"The Way It Was" Newspaper Column on Baker County, Florida History, 1977 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gene Barber (no email address), through Carl Mobley (cmobley@magicnet.net THE WAY IT WAS ------------------------------------------------------------ William Eugene "Gene" Barber, Artist, Instructor, Historian & Genealogist authored a series of articles for the Baker County Press entitled "The Way It Was". His articles covered all aspects of Baker County pioneer lives in a colorful, entertaining, as well as, educational manner. At an early age, Gene possessed the desire and ability to interview the 'Old Folks'. He was as talented in the use of the pen, as he is with a brush, choosing his words and expressions in a way to paint an exciting and interesting story. ========= A prominent pre-Civil War family was that of Henry Dyess. He was a veteran of the War of 1812 and a son of a Revolutionary War soldier. His son Zeke was a long-time merchant in Olustee after the coming of the railroad in 1858. ======== Petit Jurors were Alfred Lanier, Francis Bryant, William Griffis, Calvin Johns, James M. Burnsed (former Sheriff), J.M. Dorman (Irishman), Felix Bryant. J.M. Mott, G.C. Dyess, York Brown, L.C. Cobb, Judge Robert B. Archibald failed to appear recorded Clerk of Courts Francis J. Pons. ========= Dyess: A small plot in the Olustee community south of US 90, this ground was begun by the family of the same name. It is hoped that when Olustee grows (and it will) the local residents will be far-sighted enough to prevent their bit of heritage from being dug up and transplanted. ========= Dyess: James S. Blitch, CSA. ========== 3rd: Unto Martha Dyess, wife of George C. Dyess; Daniel L. Roberts, Eliza Henson, wife of R.J. Henson; Fannie Long, wife of N.B. Long; and R.B. Roberts, I give, devise and bequeath, share and share alike, all the property, real, personal & mixed of which I shall die seized and possessed and in case of the death of the Devisees or either or them, then his or her portion to his or her descendants. This August 25th 1891 Stephen Roberts (Seal) ======== This informatin was found on: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ifetch2?/u1/data/fl+index+25212336861+F Thanks!!! kaite...