THE GIDDINGS ELDON MABRY FAMILY
and
THE EVOLUTION OF HIS 1901 LAW PRACTICE IN TAMPA
 

This page is in the process of being updated.

JOHN MAYBERRY* MABRY
Giddings Mabry's paternal great-grandfather, John Mabry, is found on the 1830 Census of South Carolina in the Union District. Censuses before 1850 only listed a count of males and females in the household according to age group. *TampaPix has little confidence that his middle name was Mayberry.

JOHN & SARAH MABRY, 1830 CENSUS, UNION DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA

1850 - JESSE HUGHES MABRY & CAROLINE PRUDE MABRY STILL IN ALABAMA

John and Sarah Mabry's son, Jesse Hughes Mabry (b. ca.1816 in S. Carolina,) and Martha Bradford were married in Alabama in Pickens County, around 1842.  She was a daughter of Hanon Prude and Martha Bradford Prude.  Their estimated marriage year is concluded from the age of their first son on the 1850 Census. On the 1850 Census of Pickens County, Alabama, their children were John (b.c1843), David (b.c1845) and Malcolm (b.c1847), all born in Alabama.

The "NO" next to their marriage date means this date, July 29, 1852, is incorrect.  If it was correct, they certainly would not be found living together with three children born before 1850--ages 6, 4, and 2--on the 1850 Census.

1850 CENSUS, PICKENS CO., ALABAMA

Sarah Caroline Prude Mabry, wife of Jesse Mabry, daughter of Hanan Prude and Martha Bradford Prude, died on Aug 3, 1852.

After Sarah's death in 1852, on Dec. 23, 1853* Jesse Mabry married Martha Bradford in Pickens Co., Ala.  She was a daughter of David Bradford & Jane Thompson Bradford.  *This date is user submitted data, no marriage record has been found.
 

1860 - JESSE MABRY AND MARTHA BRADFORD MABRY IN MISSISSIPPI

Jesse Mabry was a merchant and did business in Bridgeville until 1856 when he and his family moved to DeSoto Parish in Louisiana. (DeSoto borders Texas to the west in the upper portion of Louisiana.)  Afterwards they returned to Lee Co., Miss. in 1860.

By August of 1860 the Jesse Mabrys had moved back in Mississippi to Pontotoc County which is on the west side of Itawamba County. The record shows Martha was 39 and born in Alabama.  Jesse's age is incorrect, he would have been 43.

Seen here are Jesse's five children by his first wife Sarah Prude: John Hanon Mabry, David Prude Mabry, Malcolm Mabry, Milton Harvey Mabry, and Martha Caroline Mabry, and two children by his second wife: Groves (b. ca.1855), and James B. age 1 month (b. ca.Jun 1860).  Milton H. Mabry was 10 years old and born just after the 1850 Census.

Although Jesse has no occupations indicated in 1850 and 1860, the value of his 1860 personal property is huge.  Jesse's name has been written in the old style of writing a "double s" which looks like "fs" which often looks like a "p" with a tall ascender.

1860 Census, Verona, Pontotoc Co., Miss.

In 1860, Pontotoc and Itawamba counties were adjacent counties in the far northeast corner of Mississippi.

1860 Census, Plantersville, Itawamba County, Mississippi

Jesse's parents, John and Sarah, are on the 1860 Census of Itawamaba County, Miss.  The record shows John Mabry was 71, a farmer, with $3,200 in Real Estate and 11,385 in personal property, again, considerably more than others on the page.  Sarah was 58, giving her a calculated birth year of abt. 1801.  Albert was probably their youngest son Elbert who appeared on their 1850 Census.

1870 JESSE H. MABRY & MARTHA BRADFORD MABRY, Tupelo, Lee Co., Miss.

By September of 1870 the Jesse Mabrys were living in Lee County, MS in the area of Tupelo.  It is likely that they didn't move there. Lee County was established by the Mississippi Legislature on October 26, 1866, and named for General Robert E. Lee. It was formed from Pontotoc and Itawamba counties with Lee county between the two.

1870 CENSUS,  Tupelo, Lee Co., Miss.

Jesse was listed as a merchant with $2,000 worth of real estate and & $6,000 worth of personal property.  This was considerably more than others on this page. Malcolm was a clerk in a store, probably his father's store. Milton was 20 and the Mabry's had a 68 year old cook named Violet, which indicates they were doing quite well.

Jesse's father, John M. Mabry, died sometime after his 1870 Census in Itawamba County, Miss. where he last appears with his wife Sarah (Hughes) Mabry.  John was listed at 80 years old, a farm laborer, with considerably less value in real estate and personal property.  Sarah was listed as 78, but she was actually around 68 according to her prior censuses. As with his son Jesse, John probably didn't relocate, this is likely the area of Itawamba County that became Lee County in 1866.

1870 CENSUS, VERONA, ITAWAMBA CO., MISS.

Thomas was probably their son.

1880 - JESSE MABRY & WIFE MARTHA

No record or news article has been located concerning the death of John Mayberry Mabry.  (TampaPix has little confidence that his middle name was Mayberry.) By the time of the 1880 Census, Jesse's mother, widowed Sarah Hughes Mabry, was living with Jesse and his wife Martha.  Sarah Hughes Mabry was born 19 December 1801  died on 24 January 1881 in Verona, Lee County, Mississippi.

This is the first census to record every person's relationship to the head of house.  None were recorded for the Mabry household.

NO 1890 CENSUS
On January 10, 1921, a fire in the Commerce Department building, Washington, DC, resulted in the destruction of most of the 1890 census.  Most of the damage was from the water used to put out the fire. None had been microfilmed.

DEATH OF JESSE HUGHES MABRY Jesse Hughes Mabry died at age 80 on Apr. 18, 1898 at the home of his son, Groves Mabry, in Kosciusko, Miss. Kosciusko, Mississippi is the county seat of Attala County and is located in the center of the state.

"Col." isn't a military rank, it is a term commonly used in the South as a title of respect, honor, age, and social status.  Younger men are often "Maj." and "Capt." There is an aristocratic tinge to the social usage of the title "Colonel", which most often today designates a Southern gentleman, and is archetypal of the Southern aristocrat from days past. There is also a different perceptive level of respect for colonels that are reciprocally addressed as "Honorable" or "Colonel" in writing style. While the honor of colonel in the civil usage has no actual military role, the title did evolve from the military.

In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act and authorized the relocation of all the Southeast Native Americans to federal territory west of the Mississippi River, which was completed by the end of the 1830s. In the early years of settlement, European-Americans named this town "Gum Pond", supposedly due to its numerous tupelo trees, known locally as "blackgum". The city still hosts the annual Gumtree Arts Festival. During the Civil War, Union and Confederate forces fought in the area in 1864 in the Battle of Tupelo and the Battle of Old Town Creek. Designated the Tupelo National Battlefield, the battlefield is administered by the National Park Service (NPS).  With expansion, the town changed its name to Tupelo, in honor of the battle. It was incorporated in 1870.

MILTON HARVEY MABRY

Born on June 17, 1850 in Pickens County, Alabama, Milton Mabry spent his infancy there until his parents moved to northeastern Mississippi by the mid-1850s.  In 1856, his father being an itinerant merchant, moved with his family to DeSoto Parish in Louisiana for about 4 years until they returned to Mississippi in early 1860. Milton spent the rest of his childhood years at Tupelo.

MILTON MABRY'S EDUCATION and MARRIAGE

Milton Mabry received his literary education at the University of Mississippi "Ole Miss" at Oxford, Miss. which is about 30 miles NNW of Tupelo. Graduating after two years, in 1869, he entered the law college at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. where he received his Bachelor of Laws in 1872.  He was admitted to the bar in Mississippi that year and commenced his law practice at his home in Tupelo. 

In 1876 Milton married Ella Dale Bramlett in Lee County, Miss. She was a daughter of John Woodson Bramlett and Eliza G. Turner Bramlett).

MILTON MABRY MISSISSIPPI DELEGATE AND TUPELO MAYOR

He was soon selected as a delegate to the state convention to revise the laws of Mississippi and subsequently was the mayor of Tupelo for two years from 1877 to 1879. 

MOVE TO FLORIDA

On the persuasion of a friend and future law partner William A. Hocker of Sumter County, Fla., who had moved to Florida in 1874, Mabry moved with his family to Leesburg in Sumter County, Fla. in 1879, partly due to his ill health.  Mabry partnered with Hocker, who lived nearby, from 1880 to 1889 when Mabry moved to Pasco County.  (William Adam Hocker served on the Supreme Court from 1905 to 1915.)

STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM SUMTER COUNTY

In Nov. 1882, Mabry was elected as Sumter County's State Representative to the Florida Assembly for a term of 2 years from 1883 to 1885.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR 1885 - 1889

Quickly earning a name for himself, he was nominated as Edward A. Perry’s Democrat running-mate for lieutenant governor in Florida’s gubernatorial election of 1884. Upon winning the majority vote, Mabry served as lieutenant governor of Florida from 1885 until Jan. 6, 1889, becoming Florida’s last lieutenant governor for nearly 80 more years. As by virtue of the position, he was also president of the Senate.

1885 Members of the Florida Senate on the steps of the capitol building, Tallahassee.
Lt. Governor Milton H. Mabry on front step, left.

The 1885 Constitutional Convention of Florida which met and revised the laws of the state during Governor Perry's administration eliminated the office of Lieutenant Governor and prohibited the governor from succeeding himself with a consecutive term. In 1888, Mabry toured the state campaigning for G.B. Sparkman and Circuit Judge Joseph Baisden Wall for the Democrat ticket.

In 1890, Mabry began building a 10-room residence on a hill in Pasco County, 2 miles north of Dade City overlooking the the city. FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FIRST TERM In August 1890, Mabry served as a delegate to the Florida state Democratic convention in Ocala. Without solicitation as to himself, his name was placed in nomination for justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, and on the final ballot he received the nomination over eminent but aged incumbent, Justice Maxwell.  In Nov. 1890, Mabry won the state election and served his first term on the Supreme Court from Jan. 1891 to Jan. 1897, during which time he served as Chief Justice from 1895 to the end of his term, serving under the governorship of Francis Philip Fleming (1889-1892). and Henry Laurens Mitchell (1893-1897.) FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SECOND TERM In Oct. 1896, Mabry was the Democrat nominee for Supreme Court Justice again. Winning election again, he served from Jan. 1897 to Jan. 1903 for a total of two terms for 12 years.

RETIREMENT In Feb. 1902, Mabry announced he would not run for a 3rd term on the Supreme Court. Yearning for retirement, he declined re-nomination for the Nov. 1902 election and retired in 1903, making way for his former law partner, William A. Hocker, to join and serve in the Supreme Court from 1903 until 1915. MOVE TO TAMPA, JOINS SON IN LAW PRACTICE AS MABRY & MABRY In Dec. 1902, Mabry announced his desire to move to Tampa from Dade City.  He arrived in Tampa on Jan. 1, 1903 and began practicing law with his eldest son, Giddings Eldon Mabry, as Mabry & Mabry; Giddings having established his lone law practice in Tampa in Oct. 1901.    Images courtesy of Florida Memory, State Archives and Library of Florida

DEATH OF WIFE AND MOVE TO TALLAHASSEE

Milton's wife, Ella Dale (Bramlett) Mabry, died in 1904 at their Bayshore Blvd. home in Tampa after suffering from some time with severe headaches.  Mention of Giddings' brother, Dr. Jesse Mabry, a physician in Norfolk, Va.

SUPPORTING SOURCES

Cumberland University Annual Catalog, 1871-1872

Milton Mabry was also on the Annual Catalogue staff.

See all Faculty

1875-01-07 The Lee County (Miss.) Clarion - MILTON MABRY SECRETARY OF TAXPAYERS COMMITTEE
The tax-payers of Lee county met in Tupelo on the 28th of December and proceeded to the permanent organization of a tax-payers convention by the selection of Capt. R.M. Leavell as chairman and M. H. Mabry, and S. Billingsley as Secretaries.
 

1876-12-21 MARRIAGE

Milton Harvey Mabry married Ella Dale Bramlett on Dec. 21, 1876 in Lee County, Miss.  (Ella was b.ca.1856, in Pontotoc, Miss., a daughter of John Woodson Bramlett and Eliza G. Turner Bramlett).

1879-01-03 DEMOCRAT STAR, Pascagoula, MS - MILTON MABRY LOOKING FOR NEW HOME
Milton Mabry, mayor of Tupelo and promising lawyer, is on the coast looking out for a place with the view of locating in our beautiful land. We hope he may find a place to suit him, and that he will settle here.

THE MABRYS MOVE TO LEESBURG, FLA.
1880 CENSUS, SUMTER COUNTY, FLA.

In 1879 Milton, Ella, and their sons Giddings Eldon Mabry and Jesse Hughes Mabry moved to Leesburg in Sumter Co, FL where Milton was in the practice of law and in the citrus industry. Milton was 28, his wife Ella Bramlett Mabry was 24. 

At the top of the page, five dwellings before the Mabry family, the Hocker family was enumerated.  W. A. Hocker was 35, an attorney from Virginia. (The households in between have been removed.)  Mabry would soon form a law partnership with W. A. Hocker.

