The Haddocks of Wiregrass

Life in Nassau County

Wilma Walker (left) with her sister. "The girl standing beside Aunt Wilma Walker is her sister Leila Walker," Wilma's neice Jan Jackson explained. "Aunt Leila's the one my sister and I lived with when our parents moved to Arizona after Daddy was released from the TB Sanitarium in Orlando. She was as dear to me as my Mother is and I still miss her."

The majority of Nassau County residents were small farmers, many of whom owned hundreds of acres surrounding their homes, which served as grazing areas for cattle, sheep and hogs, the chief money crop.

Another source of revenue was leasing timberland to the turpentine industry.

What they grew on the farm, Wilma Walker points out, “was mainly for their own consumption, or for the animals...some cotton was grown for a few years, until the boll weevil ended the production of that commodity. But a good crop of sweet potatoes was usually a sure thing and some were grown for market. “Actually, not much money was a necessity, except for a few staple groceries, clothes, seed and fertilizer...farmers could almost survive on the fruits of the land."

“The mule was the beast of burden on the farm. Horses were used chiefly to draw various conveyances, or for riding...the first automobiles...were used only on special occasions, like going to church."

The Rufus Haddock Family gets together on the front porch of their home near Kings Ferry, Florida in 1909. Eva Haddock Connors identified those in this photograph as follows: (front row, l-to-r) Broward Vanzant and David Miller Haddock; (second row) Benn Conner, Harley Haddock, Rufus Goldwire Haddock (patriarch of the family), Tom Libby, Lonnie Haddock Paul Haddock; (third row) Phrone Haddock, Nettie Libby, Sadie Vanzant, Eva May Haddock, Theresa Haddock, Irene Vanzant, Bailey Haddock, Jim Vanzant, Bernard Vanzant (baby), and Bartow Haddock. Red-haired Phron was Eva’s favorite aunt. “Aunt Fron” told Bible stories in a way that was fascinating and dramatic.

"Services were held each fourth Sunday of the month. When that day arrived, the automobile was cranked up, the family went to church and absorbed enough religion to last another month."

“If a thunderstorm threatened while on the road, the machine was brought to a stop, side curtains were pulled from beneath the back seat and all passengers worked frantically to fasten them in place. Sometimes rain caught them before the job was finished. Then they got back in the automobile, soaking wet, and went home."

“Pigeon Creek School...was a one room, grey frame building, never felt the caress of a paint brush, and was surrounded by tall pine and oak trees. In the middle of the room sat a wood burning heater; a blackboard stretched over the wall behind the teacher’s desk. Drinking water was supplied by a hand operated pump."

“Children walked to school and carried a lunch basket or pail...Noontime, we sat in a circle, in the shade of trees to eat lunch. Older children saw to the needs of younger sisters and brothers. After lunch was finished, games were played in the school yard. It was great fun. When the school bell rang, saying the noon hour had expired and it was time to resume classes, we rushed back into the building, dripping with perspiration from exertion of the games."

“One teacher taught grades one through eight and was boarded, free of charge, by a nearby family."

"Families took turns boarding the teacher each term."

"A master’s degree was not a requirement."

"Rules were rigidly enforced."

"Parent support was never lacking in the teacher’s decisions. If a passing grade was not made, the alternative was further study of the subject."

"School opened with prayer and song."

"Sex education was unheard of. The word ‘sex’ was used only to distinguish between male and female."

The packet steamer "Hildegarde." Captain Goodbread stands at the bow to keep an eye on progress while it loads stores and passengers for the trip to Fernandia. The boy at left is David Miller Haddock. The young girl sitting on the log in the foreground is Ruth Connors Biddy. The girl to her right is Mabel Carleton. The Hildegarde made the trip up the St. Marys River twice weekly.

“Everyone learned to read, write, spell and ‘ciper.’ Quite a feat, considering many students today graduate from college and do not acquire these basic skills."

“At a reasonable age children had responsibilities in the home. They washed dishes, made beds, swept floors, brought in wood to fuel the kitchen range and fireplaces. they also helped on the farm, especially at times of planting and harvesting."

“Though children had responsibilities, there was time for play too. Summer was the favorite season. There was no school and there were so many interesting things to do."

"At that time, relatives in the city can to visit and brought their children. Visits were for weeks or even a month."

“It was a time to go barefoot."

"There were horses to ride, trees to climb and wild grape vines were used as trapeze wires. Fruits, especially the scuppernong grape, were for the picking, watermelon galore, fresh vegetables, milk and sweet butter."

"There was no need for summer camp. We had it there!"

“Homes were sparsely located, each family separated by not only acres, but at least a mile or more."

"Yet, in times of sickness, or any need, it was no problem to help each other. They shared freely, vegetables and fruits when in season, also meat if an animal was slaughtered. Wild game was plentiful, but they never killed more than could be used on the table. There was squirrel, wild turkey, deer, etc."

“Houses were built of cypress and heart pine, did not require paint, and were as sturdy as a rock."

"There were no modern facilities."

"Water was drawn from hand pumps or a well. Kerosene lamps furnished light. Fireplaces were used for heat and a wood burning range for cooking."

"A winding path through fig, plum and peach trees led to an outdoor toilet, totally obscure from view. On the wall, suspended by a string, was a Sears Roebuck catalog. For night time use, a convenience could be found under the bed."

“A man’s word was his bond. His fellowman was treated with respect. To call one a ‘liar’ or even to imply it, would have resulted in a fight to the finish, or even bloodshed."

"Also, womanhood was revered. There were two kinds of women. Those of questionable character were not accepted."

“Poverty was unknown."

"A good livelihood was a way of life. Wealth was measured, more or less, by tangible holdings, not dollars in the bank."

"There were, however, always provisions for a rainy day. If we were poor, we were not aware of it. To seek or accept charity in any form would have been inconceivable.”

“Farmers worked hard, but it was a good, wholesome life, rewarding in many ways, an era and life style now erased by progress and covered by the sands of time. [Source: Walker, Wilma. “Memories of Childhood In My Ancestral Community,” 1988, passim.]

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