Isaac I. Moody, Jr.
Isaac I. Moody Jr, son of Isaac I. Moody and his wife Martha Elmira Miles was born 27 Oct 1874 Appling CO, GA, died 17 Dec 1918, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 27 Jan 1901, Appling CO, GA to Dora Lee, dau of Samuel John Lee and Eliza Ann Roberts, born 21 Mar 1881, Alma, Appling now Bacon CO, GA, died 02 June 1959, Memorial Hospital, Inverness, Citrus CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.
He came to St. Johns County, Florida in the early 1890's to work as a woods rider for George W. Deen of Appling County, Georgia in the turpentine business here. He is listed on page 82 of the 1900 census, residing in Haw Creek area as a boarder in the household of James F. Lambert (Major) with the occupation of "Woodsman" and that of Lambert as "Mfg Turpentine," and the dwelling was at a turpentine still about 12 miles west of the present town of Bunnell. Lambert was the bookkeeper at the commissary and the distiller.
Isaac returned to Appling County, GA in 1901 for his marriage to Dora Lee and then they returned to the still at The Sapplings, which was located just across Haw Creek. They brought back with them a black boy about 10 years of age named Alonzo Lanier, whose mother had died.
It seems that Alonzo's father owed Isaac a $20 commissary debt from the Georgia camp, and as Lanier would beat the boy severely, Isaac told him to give him Alonzo and he would call the bill paid. The father agreed, so along with the bride came the little black boy. Alonzo worked for Isaac until Isaac's death. Alonzo was killed by a train in New Smyrna, FL, several years later.
By 1903, Lambert and Moody had formed a partnership and purchased from Fairhead and Strawn of Jacksonville a shingle mill operated by Alva Bunnell at the railroad flag stop called Bunnell Stop.
About 1905, they learned of a 30,000 acre tract of land for sale by George W Deen. They consulted with Mr J B Johnson, a surveyor, who showed them over the tract and who highly recommended the purchase as a good buy. They purchased the land and erected a still by the railroad. Lambert and Moody built homes at the new still at Bunnell Stop and the post office was opened with Moody as postmaster.
After operating the turpentine still for several years, on 24 Jun 1909 the Bunnell Development Company was chartered with Isaac I. Moody, president; Claude E. Stewart of Jacksonville, vice president; J. R, Stone of Jacksonville, 2nd vice president; and James Frank Lambert, secretary and treasurer, with each having 25 shares.
The Company advertised in northern newspapers and had an office in Chicago. They brought people down by train to show them the ten and twenty acre tracts. In the approximate center of this large tract of land, they laid out a town which was chartered as Bunnell in 1913 with Isaac I. Moody being appointed as a Councilman. In a list of Registered Voters in the Town of Bunnell, Dee 1915, Isaac I. Moody's occupation was given as "Banker."
In Mar 1913, he was re-elected as President of the Bunnell State Bank
In Apr 1913, he was in St Augustine with his wife to hear a speech by William Jennings Bryan. They then left for Washington, DC where they attended the Good Roads Convention.
He contracted in Feb 1914 for a nice two-story residence to be built on his lots on the corner of Lambert Ave and Turner Street. When completed it was to occupied by Mr. W A Sapp, cashier of the Bunnell State Bank.
In Apr 1914, he was pleased to announce that the St Johns County voters had approved a $650,000 Bond Issue for a new highway to be made of vitrified brick. In now Flagler County, work started on The Dixie Highway from the Bunnell State Bank and proceeded in two directions, one crew working east to Ocean City and one crew working north towards Espanola.
At his own expense he built the massive brick archway on The Dixie Highway at the line of Duval and St Johns Counties.
Around Sep 1916, Major Lambert and Isaac Moody purchased from the Harwood Naval Stores Company, seven thousand acres of fine farming lands, the amount involved being approximately one hundred thousand dollars. The land was situated in Volusia County, just south of the St Johns County line, and was considered one of the best tracts of farming land in this section of the state.