1880-09-24 Weekly Floridian
The Leesburg Advance of the 18th gives a graphic account of the Radical meeting at that place on the 14th. Conover and U.S. District Attorney Stickney were the speakers.  Democratic speakers, W. A. Hocker and M. H. Mabry tendered a joint discussion, which the others dared not refuse, and the result was as might have been expected. 

MILTON MABRY ELECTED TO THE FLORIDA ASSEMBLY

1882-11-14 Weekly Floridian
Sumter Co. election results for the Florida Assembly (later called the House of Representatives, or "the House.")
SUMTER - Congress: Finley 713, Bisbee 312.  Assembly: Mabry (Dem.) 709; Cassady (Dem.) 706; Brown 68, Hays 80.
(These are the vote counts of the winners, not the winners and losers.)

1882-11-21 Weekly Floridian
Mabry, member of the Assembly-elect from Sumter Co., is stopping at the St. James (hotel.)

1882-11-28 Weekly Floridian
Legals section, J. H. Goss, Taylor & Sanchez, for Relators, Hocker & Mabry, Cockrell & Walker for respondents.

1882-12-12 Weekly Floridian
County by county list of members of the Fla. Assembly, Sumter Co: M.H. Mabry & Wilson W. Cassady

1882-12-19 Weekly Floridian
Mabry & Cassady duly elected member of Assembly from Sumter Co.

MABRY'S TWO-YEAR TERM AS FLORIDA ASSEMBLY MEMBER BEGINS

1883-01-02 Weekly Floridian
List of members of the Florida Senate and Florida Assembly. Milton Mabry was one of two Sumter County representatives in the Florida legislature starting with the 1883 session.

1883-03-02 Pensacola Commercial
Mabry vilified, accused of being "undemocratic" and described as "black belt deserter from Sumter County" because he "left the large majority of his party and voted with the negroes and the Radicals (Republicans.) "There is no calumny or misrepresentation about it.  These are the plain facts.  They are political not personal, Mr. Mabry, with his eight associates are traitors to their party, have deserted to the enemy and added that enemy to defeat their own party.

In 1884 Milton Mabry was nominated on the first ballot at the Democrat convention in Pensacola as their candidate for lieutenant-governor.  On the ticket for governor was Edward A. Perry.

1884-06-26 Semi Weekly Times Union
Milton Mabry nominated at the Democrat Convention for Lt. Governor, Edward A. Perry nominated for Governor.

1884-06-27 Palatka Daily News
Ad by Palatka News promoting Perry for Governor, Mabry for Lt. Governor.

1884-06-27 Florida Times Union Sketch of Hon. M H Mabry, nominee for Lt. Gov. He was mayor of Tupelo when he came to Leesburg, Fla. in 1879.
 

1884-07-01 The Weekly Floridian - REBUTTAL TO CRITICISM OF MILTON MABRY
The candidate for Lieut. Gov has already been assailed abusively because he, like a a majority of the members of the Assembly, conceived it to be his duty to oppose the summary method suggested by Senate bill 19, session of 1883, calling for a Constitutional Convention and known as the "Short Cut."  It is proper now that he should be heard again as he was on the 25th of January, 1883, when he participated in the debate and gave his reasons for opposing the short cut bill.  Mr. Mabry had previously had occasion to study constitutional law, having been a member of a Constitutional Convention in Mississippi.  We  may remark that as Mr. Mabry was not from a "black belt" county he could not have the direct personal interest in opposing the bill which might be felt by those apprehending the consequences of a sudden change of manner of constituting local officials.  He obviously acted from his clear convictions of duty under knowledge of law and usage.  He was in favor of a Constitutional Convention, to be called as he provided.
 

1884-07-08 Weekly Floridian
Democrat ticket for governor, lt. gov, Congress, US President.

1884-07-11 Florida Times Union
Description of Mabry, candidate for Lt. Gov and presiding officer of the Senate.
Mr. Mabry, the candidate for Lt. Governor, is a young man, and one of the best men in Florida.  Thoroughly honest and conscientious, it is impossible to impugn his motives even when one differs from him.   He is a gentleman of ability also, and as presiding officer of the Senate will reflect credit upon himself and upon his State.

1884-12-11 Weekly Times Union
FLORIDA'S OFFICIAL VOTE  - Perry elected Governor, Milton Mabry elected Lt. Governor. vote counts  Governor: Perry (Dem) 52,087; Frank Pope, (Ind. Rep.) 27,845.  Majority for Perry 4,242.  Lt. Gove: M.H. Mabry (Dem) 31,865; J.C.Greeley (Rep) 28,147.  Majority for Mabry, 3,718.

Mabry was inaugurated with Governor Perry on Jan. 7, 1885 for a four-year term.  By virtue of his office, Mabry was president of the state senate presiding with dignity and rigid impartiality.

The 14th governor of Florida, Edward Aylesworth Perry (March 15, 1831 – October 15, 1889) was a Confederate general who was primarily known for serving under Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War.

1885 CENSUS, SUMTER COUNTY

Florida took a state census in 1885, 1925 and 1935.  Milton H. Mabry, Sr. and Ella are on the 1885 Florida State Census in Sumter County with their three sons Giddings (10) and Jesse (7), and Bramlette  (male, this is John Bramlett Mabry) (2).  Under him is listed as grandmother "Bramtelle" (55). Relationships were supposed to be to the head of house but she can't possibly be Milton's or even Ella's grandmother.  The enumerator must have been thinking in relation to two year old "Bramlette" and so she would be Ella's mother, Elizabeth (Turner) Bramlett.  The line before her name indicates that her first name was not recorded, so this is the enumerator's error of crossing the L instead of the two T's in Bramlett and adding an E at the end.)

This is the only census to record Milton as Lt. Governor.

1

The 1885 Constitutional Convention of Florida which met and revised the laws of the state during Governor Perry's administration did not provide for the office of Lieutenant Governor to continue and prohibited the governor from succeeding himself with a consecutive term.

1887-04-05 The Palatka Daily News
The constitution does contain this provision and it is therefore true that Mr. Mabry, the present Liet. Governor, is the "last of his line."  Nothing contained in this Constitution shall operate to vacate the office of Lt. Governor until the expiration of his present term."

1887-04-07 The Semi Weekly Times Union
The right of Lt. Gov. Mabry to preside over the Senate under the new Constitution will not be questioned since he was elected by the people themselves.

MABRY ENDORSES DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

1888-10-25 The Tampa Weekly Journal
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGNERS - Cordially Received in Every Precinct Visited Capt. Walton and Lt.-Gov Mabry Working For the Faith on the West Side.  Last Wednesday morning (17th) several carriages and buggies loaded down with Democratic orators left the city for Peru (original name for Riverview) where the first gun of the campaign was fired...In the party were Dem. Exec. Committee chairman G.B. Sparkman Esq.,  Candidate for State Senate Joseph B. Wall; S.M Sparkman, Lucius Finley, C.W.Stevens, Lamont Bailey, G.M. Mathes and W. A. Givens.

1889 At the close of his term (as Lt. Governor), Mabry turned his entire attention to his law practice in Leesburg which by an act of the 1887 legislature had become part of newly-created Lake County. With no thought of again holding public office, Mabry withdrew from the political arena to spend the remainder of his days in quiet, unostentatious retirement of a country life. (1957-04-28 The Tampa Tribune - "Pioneer Florida" by D. B. McKay, provided by Tampa historian Theodore Lesley.)

1890-05-29 The Semi Weekly Times Union
DADE CITY ITEMS
Lt. Gov. Mabry is building a residence two miles north of Dade City in Pasco Co. The last reference found referring to Mabry as Lt. Governor, but his term ended on Jan. 8, 1889.

1890-06-22 The Florida Times Union
First reference to Mabry as Ex-Lt. Governor..
A party of six or seven families from Leesburg are negotiating for summer quarters at Clear Water.  Ex Lt Gov Mabry and family will be in the party.
(This indicates Mabry was still living in Leesburg at this time.)

THE MABRYS MOVE TO DADE CITY, PASCO COUNTY

In 1890** Milton Mabry relocated with his family to Dade City and [soon] built there on a hill overseeing the town a large 10-room house.  Close by he planted and developed three orange groves each of sizeable acreage.
(**This date is originally 1889 in the 1957-04-28 article in the Tampa Tribune - "Pioneer Florida" by D. B. McKay, provided by Tampa historian Theodore Lesley. TampaPix has changed it to 1890 according to information found in several articles indicating Mabry returned to his home in LEE county at the close of his term.)

1890-07-01 Florida Times Union
Call for a State Democratic Convention at Ocala, Fla., on Wed. Aug. 13, 1890.
Democrat convention announced for Ocala on Wed., Aug 13 at 12 noon for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the office of justice of the supreme court and for the office of comptroller, to fill the vacancy cause by the resignation of Hon. W.D. Barnes, and to conduct other business.

MABRY NOMINATED FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

1890-08-13  Milton Mabry was sent as a delegate to the state Democratic convention in Ocala. Without solicitation as to himself, his name was placed in nomination for justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, and on the final ballot he received the nomination over eminent but aged incumbent, Justice Maxwell. (1957-04-28 The Tampa Tribune - "Pioneer Florida" by D. B. McKay, provided by Tampa historian Theodore Lesley.In August 1890 Mabry)

1890-08-14 Pensacola News
Bloxam nominated for comptroller by a rising vote. Triangular Contest for the Supreme Judgeship - Judge Maxwell's Name Withdrawn After Several Ineffectual Ballots, and Milton H. Mabry Nominated by Acclamation.  Judge Maxwell withdrawn, Milton Mabry is nominated for Supreme Court Justice

1890-08-17 Pensacola News
THE MAJORITIES - Ocala - Democrats nominate ex-Gov Bloxam for Comptroller, Mabry for supreme court justice.

MABRY ELECTED TO SUPREME COURT

1890-11-22 Pensacola News
Florida election results: Mabry elected Supreme Court Justice 23,644 votes, Ex-Gov. Bloxam elected State Comptroller 24,530.

1890-11-27 The Semi Weekly Times Union
County by County totals for Supreme Court Justice:  M.H. Mabry vs. J.R. Challen, State Comptroller: Bloxam

1891-01-04 Pensacola News
M.H. Mabry, justice-elect, arrives in Tallahassee with his family.

MABRY'S FIRST SIX-YEAR TERM AS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

1891-01-09 Polk County News
Mabry to begin when Supreme Court meets in January.

1895-01-09 Pensacola News
The Supreme Court began its January term today...by choosing a new presiding officer.  The state constitution provides that the chief justice shall be designated by lot (random selection) by said justices, and shall be such during his term of office...and the lot fell upon Mr. Justice Milton H. Mabry, who will be chief justice during the remainder of his official term.

1895 January term Reorganization of court, Milton H. Mabry chosen chief justice, B.S. Liddon and R.F. Taylor associate justices.  (1897-01-15 The Florida Times-Union -  A history of the supreme court of Fla.)

MABRY CAMPAIGNS FOR A SECOND TERM AS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

1896-06-18 WeeklyTribune
STATE CANDIDATES - ...for supreme justice, Milton H. Mabry, of Pasco (the present incumbent), and T. M. Shackleford, of Hillsborough, have been suggested.

1896-10-01 The Pensacola News
Democrat ticket nominees: For Governor - William D. Bloxam, for Supreme Court Justice - Milton H. Mabry

MABRY ELECTED FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, 2ND TERM

Milton H. Mabry, justice, elected for six more years in Oct. 1896 [starting Jan. 1897 term.]  (1897-01-15 The Florida Times-Union -  A history of the supreme court of Fla.)

1896-10-15 The Weekly Press
Lee County results: The entire Democrat ticket for the state was elected and the constitutional amendments all carried.  Gov: W.D. Bloxham, Supreme Court Justice: Milton Mabry.

Milton Mabry served on the Supreme Court for 12 years from 1891 to 1903, as justice from 1891 to 1897, as chief justice from 1895-1897 as Chief Justice, and 1897-1903 as justice.

Florida Supreme Court - Justice Milton Harvey Mabry

1900 CENSUS, DADE CITY, PASCO CO. FLA.

Click the image to see it larger.

1901-08-07 Tampa Tribune
Judge Milton Mabry of the supreme bench, and his estimable wife, are guests of the hospitable Trice residence in Hyde Park.  Judge Mabry and Mrs. Trice were children together and attended the same college.  Judge Mabry enjoys the enviable reputation of being one of purist jurists in the South, and is a gentleman universally admired and esteemed by all who know him.

1901-08-08 Tampa Tribune
Judge Mabry and wife, who have been guests of the hospitable Trice residence in Hyde Park, leave today for Dade City where Judge Mabry owns one of the finest homes in Florida.

 

Read more about Judge Hocker in the article from which the above was excerpted.

1902-02-19 Tampa Tribune
JUSTICE MABRY WILL RETIRE - Hon. W.A. Hocker will seek to succeed him on the Supreme Bench
Tallahassee, Fla. Feb. 18 - It was given out authoritatively this afternoon that Hon. M.H. Mabry for the past twelve years Supreme Court justice, will not be a candidate for re-election, and that Hon. W. A. Hocker, formerly judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and now Supreme Court commissioner, will offer for the position made vacant by the retirement of Judge Mabry.

