louise Johnston, born 02 Dec 1889, Carterville, St Johns CO, FL, died 21 Apr 1990, Flagler CO, FL, buried Orlando, Orange CO, FL, married 09 June 1909, Oliver Holmes Spencer, born 06 Jan 1874, Cheraw, Chesterfield CO, SC.

Oliver was engaged in saw mill and turpentine work and they lived several places in Georgia and Florida before settling in the Orlando area. She was employed by Yowell Drew Company in Orlando until she operated a drapery business from her home. She drove her car until she was over 93. She broke her hip in Aug 1986, but recovered sufficiently to again live alone in her home. Issue;

(1) Willie Pauline (Byllie) Spencer, born 24 Sept 1911, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, died Mar 1989, married 17 Apr 1931, Seminole CO, FL, Burton Arthur Rogers, born 01 Oct 1910 (Div). Issue;

A. Burton Arthur Rogers Jr, born 13 Jun 1933, Orlando, Orange CO, FL, married 01 Feb 1974, Marylin Anne Vaughn Kennedy

Byllie Spencer Rogers married 2nd, 28 Jan 1939, St Johns CO, FL, James Barker (Div).

Byllie Spencer Barker married 3rd, 01 Feb 1943, Marion CO, FL, Paul Arlos Simonds, died 1955, Orange CO, FL (Div-1954). Issue;

B. Paul Arlos Simonds Jr, married Betty Heaton, dau of Hailey Heaton and Elsie LNU, born 22 Dec 1946, Anderson, Anderson CO, SC (Div). Issue;

a. Tine Renee Simonds, born 09 May 1967, Orlando, Orange CO, FL, married 06 Sep 1997, Orange CO, FL (Unknown)

b. Darrell Clint Simonds, born 19 May 1969, Orlando, Orange CO, FL

Byllie Spencer Simonds married 4th, June 1958 Robert Hall

(2) Charles Johnston Spencer, born 02 Dec 1913, Sycamore, Turner CO, FL died 07 Jan 1984, married 20 Nov 1935, Sanford, Seminole CO, FL, Mildred Ruth Wright, born 5 May 1916, Ky. (Div). He served in the U S Navy during WW II.

Charles Johnston Spencer married 2nd, Jean Gentille, born 19 Mar 1913 (Div).

5. Martha Keziah (Mattie) Johnston, born 17 July 1893, Carterville, St Johns CO, FL, died 31 Mar 1989, Flagler CO, FL, married 29 Sept 1912, Johnston Home, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Joseph Edward Pellicer, son of Paul Pellicer and Rebecca Youngblood, born 13 Feb 1889, McDonough, Henry CO, GA, died 02 June 1956, Atlanta, Fulton CO, GA (Div-1943)

They had nine children, Edward Leroy, Martha Louise, Milton Paul, Claude John, Fannie Beatrice, Joseph Brantley, Eleanor Rebecca, Herschel Floyd and Hubert Donald Pellicer. See sketch on Joseph Edward Pellicer for additional information on this family

6. Katherine Delores Johnston, born 17 Mar 1895, Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 04 Jun 1982, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 31 Aug 1914,Hastings, St Johns CO, FL by Rev J W Palmer to Samuel Collins Bankston, born 02 Sep 1887, Griffin, Jackson CO, GA, died 07 Nov 1952, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. Both are buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL

They had three children: Emily Katherine, Theda Jeannette and Howard Samuel Bankston. See sketch on Samuel Collins Bankston for additional information on this family

7. Hester Coates (Letty) Johnston, born 27 May 1900, Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 24 Jul 1995, Flagler CO, FL, married 17 Jan 1938, Woodbine, Camden CO, GA by Judge F A Colson to Edward Allen Copeland, son of John Wesley Copeland and Alice Susan Hilliard, born 06 Feb 1908, St Petersburg, Pinellas CO, FL, died 05 Jul 1969, Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. Both are buried Pellicer Creek Cemetery, St Johns CO, FL.

 

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Census and Published Articles.

Additional sources used by the compiler were: 1900 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, St Johns CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, St Johns Park, Flagler CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Bronson, Levy CO, FL; 1930 United States Federal Census, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach CO, FL; 1930 United States Federal Census, Court House, Chesterfield CO, SC;

North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000; North Carolina Death Collection, 1908-2004; Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, Volume 8 and Volume 10, Huxford Genealogical Society; World War I Civilian Registrations Record; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Florida Marriage Collection, 1927-2001; Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001;

Social Security Death Index; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; The Flagler Tribune, 12 Aug 1920, 29 Apr 1926, 27 Jan 1938, 01 Feb 1946, 07 Mar 1963, 29 Jun 1967, 11 Mar 1968, 20 Dec 1970 and Geraldine Vaughn, Profiles, General Joe's Daughters, (Gen Jos Eggleton Johnston Chap 2317, UDC, Bunnell, FL, 2005).

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com