TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI

In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act and authorized the relocation of all the Southeast Native Americans to federal territory west of the Mississippi River, which was completed by the end of the 1830s. In the early years of settlement, European-Americans named this town "Gum Pond," supposedly due to its numerous tupelo trees, known locally as "blackgum." The city still hosts the annual Gumtree Arts Festival. During the Civil War, Union and Confederate forces fought in the area in 1864 in the Battle of Tupelo and the Battle of Old Town Creek. Designated the Tupelo National Battlefield, the battlefield is administered by the National Park Service (NPS).  With expansion, the town changed its name to Tupelo, in honor of the battle. It was incorporated in 1870.

MILTON HARVEY MABRY

A son of Jesse Hughes Mabry and Sarah Caroline Prude, Milton was born on June 17, 1850 in Pickens Co., Alabama.  Milton spent his infancy there until his parents moved to northeastern Mississippi by the mid-1850s.  In 1856, his father being an itinerant merchant, moved with his family to DeSoto Parish in Louisiana for about 4 years until they returned to Mississippi in early 1860. Milton spent the rest of his childhood years at Tupelo.

MILTON MABRY'S EDUCATION and MARRIAGE

Milton Mabry received his literary education at the University of Mississippi "Ole Miss" at Oxford, Miss. which is about 30 miles NNW of Tupelo. Graduating after two years, in 1869, he entered the law college at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. where he received his Bachelor of Laws in 1872.  He was admitted to the bar in Mississippi that year and commenced his law practice at his home in Tupelo. 

On Dec. 21, 1876 Milton married Ella Dale Bramlett in Lee County, Miss. She was a daughter of John Woodson Bramlett and Eliza G. Turner Bramlett.

 
MILTON MABRY IS MISSISSIPPI DELEGATE AND TUPELO MAYOR

Milton was soon selected as a delegate to the state convention to revise the laws of Mississippi and subsequently was the mayor of Tupelo for two years from 1877 to 1879. 

         THE MABRYS MOVE TO FLORIDA

On the persuasion of a friend and future law partner William A. Hocker of Sumter County, Fla., who had moved to Florida in 1874, Mabry moved with his family to Leesburg in Sumter County, Fla. in 1879, partly due to his ill health.  Mabry soon partnered with Hocker who lived nearby, from 1880 until Mabry moved to Pasco County in 1889.  (William Adam Hocker served on the Supreme Court from 1905 to 1915.)

STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM SUMTER COUNTY

In Nov. 1882, Mabry was elected as Sumter County's State Representative to the Florida Assembly for a term of 2 years from 1883 to 1885.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR 1885 - 1889

Quickly earning a name for himself, he was nominated as Edward A. Perry’s Democrat running-mate for lieutenant governor in Florida’s gubernatorial election of 1884. Upon winning the majority vote, Mabry served as lieutenant governor of Florida from 1885 until Jan. 6, 1889, becoming Florida’s last lieutenant governor for nearly 80 more years. By virtue of the position, he was also president of the Senate.

1885 Members of the Florida Senate on the steps of the capitol building, Tallahassee.
Lt. Governor Milton H. Mabry on front step, left.

The 1885 Constitutional Convention of Florida which met and revised the laws of the state during Governor Perry's administration eliminated the office of Lieutenant Governor and prohibited the governor from succeeding himself with a consecutive term.

In 1888, Mabry toured the state campaigning with G.B. Sparkman and Circuit Judge Joseph Baisden Wall for the Democrat ticket.

In 1890, Mabry began building a 10-room residence on a hill in Pasco County, 2 miles north of Dade City overlooking the the city.

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FIRST TERM

In August 1890, Mabry served as a delegate to the Florida state Democratic convention in Ocala. Without solicitation from himself, his name was placed in nomination for justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, and on the final ballot he received the nomination over eminent but aged incumbent, Justice Maxwell.  In Nov. 1890, Mabry won the state election and served his first term on the Supreme Court from Jan. 1891 to Jan. 1897, during which time he served as Chief Justice from 1895 to the end of his term, serving under the governorship of Francis Philip Fleming (1889-1892). and Henry Laurens Mitchell (1893-1897.)