1902-02-25 Tampa Tribune
Judge Jos. B. Wall for Supreme Court - Circuit Court Jurist yesterday announced his candidacy to succeed Justice Mabry who resigned.  Sure Winner. The other candidate is Judge W. A. Hocker of Ocala. (Further endorsements and praise for Wall.)

1902-12-12 Tampa Tribune
Judge Mabry of Tallahassee will come to Tampa later in the season and will make this city their home.  They will be welcome new-comers.

1903-01-01 Tampa Tribune
MILTON MABRY COMING TO TAMPA - Giddings.E. Mabry has returned to Tampa from Tallahassee, his father Judge M H Mabry will arrive in a few days to locate here for the practice of his profession.

1903-01-01 The Tampa Tribune
A Distinguished Acquisition
Judge Mabry who retired from the Supreme Court today has already arrived in Tampa where he will make his future home. Judge Mabry will practice law in this city and the acquisition of himself and his estimable family is greatly appreciated by Tampa.  He is considered on of the shrewdest and most successfl lawyers in this State, and the Tribune is confident that his most sanguine anticipations will be more than realized in his new home.

1903-01-04 The Florida Times Union
Judge Mabry has moved his family to Tampa.  His term as a Supreme Court Justice having expired, he locates at Tampa for the practice of law.  Judge Mabry and his family made many friends in Tallahassee during their stay here who regret to see them leave the capital.

1903-01-07 The Florida Times Union
The Supreme Court met on Monday with Judge Mabry as member.  Today the court organized with Judge Hocker in the place of Justice Mabry, whose term expired yesterday.

1903-02-06 TRIB - The only reference to Mabry & Mabry in Florida newspapers
Wants Her Maiden Name
Mary M. Watson files suit against husband Richard L. Watson, for divorce.  She will also ask that her original name, Mary M. Carpenter, be restored.  She is represented by Mabry & Mabry.

1904-02-02 Tampa Tribune
Death of Ella D. Mabry on Jan. 31, 1904, wife of Milton H. Mabry.

MABRY LEAVES TAMPA, RETURNS TO TALLAHASSEE AS CLERK OF SUPREME COURT.

1905-03-31 The Weekly True Democrat (Tallahassee)
Mr. B. B. Wilson today retires from the office of clerk of the Supreme Court and turns over that office to Judge M. H. Mabry....of Tampa, an ex-Judge of the Supreme Court and is of course thoroughly conversant with the duties upon which he is entering, as well as a gentleman very highly esteemed, especially among the legal fraternity of the State.

1906-02-08 Pensacola News Journal
Dear sir, The court has today directed the entry of judgment in the case of L.B. Croom, plaintiff in error, vs. C. Fred Schad, marshale, defendant in error from Escambia county, affirming judgment in the case.  The decision of the court was en banc and the opinion prepared by Mr. Justice Taylor.
Very truly yours, M.H. Mabry, Clerk Supreme Court.

MILTON MABRY REMARRIES

1906-11-16 The Louisville Courier Journal
Quiet Wedding Solemnized Yesterday at the Home of the Bride...
This article is incorrect concerning Milton being a member of Mabry & Mabry.  He had already moved back to Tallahassee in 1905.  After the wedding, the Mabrys honeymooned in Miami, with expectations of going to Cuba, but political unrest there made them decide not to go.

1906-12-2 Florida Times Union
Judge Milton H. Mabry and Mrs. Mabry returned Saturday from their wedding tip and are making their home with Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Gilmore.  Mrs. Mabry has a host of friends here who remember her as a charming visitor of last season, and who are delighted that she has returned to make her home in Florida as the wife of one of the state's mos distinguished men.
 

1909-10-22 TRIB Death of John Bramlett Mabry

1910 Census, Leon County, Tallahassee, 49 Duval St.
The Mabrys were living about 3 blocks north of the State Capitol.  Milton was recorded as being 52, but he was actually 59 to turn 60 next month.  This was his 2nd marriage, indicated by the "M2," and was working as Clerk, Supreme Court. Irene was recorded as 24, but she was actually 38.  Her tombstone shows she was born March 28, 1872.  This was her first marriage, mother of 1 child, 1 living. Dale was 19 (b. Mar. 22, 1891) and working as a clerk at the capitol. Milton & Irene's son was 1 year old.

SECOND RETIREMENT

1915-06-06 Tampa Tribune
MABRY QUITS AS CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT - Is succeeded by Talbot Whitfield, Governor's secretary.  Judge Mabry's health is reason for change. TALLAHASSEE, JUNE 5 - Hon. Milton H. Mabry has resigned as clerk of the Supreme Court.  The statement is made that the probable reason for the resignation is the Judge's health. Hon. Talbot Whitfield, private secretary to the Governor, has been named as Judge Mabry's successor. The retirement of Judge Mabry marks the ending of a long and enviable record in the service of Florida, and those who have known and learned to love him express for him the wishes for peace and prosperity as a reward for his fidelity.

1915-06-10 Tampa Times
Judge Mabry and family of Tallahassee have located in Clearwater for the summer, and probably will make this their permanent home.

1915-07-04 The Florida Tmes-Union (Tallahassee)
Judge Milton H. Mabry...turned over the jurisdiction of his office, clerk of the supreme court, to Hon. G. T. Whitfield.  Judge Mabry will remain in the city for a week or two winding up his business and then will enjoy a much deserved vacation, a part of which he will possibly spend at Clearwater.  His son, Dale Mabry, has been here for a few days assisting his father in the conclusion of his affairs.  He returned to his home in Tampa Thursday.

1917-01-31 Tampa Tribune
Mrs. Milton H. Mabry, Sr., is the wife of Judge Mabry and has recently moved from Tallahassee to Tampa.  She is a charming woman and will be an asset to Tampa's society.

Death of Milton Harvey Mabry, Sr.

1919-03-03 Milton H. Mabry, Sr. death certificate
Milton Harvey Mabry died at his residence at 310 Fielding in Tampa from pulmonary tuberculosis on March 3, 1919, at age 68. His length of time in this location was 18 years.  His date of birth was June 17, 1850 in Alabama, occupation Lawyer.  Parents Jesse H. Mabry of SC and Sarah Prude (no birthplace given).  The informant was his widow, Mrs. Milton H. Mabry, of 310 Fielding. The place of burial was Dade City Cemetery.
 

MILTON H. MABRY OBITUARIES

Be aware that obituaries are rarely 100% accurate as they depend on the information of relatives and/or friends.  For example, the press constantly refers to him as "Milton Harze Mabry" or Milton Harse Mabry.

1919-03-04 Florida Times Union See whole article.
Tampa, March 2 - MILTON H. MABRY DIES AT HIS TAMPA HOME - One-Time Lt. Governor of Fla., justice of the State Supreme Court and later Clerk of That Court.  Errors:  "Milton Harze Mabry".  ...became Lt. Gov. a position he filled until 1888.  Mabry held this position to the end of his term in 1890. Survivors: wife, five sons, and a daughter.  The sons are "C.E. Mabry, Jr." (Should be G. E. Mabry and not a junior) and Narton Mabry of Tampa" (should be HARTON Mabry), J. M. Mabry of Newport News, Va. (Should be Dr. J. H. Mabry - Jesse Hughes Mabry, "and Lt. Dale H. Mabry" (NO source ever attributes a middle name or middle initial for Dale.  Not even his Jan. 28, 1921 application for a passport which bears his own signature.)  OMITS MILTON HARVEY MABRY JR.
 

1919-03-04 Tampa Times See whole article
MABRY FUNERAL OCCURRED TODAY - Former Justice of Supreme Court Died at Home Here.
Errors: Judge Mabry was born Jun 17, 1851...(b. 1850). In 1883 he was elected as a member of the house of representatives from Lake County. Mabry was a representative from SUMTER COUNTY.  Survivors are correct. G.E. Mabry, M. H. Mabry Jr, Harton Mabry, all of Tampa, Dr. J. H. Mabry of Newport News VA, Lt. Dale Mabry with expeditionary forces in France, and daughter Mrs. Taver Bayler (Bailey) of Clearwater.
 

1919-03-04 Tampa Tribune See whole article
JUDGE M. H. MABRY DIES FOLLOWING LONG ILLNESS, Spent several years at Tallahassee, Former Justice Supreme Court, Lt. Gov. and Representative Lake County (NO, Sumter County.)  Judge Milton HARZE Mabry...born Pickens Co., Alabama June 17, 1851 (no, HARVEY, 1850).  67 years old (no, 68) He was elected in 1883 as a member of the state house of representatives from Lake County..(NO, elected 1882, started 1883, represented SUMTER Co.)  This obit is almost word-for-word from the Times obit.

1919-03-05 Tallahassee Democrat See whole article
JUDGE M. H. MABRY DIES IN TAMPA - Same errors as above: - Milton HARZE Mabry.  Born 1851, Elected 1883...was Lt. Gov. until 1888 when office was done away with. NO, was Lt. Gov until Jan. 8, 1889.

1919-03-05 Tampa Tribune - All correct, has no dates.  See whole article

1919-03-06 Tampa Times - All correct
Judge Mabry's Funeral Was in Dade City - Dade City, March 6 - Several prominent attorneys of Tampa, besides all the attorneys of the Dade City bar and old-time friends of Judge Milton H. Mabry, attended his funeral here Tuesday.  The services, which were conducted by Rev. C. W. Duke of Tampa, were simple but impressive.  Interment was made in the Dade City cemetery.

1919-03-06 Tampa Tribune - All correct
MANY MEMBERS OF BAR ATTEND MABRY FUNERAL, Late Judge Interred at Dade City
Dade City, March 5 - The remains of Judge Milton H. Mabry were laid to rest in the municipal cemetery here yesterday.  The funeral services, conducted by Rev. C. W. Duke of Tampa, were extremely simple. All the attorneys of the Dade City bar, several prominent attorneys from tampa and many of the old time friends of the judge, who once lived here, were present.

1919-03-11 Tampa Times
DRAW RESOLUTIONS RESPECT TO MABRY - Circuit Judge F. M. Robles (Francis Marion Robles, son of Tampa pioneer Joseph Robles) today named a committee of seven old lawyers who during the time Judge M. H. Mabry practiced were members of the Tampa bar with him, to draw up suitable resolutions and present to the court Saturday morning at 11 o'clock.  Lawyers asked to serve on the committee are Judges James F. Glen, S. M. Sparkman, Tom Palmer, H. C. Macfarlane, C. C. Whitaker, H. P. Bailey and Wm. Hunter.  Judge Robles said this morning that he thinks it fitting that the local bar association and courts remember the distinguished judge and local lawyer.

1919-03-14 Florida Times Union - same errors as before
Same errors as before:  Milton Harze Mabry, born 1851 (1850), elected 1883 to state house, served as Lt. Gov until 1888 (1890) when office was abolished (no) survived by sons C.E. Mabry Jr (NO, G.E. Mabry)., Narton (HARTON) Mabry, Lt. Dale H.(no) Mabry. Missing Dr. Jesse Hughes Mabry.

1919-03-15 Tampa Tribune from the Gainesville Sun
Judge Milton H. Mabry - When this distinguished Floridian passed off the state of action a day or two ago, he practiced law with William A. Hocker at Leesburg.  Both these gentlemen represented Lake county in the state legislature.  (NO, both represented Sumter County). and both became judges of the supreme court of Florida.  Judge Mabry (like his friend and co-partner, Judge Hocker) was a lawyer in whom there was neither guile nor deception.  He was a profound lawyer; a gentleman of the old school. Courteous always and a scrupulous disciple of the code of honor. His whole life was one that those coming after him may emulate with profit to themselves and to their country.

1919-03-17 Tampa Tribune See whole article.
SPLENDID TRIBUTE IS PAID TO JUDGE MABRY - RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY BAR ASSOCIATION - Many Accomplishments of This Noble Citizen Reviewed in Memorial.
Accurate birth date. Mention of becoming mayor of Tupelo but says "twice." Mentions partnership with William A. Hocker for more than ten years. Accurate year of beginning as member of the Fla. House of Reps, 1883. Nominated and elected Lt. Gov. in 1884, (Nominated in 1884) Although a newcomer and stranger to the people and politics of Florida, so impressed his worth upon the thinking people of this state, that he was, without effort on his part (NO, he campaigned for this position, they are confused with his Supreme Court nomination) nominated and elected Lt. Gov. of this state in 1884. (NO, elected 1884, served starting 1885. ) This office he filled acceptably to the people until 1884. (NO, served to 1890.) 

1919-03-18 Tampa Times See whole article
RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED, Committee Meets in the Circuit Court Room to Honor Judge Mabry.
Resolutions: Accurate birth date, accurate name, Milton Harvey Mabry, again says "twice honored with election to the mayoralty of said town (Tupelo)"  This may be accurate if mayors served 1-year terms. nominated and elected Lt. Gov. of this state in 1884. (elected 1884, served starting 1885. ) This office he filled acceptably to the people until 1884. (NO, served to 1890.)  Tribute to character follows.
 

CLICK TO SEE LARGER

GIDDINGS ELDON MABRY, SON OF MILTON H. MABRY, SR. & ELLA DALE BRAMLETT

Born on Oct 8, 1877 in Tupelo, Miss., Giddings E. Mabry was influenced in his choice of a career by his father, Milton Harvey Mabry, who had a distinguished career as a lawyer and public servant.

