Pensacola Education Heritage in St. John's Historic Cemetery

Alexander Clement Blount, Jr.
A. V. Clubbs
Nathan Burrell Cook
Oliver John Semmes
Elmore Dixie Beggs, Sr.

Alexander Clement Blount, Jr.
Leading Lawyer; Respected Citizen; Judge; School Board Member;
A Founding Member of one of State’s Oldest Law Firms

Alexander Clement Blount, Jr. and his brother, William Alexander Blount founded one of the oldest and most respected law firms in the state, Blount & Blount. Their father, A. C. Blount, Sr., and William A. Blount (both interred in St. Michaels Cemetery) were early leaders in Pensacola and the state. Among many other accomplishments, W. A. Blount developed the Blount Building, a cornerstone in downtown Pensacola.

A. C. Blount, Jr., according to Garnier Blount Minnich, was born in 1860 in the original Tivoli House at which time it was a boarding house and meeting place in Pensacola. (The Tivoli House, built by the Spanish in 1805, later burned down and was partially reconstructed at 205 East Zaragosa Street in 1976). Although he was “sickly a lot of the times” with a congenital heart condition he lived a very productive life to the age of 63 years. He received his preliminary education in Pensacola. After graduation from Peabody College in Nashville he returned to Pensacola to study law in the office of his brother, W. A. Blount. In 1887 he married Clara Garnier Dorr (see vignette about her family on this web site). He enjoyed poetry. A collection of his poems along with other papers is preserved in the Special Collections Library at the University of West Florida.

Their son, A. C. Blount, III, married Mary Ida Saunders, also a member of a very distinguished Pensacola family (see vignette of John Richard Saunders on this web site). A. C. Blount, III became a Captain in the Infantry in WWI, a lawyer and, later, Secretary
& Executive Manager, Executive Vice President, President, then Chairman of the Board (later, Emeritus) of Mutual Building & Loan (this became First Mutual; then Am South bank); he was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, a 33rd degree Mason and a member of the Society of the Cincinnati; as a member of the City Council and for many civic endeavors, he received many honors and awards.

When Judge Blount retired in 1921, The Pensacola News editorial stated:
“The well-known law firm of Blount & Blount & Carter has dissolved, Judge A. C. Blount retiring from the firm. The late firm will be succeeded by the new firm of Blount, Carter & Yonge, consisting of W. A. Blount, Francis B. Carter and J. E. D. Yonge.

Judge Blount has not been in the best of health during the past two years and has not been taking an active part in the affairs of his firm. He is regarded as one of the state’s leading lawyers and is recognized as one of Pensacola’s best citizens. His friends and the public in general have learned with regret that he has decided to retire from the practice of his profession and he takes with him the esteem and good will of his fellow-citizens and the best wishes of the members of his profession.

Judge Blount has been a life-long resident of Pensacola. He has served as judge of the criminal court of record and as a member of the local school board and in other capacities. And in his private life, as well as in public office, he has been all that a good citizen and a faithful official should be.”

The firm, started by the two brothers later became “Yonge, Beggs & Lane”, then “Beggs & Lane” and, today, remains one of the largest and most highly respected firms in the area.

A. C. Blount, Jr. died July 5, 1923. His ashes are interred in St. John’s Cemetery in 3 North, Section 37. In the same section of St. John’s, the ashes of A. C. Blount, III (1889-1978) were sprinkled between the graves of his first two wives Mary Ida Saunders Blount (the mother of his four children) and Viola Ard Blount (no children). View images of the Blount family.

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A. V. Clubbs
Prominent Builder, Developer and Educator Helped to Beautify Pensacola;
Member of an Outstanding Family

Alexander V. Clubbs was born Aug. 26, 1844 in Rochester, N.Y. He came to Pensacola in 1866 where he worked as a carpenter at the Pensacola Navy Yard. Later, he married Katherine Williams of Florence, Ala. and they settled in Pensacola, where he went into business for himself.

He was one of Pensacola’s leading builders for more than 40 years, building many of the East Hill homes. In the late 1870s, Clubbs built his house on the northwest corner of 12th Avenue and 12th Street; the latter became Blount Street. His large, two-story home was one of the first houses in Pensacola to have running water and, in 2002, the dwelling remains in excellent condition.

Clubbs was the builder of many of the former, large public buildings downtown such as the Old Opera House on Jefferson Street and the Clubbs building on Government and Palafox. He also built the Gulf Marine Terminal, later moved to Main Street near Bartram Park, and the earlier building of the First Baptist Church on Palafox Hill. He designed and supervised construction of many schools in the area.

Clubbs joined the school board late in the 19th century, serving as chairman for six years. In 1910, the first high school, A. V. Clubbs School, was built in the 1200 block of East Lloyd. For more than 80 years, the school served generations of local students .It was converted to a grammar school after 1916. In 1938 a large brick building along 12th Avenue was added; A. V. Clubbs was designated a junior high school. In 1969, the school became a middle school when the ninth grade returned to the high school. The original buildings were demolished in 1995 to make room for the new magnet school. The new magnet school building on the original site (12th and Llloyd Streets) became the “N. B. Cook School” and the name “A.V. Clubbs School.” was transferred to the building on Cervantes Street and 11th Avenue.