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SECOND TERM

In Oct. 1896, Mabry was the Democrat nominee for Supreme Court Justice again. Winning election again, he served from Jan. 1897 to Jan. 1903 for a total of two terms for 12 years.

RETIREMENT

In Feb. 1902, Milton Mabry announced he would not run for a 3rd term on the Supreme Court. Yearning for retirement, he declined re-nomination for the Nov. 1902 election and retired in 1903, making way for his former law partner, William A. Hocker, to join and serve in the Supreme Court from 1903 until 1915.

MOVE TO TAMPA, JOINS SON'S PRACTICE AS MABRY & MABRY

In Dec. 1902, Mabry announced his desire to move to Tampa from Dade City.  He arrived in Tampa on Jan. 1, 1903 and began practicing law with his eldest son, Giddings Eldon Mabry, as Mabry & Mabry; Giddings having established his lone law practice in Tampa in Oct. 1901. 

Images courtesy of Florida Memory, State Archives and Library of Florida

DEATH OF WIFE AND MOVE TO TALLAHASSEE

Milton's wife, Ella Dale (Bramlett) Mabry, died in 1904 at their Bayshore Blvd. home in Tampa after suffering from some time with severe headaches.  Mention is made of Giddings' brother, Dr. Jesse Mabry, a physician in Norfolk, Va.

THE END OF MABRY & MABRY

Justice Mabry soon decided that the private practice of law was not for him.  The death of his wife along with persuasion from friends convinced Milton to return the Supreme Court.  He moved back to Tallahassee in 1904 and accepted the position of Clerk of the Supreme Court from March 31, 1905 until 1915.   

SECOND MARRIAGE

On Nov. 15, 1906, Milton Mabry married Kentucky-born Miss Irene Washburne, one of six children of Louis Jermaine Washburne and Mary Ann Rudy, at her home in Louisville, Kentucky.  Due to the recent passing of the bride's mother, the ceremony was private.  The couple made a southern tour before settling in Tallahassee.  Their son, Harton Washburne Mabry, was born in 1908 in Tallahassee where they were living along with Milton's and Ella's son, Dale.

SECOND RETIREMENT AND DEATH

Milton Mabry retired from his position as clerk of the supreme court in 1915, spending some time at a beach house in Clearwater, and relocating a final time to his home at 210 Fielding Ave. in Hyde Park, Tampa, before passing away of tuberculosis on March 3, 1919 at the age of 68.

In stature Judge Mabry was a tall man, six feet tall and of medium build.  He wore a mustache and his coal black hair did not have a streak of grey in it until well past his 50th year. While not an orator of the old school, his speech was pleasing and he was forceful, entertaining and logical.  In the months that preceded the general elections he invariably received invitations to canvass the state with other party leaders in behalf of the Democrat ticket.

After the death of her husband, Irene Washburne Mabry moved by 1920 to Sanford in Seminole County where she lived with her son, Harton, age 11, and with her sister Nellie and brother-in-law G.F. Smith.  By 1940 Irene had moved to Daytona Beach in Volusia County with her son, where she died on Jul. 5, 1943.

Some information obtained from:
Cumberland University Archives.
He Was Florida's Last Lieutenant Governor by Thomas Lesley published Apr. 28, 1957 by D.B. McKay in "Pioneer Florida."
Various articles from newspapers in Mississippi and Florida.
U.S. Censuses and marriage records of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida
State Census of Florida, 1885
Florida Supreme Court

SUPPORTING SOURCES

1876-12-21 MARRIAGE TO ELLA DALE BRAMLETT

Milton Harvey Mabry married Ella Dale Bramlett on Dec. 21, 1876 in Lee County, Miss.  (Ella was b.ca.1856, in Pontotoc, Miss., a daughter of John Woodson Bramlett and Eliza G. Turner Bramlett).

1879-01-03 DEMOCRAT STAR, Pascagoula, MS - MILTON MABRY LOOKING FOR NEW HOME
Milton Mabry, mayor of Tupelo and promising lawyer, is on the coast looking out for a place with the view of locating in our beautiful land. We hope he may find a place to suit him, and that he will settle here.