Giddings was educated in West Florida Seminary (1894-96) and Richmond College, VA. (1896-98). He received his law degree from Cumberland University Law School in Lebanon, TN, in 1901. In the same year he was admitted to practice in Florida, commencing his practice of law in Tampa in 1901. In 1904 he was joined by his father, Milton Harvey Mabry.

Milton had practiced law in Tupelo from 1872 to 1878. In 1879, Milton H. Mabry was persuaded to come Florida for his health by his friend and future law partner, William A. Hocker, At two years old, Giddings and his younger brother Jesse were brought by their parents to Leesburg in Sumter Co., Florida. From 1883 to 1884, Milton was a member of the Florida House of Representatives. In 1884, he was elected Lt. Governor of Florida, but upon adoption of a new Florida Constitution in 1885, that office was eliminated; Mabry served out his term.  Milton H. Mabry was elected to the Supreme Court of Florida in 1891. He later became Chief Justice, serving two terms on the Court until 1903. Declining then to seek reelection, he moved from Tallahassee to Tampa to join his son in the practice of law.

Justice Mabry practiced law with his son for about two years in Tampa from 1903 to 1904. He then returned to Tallahassee. According to David E. Ward, Justice Mabry said he “didn’t care for the private practice of law.” Upon his return to Tallahassee, Milton became Clerk of the Florida Supreme Court where he served until 1915.

On Nov. 1, 1906, Giddings Mabry married Mabel Robey, daughter of Rev. George C. and Rebecca J. (Kelly) Robey. Giddings and Mabel had one daughter around 1910, Mabel Mabry. Daughter Mabel was a pleasant, friendly woman, always supportive of the firm. She married happily late in life and moved with her husband to New York.

Giddings Mabry served as City Attorney from 1910 to 1913, during which time some of his accomplishments were securing for the city the land needed for the estuary development and the property on Zack St. where the new Fire Station #1 was built.  He served as County Attorney from 1917 to 1923. 

Giddings' brother, Milton H. Mabry, Jr. became a prominent realtor in Tampa for many years. In 1953 he was still active in that work and did business under the name of Mabry, Rice & Boring. Giddings’ brother Dale Mabry was a WW1 veteran and Captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was well known for his pioneer work in lighter-than-air aircraft. He was at the controls of the airship Roma when the dirigible collapsed and struck a 2,200 volt network of power lines at Langley Field, near Norfolk, VA. in Feb. of 1922. (Tallahassee’s airport was for many years named for him. In the 1940’s, when a road was built to connect MacDill Airfield with Drew Airfield in Tampa, the road was named in his honor.)

The late D. Wallace Fields (of Carlton Fields) noted that Mr. Mabry was a thoughtful and generous man. He cared about those who worked with him. This was his legacy. He was a fine citizen, an able lawyer and a quiet, but effective influence upon partners more publicly prominent than he. He left the active practice with his firm in the mid-1960’s and died in Sept. 1968 at age 90. He was a solid rock on which to build. Throughout these times, the Firm’s founders were leaders in public, religious and civic activities. Their partnership soon began to take the forefront in the building and shaping of Tampa’s legal and real estate development.

Some of the information above is from “A History of Our Firm” compiled by Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. in 1990. It is a collection of information gathered from many sources, including interviews with then senior members of the firm and firm history by Peter J. Winders.

MILTON MABRY AND FAMILY, 1880 Census, Leesburg, Sumter Co., Fla.

Giddings was enumerated as "Elding;" an attempt by the enumerator to spell "Eldon." 
The Hockers were living 5 dwellings away, the dwellings in between them have been removed here.

Milton's occupation here is a mystery. The first word is "Fruit."   By looking at this enumerator's handwriting on many pages, the 2nd word appears to be "Susing."
It doesn't start with a "G" because all G's are consistent as it appears in Hocker's wife "Girtrude."  Considering the enumerator has misspelled Gertrude, Eldon and Jesse, "susing" may be a misspelling as well.

GIDDINGS MABRY'S EDUCATION

Giddings Mabry was educated in the Leesburg public grade schools and Leon County High School in Tallahassee.  In 1894 he entered the West Florida Seminary in Tallahassee until 1896. 

THE WEST FLORIDA SEMINARY In 1851 the Florida legislature commissioned two state “seminaries” of higher learning—one east and one west of the Suwannee River. So these date their origin from that act. However the West Florida Seminary did not actually begin classes until 1856. During the 1882-85 period, it was called the Literary College of Florida University, and after 1885 it was the Academic Department. It offered three degrees—Bachelor of Arts emphasizing Greek and Latin; Bachelor of Science emphasizing natural science and modern languages; and Bachelor of Letters, emphasizing English, German and Romance Languages. In 1901 the school advertized three branches: the academy, the normal school, and the college. After a name change to Florida State College in 1902, it added a fourth branch—the school of music. The 1901 Argo shows a student body of 171—35 in the college, 77 in the academy, and 59 in the normal program. There were also seven “special students.” The two rival student groups were the Anaxagorean Literary Society and the Platonic Debating Society—each with more than 20 members. The highlight of their year was commencement week, when each society had a day to display its talents. The school also had a Dramatic Club and an Oratorical Association. The 1905 Buckman plan reorganized higher education in Florida, segregating state-supported schools by race and gender. At that point Florida State College became Florida Female College. It was not until the aftermath of World War II that the school once again accepted male students, becoming the school we know today as Florida State University.  Information above from West Florida Seminary, 1851-1905 at lostcolleges.com

Photo courtesy of Florida Memory, State Library and Archives of Florida

 

PATRIOTIC ASPIRATIONS It was in mid-1898 when the Spanish-American war broke out that young Giddings was fired up with patriotic enthusiasm to help Col. Roosevelt free Cuba from Spanish rule and oppression..  He was ready to join when his family convinced him into completing his education. (1963-03-14 Tampa Tribune -  Giddings Mabry,  Faith that works.)   LAW DEGREE AT CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY Upon graduating from Richmond College, Giddings entered Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1898 and obtained his Bachelor of Law degree in Dec. 1900.  This was the same institution where his father, Milton, obtained his law degree in 1872. 1900-06-10 FLORIDA TIMES UNION Giddings E. Mabry, a student at Cumberland University, Tenn., attended the West Florida Seminary exercises. https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0153unse/mode/2up   Cumberland University Established as Cumberland College at Lebanon in 1842 under the patronage of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland University received a charter as a university in 1843. Except for the period from 1962 to 1982, when the name was officially Cumberland College of Tennessee, the institution has operated continuously as Cumberland University and is the oldest institution of higher education in the central South operating under its original chartered name. Shortly after its founding, Cumberland University occupied a large new Greek Revival-style building. Robert L. Caruthers, lawyer, soldier, jurist, and congressman, took a leading role in the subscription drive that produced ten thousand dollars for the new college; he became the first president of the board of trustees. In 1847 trustees at Cumberland University established a school of law. It opened a theological school and a school of engineering in 1853. By 1859 the law school was among the largest in the United States. Catalogue of Cumberland University, 1900

Memorial Hall, University building, front Memorial Hall, University building, rear Divinity Hall Caruthers Hall

GIDDINGS MABRY RETURNS TO FLORIDA
After obtaining his law degree, Giddings came back to Florida to join his parents and siblings at the fine 10-room home his father had built in Dade City. Giddings came to Tampa briefly in late Jan.1901 and immediately left for Ocala to study Florida law in the law office of his father's former law partner and friend, Judge William A. Hocker. 

1900 CENSUS, PASCO CO., DADE CITY

1901-01-29 The Florida Times Union (Tallahassee)
Giddings Mabry, son of Justice Mabry of the Supreme Court, has returned home from Lebanon Law School, where he graduated.

1901-01-29 The Tampa Tribune
Giddings Mabry arrived in Tampa in late January, 1901, and left for Ocala to join Judge Hocker.

JUDGE WILLIAM ADAM HOCKER Service: January 6, 1903-January 5, 1915. Born December 5, 1844 in Buckingham County, Virginia. Educated at Hampden-Sidney College of the University of Virginia. Admitted to bar, 1869. Moved to Florida, 1874. Member of Florida Legislature in 1877 representing Sumter County and in 1891 representing Lake County. Member of 1885 Constitutional Convention. Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit 1893-1901. Died in Jacksonville, July 16, 1918. Portrait courtesy of Florida Memory Archives & State Library   About Judge Hocker

 

 

GIDDINGS MABRY AT OCALA

1901-02-01 The Ocala Evening Star See the whole article.
Mr. Giddens [sic] Mabry, the polished and gifted son of Judge M.H. Mabry of the state supreme court, has just returned from Lebanon, Tenn. where he graduated with honors from the law school at that place. He now fills a position in Judge Hocker's office in Ocala, where he hopes to acquire as expeditiously as possible a full knowledge of Florida law.  He is certainly a promising young man and will no doubt make his mark as a lawyer.

According to the revised Florida statutes of 1892, revised in 1899, anyone desiring to practice law in Florida was required to pass an exam given by the Circuit Judge and at least two members of the Bar.  Upon passing the exam, the lawyer was entitled to practice in the several circuit and inferior court of Florida. 

 

 

 

 

 

GIDDINGS MABRY EXAMINED IN OCALA

1901-03-20 The Ocala Evening Star
William Hocker presented to the court the name of G. E. Mabry, who desired to be admitted to the practice of law at this bar, whereupon Judge Hocker appointed Messrs. R.L. Anderson and R. McConathy to assist the court in the examination of the young applicant, which examination will take place Wednesday morning in open court.

 

 

 

GIDDINGS PASSES EXAM

1901-03-21 Ocala Evening Star
CIRCUIT COURT - Wednesday's proceedings: The committee, Messrs. R.L. Anderson, W.S. Bullock and R. McConathy, appointed by the court Tuesday to examine into the qualifications of Mr. Mabry, with the court, proceeded to examine the applicant for admission to the bar.  Mr. Mabry passed a most creditable examination and demonstrated the fact that he has a quick and retentive mind.  He is a son of Judge Mabry and has been reading law for some time in Judge Hocker's office.

 

 

GIDDINGS MABRY RETURNS TO TAMPA TO START HIS ONE-MAN LAW OFFICE

Upon arriving in Tampa at age 24, Giddings Mabry established his residence in a rooming house at 409 East Street in Ft. Brooke.  There he shared a room with Herbert S. Phillips, who was admitted to practice in Tampa in Feb.1901 and would soon serve as U.S. District attorney for 25 years. in Oct. 1901, Giddings opened his private law practice in the Knight Building at the southeast corner of Franklin & Lafayette St., 

Ft Brooke was an area separate from the City of Tampa which had not yet been annexed.  It originally consisted of all the land south of Whiting St. extending north to the area later that became Ybor City. 

See The Final Battle of Fort Brooke at TampaPix.

 

 

GIDDINGS OPENS AN OFFICE IN THE KNIGHT BUILDING

1901-10-11 TRIB
LAWYER MABRY
Mr. Giddens [sic] Mabry, son of Judge Mabry of the Supreme Court, has decided to cast his lot in Tampa and will practice law in this city, occupying elegant quarters in the Knight building.  Mr. Mabry is an exceedingly bright young gentleman and will no doubt gain fame and fortune in his chosen profession.

 

 

 

Giddings Mabry soon found himself being appointed frequently by Judge Graham to defend suspects in the criminal courts.

1901-10-18 The Tampa Tribune
MERRITT SENT UP - Grant Merritt, the negro who carried away a considerable portion of the goods of L.D. Geiger...was convicted of grand larceny and sentenced to 18 months in the penitentiary.  Giddens [sic] Mabry, who has just begun the practice of law here, was appointed by Judge Graham to defend the negro, and made a creditable showing in a clear case of guilt.

1901-11-12 The Tampa Tribune
G MABRY DEFENDS WALKER
Doc Walker, burglary, was successfully defended by Attorney G. E. Mabry.
 

GIDDINGS MABRY ADMITTED TO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

1902-02-09 The Tampa Tribune
GIDDINGS MABRY APPLIES FOR HCBA
GUNBY IS CHOSEN as president of the Hillsborough Co. Bar Association.  The meeting was held in the office of Circuit Judge Joseph. B. Wall.  Applications for membership were received from G. E. Mabry and G. E. Lucas of Tampa.  E.R. Gunby was elected as president, Thomas M. Shackleford as vice-president.

1902-02-14 Tampa Tribune
Four young attorneys have been admitted this term to practice in the court.  They are Victor H. Knight, G. E. Mabry, W. B. Dickenson and C. A. Drumwright.

 

1902-08-06 The Tampa Tribune
LAWSON IS FREE - Jury Agreed At Late Hour Last Night
Attorney Mabry cleared his client of assault with intent to rape after a hard fight against trained lawyers.
Lawson was defended by G. E. Mabry; Solicitor Simonton and Samuel Borchardt represented the State.

1902-09-11 The Florida Times-Union - Former roommates travel to Tallahassee
Giddings E. Mabry, a promising young lawyer of Tampa, and Hon. H. S. Philips, nominee for State Attorney in the Fifth Circuit, are on a visit to the capital.
 

THE START OF MABRY & MABRY

When Milton H. Mabry, Sr's service as a Florida Supreme Court justice was over, he declined re-election and moved to Tampa to join his son in the private practice of law.  Giddings E. Mabry, attorney at law, became "Mabry & Mabry."