A. V. Clubbs was always interested in beautifying the city. He and his friend, W. D. Chipley, persuaded the city to enclose and beautify Plaza Ferdinand. They urged the planting of trees and building of sidewalks in the square. The American Forestry Association recognized Clubbs for his work in horticulture. A short street near the waterfront is named for Clubbs.

Clubbs was a director of two savings and loan associations. He represented the city in the Nicaragua Canal Convention on Nov. 30, 1892, when the canal was first proposed. Later, Panama was chosen for the canal site.

He was the father of eight children: four girls and four boys. His daughter, Occie, a well known and beloved historian, was a teacher in the Escambia school system for more than 40 years and served many years as principal of Agnes McReynolds School. The latter building became the PATS Center.

A. V. Clubbs died Dec. 17, 1915, and is buried in St. John’s Cemetery 1 North Section 9.

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Nathan Burrell Cook
Faithful Educator; Superintendent of the Escambia County Public School System(1884-1912)

Submitted by John Appleyard

Nathan Burrell Cook was born in Lowndes County, Alabama, in 1835. Following training as a pharmacist, he served in the Sixth Alabama Regiment, Company M, during the War Between the States, and he saw action in the Virginia campaigns. Following the war he married Miss Sallie Johnson, and the couple proudly raised four daughters and one son. Following the war Cook became deeply interested in education, saying that his wartime experiences showed him the importance of training young minds. Between 1865-1885 he was identified with his original profession but also began offering his services on a voluntary basis as a teacher. Into the 1880s the Escambia County Public School System was in its infancy, with an appointed school board and appointed superintendent. The system, created with the new state constitution of 1867, had virtually no state support and was dependent upon local property tax levies. The first several superintendents, appointed by governors, were not successful in their roles. In 1885 the new school board members (who unfortunately cannot be identified except for chairman George Hallmark) chose Cook as the new superintendent after he placed his name in nomination. That year the entire system had a budget of $5,000.

Cook recognized the need for funding, for teachers with proper training and experience, and a strong effort to bring rural students into classrooms. His recruiting brought such successful educators as Prof. John Patterson, Prof. J. B. Lockey and Prof. J. M. Tate into the system, along with Pauline Reese and the Misses Yniestra, Clubbs, Suter and McReynolds. Cook also was responsible for obtaining quality readers and textbooks for students, and for establishing a curriculum. The first high school was established during the early years of his administration.

A second high school opened ten years later.

During Cook’s twenty-eight years as superintendent, he worked with board members such as A. V. Clubbs, William Fisher, Elijah Ward and H. L. Crabtree. A system of wagon transport for rural students was established, and a cooperative plan was created to bring country schools on board. In this plan parents of a given area would agree to build a one- or two-room building and provide board for a teacher if the school board would furnish the teacher. In that way the system began to expand, despite the fact that farm families would spare their children only limited months each year, times when their work on the farm would allow.

By the turn of the 20th century, in concert with state Senator W. A. Blount, Cook had gained passage of a state bill which provided that all children were entitled to free education through the 12th grade. (This was FREE, not compulsory, education.) Emphasis was made on schools and training for minority children, and Cook consistently pushed for tax reform to gain broader school funding. By 1904 the local system had 5,000 students. However, Cook remained opposed to free textbooks, feeling that children possessed a more critical interest in subjects when they actually owned their books.

Early into the new century Cook’s work, abetted by board members A. V. Clubbs, Elijah Ward, and A. C. Blount, Jr., resulted in budgets which had grown to the point where better qualified teachers were receiving up to $60 per month, and the superintendent himself got $75, plus rail tickets to visit north county schools and feed for his horse for other travel.

Cook continued on, year after year. Then, in early 1912, the legislature passed a bill making the superintendent’s position elective for all counties. Cook qualified as a candidate but refused to campaign, saying, “The people know me and what I stand for.” His opponent was the system’s bookkeeper, A. S.  Edwards. Cook, by then, was 77 years old, and perhaps Edwards’ youth was a factor. In any case, the challenger won, and Cook gracefully retired from the position, never to surface in public office again. He died the following year, and was interred in St. John’s cemetery.

N.B. Cook is buried in St. John's Cemetery 2 North Section 21.

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Oliver John Semmes
Semmes is important name in Public Service and Education in Pensacola

Oliver John Semmes made tremendous contributions to the development of Escambia County Schools. He was first appointed to the School Board in 1921 and, except for six years, he was on the School Board until his death on March 13, 1957. He served as chairman of the board for sixteen years. His son, Oliver John Semmes Jr., has been nominated as one of Pensacola's Great Floridians for his long tenure as a city servant. Semmes Jr. was a city engineer for 12 years before serving his country as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officer. He then was appointed city manager. Under Semmes Jr., many miles of city streets were paved, and the city purchased the gas department and maintained financial stability. He was recognized by Pensacola Junior College and in the state for his ability.

