John Joseph Hale Family

John Joseph Hale (1844-1914), a son of Joseph Obida Hale, married Dorothy Ederington. Their daughter Mary Alice (1885-1972) married William McLaurin McKethan (1876-1936), who was a banker. A son of William McLaurin McKethan was Alfred August McKethan (1908-2002), a prominent banker and citrus grower.

John’s father, Joseph Obida Hale, moved his family to Hernando Co., Fla., in 1842, and settled at Homosassa. His occupation being that of a millwright, an important one in pioneer days, he was engaged by Senator David Yulee to construct the old Yulee Sugar Mill (the ruins of which are located there and are today one of the interesting historical landmarks of Florida). In 1845 he moved to Brooksville and there erected a sawmill which he operated until his death.

He is shown as a 45-year-old millwright in Hernando County in the 1850 census. According to Jenkins, the first steam mill in Hernando County was erected by Joseph Hale in 1852.

John Joseph Hale was one of the businessmen that petitioned the Florida Southern Railroad to put a branch line to Brooksville and raised the money to have this happen. 

On the corner of Ft. Dade and Orange in Brooksville, Florida, you'll find the John J. Hale House. It is a three story frame house built in 1888.