William Riley Malphurs

William Riley Malphurs, son of Jesse Valentine Malphurs and his wife Martha Riley, was born 22 Nov 1866, Clay CO, FL, died 14 Jan 1940, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 22 Jan 1888, Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, to Nora Stuckey, dau of Pinkney Stuckey and Mary Adeline Fitzhugh, born 19 Feb 1872, Ormond, Volusia CO, FL, died 05 May 1962, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL. Both are buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL

The family is listed on page 83 of the 1900 census of St. Johns County, on page 56/57 of the 1910 census of St. Johns County and on page 33 of the 1920 census of Flagler County with his occupation given each time as "Farmer."

He worked at whatever he could find besides farming. He cut wood over at Maytown for the little old railroad that ran from New Smyrna to DeLand. He cut logs at Haw Creek. They would push the logs into the middle of the stream and ride them down to Omega.

Riley moved to the St Johns Park area where he was engaged in truck farming and raising cattle and hogs. He was active in local politics serving on the Flagler County School Board for a number of years. He worked with E. F. Warner in the St Johns Development Company.

They were the parents of two children and one adopted child;

1. Nancy (Nannie) Malphurs, born 28 Jul 1890, Haw Creek, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 04 Jun 1912, of typhoid fever, St. Johns Park, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, married 04 Dec 1910, Espanola to Ralph (Fred) Harbert, born 12 Aug 1887, Independence, Montgomery CO, KS, died 05 Jan 1949, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL

He came to St. Johns Park in 1909 and later bought property in Espanola. He operated a rooming house, grocery store and meat market. Issue;

(1) Ralph Harbert, born 15 Oct 1911, Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 17 Nov 1983, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 13 Jul 1946, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, Fl by Rev. Norman Bennett in his home, Martha Lillian Oates, dau of Carl Richmond Oates and Mattie Lou LNU, born 25 Dec 1914, GA, died 03 Sep 2003, Benton, Polk CO, TN (probably).

He was a lifelong resident of Flagler Co. He lived with his grandparents, Nora and Riley Malphurs, after the death of his mother. He was selected to go to Washington, DC in Apr 1930 as a representative of Flagler County sponsored by Representative Ruth Bryan Owen. He attended the University of Florida

Sgt. Ralph Harbert served in the U S Army in WW II in the Pacific Theater including New Caledonia, Solomon’s, the Figi Islands and the Philippines for a total of four years. He was the first Flagler County man to go overseas and received many decorations for his service.

In 1946, he was appointed to the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court of Flagler County replacing Dale B Brown who had resigned and then was elected to the office, serving 14 years. They moved to Flagler Beach and he was supervisor of the Flagler Beach waterworks until his retirement.

She served in the Women’s Army Corps in WW II. Issue;

A. James Edward Harbert, born 17 Mar 1947, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, died 02 Sep 1989, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. He served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam

B. Luellen Jeanne Harbert, born 11 Jun 1949, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL

2. Fitzhugh Lee Malphurs, born 30 Jul 1898, Haw Creek, St Johns, now Flagler CO, FL, died 31 Mar 1981, Memorial Hospital, Ormond Beach, Volusia CO, FL, married 21 Sept 1924, Pettigrew Home, St Johns Park, Flagler CO, FL, Esther Collins Pettigrew, born 05 Jan 1904, died 23 Mar 1988, Flagler CO, FL. Both buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL

He was born in a log house and named after Gen Fitzhugh Lee because his grandfather had served under him during the Civil War. When the fighting ended, his grandfather found himself in Virginia. He did not wait to be mustered out but went AWOL in his hurry to return to Florida.

There were no broad highways to travel, nor motels to spend the night so his grandfather walked and slept under the trees. His grandfather held a lifelong grudge against North Carolina and its people - - he said they wouldn't give you nothin' and would sic their dogs on you

Fitzhugh has some good years farming and when the land they owned was free and clear, they moved to Bunnell and went into the restaurant business and ran it for over 15 years. When he retired, his daughter, Doris (the compilers classmate) and her husband ran it for another 10 years. The restaurant was located at U.S. 1 and Palm Avenue.

They had breakfast - - two eggs, grits and Bacon for 75 cents. They had a good plate lunch also; veggies and a choice of meat for around a $1. Mattie Hall was their cook. Mattie’s daughter-in-law, called Sister, also worked there. Issue;

(1) Doris Malphurs, born 19 Dec 1940, Glendale Hospital, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL, married 25 Aug 1961, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Eugene Hue Hersey, son of George Washington Hersey and Mollie LNU, born 18 Jul 1935, Douglas, Coffee CO, GA, died 01 Jul 1999, Flagler CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL

Gene moved to Bunnell in 1957. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War and worked as an auto body repairman. He owned and operated Gene’s Paint and Body Shop. Issue;

A. Jeffrey Eugene Hersey, born 06 Jun 1963, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, died 14 Jan 1989, Flagler CO, FL, married 23 Feb 1985, Flagler CO, FL, Casandra Mechelle (Sandee) Harding dau of George William Twigg and Gloria Harding, born 04 Jun 1966, FL, died 14 Jan 1989, Flagler CO, FL. They were both killed in an automobile accident. Both are buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

See sketch on Joseph Harding for additional information on this family.

3. Fred Johnson, born Mar 1887, IL. He is listed in the household of Riley Malphurs in the 1900 census and show as adopted. He and his parents were listed as being born in IL

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; 1910 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, St Johns CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, St Johns Park, Flagler CO, FL; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; WW I Civilian Draft Registration Records; U. S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; U.S. Veterans Gravesites, 1775-2006; Florida Marriage Collection, 1927-2001; Social Security Death Index; Florida Death Record, 1877-1988; The Flagler Tribune, 25 Sep 1924, 19 Dec 1940, 18 Jul 1946, 20 Mar 1947, 16 Jun 1949, 31 Aug 1961, 13 Jun 1963, 09 Jun 1966 and the Daytona Beach News-Journal, 02 Jul 1999

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