Because of the St. Johns Development Company and the Bunnell Development Company attracting so many new residents to the area, a separate county was envisioned and as Chairman of St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners (he was first elected in 1913 and re-elected in 1916), Isaac I. Moody was the leader of the delegation attending the 1917 session of the Florida Legislature requesting the creation of a new county which easily passed and on 01 Jul 1917 Flagler County was created, Isaac I. Moody was appointed by Gov Sidney Johnston Catts as to serve as State Representative for Florida’s newest county.
Isaac I Moody and Columbus W Deen applied for a charter of the Baxley State Bank (Appling CO, GA) in 1917 with stock valued at $25,000.00 and the bank opened Aug 25, 1917 with most stock being owned by Isaac Moody and Columbus Deen.
Isaac I. Moody was a Charter/Organizing member of Bunnell Lodge #200 F & A M. He formerly was a member of Palatka Lodge #34. Dora Moody and Isaac I. Moody were charter members of Bunnell Chapter No. 93, Order of the Eastern Star. He was a Knights Templar and worshiped at the Methodist Church in Bunnell with W H Cochran, George Moody, W C Heath and W A China.Some 31 years after his death, the State of Florida honored his accomplishments with the passage of
CHAPTER 25072 - - (No. 76) HOUSE BILL NO. 42AN ACT to Designate That Part of State Road 11 Between Bunnell and Flagler Beach, Florida, in Flagler County as Moody Boulevard in Memory of Honorable I. I. Moody, deceased.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Section 1. That part of State Road 11 between Bunnell and Flagler Beach, Florida in Flagler County, shall also be known and is hereby designated as Moody Boulevard in memory of Honorable I. I. Moody, deceased, who was the first member of the Legislature from Flagler County and a pioneer developer in that section of Florida.
Section 2. This Act shall take effect upon becoming law.
Became a law without the Governor’s approval.
Filed in Office Secretary of State May 16, 1949.
Issue;
1. Gladys Moody, born 31 Mar 1906, Bunnell, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 01 June 1973, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married May 1922, Baxley, Appling CO, FL, Crozier Lamar Smith, son of Crozier Alexander Smith and Fannie Estelle Englett, born 18 Mar 1903, AL, died 13 Oct 1992, Tattnall CO, GA. Issue;
(1) Carolyn Elizabeth Smith, born 10 Aug 1923, GA, died 22 Mar1924, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.
(2) Crozier Lamar Smith Jr, born 09 Sept 1925 (Name officially changed to William Lamar Bryan in Tampa), married 1947, Hillsborough CO, FL, Shirley Claire Mackey. Issue;
A. Beverly Claire Bryan, born 08 Oct 1947
B. William Lamar Bryan Jr, born 05 Jul 1952
C. Richard Beal Bryan, born 29 Oct 1957
D. Shelley Bryan, born 18 Mar 1961
(3) Betty Jo Smith, born 23 Jul 1927, Alma, Bacon CO, GA, married Cordele, Crisp CO, GA, James Nelson Thomas. Issue;
A. Carla Jo Thomas
B. James Thomas
C. Susan Malinda Thomas
D. Joseph Nelson Thomas
E. Mickeal Lee Thomas
F. Debra Ann Thomas
Gladys Moody married 2nd, 1930, Augustus P. Bryan, born about 1904, GA, died 1935
Gladys Moody married 3rd, 1938, Carl Chester Starkey, died 15 Mar 1947, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL
2. Leona Moody, born 2 May 1908, Bunnell, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 07 Jan 1999, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 14 May 1924, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL Harlan Spencer French, son of Spencer French and Amanda Jane Stevens, born 21 Jul 1901, Advance, Stoddard CO, MO, died 07 Jan 1944, Popular Bluff, Butler CO, MO. Issue;
(1) Robert Harlan French, born 01 May 1928, Lakeland, Polk CO, FL, died 04 Aug 1994, Hillsborough CO, FL, buried Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL, married 10 Feb 1949, Little Chapel of Roses, Chula Vista, San Diego CO, CA Betty Yvonne Enoch, dau of Richard Enoch.
