Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Calling all Cousins far and wide

This is my first blog entry and hope it finds it's way to at least a few of the Edward and Rose McDonald descendants and long lost cousins looking for info on the various lines of the family. Over time I will put the entire family history here and lots of family photos. If you are a descendant please take a few minutes and contact me, every single person is important and has valuable info and maybe photos to add to our colorful Port Orange history.

I've got great photos of Ed and Rose's hotel "The Port Orange House", the Palmetto Hat Factory owned and operated by their daughter Mary Elizabeth (McDonald) Johnson, she was known as the "Palmetto Lady", Old logging map showing the town called McDaniels and copies of all the homestead paperwork and when Edward and Rose homesteaded the 69 acres along the river and in the heart of Port Orange and the maps of exactly where the land was located, and several versions of why he changed the family surname from McDaniel to McDonald and approximately when and was it ever officially changed? And some very interesting info listed on both their death certificates. Edward called the area "Pleasant Hill" and named Rose Bay after his wife Rose Ellender Barber. Ed and Rose moved from New River, Onslow County, NC to Florida between 1853 and 1854, their fifth child George Washington was born Dec 8, 1854 in Marian County, FL and to the Volusia County when Charles Marion, was born June 7, 1859 at Rose Bay. Charles would later own and operate the Daytona Beach Boat Works.

After moving from several north Florida counties the family settled on the south side of Rose Bay. Edward’s son William Lafayette McDonald said they came in a “barefoot cart” one with no tires on the wheels, all the way from North Carolina. He said their closest neighbor was Bartola Pacetti who lived across the Halifax River at Mosquito Inlet.

Over time hopefully show how the family influenced the development of Port Orange. Over the last few years I have come to know and exchange information and photos with descendants of Ed and Rose McDonald and William E. and Mary Elizabeth (McDonald) Johnson. This blog is not just about Ed and Rose and Mary Eliz but all the McDonald children: Lucinda M., Martha Caroline, William Lafayette, George Washington, Ann Eliz, Charles Marian, Sara Jane, Laura Henrietta, Dora Ellen and Elijah Franklin known as the strongest man in Volusia County.

I'm also working with the several other surnames who were pioneer families of Florida and the Volusia area. The Lastingers, the Crawfords are from my Grandmother Hattie Henrietta (Lastinger) Johnsons side of the family. Don't get me started with the Cajun side, Trahan, LeBlanc, Breaux, Stutes on and on. And if that wasn't difficult enough my Great Grandfather William Eldridge Johnson, b. Sept. 20, 1850 came to Port Orange in 1867 from Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas. If you think getting info is tough in the U.S. just try and find info from the Bahamas. I'm literally working on hundreds of names. Help!

Take care
Port Orange Ted



















Photo taken: December 1911 front porch of old Johnson home, Port Orange, Volusia Co., FL. Seated: William Eldridge Johnson, born: September 20, 1850, Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas, died: October 18, 1912, Port Orange, Volusia Co., FL, Mary Elizabeth (McDonald) Johnson born: November 9, 1848, New River, Onslow Co., NC, died: August 16, 1922, Port Orange, Volusia Co., FL

4 comments:

Bambi and Jack said...

Ted,
What a wonderful blog! I am excited to see it grow. Thanks for all your hard work on our family history. Hugs, Bambi

rockwags said...

I think I may have a family connection. My dad grew up in Port Orange and I've heard about the name change from McDaniel to McDonald. My ggrandparents were Mamie and RoyLafayette(at least I'm pretty sure that was his name, he died when I was a little girl)My grandparents were Herbert Gordan and Nancy McDonald and my dad is Herbert Gordan Jr.
I just happened to be surfing looking for family info and found your blog. Thanks for the info
Pam Wagner
Rockport TX

Port Orange Ted said...

Hi Pam,
It is great to hear from you. If you check back and see this please leave me your email or update your rockwags profile with email so I can answer.
I have a HUGE amount of info to give you on your family and photos. Mamie McDonald was actually my bus driver when I was a kid and she had a church. We lived on Lafayette St. (named after your GG Grandfather Wm. Lafayette McDonald) just down from Roy & Mamie (Yelvington) McDonald and he would bring his cow down to our back yard to feed during the day in exchange for some milk. Herbert & Charles St. were also named after your G Grandfather & Wm. Lafayettes brother Charles McDonald who owned the Daytona Boat Works were my Grandfather Otis Johnson worked as did my Uncle Rollie Johnson. Rose Bay was named after your GG grandmother Rose E. Barber McDonald. I have sections on everyone and can make pdfs to send to you and the complete family history. And, I'm in touch with Alvin Roy McDonald, your Uncle he lives in SC and he has done a lot on the family. I have Herbert Gordon Jr. & Lucille Smith, Pamela Rene, 1958, Jeffery Wayne, 1963 and Steven Arlen 1966. I am in the Atlanta area where your parents were married.
Your line:
1. Edward A. McDonald & Rose Barber
2. Wm. Lafayette McDonald & Marcia McIntyre
3. Herbert Gordon McDonald & Nancy Alvinia Cressey
4. Herbert Gordon McDonald, Jr. & Lucille Smith

Take care and hope to hear from you.
Ted E. Johnson, Jr.
2918 Jenny Way,
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
ted.johnson@primerica.com
770-979-0235 home
770-564-7806 work

Robert Miro said...

Hey cousin Ted,how are you doing?I was looking for pic's of founding family's in Port Orange and low and behold you came up,this is really cool,I was reading the blog's and looked over and thought I know him lol :).