Synopsis "Davis-Smith Family Tree"
Although written for the author's grandchildren, this is a volume of interest to all who enjoy historical episodes and the dreams revealed in family histories. Here you will find the Davis story, with characters like Rachel, who at four years old was sold on the slave block; the array of Charlotte Davises and the strong-willed Ann Davis. This family came to Florida in the 1820's and fought the Indians, helped win statehood for Florida, and voted in the first Florida election. On these pages of the Davis history Phillip McRae, who came with his family from Scotland at the age of 10 in 1865 and died at 95, is real. The family tradition is that he was a drummer in the Revolution. There is Isaac Seago who marched off to the Mexican War and never came back. His wife Lucinda and her children founded Seagoville, Texas. And there is Ford Waldrop, who for love of Ann Jarvis, came from South Carolina at the end of the Civil War to Florida to marry her. There is the family tragedy involving John Seago and his cousin "Wash" Jarvis. On the Smith side of the family we meet Willis and Sarah Smith who were pioneers in central Florida in the 1830's. There is the romance of Viannia, from Key West, who married Allen H. Smith. And Austin Smith, butcher, cattleman, and trader, who still found time to plant flowers along Sunshine Road just outside of Zephyrhills, the town of pure water and cool breezes. You'll find the fascinating story of the Knapp witch, and how this family who came to New England in 1630, migrated on down to Virginia. Charles Knapp and Jennie and their beautiful home in Lewisburg enter the story, and then we see the move to Florida, where the Knapps meet the Smiths. In the saga of the Reichart and Hochgurtel families we see the fulfillment of the immigrant's dream. German and Irish blood mix with the Smith stream when a barber's daughter comes to Florida to visit. All in all, it's every family's story, brought to life in the stories of various folks. Read and enjoy.