1903-01-01 The Tampa Tribune
MILTON MABRY (SR.) COMING TO TAMPA - Giddings E. Mabry has returned to Tampa from Tallahassee; his father, Judge M H Mabry, will arrive in a few days to locate here for the practice of his profession.

1903-01-01 The Tampa Tribune
A Distinguished Acquisition
Judge Mabry who retired from the Supreme Court today has already arrived in Tampa where he will make his future home. Judge Mabry will practice law in this city and the acquisition of himself and his estimable family is greatly appreciated by Tampa.  He is considered on of the shrewdest and most successful lawyers in this State, and the Tribune is confident that his most sanguine anticipations will be more than realized in his new home.

1903-01-06 The Tampa Tribune
MILTON MABRY, SR. ARRIVES IN TAMPA

1903-02-06 The Tampa Tribune - FIRST AND ONLY MENTION OF MABRY & MABRY IN FLORIDA NEWSPAPERS
WANTS HER MAIDEN NAME
Mrs. Mary M. Watson is represented by Mabry & Mabry in a divorce lawsuit against her husband, Richard L. Watson.  She also asked that her original name, Mary M. Carpenter, be restored.  "She is the same gentle lady of approximately 70 summers who shot at her husband several weeks ago for trespassing on her property.

1904-02-02 Tampa Tribune
Death of Ella Dale Mabry on Jan. 31, 1904, mother of Giddings Mabry

1904-02-18 The Weekly Tampa Tribune
HILLSBOROUGH CO. BAR ASSOCIATION ELECTS OFFICERS
Giddens [sic] E. Mabry is elected treasurer.

THE END OF MABRY & MABRY -  GIDDINGS GOES SOLO AGAIN

1904-04-12 The Tampa Tribune
By mid-April 1904, Giddings Mabry had moved his practice into the Hampton Building. 
Giddings Mabry, a leader in the temperance movement, was giving out badges to members of the WCTU (Women's Christian Temperance Union).  Over 800 women had been pinned.
 

 

 

1904-05-15 The Tampa Tribune
Mabry, G. E., Hampton Block. Pen (Peninsular) Phone 1123

The Hampton building was located on the east side of the 700 block of Franklin St. on the corner at Polk St. The Hampton Building, 1921

Behind the far right lamp post can be seen one of the three 1-story businesses that were demolished to build the Tampa Theater in 1926. Construction on the Hampton building began in late Sept. 1900 after the wood frame structures on the corner were demolished (meat market, tailor shop, barber shop, restaurant, and laundry) and was completed in late Feb. 1901. 1900-04-08 Tampa Tribune - "ANOTHER BRICK BLOCK - Hampton to Erect Handsome Structure at Franklin and Polk. By Oct. 1934 it was the home of Walgreen Drug Store.  Notice the Tampa Theater blade sign and removal of the top decorative facade of the right end of the Hampton building. On the 1903 Sanborn Fire Insurance map below can be seen outlined in blue where the Tampa Theater office tower and auditorium were built in 1926. The bank at lower left was the Citizens Bank.   WILLIAM WADE HAMPTON The Hampton block and the building were named for William Wade Hampton, Sr, a Gainesville attorney who owned a large amount of valuable property in the state including in Tampa.  Born in Albany, Georgia in 1856, he came to Florida in 1876 at Gainesville where he  founded the town's first law firm, Hampton and Hampton, with his brother Edwin, William was the first president of the Florida Bar Association. He was the first of three generations of Wade Hamptons who practiced law in Gainesville from 1875 until 2006.  In early April, 1900, he announced plans to build a new brick business block on his property at Franklin and Polk St.   Courtesy of "Men of the South" 1922   Courtesy of Florida Memory, Archives & State Library Hampton block in 1911 looking north from Franklin St. and Zack. At far right is the Citizens Bank Building.  Place your mouse on the photo to see the Hampton Building highlighted. Burgert Bros photo courtesy of the Tampa Hillsborough County Public Library System

MILTON H. MABRY SR. RETURNS TO TALLAHASSEE AS CLERK OF SUPREME COURT.

1905-03-31 The Weekly True Democrat (Tallahassee)
Mr. B. B. Wilson today retires from the office of clerk of the Supreme Court and turns over that office to Judge M. H. Mabry....of Tampa, an ex-Judge of the Supreme Court and is of course thoroughly conversant with the duties upon which he is entering, as well as a gentleman very highly esteemed, especially among the legal fraternity of the State.

 

GIDDINGS MABRY JOINS TAMPA BOARD OF TRADE, 1905

1905-03-12 The Tampa Tribune
Is your name on this list?
Official list of the member of Tampa's Board of Trade, Mabry, G.E., attorney-at-law, Hampton building.
Other members have been omitted.

1905-06-13 The Tampa Tribune Giddings Mabry Camping Trip
Giddens [sic] Mabry yesterday chaperoned a hunting and fishing party to Green Springs, where the boys will spend about 10 days

1905-06-20 The Tampa Tribune - Read the whole article.
MABRY WAS CHIEF COOK, demonstrated rare culinary ability in Green Springs Camp.
Seven boys, counting Mabry, returned from Green Springs where they camped out for a week and enjoyed life to the fullest.  Besides his other duties, Mr. Mabry acted as chief cook and gained 10 pounds on the menu he prepared.  He was so successful that he was offered a steady salary of $4 a week to surrender his legal career in Tampa and devote himself exclusively to the culinary art at the Springs, an offer which his natural modest and retiring disposition impelled him to refuse.  Two tents and a house were needed to accommodate the Tampa youth. Mr. Mabry, who is an expert carpenter as well as a cook and barrister, building a handsome and commodious one story residence, designated "Giddings' Castle," on the bluff near the hotel, during leisure moments when not cooking, cutting wood, bathing, fishing, hunting, sleeping, or otherwise occupied.

MARRIAGE OF GIDDINGS MABRY & MABEL ROBEY

1906-10-07 The Tampa Tribune
MABRY - ROBEY
A wedding that will be of general interest all over Tampa and especially in Hyde Park, will be that of Miss Mabel Robey and Mr. Giddings E. Mabry.  This will take place the first part of November.  Both Miss Robey and Mr. Mabry have endeared themselves to a host of friends in Tampa and their future happiness is the wish of all who know them.

1906-10-16 The Tampa Tribune
MABRY-ROBEY
The following invitations were issued yesterday:  "Rev. and Mrs. George W. Robey invite you to be present at the marriage of their daughter, Mabel, to Mr. Giddings Eldon Mabry, on the evening of Thursday, the first of November at 7:30 o'clock, First Baptist Church, Tampa, Fla."
 

On Nov. 1, 1906, Giddings married Iowa-born Miss Mabel Robey, a daughter of the Rev. George C. and Rebecca J. (Kelly) Robey.

1906-11-02 Tampa Tribune  Read a detailed article about the wedding.
1906-11-04 Tampa Tribune - Read another detailed account of the wedding.
 

FRAZIER & MABRY PARTNERSHIP IN THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING

	1907-01-08 The Tampa Tribune  In Jan. 1907, Giddings Mabry entered into a partnership with Joseph Wheeler Frazier as Frazier & Mabry in the First National Bank building on the 400 block of Franklin St. (the southwest corner of Franklin and Madison street.)  Mabry had previously opened his office in the Hampton Building; the bank was the location of J. W. Frazier's office before they formed their partnership.

According to his 1910 Census in Tampa, Joseph W. Frazier (38) was born circa 1871 in Tennessee. He had been married for six years to wife Nellie (Lydia Cornelia Henry), who was 27, born in Florida. their children were Joseph Jr., Katherine and Edward, all born in Florida.  According to a user-submitted tree of this family, Lydia was a daughter of William Marion Hendry, of the prominent Hendry family in Tampa, and Susan C. Wall, a daughter of Judge Perry Green Wall.  Susan's brothers included John P. Wall, physician and mayor of Tampa.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF TAMPA
The First National Bank started life as "The Bank of Tampa" in 1883 in a small wood frame structure on Washington St. just west of Franklin St.  This photo from the Hampton Dunn Collection was taken at least 11 years after the bank had moved out and occupied its third location at Franklin & Madison St.  According to Hampton Dunn, the signage was added on by a photo artist.  Proof is that the bank was not "The First National Bank" until 1895 when it occupied its 3rd location.  While in this shack, and at its 1886 new brick building, it was "The Bank of Tampa."  This indicates that the artist altered the photo to add the sign after the bank had changed its name--after 1895.  By this time this location was in bad shape.  It did NOT look like this when the bank occupied it.	On the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps below, you can see there was another wood frame structure to the right of the bank.  The wood planks protruding from the roof in the photo indicate that this adjacent building shared part of the roof, and when that building was torn down, the planks were cut between them. Seen below, the old bank building was vacant and had moved to the new brick building on the opposite side of the street to the corner.
SECOND LOCATION In 1886 the first brick building in Tampa was built for the bank at the southwest corner of Franklin and Washington St. This Burgert Bros. photo from the University of South Florida digital collection is described as "Bank of Tampa Building on southwest corner of Franklin (100 block) and Washington (200 block) streets with employees" and is dated 1886.  In the photo, Franklin St. is on the left, Washington St. on the right.
	Notice decorative woodwork on the sign and trees have been added..
The bank remained here until it moved into its third location at Franklin and Madison streets in 1895-1896.
THIRD LOCATION In mid-1894 construction began on the new First National Bank building at the southwest corner of Franklin and Madison.  Completed by January 1895, the marble front facade was the most prominent architectural feature and was a example of Richarsonian Romanesque influence. The building architecture was so unique it made the Register of Historic buildings in 1974, even though the building had been taken down in 1925.  Read on later about how this took place. This is the building that Joseph Frazier occupied when Mabry joined him in 1907.
	The Bank of Tampa moved from Franklin & Washington St. to this building in early 1895, becoming the First National Bank.     The First National Bank bldg at at 414-416 Franklin St., the northwest corner of Franklin St. and Madison. Photo from the Tampa Tribune Midwinter edition, Jan. 1900.   The First National Bank building in 1920
The 1913 Burgert Bros. photo below shows an elevated view of Franklin Street looking north. The First National Bank building can be seen on the left side of the street with flag on the roof.  The building which appears unfinished seen immediately to the left of the dome was the new Hillsboro Hotel. The south face was built practically without windows because the next phase was to expand it even taller on this side.  The building under construction in the distance is the Citizens Bank tower at Franklin and Zack Street. At the time of this photo, the bank occupied the building directly across Franklin St seen here with the "witch hat" roof and flag on its corner tower.   1895 Sanford Fire Insurance map Franklin St. between Madison and Lafayette. Pink structures are brick, wood frame in yellow, stone in blue.       By mid-1895, the the first brick building in Tampa, the 2nd home of the Bank of Tampa, became a saloon and storage. In the early 1910s the old bank building became the home of the Tampa Times which was owned by D. B. McKay.  McKay soon installed radio equipment and it also housed WDAE radio station with towering antenna on the roof. The Times moved out when the paper was bought by the Tampa Tribune in 1958 becoming the Tampa Tribune-Times. The Tribune became the morning paper and the Times the evening paper.   In November 1960, this building became the home of Tampa Hardware Co. founded in 1884 as Clarke & Knight (predecessor to Knight & Wall Hardware.)  It was bought by the Tampa Merchants Association in 1963 who used the two 9,500 sq. ft. floors with their collections department on the 2nd floor. By this time the building was a composite of two buildings which had been consolidated years earlier.  It was then demolished in 1980 with other properties in the area to build the One Tampa City Center complex.     The Times Building in 1958 Photo courtesy of the Hampton Dunn Collection, Sunland Tribune.

 

FRAZIER & MABRY IN THE HAMPTON BUILDING By 1910, Frazier & Mabry occupied rooms 6, 7 & 8 in the Hampton building at Franklin & Polk, where Mabry previously had his office.  The bank location may have lacked space for growth.                               Nellie was Frazier's wife.

1910-02-13 The Tampa Tribune
GIDDINGS MABRY CAMPAIGNS FOR D.B. McKAY FOR TAMPA MAYOR
MCKAY RALLY TO BE HELD AT COURTHOUSE TONIGHT- G. E. Mabry will preside - Municipal Band to be Present - Several speakers to be heard.  With G.E. Mabry presiding, the first rally at the Courthouse Square since the first municipal primary in the interest of candidate D. B. McKay, will be held tonight beginning at 8 o'clock.  Judge Raney, John P. Wall, M. B. Macfarlane, and Rev. Joe Sherouse are scheduled as the speakers of the evening and the McKay forces are expecting a large crowd present.

1910-04-22 The Tampa Tribune
FRECKER CAUSE GETS HOT SHOT - McKay Forces Hold Enthusiastic Rally - Speaking Continues Until 11:45 With Mabry, McKay, Raney, Sherouse and Wall Holding the Floor
The meeting was presided over by G. E. Mabry, who made the first address.  Mr. Mabry opened by stating that this is an important period in the growth of the city and that at this time, important issues confront the people...   Read all of Mabry's comments about why he supports McKay and not Frecker, the incumbent.

Read about this period in Tampa political history and the friction between Donald Brenham McKay & the controversial Wm. Frecker.

