William Spencer Middleton
William Spencer Middleton, son of William Dilworth Middleton and Martha Matilda Horton, was born 22 Aug 1874, Hortense, Wayne CO, GA, died 03 Nov 1951, Putnam CO, FL, married 08 Apr 1903, San Mateo, Putnam CO, FL, Lizzie Aileen Williams, daughter of William Magnus Williams and Florence A (Florrie) McRoy, born 04 Feb 1883, Midway, Bamberg CO, SC, died 17 Oct 1967, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL. Both buried Eden Cemetery, Crescent City, Putnam CO, FL.
He came to Shell Bluff, Putnam CO, FL, with his family in Jan 1897 and worked in the turpentine industry with his father and brthers for one year. He decided upon an independent career and removed to Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL, where he establshed himself in business, his sole capital consisting of seven hundred and fifty dollars
He entered the naval stores business and invested in other enterprises including a saw mill, orange groves, cattle, a mercantile establishment and real estate. He served as a Deacon of the Congregational Church of Pomona Park.
He was interested in the public affairs of his area, serving on the Pomona Park City Council, the school board, as a county commissioner, as a representative to the State Legislature from Putnam County and as a State Senator. He was a member of Satsuma Heights Lodge No. 63 F & A M. They were the parents of six children;
1. William Sylvester (Vester) Middleton, born 26 Jan 1904, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL, died 12 Dec 1969, Putnam CO, FL, married 1926, Dorothy Alameda Sands, born about 1906, NY, died 20 Feb 1942, Putnam CO, FL.
He graduated from University of Florida, worked with his father in the real estate business, was a real estate salesman, played with an orchestra, owned a general store in Pomona. was a director in the People's Bank in Crescent City, retired in 1968 after being postmaster in Pomona Park for forty years. Issue;
(1) William Sands (Sandy) Middleton, born 19 Jul 1927, FL, died 21 May 1949 in a motorcycle accident in Putnam CO, FL. Buried Eden Cemetery, Crescent City, Putnam CO, FL.
William Sylvester (Vester) Middleton married 2nd, 1943 Opal Othello Walker, dau of Justus W Walker and Lula Morgan, born 19 Jul 1915, Baker, Okaloosa CO, FL, died 14 Jun 2008, La Jolla, San Diego CO, CA.
Opal was a graduate of Fla State University, was Home Demonstration Agent in Putnam Co, taught high school home economic. Issue;
(2) Michael Middleton, born about 1947, Putnam CO, FL, graduated from University of Florida, served two years in the Peace Corps, received a Master's degree from University of Texas in Austin, taught school in Norway for three years, then was a nurse anesthetist in Chicago.
2. Clyde Downing Middleton, born 13 Sep 1906, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL, died 19 Oct 1985, Mount Dora, Lake CO, FL, married 27 May 1927, Laurie Jane Buck, dau of James Fulton Buck and Maude Higgins, born 21 Nov 1907, Apalachicola, Franklin CO, FL, died 14 May 2003, Ocala, Marion CO, FL. Both buried Eden Cemetery, Crescent City, Putnam CO, FL.
He attended the University of Florida and John B. Stetson University. He was a pioneer in the frozen citrus juice concentrates in Florida, a citrus grower, had real estate operations in Palatka, and a petroleum products distributor for several counties in northeast Florida.
Clyde served as a member of the Putnam CO Board of Public Instruction, as a Trustee of St. Johns River Junior College, Mayor of Pomona Park, and as an elder in First Presbyterian Church, Palatka. He was a member Palatka Elk Lodge.
She attended Stetson University and was a lifelong activist in civic and church work including Palatka Garden Club, Women’s Club, PTA’s and church activities of Pilgrim Congregational Church and First Presbyterian Church. She was a member of Phi Beta Pi . Issue;
(1) Barbara Elaine Middleton, born 17 Apr 1928, Putnam CO, FL, married 1951, Putnam CO, FL, Delmar Harris. She received a BA degree at University of Florida, was a real estate broker and a teacher. Issue;
A. Brett Harris
B. Gregory Harris
C. Elaine Harris
D. Marcia Harris
(2) Clyde Downing Middleton Jr, born Feb 1930, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL
(3) James Fulton Middleton
(4) Harlow Clester Middleton
3. Aileen Spencer Middleton, born 17 Apr 1911, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL, died 02 Mar 1987, Putnam CO, FL, married 16 May 1927, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, Harvey Rudolph (Chick) Pace, son of Charles Lexington Pace and Martha Belle Smith, born 03 Jul 1902, Marion, Marion CO, SC, died 07 Dec 1933, Horry CO, SC. She was a musician and poet, and worked as a real estate broker. Issue;
(1) Williams Middleton (Billy) Pace, born 22 Mar 1928, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL
(2) Mary Adell Pace, born 06 Jan 1930, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL
(3) Harvey Rudolph Pace Jr, born 21 Jun 1931, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL
Aillen Middleton Pace married 2nd, Carl Paul Linke, son of Adolph Linke and Pauline M Telzer, born 28 Sep 1911, Sulyville,Wayne CO, PA, died 1970, buried Eden Cemetery, Crescent City, Putnam CO, FL. Issue;
(4) Frances Aileen Linke, born 18 Jul 1938, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL, married James Goodman
(5) Carleen Elizabeth Linke, born 14 Mar 1944, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL, married Richard Newman of Michigan
Aileen Middleton Pace married 3rd, 31 Jan 1976, Brazos CO, TX, George T Swail, born 07 Jun 1907, TX, died 17 Mar 1991, Madisonville, Madison CO, TX
4. Elwyn Linton Middleton, born 16 Oct 1914, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL, died 21 May 1990, Palm Beach CO, FL, married 1942, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, Annie Lora Fielding, born 13 Jan 1914, AL died 05 Mar 1992, Palm Beach CO, FL.
