Biographies
John Perry
Wall
WALL, John Perry, physician,
was born in Hamilton county, Fla., in September, 1836, the son of Judge
Wall, for many years probate judge of Hernando county, Fla., his mother
being a member of the well-known Hunter family of Georgia, who
are descendants of the Hunter family of Virginia. He is the half-brother
of Gen. J. B. Wall, and Charles Wall, the large land proprietor
of Seaside, Fla. He was educated by private tutors; commenced the study
of medicine in 1855, and was graduated from the College of Charleston,
Charleston, S. C., in 1858, the famous R. A. Kinloch having been
his preceptor. He settled in Brooksville, Hernando county, Fla., practiced
there for two years, removed to Fernandina in 1860; remained there until
1861, when he was appointed assistant surgeon in the Confederate army
and ordered to report for duty to the hospital in Richmond. He remained
there until 1864, when he was appointed a full surgeon; sent back to
Florida, and kept on duty until the surrender of the Confederate armies.
He married in 1862 Pressie A. Eubanks, daughter of John Eubanks
of South Carolina, a state senator. The issue of the marriage was one
son, John P. Wall, Jr., who was educated at Columbia college,
New York, is a graduate of its law school, and is now a practitioner
in Tampa, Fla. After leaving the army, Dr. Wall returned to Brooksville
and practiced there until 1871. When he went to Tampa on account of
the growing importance of that maritime town, he was mayor of Tampa
in 1878-79 and editor of the Tampa "Tribune " from 1876 to
1882. During his management of that journal he was an able advocate
of the building of railroads, the improvement of the city, and the general
development of the state, through the introduction of northern capital.
Being thoroughly fearless and independent, his editorials provoked much
criticism and even trouble, as he was once challenged to fight a duel
by an irate brother editor and summoned before that august tribunal,
the state legislature, for making certain sharp comments on its distinguished
members. He succeeded in escaping without even a reprimand. Although
he was known to have served in the Confederate army, the government
appointed him acting assistant surgeon in 1882, and he filled that position
for some time. His first wife having died, he was married in 1872 to
Matilda McKay, daughter of Capt. James McKay, Sr., of
Tampa, and one of the founders of the city. The issue of this marriage
is one son, Charles McKay Wall. Dr. Wall is president of the
examining board of physicians for the sixth judicial district; a member
of the American medical association; American public health association;
ex-president of the Florida state medical association; and a member
of the committee appointed by the American medical association to collaborate,
Jenner's discovery of vaccination. He was president of the county
board of health from 1885 to 1890; represented the Marine hospital bureau
in Hillsborough county, during the yellow fever epidemic in 1888, and
was a member of the council of the section of surgery at the International
medical congress held in Washington in 1889. He is a frequent contributor
to medical journals, the range of his subjects being extensive and characterized
by breadth and thoroughness of treatment. He is considered one of the
highest American authorities on yellow fever, having had ample opportunities
for observing it during the epidemics of 1887-88. His essays on Florida
fevers, the climate of Florida and other subjects, have won him a national
reputation, and he is frequently quoted by foreign medical Journals
when discussing the diseases of the southern states. Dr. Wall is of
medium height, has an earnest but not severe face, which changes expression
with magical rapidity when it is lighted up by his genial smile; has
deep-set blue eyes, firm lips, and the gait of a soldier. He is a firm
supporter of the Episcopal church and a warm advocate of religion as
a means toward mental and moral improvement.
"Ole
Miss"
This article was taken from Hernando County - Our Story, by Alfred A.
McKethan.
Mrs. Fannie V. Goethe, affectionately known as "Ole Miss,"
was truly one of the colorful and interesting personages of old Hernando
County. This highly regarded lady operated the Bay Port Hotel, which
was the colonial home of John Parsons. This hotel was for fishermen
and for those seeking recreation of almost any kind. Fine food was served
family style, and the hotel was, for its day, a very satisfactory place
to visit.
Mrs. Goethe
not only served as manager of the hotel, but as postmistress too. She
and her son, Henry Goethe, maintained a commercial fishing operation
shipping fish from Bay Port to many sections of the country. The fish
were iced down, moved from Bay Port to Centralia by wagon and shipped
out of Centralia by rail. This was an important industry, and quite
a number of local people were engaged in this operation.
Mrs. Goethe
operated a "token store" which included fishing tackle and
boat rentals. The locals gathered around this store, and many interesting
tales were told about old Hernando County. Mrs. Goethe, herself, added
greatly to the color of the place that the early settlers enjoyed and
those that have followed have always enjoyed and held dear.
After Mrs. Goethe
died, the property declined and was no longer operated as a hotel. Most
of the old buildings, including the old hotel, burned in the early 1940s,
and today only a small number of buildings remain. One house remaining
is owned by Theodore Coogler.
Bay Port is
still a sleepy fishing village representing one of the few places on
the west coast of Florida that is primitive in.
Contributed
by Norita Moss
Hernando
County Home Page
Florida
Home Page
Genealogy
Trails Home Pag