GIDDINGS MABRY AMD FAMILY ON THE 1910 CENSUS

The April 1, 1910 Census in Tampa finds Giddings E. Mabry, living at 207 Cardy St. in Hyde Park, age 32, married for 3 years to 32 year old Mabel R. Mabry,  Giddings's occupation was "lawyer, general practice" In their home was their 7 month old daughter, Mabel Mabry.  Listed last is Bessie Brown, their cook, a 28 year old widow.. 

GIDDINGS MABRY, TAMPA CITY ATTORNEY

1910-06-22 The Tampa Tribune
MAYOR MAKES APPOINTMENTS
On Jun. 21, 1910, Giddings Mabry was chosen by newly-elected mayor Donald Brenham McKay to serve as City Attorney, serving until 1913. Among the first of his many accomplishments, Giddings secured land that enabled development of the Ybor channel and estuary area. 
 

Construction of Ybor Channel, the key project in Tampa's harbor development program, was made possible by a Federal appropriation of $1,750,000 authorized June 25, 1910. The channel was dredged in a marsh which had once been part of the Fort Brooke military reservation and was then owned by four businessmen.  Another large tract was held in the name of Charles Ballit had been deeded to him by his father-in-law, Stephen M. Sparkman, before the latter became congressman: The U.S. government insisted that the city must secure at least 700 feet on each side of the channel before dredging would be started. Giddings Mabry, as city attorney, started negotiations immediately with the property owners and the necessary land was secured late in 1911, the arrangements providing that the owners should be paid with certificates which could be used to pay taxes on remaining lands for eight years. Dredging was started February 19, 1912, and proceeded rapidly thereafter.

 

In 1911, Giddings Mabry published a professional card in the Martindale legal directory. His Martindale card (abbreviated version shown at right,) displayed in the Heritage Conference Room at Carlton Fields, read: “Careful, personal attention given to every item of business, large or small. I hold no Claims. I either collect them within a reasonable time or return them. No inquiries necessary on claims sent to me. I report frequently and regularly with each claim. All commercial reports are thorough, reliable and up-to-date and are made promptly.”

Martindale's Directory was first published in 1868 by James B. Martindale, a lawyer and businessman. The first edition of Hubbell's Legal Directory was published in 1870. By 1896, Martindale's Directory included basic information that still appears in today's Martindale-Hubbell Directory. This edition introduced law digests for all the states and provinces. The same year, the 26th edition of the Hubbell's Legal Directory was published.  By combining the Martindale's Directory and Hubbell's Legal Directory, the first edition of the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory was published in 1931 as a two-volume set.  (Wikipedia)

 

 

1911-03-01 The Tampa Tribune - LAST MENTION OF FRAZIER & MABRY

This March 1911 court session was the last mention of Frazier & Mabry representing clients together. Other cases have been edited out.

GIDDINGS MABRY HANDLES LAND ISSUES FOR NEW FIRE STATION

As city attorney, in March 1911, Giddings was called to negotiate contracts with property owners of land surrounding the site of the planned, new Tampa Fire Station at Zack and Jefferson St.  This location would be only the 2nd site of Fire Station #1, after being housed in the ramshackle City Hall built in 1892 at Lafayette between Florida Ave. and Franklin St.  Today this building on Zack Street is the Tampa Firefighters Museum, and the old 1892 City Hall building was replaced in 1915 by the old historic City Hall we have today.  See Burgert Bros. page 4 for close ups of the men.

Previous Fire Station #1 in City Hall, 1901
This photo shows the east-facing front of the building, Florida Avenue.

These photos are courtesy of Bill Townsend's "Tampa's Bravest".

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEMINOLE HEIGHTS AND SUWANEE HEIGHTS

In 1911 the Seminole Development Company purchased and developed 40 acres three miles north of downtown Tampa and Seminole Heights was born. Following their lead, in 1911, the Mutual Development Company surveyed and plotted land adjacent to Seminole Heights. Named Suwanee Heights, it too, was a restricted subdivision.  Giddings Mabry was a stockholder and served as a director.  In 1913, when the company amended its charter, Mabry was the secretary and one of five directors.

	The Tampa Times - Mar. 8, 1912  See this ad larger.

See this ad larger.

 

1912-04-26 THREE THINGS TAMPA NEEDS City Attorney Giddings Mabry spoke at the first luncheon of the Tampa Civic Club on the 3rd floor of the YMCA building. Playgrounds Jobs Municipal gardens Read the whole article.

 

MAYOR DONALD BRENHAM MCKAY RE-ELECTED. In June 1912, Mayor D. B. McKay was re-elected for a 2nd consecutive term; this time for 4 years.

 

MABRY RESIGNS AS CITY ATTORNEY On May 27, 1913, Giddings Mabry resigned from the position of City Attorney to continue his private law practice and business ventures. Mayor McKay chose Judge Charles B. Parkhill to replace him.
Charles Breckinridge Parkhill was the son of Captain George W. and Elizabeth Bellamy Parkhill and was born in the family farm in Leon County, Florida on June 23, 1859.Parkhill obtained his degree at the University of Virginia, and was admitted to the Florida bar in 1882 after moving to Pensacola. For several years he was a member of the Escambia Rifles, then Captain of the First Regiment of the Florida State Troops and finally Major of the Third Battalion of the Florida State Troops. He was a member and president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, a Florida State Bar Association member, and also a member of the American Legion, The Elks, Beta Theta Phi and a grand master of the Knights of Pythias. Parkhill was a State Senator for Escambia County, Florida from 1888 till 1890. He then became a county solicitor, before becoming a Judge of First Judicial Circuit from 1904 till 1905. A Democrat, he took an active part serving on councils and making speeches. He was appointed to the supreme court when Francis B. Carter resigned in 1905, he then stood and was elected for the next six year term in 1906. He was known for his "careful application, fairness and conscientious discharge of his duty". At the end of Justice Parkhill's term, the supreme court was reduced from six to five justices. Therefore when Justice Parkhill resigned at the end of his term there was no replacement. He retired from the court intending to run for the third congressional district of Florida in place of his cousin Dannite H. Mays the current serving congressman. He had also been encouraged to run in the previous congressional elections[9] but declined to run citing that he was not willing to seek another position at the start of his current office.  After his unsuccessful attempt for congress he returned to his law practice and in 1913, his legal career as Tampa city attorney. At the onset of World War 1, he served in Washington D.C. and abroad as a Major in the department of judge advocate. In 1920 he returned to Tampa and was elected state attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit and served until his death.	Painted portrait of Florida's 34th Supreme Court Justice Charles B. Parkhill. Courtesy of Florida Memory, State Library and Archives of Florida
Judge Parkhill married Genevieve Perry in 1885, the daughter of Governor Edward A. Perry.  They had one daughter together before Genevieve died just one year later in 1886.  Later in 1891 he married Helen Wall, the daughter of Judge Joseph Baisden Wall.  In total he had five daughters and three sons, one dying a year before he did. Parkhill died in Houston, Texas on May 13, 1933 at the house of one of his daughters, and was taken back to his Tampa home 2 days later before being buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.  (Wikipedia)

 

 

DOYLE ELAM CARLTON   Doyle Elam Carlton (Jul 6, 1885* - Oct 25, 1972) Twenty-fifth governor of Florida. Doyle E. Carlton was born on July 6, 1885* just west of present-day Wauchula; he was one of at least seven sons and one daughter of Albert Carlton & Martha Winfield McEwen Carlton.    At right, Albert and Martha McEwen Carlton with their daughter and eight sons. Place your cursor on the photo to see their names. Photo courtesy of Florida Memory, State Library & Archives of Florida.   *Many sources list Governor Carlton's birth date as 1887. However, there is credible evidence that 1885 is the correct date.   Photo at left courtesy of Rootsweb freepages "Cracker Barrel - Albert & Martha Carlton Family"       Albert Carlton (1845-1925) & Martha McEwen         Carlton (1851-1944), Wauchula, Fla.

EDUCATION - STETSON UNIVERSITY, DELAND, FLA. Carlton received his education in the public schools of DeSoto County, Florida, and attended Stetson University from 1903 to 1910 (in which he maintained a lifelong interest). The article at right indicates Carlton was a student at Stetson in Feb. 1903; his name appears as one of the many students who supported the school's president by signing the resolution. JOHN B. STETSON, FOUNDER, AND PRES. DR. JOHN F. FORBES The resolution was prompted by prior accusations in 1902 by the school's founder, John B. Stetson, attacking President Dr. John F. Forbes' character and reputation.  Stetson had previously made what Forbes and the university trustees, and students, considered to be libelous and slanderous statements about Forbes in area newspapers in the previous six months of 1902.  This included a "blue book" that was being handed out to young boys at the university and being sent all over the state by his "hired man." for the purpose of prejudicing those people against Forbes, killing the school, and thus gaining his object--the downfall of Forbes.  Forbes was persuaded by many supporters and his lawyers to bring a libel and slander lawsuit against Stetson which he did in early Feb. 1903 for $250,000.  Three more lawsuits were filed against Stetson by other parties claiming damages as well.   The previous year, on Sep. 25, 1902, it was announced that the Stetson University board of trustees heard testimony from 21 persons, meeting in a session lasting 16 hours.  By unanimous vote, they  declared charges against Forbes as positively false and expressed confidence in Dr. Forbes in every way. "Persons who heard the proceedings say that Dr. Forbes need not have made any defense against the evidence presented against him, which when sifted down, could be traced back directly to a discharged steward."  "The steward referred to was an ex-preacher, who was discharged for good and sufficient reasons, and seemed to have sought revenge by creating a sensation." "Some of the trustees were angry for having to come all this way and listen to such 'rot' and some of them did not hesitate in expressing their indignation." As a result of Dr. Forbes being cleared, John B. Stetson announced in late Jan. 1903 he had cut the University out of his will, depriving it of over half a million dollars, believing the trustees did wrong in clearing Dr. Forbes.

See all the names of the signers.

1904	STETSON UNIVERSITY GLEE CLUB	1905

                
 

Photos courtesy of the Stetson University Archives

Doyle Carlton, middle row, far left, 1905

 

Doyle Carlton, front row, 2nd from left, 1907

1909 Senior Class graduates get together.
See the whole, uncropped image.

 

Carlton graduated from Stetson in June 1910.

  

CARLTON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

Carlton then entered Chicago University in 1909, from which he received the degree of A.B. 

 

1909-09-06 The (Chicago) Inter Ocean
Carlton was listed as one of next year's Florida candidates for degrees.  This article has been edited to show only the Florida graduates.

 

While at Chicago, he was captain of the University’s debate team and gained national recognition as a budding orator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ultimately, he also received five honorary doctoral degrees from various universities. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1912, Carlton joined in a partnership with Giddings E. Mabry on July 1, 1912.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1910 CENSUS, COOK COUNTY, CHICAGO, ILL.

Doyle E. Carlton was living as a lodger on the campus of the University of Chicago. The census was in April and he was born in July, so he would turn 25 in July, putting his birth year at 1885.  All the students had an occupation of "none."

 

 

CARLTON AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NY.
The "A.B.: degree next to his name was his degree from Chicago University.  "Wauchula" misspelled every time.
The circled X means his location may be outdated.

 

 

 

1912-06-09 TAMPA TRIBUNE - DOYLE CARLTON RETURNS FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

In order to take the examination for admission to the Florida Bar at an earlier time than Chicago curriculum permitted, he transferred in his last year of law study to Columbia University. He received his undergraduate degree and his law degree from Columbia University in New York, receiving the degree of L.L. B. there in 1912.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MABRY & CARLTON PARTNERSHIP

The Mabrys and the Carltons were prominent Florida families who were closely associated. There is no record of the circumstances that brought Giddings Mabry & Doyle Carlton together, but it was probably a result of a family association between Milton Mabry, Sr. and Albert Carlton.

In July 1912 Doyle Carlton joined Mabry in his private practice, and once again, Mabry had a law partner.

Original announcement in the Heritage Conference Room of Carlton Fields, PA.	1912-07-07 TAMPA TRIBUNE - Wauchula news Carlton leaves for Tampa Doyle E. Carlton left this morning for Tampa where he has formed a partnership with G. E. Mabry for the practice of law.

 

1912-07-15 TAMPA TIMES
CARLTON - RAY WEDDING ANNOUNCED

On July 30, 1912, Doyle married Nell Beauchamp Ray whom he met at Stetson University. She was born in Meridian, MS on January 27, 1891, and died February 18, 1982 in Tampa. For years they lived in a stately two-story home on the north corner of Bayshore Blvd. and Carolina St. The home was demolished in the 1970s to make way for town houses which now occupy the site and are identified as “Governor’s Place.”

 

1912-07-31 TIMES Carlton-Ray wedding

Read the whole article.

 

GIDDINGS MABRY & THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN HYDE PARK

Giddings Mabry was a devout Baptist and member of the old First Baptist Church in Hyde Park. In March 1914, he went before City Council with a request to change the paving on the SW corner of Plant Ave. and Lafayette St. for the purpose of building a "handsome church edifice" on that corner. The existing paving made a sharp corner on the SW of the intersection and Mabry's proposal was to round off the corner and carry back the sidewalk.  Church members were willing to donate the additional property of the street to the city if the city would pay the expense of changing the paving.  Plans were to build a church and Sunday School building which would cost around $100,000.  It was to be built on the west side of the site occupied by the old tabernacle which was being used as a Sunday School.

