Uncle Fred and Aunt Louise
Mom used to tell me her Uncle Fred was a sports pro, but I thought that was a stretch. It took moving to St. Augustine to really understand the stories and the legacy.
When I was a kid growing up in south Florida, I used to ask my Mother about her past..what it was like growing up in her family in the early nineteen twenties...what was my Dad like when they met...the kinds of questions that children ask before they decide family stories are dull. Mom used to talk a great deal about her youth in St. John's County. During the Depression, her life was influenced by extended family in body and soul. It was not until I came to live and dwell in St. Augustine that I had a better appreciation for all the hidden bits and pieces that I stumbled upon scattered throughout the community that convinces me I am home.
Mom described wilderness river "runs" of clean, crisp flows that merged into the St. John's River. In my youth I had limited knowledge of the St. John's River which consisted primarily of wide muddy tacks of river grass easily seen from our family car off major highway and byways of south and central Florida. I had never ventured off the beaten path to discover the spring boils that percolate up from the clear sand bottoms of numerous river runs.
She spoke of many mysteries while growing up and living out in the swamps west of St. Augustine on a farm during the depression; running scared of panther growls...eating fresh grown vegetables with little awareness of the sufferings of scarcity...tribal native American children coming by to play and how neighbors would conceal their wares in the woods during hostel raids. It was a special occasion to go into town and stay with relatives. She would talk about how difficult it was being isolated on the farm and how their dependencies on one another had set the stage for some of her fondest memories.
It was obvious it was their relationships with one another that sustained them, along with something else.
Even at her young age Mom was aware of the tension keeping the farm afloat and out of reach from the debt collectors. I can remember her repeating "thank God for Uncle Fred and Aunt Louise....Aunt Louise always loved Momma so". Evidently my Grandfather was home ill a great deal of time when my Mother was a young teenager. Uncle Fred and Aunt Louise would help her parents by bringing them gifts and contributing to hospital expenses. Occasionally they would travel abroad and return with gifts for the family.
Mention of Uncle Fred discovered : The Private Marjorie: The Love Letters of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings to Norton S. Baskin Hardcover – December 31, 2004
by Rodger L. Tarr (Author)
Below are the only artifacts that I know of that Momma handed down to us. Here is what I know:
Artifact 36:
This is a lighter set that came from the Kirkside Estate before it was leveled. This is where Mom's Momma used to be invited to attend balls and parties host by Aunt Louise and Uncle Fred
Note: A special thank you to the City of St. Augustine and all those friends and families for making this marker possible.
Uncle Fred was a bit of a local legend. Born Fredric Gomer Francis, he was one of eight children born to my Great Grand Parents Llewellyn and Elizabeth (Edwards) Francis.
Mom used to tell me about the grand parties Uncle Fred and Aunt Louise used to host and how her Mother looked forward to these Galas. She used to speak of the different vacation houses Aunt Louise would spend time at and would bring her Momma. I recently found an index of letters from the Smathers Library:
(http://www.library.ufl.edu/spec/manuscript/rawlings/rawlingsfull.htm).
Aunt Louise a.k.a "LOUISE WISE LEWIS" was Henry Flagler's Niece and heir to his estate. She and Uncle Fred were a big part of Nellie's childhood growing up in the Cowan swamp west of St. Augustine. It was their generosity that sustained Nellie's family through the best and worst of times.
Uncle Fred was also known as Cracker . I mention that fact because many in our family are surprised, maybe even offended when I mention our Florida cracker heritage. But for those that can afford to have faith, it is not disingenuous to suggest Uncle Fred was a gentleman as well as a superb athlete. He was a local golf and tennis pro that eventually, along with his Brother Dick Francis, ran the local baseball team the Saints. He helped usher in night time baseball to the city and, on September 11, 1934 Fred Francis Day was heralded with Francis Field remaining as testimony to his contribution.
http://staugustine.com/stories/082807/news_4801214.shtml
Artifact 20:
This table and urn was a gift from Aunt Louise and Uncle Fred that they brought back from overseas. Momma said she can remember they kept it by the front door of the family farm out west of St. Augustine off King Street out in Cowan Swamp.