He spent much of his early childhood in Mauldin, MO returning to Flagler CO about 1945. He enlisted in the US Navy in St Augustine, FL in 1945 and went directly to Camp Perry, VA for boot training, then to radio school then into communications and retired after serving 20 years in the U S Navy with service including Calif, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, San Juan P R, the Mediterranean and Pensacola, FL. Issue;
A. Patricia Kay (Patty) French, born 30 Sep 1951, San Diego, San Diego CO, CA, married 05 Sep 1969, Methodist Church, Port Orange, Volusia CO, FL, Samuel Kenric Fennell, son of James S Fennell (Div-03Dec1972).
B. Richard Harlan French Jr, born 24 May 1952, married 09 Jun 1973, Seminole Baptist Church, Tallahassee, Leon CO, FL, Evelyn Ann Brown, dau of John G Brown (Div-16Feb1982)
C. Steven Eugene French, born 27 Aug 1956, San Juan, Puerto Rico, died 08 Nov 1998, Hillsborough CO, FL
(2) Patricia Ann (Patsy) French, born 01 Sep 1931, Naylor, Ripley CO, MO, died 20 Oc 2019, Volusia CO, FL, married 02 Sep 1948, Blackshear, Pierce CO, GA, Thomas Walter (Tommy) Durrance, son of Thomas Omega Durrance and Irene Mathilida (Nuny) Jepson, born 26 Oct 1928, Flagler CO, FL, died 27 Aug 2003, Flagler Beach, Flagler CO, FL, both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.
Tommy was a land surveyor for 45 years, retiring in 1990. He served five terms on the County Commission from 1970 to 1990 in District 2. He also served three stints as commission chairman. He graduated from Bunnell High School in 1948 where he excelled in all sports. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. Issue;
A. Rebecca Jane Durrance, born 10 Jun 1952, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 21 Jan 1972, United Methodist Church, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Oliver Gary Cowart, son of Oliver James Cowart and Alma Constance Sykes, born Jul 1942.
She graduated Bunnell High School in 1970 and in July of that year was employed by Oceanshore Realty. She was attending Daytona Beach Community College in Nov 1971. He graduated from Taylor High School in Green Cove Springs and was employed by the Wadsworth Lumber Company of Bunnell, FL. Issue;
a. Thomas Oliver Cowart, born 25 Jun 1975, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, married 31 Jul 1999, Volusia CO, FL, Allison A LNU, born 14 Nov 1974. Issue;
aa. Kaylie Cowart
B. Leona Ann Durrance, born 25 Jun 1962, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 11 Apr 1987, Flagler CO, FL, Glen Arrington, born Dec 1960. Issue;
a. April Arrington
b. Zane Arrington
Leona Moody married 2nd, 29 Nov 1944, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL Malcolm Leroy Johnson, son of William Edgar (Ed) Johnson and Lillian Williams, born 19 Aug 1903, Hohenwald, Lewis CO, TN, died 04 Aug 1977, Flagler Beach, Flagler CO, FL, buried Hope, now Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens (Div-Aug1949.
He lived in the first house in Flagler Beach - George Moody built it. He said that when he was nine years old, he spent the summer in Flagler Beach, hunting turtle eggs and fishing - in those days there was an old barge that was pulled across (the now, inter coastal canal) with a cable.
The inter coastal was Smith Creek then, and it was a private canal owned by the East Coast Canal and Transportation Company which had wood burning steamboats. Up toward the Hammock, the canal banks of the waterway were 35 feet high - it was man rather than nature that brought them down to their present low level.
The government took over maintenance of the canal in 1927 - 1933 they widened the canal and the banks just sloughed in.
When his family moved here in 1912 from TN, his father opened a lumber business. They moved to a farm north of Flagler Beach and at one time owned 4,000 acres of land where Palm Coast is now located. Malcolm said that there were about 40 wild horses where Palm Coast is now - they were all put to death by the government in 1933 who claimed they had fever ticks.