First Baptist Church building nearing completion on corner of West Lafayette Street and Plant Avenue, Mar. 22, 1924.
Burgert Bros. photo courtesy of the Tampa-Hillsborough Co. Public Library System.

MABRY & CARLTON PROSPERS

Soon after Mr. Carlton joined Mr. Mabry, the firm began to prosper. The Hubbell Law Directory listed nine clients including Tampa Dairy Company, which eventually became a part of the Borden Company.

Doyle Carlton was a superb public speaker and handled the firm’s trial work during this period, while Mr. Mabry specialized in title examinations. Mr. Carlton had a distinguished political career. He was elected to the State Senate from 1917-19 as the State Senator from the 11th District, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. He is credited with leading the fight in Tallahassee for women’s suffrage, for free school books and for creation of the first state road board. From 1926-28, he was City Attorney of Tampa. The Florida land boom commenced in the early 20’s, and the following years brought the firm prosperity through real estate development and litigation.

 

1917-01-02 TAMPA TIMES

GIDDINGS MABRY BEGINS POSITION AS COUNTY ATTORNEY
The new board of commissioners went into into business session and on a motion by T. P. Lightfoot, J.G. Yeats of Port Tampa City was elected chairman.  County officers were appointed as follows:  G. E. Mabry, county attorney; Dr. Roscoe E. Glass, physician; W. P. Bispham of Plant City, superintendent of the county farm; T. L. Hackney, captain of the convict camp. The commissioners adjourned at noon to meet at 2 o'clock at which time they went to the county farm to inspect that place and familiarize themselves with conditions there.

Giddings Mabry served as County attorney from 1917 to 1923 and as vice president of the Hillsborough Co. Bar association in 1917.  He was elected president of the HCBA in 1918.  Mabry was a member of the bar associations of Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida and the American Bar Association, Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Masonic Lodge, board member of the YMCA, Old Peoples Home of Tampa, Baptist Children's Home of Lakeland.
 

MABRY & CARLTON IN THE STOVALL BUILDING

On Jan. 2, 1921, Mabry & Carlton moved to the 4th floor of the brand new 7-story Stovall building at the southwest corner of Tampa St. and Madison, occupying 6 offices.

The opening of the building made front page news in Section 2 of the Tribune--and why not, Stovall owned the Tribune.
 

WALLACE FISHER STOVALL
	From "Men of the South, A Work for the Newspaper Reference Library" (Stovall was the Tampa editor.) WALLACE FISHER STOVALL (1922) "W.F. Stovall, President and Manager of The Tribune Publishing Co. of Tampa and editor of The Tampa Tribune is not only a conspicuous example of success achieved by patient and untiring effort, but by reason of the well-directed work done through his paper for the benefit of Tampa and the State of Florida, has become one of the most valued and indispensable citizens of that great and growing commonwealth. Thrown at an early age entirely at his own resources, he has steadily climbed upward on the toilsome ladder of public life, and while yet a young man, has reached a position of great influence in the field to which is labors have been consistently and exclusively devoted."
Born in Elizabethtown, Ky on Jan. 4, 1869, the son of Jasper and Eliza (Duncan) Stovall. Left an orphan at age five, he spent his early years on a farm while attending public schools of his native town. He moved to Florida in 1886 at 17 years old and entered into the business life with a job at a country newspaper at Lake Weir and later Ocala, Sumterville, then Bartow. Starting at the "bottom" he learned the business first in the laborious print shops. In 1890 at age 21, he established The Polk County News at Bartow, at which he was the owner, editor and general manager, and often the printer and pressman. He saw an inviting opportunity in Tampa and so his Polk County News was left behind in Bartow for a promise of future commercial importance. In 1893 The Tampa Tribune was born. The paper soon kept the pace of development and advancement of Tampa and went from a "blanket sheet" with out-of-date equipment and limited circulation to become in 27 years the leading journal south of Jacksonville, with modern equipment, Associate Press service, and the largest, most complete, it became the most prosperous and progressive newspaper in South Florida. He recently completed the construction of the W. F. Stovall building, a modern seven-story office building. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a Mason. Wallace F. Stovall died on Apr 16, 1950 at age 81. Read his lengthy obit in the Tampa Tribune. Read his obit in the Tampa Times.  Wallace F. Stovall died on Apr 16, 1950 at age 81.  Read his lengthy obit in the Tampa Tribune.  Read his obit in the Tampa Times

STOVALL BUILDING IN 1931
The new 13-story First National Bank Building was built in 1925 at the same location where the 1895 bank was built.

JUDGE O K REAVES JOINS MABRY & CARLTON

In 1921, Mabry and Carlton sought “the best lawyer in Florida” to give assistance and recruited Judge O. K. Reaves of Bradenton.  Judge Reaves joined the firm in 1921.

   

Original announcement in the Heritage Conference Room of Carlton Fields, PA.

 

MEMBERS OF THE 1911 FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	OK Reaves at 34 Photos courtesy of Florida Memory, State Library & Archives of Florida

O.K. Reaves was born on October 16, 1877 near Sarasota, Florida. He was a son of farmer Charles Lee Reaves and Martha Tatum Reaves.   

Reaves was educated in the public schools of Manatee County and Massey’s Business College in Jacksonville. He prepared for his long career by attending Stetson University Law School, graduating with his L.L.B. degree in the class of 1903, just 3 years after the institution was founded. Fifty years later he was honored at Stetson (with other 50-year graduates) by former Governor Carlton as the principal speaker for the occasion.

The initials “O. K. “ didn’t stand for anything, he wrote the initials without periods. When his father saw his new baby in 1877, he said, "This baby is OK”. His granddaughter Betty Lou Reaves Turner confirmed this; it was his actual name because of what his father had said.

It is reported that the Reaves family was not a well-to-do family. One story was that Judge attributed his long life to the fact that at age 18 he had his teeth extracted by a blacksmith.

Long before he joined the firm, O.K. Reaves married Minnie Kay of Bradenton in 1908.  Judge and Mrs. Reaves had one child – Charles K. Reaves, who became a friend of Wally Fields at Stetson. Charles K. Reaves married Virginia Morris, sister of the two brothers (from Houston) who owned and ran Stewart Title.

Reaves began his law practice in Bradenton (Bradentown back then) in 1903, establishing himself in a highly competent fashion for the next 12 years, until 1915 (at least part of the time with a Mr. Singletary.) They sat across from one another at their “partnership desk” which Reaves later used during his judgeship. Several years before his death, he gave this desk to Wm. Reece Smith, Jr., who used it in his office until his death in 2013.   Reece regarded it as his highest compliment as a lawyer.

             

Reaves represented Manatee County in the Florida House of Representatives from 1911 to 1913, but did not seek reelection. It may be Governor Carlton who once said that Reaves made such an impression in those two years that soon he would surely have been Speaker of the House.

In 1914, the Governor of Florida offered to appoint him as Attorney General of Florida, but later withdrew the offer without explanation. Reaves was appointed Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in 1915 and held that office until 1921. In 1921 the salary of a Circuit Judge was $5,000 a year.

At the time Judge Reaves was a Circuit Court Judge his circuit ran all the way from Manatee County to Key West and he traveled by steamboat from county to county trying cases. Carlton had tried many cases before Judge Reaves and on one of those occasions asked him if he’d be interested in joining the Mabry & Carlton firm to practice law. Later Judge Reaves accepted the invitation.

 

Reaves resigned from the bench in 1921 and moved his family to Tampa, practicing with Mabry and Carlton the rest of his life. The firm name of Mabry, Reaves & Carlton was used from 1921 to 1929.  His resignation from the bench created considerable concern in the Sixth Judicial District. Its citizens petitioned him to reconsider.

In response, Judge Reaves wrote a powerful letter to the editor of the Bradenton Herald providing not only an explanation for his resignation but also an admonition in which he deplored the lynchings that were not infrequent back then. Referring to the guarantees of the U.S. Constitution, he noted that they were “violated in every lynching” and added: “Let no man assume to be wiser than the law…to keep within the law will deter crime; to get without the law is crime and will produce crime…this circuit must be altogether free from the mob spirit.”

READ HIS WHOLE LETTER

 

In 1923, two years after he joined Mabry & Carlton, Reaves was offered but declined a seat on the Florida Supreme Court which at the time referred to him as “one of the two best lawyers in Florida.” Reaves was considered to be the best chancery lawyer in Florida.

Judge Reaves' son, Charles Lee Reaves, and wife Virginia, had 3 daughters: Virginia, known to all as Ginger, Betty Lou (Turner), and Kay the youngest.

Judge O. K. Reaves, West Central Florida Leviathan, by Judge Morison Buck, 1998
Courtesy of USF Scholar Commons

1923-01-05 Tampa Tribune - T. J. SHACKLEFORD MAY SUCCEED JUDGE MABRY
THE TRIBUNE published an entire article  mentioning the wrong Mabry; JUDGE MILTON MABRY passed away in Tampa in 1919.

1923-01-06 TAMPA TRIBUNE SHACKLEFORD SUCCEEDS G. E. MABRY
The Tribune did not call attention to the error the next day.

BUILDERS OF TAMPA - GIDDINGS E. MABRY
The Tribune has forgotten Mabry's public office service as County attorney.

 

The Development of Davis Islands The City of Tampa had purchased the 16 acres of Little Grassy Island from Mrs. Mary Brown for $25,000. Big Grassy Island or Depot Key which included 104 acres was owned by the estates of three Southwestern Florida pioneers: Micajay C. Brown, William B. Henderson and William Whitaker. The grassy islands looking north before dredging, Feb. 4, 1925, with Hyde Park, the Hillsborough River and downtown Tampa in the background and Seddon Island at far right. Courtesy of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System Burgert Bros. Collection.
The Tampa firm of Mabry, Reaves & Carlton, retained by D. P. Davis and Hamner, made an offer to purchase Little Grassy Island and the adjacent submerged lands. The Mabry firm was an excellent choice for Mabry had practiced law in Tampa since 1901 and had been City Attorney when the land had been secured for estuary development.	In order to be absolutely sure that the City had the right to sell the land to Davis, a friendly appeal was filed to Judge Robles' decision.  The Circuit Court upheld the decision which was then friendly-appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, which upheld the lower court decision in Sept. 1924. Judge Reaves knew the law inside out and carried much clout in the Supreme Court appeal.  Finally after many conferences were held between the firm and City Attorney H. S. Hampton on March 4, 1924, the City of Tampa accepted Davis’ offer to purchase Little Grassy Island and adjacent submerged land for $200,000.
The first acquisition by D. P. Davis was of the Brown and Henderson lands for which he paid $100,000 to the City on a time payment basis. Next, $50,000 was paid for the Whitaker portion of land. BY WALLY FIELDS: DAVIS ISLANDS “Judge Reaves was employed by a man by the name of Davis (D.P.Davis) who bought up three unoccupied islands in Hillsborough Bay near the downtown section as it is today. Judge Reaves did all of the legal work in getting the permits from the State and from the local authorities, and a deed to the islands from the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of Florida.  Davis built sea walls around the islands and filled in behind them to create additional land, making what is known today as Davis Islands. “The work that Judge Reaves did was remarkable. It probably couldn’t have been done today, because of the many agencies that have jurisdiction over navigable waters." READ MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF DAVIS ISLANDS, D.P. DAVIS, AND HIS MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE, here at TampaPix.

 

This letterhead shows why Mabry, Reaves & Carlton occupied several offices in the Stovall building.
Four associates were onboard.  J.C. Stuckey was a brother of Judge Reaves' secretary.

In 1928 the law firm moved its offices into the new 13-story First National Bank Building at the corner of Franklin and Twiggs Streets, with the firm’s offices occupying the 12th floor of the building.

FOURTH HOME OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK

1925-02-20 TIMES Tentative plans for 10-story Bank building
Stockholders of the First National Bank approved tentative plans of President T.C. Taliaferro to build a 10-story bank and office building on the site of the present 4-story structure at Franklin and Madison streets.  Holmes & Winslow of New York are the architects and final plans are expected to be completed soon.

1925-04-03 Plans and specifications on file.
The bank, Holmes & Winslow of NY, and Franklin O. Adams, resident architect, are calling for a 10-story building at the present bank site.  Bids to be closed April 13.  About 15 contractors from Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Newark, Philadelphia, Toledo, Sarasota, and five from Tampa were expected to bid on the construction.

Read the whole article

 

	Construction on the new 13-story First National Bank building began in 1924 with the removal of the 1895 marble-faced building.  The bank moved into temporary offices in the next to the Knight & Wall Hardware store before demolition began in 1925.   PA 2344 1926-05-12 near completion PA 7758 1926-08-02 vault door -08 SAFETY DEP BOX VAULT DOOR PA 1180 1925-09-08 CONSTRUCTION Photo courtesy of the Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library System Burgert Bros Collection.	CLICK TO SEE THIS PHOTO LARGER Foundation Construction by Spencer, White & Prentis, New York Sep. 8, 1925
1926-02-25 PA 36 CONSTRUCTION See the entire photo above before cropping.  Read about the Greeson Theater building seen at the bottom right corner  NEARING COMPLETION  May 12, 1926 Photo courtesy of the Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library System Burgert Bros Collection PA 2344   Oct. 25, 1926   PA 201 Click to read the signage in the top two floors windows.		The steelwork was completed in late Dec. 1925.
Sep. 8, 1926 - First National Bank safely deposit box vault PA 8011 Aug. 2, 1926 -  First National Bank assets vault door
Sep. 8, 1926 LOBBY     MABRY, REAVES & CARLTON MOVES INTO THE NEW FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING

This late 1950s photo shows the rarely-photographed south face of the building.  The parking lot seen in the foreground was built in the place where the 1891 county courthouse was demolished in 1953.