He graduated from Stetson University's Law School, moved to West Palm Beach, Florida and pursued a law career, including city attorney for Riviera Beach, Juno Beach and Palm Beach. He served as a founding trustee of Echerd College. He served as a naval officer in charge of a gun crew on merchant ships in the North Atlantic during WW II. Issue;
(1) Elwyn Linton Middleton Jr,
(2) Mary Ann Middleton
(3) John David Middleton
(4) Phillip Fielding Middleton
5. Roderick Osgood Middleton, born 23 Jan 1919, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL, died 19 Jan 1978, Sunnydale, Santa Clara CO, CA, married Ethel Bellows, dau of Guy John Bellows and Edith Mae Brown, born 22 Sep 1921, Lakewood, Ocean CO, NJ.
He graduated from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, 07 Feb 1941 and embarked on a long and distinguished career, advancing to the rank of Rear Admiral 01 Jul 1967.
During WW II he participated in the campaigns at Gaudalcanal, the Solomon Islands, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
A few of his accomplishments after the war were, post graduate work at the Academy, working in the missile program, with the Army Ballistic Missile Agency in Huntsville, Appollo mission director in the NASA Office of Manned Space Flight in Washington, managed the Apollo Program NSA at the Kennedy Space Center, assuming command of Cruiser Flotilla Twelve at Mayport, assigned to the Pentagon as special advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Retired in 1972 and was employed by the Lockheed Corporation, Sunnyvale, Calif as ocean systems director.
Ethel attended William and Mary University and was medical secretary for the Chief of Pathology at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Issue;
(1) Rodney Anne Middleton, born 21 Aug 1942, married (FNU) Kuenstler of Atascadero, CA
(2) Roderick Osgood (Eric) Middleton Jr, born 12 Mar 1946, died 04 May 1968
(3) Stephanie Adele Middleton, born 14 May 1950, married 28 Aug 1970, William Guy Kussmaul III of Philadelphia
6. David Webster Middleton, born 18 Jul 1921, Pomona Park, Putnam CO, FL, died 20 April 1983, St Johns CO, FL, married Jeanette Embrecht, dau of Joseph Embrecht and Annie Laurie Benjamin.
He received a B A Degree from Jacksonville University & a Master's degree from Florida State University. He served as a Navy Pilot during WW II and in the Cuban Crisis. He retired from Naval Reserve as Lt Commander in 1969.
He worked in the oil business with his brother Clyde, was a teacher of music in the School for the Blind in St. Augustine, director of the school orchestra, played the violin in the Presbyterian Church St. Augustine, in the Jacksonville Symphony, played with the Symphony at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Issue
(1) David Webster (Skip) Middleton Jr, born 02 Mar 1944
(2) Danny Middleton
(3) Laurie Jean Middleton
(4) Tammie Middleton
Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Published Articles, Middleton Book, and Margary Neal Nelson.
Additional sources used by the compiler were: 1900 United States Federal Census, Precinct 6, Putnam CO, FL; 1900 United States Federal Census, San Mateo, Putnam CO, FL; 1910 United States Federal Census, Pomona, Putnam CO, FL; 1930 United States Federal Census, Pomona, Putnam CO, FL; 1930 United States Federal Census, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL;
Florida Marriage Collection, 1927-2001; Texas Marriage Collection, 1966-2002; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; Social Security Death Index; Cemetery Listing, Eden Cemetery, Crescent City, Putnam CO, FL by Mrs Margery Neal Nelson and updated by Mary E Murphy-Hoffmann (Feb 2006); Charles Lexington Pace family information posted on Ancestry.com and Aileen Spencer Middleton family information provided by Carleen Linke Newman (Sep 2009).
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
UPDATED: 17 Jan 2009
