Who Was Who in Florida, by Henry S. Marks, 1973, published by The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama.

I found this book on Alibris, a book reseller website. I like to check back for obscure Florida texts and anything that has Emmett’s name listed. This one’s been out of print for awhile.

Poor unloved thing. Who trashes books?

It was purged from the Dickinson Memorial Library in Orange City, Florida. It was cheap. Oh well. Some one else’s trash, as the old saying goes….

Charlton W. Tebeau, author of A History of Florida who wrote the foreword for this book, asked:

“Who are Florida’s notables who have left their marks on the state’s history? What did they do to earn a place in such a galaxy of stars?” (Foreword)

Tebeau admitted that there were countless others who probably should have been included in the book, and Marks’ book was not intended to be a complete work. The biographies are brief, mostly no more than six or seven lines. (Some biographies are longer; for example, Henry Flagler’s covers an entire page). References such as Marks’ book are often, at best, snapshots of those deserving of recognition at that particular place and time.

But it is interested to see who is listed and who is not, through the lens of Emmett Wilson’s research.

Who’s In:

• Robert Anderson (he delivered Emmett’s Elk Club eulogy) p. 20
• William Henry Brockenbrough, p. 46 (Emmett’s great-grandfather)
• N.P. Broward, p. 47
• N.P. Bryan, p. 50 (Bryan’s secretary helped Emmett in D.C. after his first medical crisis)
• Frank Clark, p. 66 (Advised Emmett when he was in D.C., and after his first medical crisis)
• Duncan Fletcher, p. 102 (A friend of Emmett’s father)
• Albert Gilchrist, p.111 (Emmett and Cephas were on friendly terms with him)
• Walter Kehoe, p. 147
• William Bailey Lamar, p. 152 (Emmett’s best friend, Paul Carter, was his private secretary)
• B.S. Liddon, p. 163 (Cephas’ law partner)
• Scott Loftin, p. 164 (A law colleague of Emmett’s)
• Augustus E. Maxwell and Evelyn Croom Maxwell, p. 175 (Emmett’s grandfather and uncle)
• Dannite Mays, p. 176 (Emmett defeated Mays in 1912 for the Third Congressional seat)
• John and W.H. Milton, p. 186
• John H. Smithwick, p. 230
• John Stokes, p. 235 (unsuccessfully challenged Emmett for his second congressional term in 1914)

And, of course, Emmett, on page 264:

One error stands out: “….failed of reelection.” No. The state Democratic party told Emmett he was no longer useful, and forced his resignation. His name was not on the ballot for a third term.

What’s interesting are the names of men and women I’ve discovered via Emmett’s research, who were important in state politics and journalism during the early 1900s, who were not included in the book:

• Cephas Love Wilson Sr.
• Frank Mayes
• Modeste Hargis
• Chipley Jones
• Minnie Kehoe
• Paul Carter
• William Bloxham (Billy) Crawford (his father, H.C. is listed on p. 76)
• CHB Floyd

I think it is ironic given the animus that Frank Mayes, Chipley Jones, and certainly Cephas had for Emmett, especially towards the end of his life, that their names were not selected for inclusion in this reference.

I don’t doubt for a minute this would eat at Frank Mayes and Chipley Jones, if they had any way of knowing Emmett got in, and they didn’t.

Heh, heh.

Categories: Interesting & Odd Research Status The Writing Life

Tagged as: Alibris Henry S Marks Who Was Who in Florida

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Professor,
Communication, Arts, and the Humanities
The University of Maryland Global Campus