Except for the Floridan Hotel, this building was the tallest of the 1920s structures still standing in the 1990s. It was in many respects like the Chicago-style skyscrapers of the 1880s and 90s in its straightforward base-shaft-capitol treatment of the facade, with ground floor mezzanine banking area and arched top windows, with its brick and terra-cotta cladding of the steel frame. But the base especially is a concession to the Renaissance Revival style.

The south and west sides are, alas, not as nice, but even the Chicago's Louis Sullivan usually gave only two sides of a building his extensive detailing.

Color by TampaPix.

These photos from the USF Digital Commons, Sape Zylstra collection show the building from the corner of Franklin and Madison streets circa late 1980s when Wolf Brothers clothing store occupied the first floor.

Carlton and Reaves tried cases as a team, with Reaves presenting the law and interrogating witnesses and Carlton using his exceptional oratorical abilities in closing arguments and in presenting appeals. Once, while defending a client sued by a small loan company, Carlton allegedly referred to the plaintiff in closing argument as a “buzzard.” He went on to say he “didn’t have anything against the buzzard," but he "just didn’t like the business he was in.”

 

Carlton assumed the office of governor on January 8, 1929. He was the youngest ever (41) to assume this office at the time. Florida Supreme Court Justice Whitfield described Carlton’s four years of service as “the most progressive administration in memory.” Carlton was immensely popular and that popularity followed him throughout his career. He was widely acclaimed for his integrity and his commitment to fiscal responsibility. He voluntarily reduced his salary from $7,500 per year to $5,000 per year in his effort to balance the State’s budget. He was offered a bribe of $100,000 “to put his name to the bill.” His reply was “if my name is worth that much, I think I’ll just keep it.”

Carlton served as governor during one of the most critical peacetime periods in Florida's history. During his term, he faced several difficult problems, helping the state through them all. The collapse of the state's land boom, a violent hurricane hit the state, a Mediterranean fruit fly infestation, and the Great Depression began during his term. He cut many state jobs in an attempt to reduce the state's budget. Leland Hawes, historical writer for The Tampa Tribune, commented that Governor Carlton came out of his four-year term with a reputation for integrity in the face of great pressure.

BRIBE ATTEMPT

During his term, the Legislature passed the first pari-mutuel betting bill, but it could not become law without the Governor’s signature. A visitor to his office offered him a box of cigars to not veto the bill.  Governor told the proposed giver of the cigars that he didn’t smoke and thanked him very much, but the proposed giver said ‘Rake those top cigars back and see what’s in the bottom of that cigar box.’ Governor did and found a check for $100,000. He pulled the cigars back over the check and handed the box back to the man and said "I still don’t smoke" and “if my name is worth that much, I think I’ll just keep it.”  He did veto the bill. Carlton had a reputation for being eminently honest and this is one way of proving it. (by D. Wallace Fields)

 

Gov. Carlton and his cabinet.

 

Stetson President Lincoln Hulley in a group shot of attorneys attending the 26th Annual Convention of the Florida Bar Association at the Don CeSar, St. Petersburg, Florida, 1933.  Gov. Carlton to the left of woman in white at center.
Courtesy of Stetson University Archives

 

 

Close up from above photo.

During his term of service, the Legislature passed the first pari-mutual betting bill, but it could not become law without Carlton's signature. He was offered a bribe of $100,000 "to put his name on the bill". His reply was "if my name is worth that much, I think I'll just keep it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Governor served his full term in Tallahassee on January 3, 1933, he returned to Tampa and was taken back into the firm. At that time the firm name became Mabry, Reaves, Carlton & White. 

Carlton renewed his efforts in trial and appellate work and, whenever possible, buying land in Hardee County even though the price ultimately soared to $2 per acre. He became one of the State’s major landowners. In 1936 he was defeated in a bid for U.S. Senator in what was considered to be a “major upset” by Orlando’s Charles O. Andrews. 

White left the firm in 1943 and later joined attorney Cody Fowler to form the firm of Fowler White. Associate Daniel Wallace Fields was then made a partner and firm became Mabry, Reaves, Carlton & Fields.

 

 

Associate C.K. Reaves was Judge Reaves' son, Charles K. Reaves.  D. W. Fields was
Dan Wallace Fields, who would soon be promoted to partner when White left the firm.

Stetson University Board of Trustees members pose in front of Elizabeth Hall with President J. Ollie Edmunds. 1948.
Place your cursor on the photo to see names.

https://archive.org/details/bwb_S0-BTN-632/page/368/mode/2up GRISMER, History of Tampa

Men of the south  https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_NfA1AQAAMAAJ

GIDDINGS MABRY

Mr. Mabry’s specialty was real estate law. Some of the largest Florida developments of his lifetime were built under his legal direction.   In his post-1930 career, Mr. Mabry didn't go to court, although he did handle a lot of cases that he’d have others in the firm go to court (to try) for him. He was a fine-looking man, thin and tall and good looking looked like a movie actor, even in his old age.  (D. Wallace Fields)

Giddings  was a member of the Masons and the Seminole Baptist church, and enjoyed playing golf. His home still stands at 1503 Bayshore Blvd, between S. Oregon Ave. and S. Dakota Ave.  It is the big, red brick house with a huge oak in the front yard.  It was built for the Mabrys in 1925.  The old rose bush that Giddings would pluck a fresh rose from to wear on his lapel to work every day, still exists.  Giddings E. Mabry died Sept. 24, 1968 in Tampa and is buried in Oaklawn Cemetery.  His wife Mabel died on Oct. 5, 1946 and is also buried in Oaklawn Cemetery.

MEMORIES OF GIDDINGS MABRY BY MICHEL G. EMMANUEL

Giddings E. Mabry, who everyone except Governor Carlton and Judge Reaves called “Mr. Mabry,” was a tall, erect, kindly man who was quite easy to get along with so long as you met his high standards of professionalism. Mr. Mabry was 72 years old when I joined the firm in 1949 and not in the best of health. He was a widower and lived in a lovely home on the Bayshore with his daughter Mabel. All, of the firm’s closed files resided in the third floor attic of his Bayshore home. Mr. Mabry worked at a leisurely and deliberate pace. He kept five piles of work on his desk; the first pile being the current day’s accumulation, the second pile first drafts of responses and instruments, the third pile marked up drafts, the fourth pile the finished or almost finished product, and the fifth pile finished work awaiting his signature and sending to the client. In all difficult matters Mr. Mabry liked to review his work with another lawyer and one of his favorite sayings was, “Two heads are better than one, even if they’re both cabbage heads.”

In 2005 I had the opportunity to visit the Mabry house. I was cordially greeted by the present owners who were kind enough to allow me to photograph their home and to learn a little of the history. They, in turn, were very interested in learning more about the previous owner of their home. Their parents bought the home directly from Giddings Mabry in 1962.  See photos.

DOYLE CARLTON

Upon his return to private practice, Doyle Carlton thereafter devoted his attention to his law practice, business interests, and civic and church activities, being a member of the First Baptist Church of Tampa. In 1947 he was special attorney for Florida in the settlement which brought to the state ownership of the Ringling Museums at Sarasota. Carlton also served on the first U.S. Commission on Civil Rights upon appointment by President Eisenhower (a position he was most proud to serve), and was appointed by President Kennedy to the National Agricultural Advisory Commission. Doyle Carlton’s reputation as a statesman, trial and appellate lawyer long attracted clients to the firm. In later years, he left to those of us who were younger the actual trial and appellate work but he supervised our efforts and gave wise counsel. Carlton was responsible for attracting Humble Oil Company to the firm which provided much of the work for us in the 1940’s and has since. Humble was acquired by Exxon which we continue to represent today. Despite his distinction, Doyle Carlton was a humble man. His oratorical prowess and great sense of humor abided until his death. Older lawyers still remember him with great admiration the day he and Fuller Warren debated before the Hillsborough County Bar Association. Carlton died at age 87 on October 25, 1972. An editorial in the Tampa Tribune commented: “No Floridian ever made greater contributions to his state, and in such varied areas of vital interest as Doyle E. Carlton, Sr.  He remained first in the hearts of Floridians until his death.”  (History of the Firm, Wm. Reece Smith, Jr.)

Portrait in the Heritage Room at Carlton Fields,  PA.

BY D. WALLACE FIELDS

“Governor Carlton was the best speaker of anyone I ever knew and he and Judge Reaves were a team in court. Judge Reaves would try the case before the jury and Governor Carlton would make the closing argument. He was a master at this.” “Governor Canton was trying a lawsuit in which he was defending a man who was being sued by a small loan company. In his closing argument he referred to the plaintiff as a ‘buzzard.’ He went on to say that he didn’t have anything against the buzzard, but he didn’t like the business he was in. Governor was a genius at getting to the facts of a case, the equitable facts, leaving out those that weren’t, and he’d have Judge Reaves get those things out, and occasionally he’d take over and question a witness himself, but Judge Reaves was the one who did that most of the time. “Governor was a marvelous, marvelous speaker and he would make the oral arguments to the jury, and they appealed hundreds of cases and Governor would always make the oral argument before the Appellate Courts, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

GOVERNOR CARLTON'S MILLION-DOLLAR JOKE

When Michel G. Emmanuel was a young lawyer in the late forties, he had occasion to travel a great deal with Governor Carlton. Travel in those days was almost invariably by automobile and Governor and Mich had lengthy conversations. Mr. Emmanuel is a source of many stories of the founders of the firm, and he was asked to relate the story below.

During the 1930s, the period of the Great Depression, our firm represented the Lake Istokpoga Drainage District, a quasi-governmental entity with the power to levy taxes and float tax exempt bonds. Of course, levying taxes during the Depression was an exercise in futility since most people were in default on their basic city, county and school district taxes.

Accordingly, Governor Carlton was directed by the board of the Lake Istokpoga Drainage District to apply to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), a federal agency, for a loan. After several months, a loan of $2 million was negotiated and the date for closing set.

As was the custom on those days, the entire Istapoga board took the train to Washington D.C. to meet with the chairman of the RFC, a hard-bitten Texan by the name of Jesse Jones. The meeting began at 10:00 a.m. in the RFC board room with Governor and his people on one side of the table and the RFC people on the other. Jesse Jones sat at the head of the table and the paperwork took up several feet of space at the foot. Jones called the meeting to order and announced that they were present to close a loan to Istokpoga for $1 million, which would be forthcoming only after $1 million was raised locally by the Istokpoga board.

There was stunned silence since this was not the deal that Governor had negotiated. Two or three minutes passed before Governor leaned forward to address Mr. Jones.

“Mr. Chairman,” he said. “This reminds me of the farmer who wrote to Sears & Roebuck to order a gross of toilet paper. In due time, he received a response: ‘When ordering from Sears & Roebuck, please give catalog page and item number.’ To which the farmer replied: ‘Dear Mr. Sears and Mr. Roebuck, if I had your catalog, I wouldn’t need your d------ toilet paper.’”

Jesse Jones threw back his head and laughed uproariously and called a recess to consult with his staff. The papers were redrawn and that evening Governor Carlton and the members of the Istokpoga board left Washington with a check for $2 million. I have always referred to this as Governor Carlton’s $1 million joke. (Michel G. Emmanuel)

Of all the honors and recognitions he had received, Governor’s office had few decorations, one being his appointment to chair the President's Commission on Civil Rights by President Eisenhower.

See Gov. Carlton's favorite recipe.

Governor Carlton in his law office at Carlton Fields Ward Emmanuel Smith & Cutler, PA,
in the Exchange Bank Tower, 600 N. Fla. Ave.circa 1970.
Photo courtesy of the Carlton Fields history photo collection.

 

Judge and Mrs. Reaves lived for many years at 3606 Waverly Court, South, their “back yard” adjoined Bayshore Blvd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1964 Mabry and Judge Reaves were both advanced in years.  They insisted that their names be removed from the firm name so that the names of Mich Emmanuel, Reece Smith and Ed Cutler could be popularized by adding their names to the firm name. The firm became Carlton, Fields, Ward, Emmanuel, Smith & Cutler. (By Wally Fields.)

 

1984 Carlton Fields Ward Emmanuel Smith & Cutler, PA annual Christmas party, Hyatt Regency ballroom, downtown.
Photo by D. Perez
Place your cursor on the photo to see names.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  Dale Mabry, b. March 22, 1891 in Tallahassee, FL.  He fought for the United States Army during World War I. After the war, the Army commanded Captain Mabry and his crew to return the Italian semi-rigid airship Roma back to the United States. On February 21, 1922, while flying the Roma in Norfolk, Virginia, Captain Mabry and others in his crew crashed the airship and died. The city of Tallahassee, Florida, commemorated the local hero and named their first municipal airport after him, Dale Mabry Field. Unmarried, no children.

[Much more to be added.]