June 5, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland Knowing what I know about Emmett’s life, it’s ironic (or maybe, a kind-of foreshadowing) that Emmett moved to Pensacola, Florida, on September 26, 1906, merely one day ahead of one of the most devastating hurricanes in history to hit the Florida Panhandle. I suppose he […]
March 14, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland At this point in Emmett’s story, he’s been in Illinois three months. Although he’s been Nick Van Sant’s law partner since January 1, 1906, Emmett wasn’t able to ‘practice law’ until he had passed the Illinois state bar examination in February, 1906. That doesn’t mean […]
September 11, 2020Chevy Chase, MD I suppose Emmett could be considered lucky — in his life, he had at least three mentors looking out for him, shepherding him during his career, impressed by Emmett’s intelligence and potential. Emmett had a lot of potential, energy, charm, and those who know him […]
April 30, 1905Cephas and Lula Wilson’s HouseMarianna, Florida7:25 pm I’m standing outside of Ceph’s house, in the front yard, looking up at the huge oak tree near the sidewalk. The tree has curtains of gray moss dangling, drifting with the soft wind. The sun’s set already, and it feels like […]
October 2, 2015Marianna, Florida After touring St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Sue and I continue to walk around downtown Marianna; she points out several buildings that are still standing from Emmett and Cephas’ time — The Acme Restaurant, Dr. Wilson’s office (no relation to Emmett, Cephas or Frank Wilson of Chipley), […]
February 10, 1903 Dr. F.C. Wilson’s Home Chipley, Florida I’m in Chipley for a few days visiting my father, stepmother, and Grandfather Maxwell. He now lives with my father; Grandfather Maxwell is frail these days. Although Grandfather has been living with my uncle Evelyn Maxwell in Pensacola, Grandfather prefers to […]
January 9, 1901 Tallahassee, Florida The Leon Hotel I woke alone in the hotel room — panicked, I sat up and looked at Cephas’ pocket watch on the table — almost 8:30 in the morning. I felt like hell. I didn’t sleep well last night; Cephas came in around 3 […]
January 7, 1901 The Leon Hotel Tallahassee, Florida Cephas and I met his friend and former law partner, Walter Kehoe, in the lobby of The Leon Hotel right before supper. Walter had come to Tallahassee ahead of us by a day or so. “Legal business with the Governor-elect,” he said […]
September 10, 2016University of Maryland Research CarrelCollege Park, Maryland Before I move on with Emmett’s story post-WFS, one thing that popped out at me when I was looking through Emmett’s old college yearbook was this: The Jennings inauguration ceremonies ran from January 6-9, 1901 — and by this account, Emmett […]
Christmas Day, 1900 The Wilson Home,Chipley, Florida Have you ever seen pictures of seated royalty on their thrones? The ones featuring a king, with princes and other members of the royal family seated around a central authority figure in descending order of power? If you stood Father’s front yard that […]