His farm was called Bon Terra and was the only residence in the county at the time that had a telephone line. The family had to maintain it as there was no one else who wanted or could afford a telephone. Bon Terra was maintained with the help of about 10 artesian wells located on the property -- the house well was run on by a turbine which also provided electricity to the 17 room house (which stood until the property was purchased by ITT).
Malcolm spent his entire life in Flagler CO with the exception of four years during WW II when he worked in the shipyards in Tampa.
He served as a member of the school board from 18 Oct 1947 to 3 Jan 1955. In addition to Leona, he was married to Blanche Walker (06 May 1924), Mary L Vandergrift (08 Jun 1950) and Helen E LNU (20 Aug 1966).
Leona Moody married 3rd, 23 July 1954, Statesboro, Bulloch CO, GA, Walter Eugene Knight Jr, son of Walter Eugene Knight and Salome Jane Kellum, born 21 Jul 1901, Orange Hammock, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 10 Mar 1966, Haw Creek, Flagler CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.
He was a graduate of the School of Engineering of the University of Florida and engaged in the farming industry in the Haw Creek section of Flagler CO for many years. He was a member of the First Methodist Church of Bunnell, Bunnell Lodge No 200, F & AM, the Morocco Shrine Temple, was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Flagler CO Shrine Club.
In addition to Leona, he was married to Mattye Lorraine Driggers (29Jun1925) and Elizabeth (Kittie) Price (25 Dec 1933)
3. Dorothy Moody, born 10 Dec 1910, Bunnell, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 16Apr 1980 Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL, buried Garden of Memories Cemetery, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL, married 01 Mar 1926, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL, Rowland William Hill, son of Frank B Hill and Vera E LNU, born 12 Oct 1908, NY, died 30 Sept 1950 (Div). Issue;
(1) Rowland William Hill Jr, born 02 Oct 1927, died 01 Feb 2013
Dorothy Moody married 2nd, 05 Aug 1930 Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL, William Horace Locke, born
21 Sept 1911, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL, died 02 Aug 1988, Brandon, Hillsborough CO, FL. He was a retired Tampa Police Captain and served as Chief of Police of Temple Terrace, FL. Issue;(2) David Horace Locke, born 09 Aug 1946, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL
In the 1920 census, Dora Lee Moody is listed as a widow, living in Bunnell, with her three girls, Gladys, Leona and DorothyDora Lee Moody married 2nd, John Maxwell Joiner, born MS. Issue;
3. Maxine Joiner, born Sept 1921, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL
4. Margarete Joiner, born about 1922
5. Wallace Grantham Joiner, born 02 Dec 1922, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL
In Aug 1927, Dora Lee Moody Joiner was living in Baxley, Appling CO, GA and at the time of the 1930 census, she is living in Tampa with the three Joiner children. She is listed as divorced and her occupation listed as “cook, hotel.” She is buried next to Issac I Moody in Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler 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: 1880 United States Federal Census, District 1239 and 583, Appling CO, GA; 1900 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, Saint Johns CO, FL; 1910 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, St Johns CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Precinct 50, Hillsborough CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Thomas, Ripley CO, MO; 1930 United States Federal Census, Military Reservation, Monterey, Monterey CO, CA; 1930 United States Federal Census, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL;
California Birth Index, 1905-1995; Florida Marriage Collection, 1927-2001; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; Georgia Deaths, 1918-1998; Social Security Death Index; Footprints in Appling County, 1818-1978 by Ruth T Barron, pg 145; The Bunnell Home Builder, Bunnell, Florida, May 1914;
The Flagler Tribune, Bunnell, Florida, 23 Jan 1919, 12 Jun 1919, 07 Aug 1919, 17 Jun 1920, 11 May 1922, 24 May 1923, 31 May 1923, 01 May 1924 19 Apr 1928, 19 Dec 1918, 03 Feb 1944, 07 Dec 1944, 03 Mar 1949, 04 Oct 1951, 12 Jun 1952, 19 Aug 1954, 13 Sep 1956, 28 Jun 1962, 25 Nov 1971, 21 Jun 1973, 03 Jul 1975 and Spencer French Family Information posted on Ancestry.com.
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