Raphael Semmes, grandfather of Semmes, Sr. served as an admiral in the Confederate Navy. He has been described by the U.S. Naval Historical Center as a commerce raider "without equal in American naval history". Raphael Semmes served in the U.S. Navy during the Mexican War, then as skipper of the CSS Sumter when he captured 18 cargo ships and 64 in the CSS Alabama. He encountered a Union warship only once ,sinking the USS Hatteras off the Texas coast, until the Alabama met the USS Kearsage off the coast of Cherbourge, France in 1864. The Kearsage won he battle but Semmes and some crew escaped via a British yacht to Britain where he was presented a sword by the officers of the Royal Navy. He was released by the Federal authorities later when former captives testified that they were treated humanely. He was a lawyer in Mobile, professor at a military school, and a newspaper editor. He was born in Charles County ,Md. in 1809 and died at Point Clear at age 68.

Semmes, Sr. was born Aug. 7, 1876 educated in Mobile public schools and received a degree in mechanical and electrical engineering from Alabama Polytechnic Institution, now Auburn University. He was the second of five generations to graduate from Auburn. After graduation he moved to Pensacola, where he joined the engineering staff supervising the construction of the street railway system in 1897. He was named superintendent of the system upon its completion and served until 1909. At that time he founded the Semmes Coal and Ice Company, which he operated as its president for several years. In the late 1930s, Semmes was president of the Traders Brokerage Company of Pensacola.

Semmes, Sr. was active in public affairs, serving as an alderman from 1911 to 1913. Semmes served for two years as city recorder before being appointed to the School Board. Semmes presided over the School Board through much of the 1930s, when funds were short, yet studies show the number of schools increased during these years. His business skills served the county well.

From 1933 until about 1938, Semmes was a member of the State Board of Control and State Plant Board, which was overseer of the Florida educational system. In 1956, East Hill's new elementary school was named O. J. Semmes to honor him for his contributions to local education. Today the school is a Montessori school. Semmes, Sr. and Semmes, Jr are buried in St. John's Cemetery 3 North Section 37.

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Elmore Dixie Beggs, Sr.
Distinguished Lawyer, Judge, Community Leader and Educator
Contributed to growth of Pensacola and State Schools

E. Dixie Beggs, Senior and Junior, were two of the most highly respected names in Pensacola in their times. Since Beggs, Sr. was born July 26, 1861, just as the Civil War began his parents called him “Dixie” in honor of the Southern nation.

Dixie Beggs, Sr. was born in Madison, Florida and received his early education at public and private schools. After attending South Georgia Agricultural College in Thomasville, he entered the University of Georgia. Returning to Madison, Beggs went into the newspaper business when he became editor and publisher, then bought “The Madison Recorder.”. He soon tired of the business and turned to law. After studying under Judge E. J. Vann, Beggs opened his own office and remained an attorney in Madison for one year before moving to Kissimmee, Florida for 10 years .He was town council president and mayor before moving to Pensacola where he married a Pensacola woman, Lily Clubbs, daughter of A. V. Clubbs. In 1899, the Legislature of Florida appointed Beggs one of the Water Front Commissioners to adjudicate claims of submerged lands and other waterfront lands under dispute; Beggs was elected chairman. In 1902, he was appointed judge of the criminal court of record to succeed Judge A. C. Blount Jr. and was elected several terms.

Following the example set by his father-in-law, A. V. Clubbs, Beggs became interested in the educational system. He became a trustee for the Florida Agricultural College in Lake City, which became the University of Florida. In 1918, Beggs was elected to the Escambia County School Board. He served a dozen years on the board, the first four as chairman. The county passed a $500,000 bond for building and improving schools and many were built under Beggs’ leadership. Among them were Pensacola High School, P. K. Yonge, Agnes McReynolds, Annie K. Suter, Brent, Ernest Ward and Beulah Schools.

Beggs resigned from the bench and gave up his school board seat in 1931 to concentrate on his legal practice, specializing in real estate law. He was joined by his son, and for a short time in a firm known as Beggs and Beggs. He retired from the active practice of law in 1937 and died Feb. 13, 1940.

Beggs was an active member of the First Baptist Church where he was clerk, deacon and deacon emeritus, Men’s Bible Class teacher, Sunday School superintendent and chairman of the Board of Deacons. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Columbia College at Lake City and a moderator of the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association. He was a Rotarian, vice president of Banking Savings and Trust Co., which became First Bank and Trust, and a founder of the YMCA. Beggs and his wife, Lily, had five children: Mary, Emily, Dixie Jr., Annie and Charles.

He is buried in St. John’s Cemetery 4 North, Section 47.

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School teachers, educators and school board members interred in St. John's Historic Cemetery
(Those who have had schools named for them are in italics & boldfaced.)