THE MABRYS MOVE TO LEESBURG, FLA.
1880 CENSUS, SUMTER COUNTY, FLA.

In 1879 Milton, Ella, and their sons Giddings and Jesse  moved to Leesburg in Sumter Co, FL where Milton was in the practice of law and in the citrus industry. Milton was 28, his wife Ella Bramlett Mabry was 24. 

At the top of the page, five dwellings before the Mabry family, the Hocker family was enumerated.  W. A. Hocker was 35, an attorney from Virginia. (The households in between have been removed.)  Mabry would soon form a law partnership with W. A. Hocker.

Born

1880-09-24 Weekly Floridian - Democrat speakers Hocker & Mabry hold a discussion at Republican rally
The Leesburg Advance of the 18th gives a graphic account of the Radical meeting at that place on the 14th. Conover and U.S. District Attorney Stickney were the speakers.  Democratic speakers, W. A. Hocker and M. H. Mabry tendered a joint discussion, which the others dared not refuse, and the result was as might have been expected. 

MILTON MABRY ELECTED TO THE FLORIDA ASSEMBLY

1882-11-14 Weekly Floridian - ELECTION RESULTS
Sumter Co. election results for the Florida Assembly (later called the House of Representatives, or "the House.")
SUMTER - Congress: Finley 713, Bisbee 312.  Assembly: Mabry (Dem.) 709; Cassady (Dem.) 706; Brown 68, Hays 80.
(These are the vote counts of the winners, not the winners and losers.)

1882-11-21 Weekly Floridian
Mabry, member of the Assembly-elect from Sumter Co., is stopping at the St. James (hotel.)

1882-11-28 Weekly Floridian
Legals section, J. H. Goss, Taylor & Sanchez, for Relators, Hocker & Mabry, Cockrell & Walker for respondents.

1882-12-12 Weekly Floridian
County by county list of members of the Fla. Assembly, Sumter Co: M.H. Mabry & Wilson W. Cassady

1882-12-19 Weekly Floridian
Mabry & Cassady duly elected members of Assembly from Sumter Co.

MABRY'S TWO-YEAR TERM AS FLORIDA ASSEMBLY MEMBER BEGINS

1883-01-02 Weekly Floridian
List of members of the Florida Senate and Florida Assembly. Milton Mabry was one of two Sumter County representatives in the Florida legislature starting with the 1883 session.

1883-03-02 Pensacola Commercial
Mabry vilified, accused of being "undemocratic" and described as "black belt deserter from Sumter County" because he "left the large majority of his party and voted with the negroes and the Radicals (Republicans.) "There is no calumny or misrepresentation about it.  These are the plain facts.  They are political not personal, Mr. Mabry, with his eight associates are traitors to their party, have deserted to the enemy and added that enemy to defeat their own party.

In 1884 Milton Mabry was nominated on the first ballot at the Democrat convention in Pensacola as their candidate for lieutenant-governor.  On the ticket for governor was Edward A. Perry.

1884-06-26 Semi Weekly Times Union
Milton Mabry nominated at the Democrat Convention for Lt. Governor, Edward A. Perry nominated for Governor.

1884-06-27 Palatka Daily News
Ad by Palatka News promoting Perry for Governor, Mabry for Lt. Governor.

1884-06-27 Florida Times Union - Sketch of Hon. M H Mabry, nominee for Lt. Gov. He was mayor of Tupelo for two years when he came to Leesburg, Fla. in 1879.

1884-07-01 The Weekly Floridian - REBUTTAL TO CRITICISM OF MILTON MABRY
The candidate for Lieut. Gov has already been assailed abusively because he, like a a majority of the members of the Assembly, conceived it to be his duty to oppose the summary method suggested by Senate bill 19, session of 1883, calling for a Constitutional Convention and known as the "Short Cut."  It is proper now that he should be heard again as he was on the 25th of January, 1883, when he participated in the debate and gave his reasons for opposing the short cut bill.  Mr. Mabry had previously had occasion to study constitutional law, having been a member of a Constitutional Convention in Mississippi.  We  may remark that as Mr. Mabry was not from a "black belt" county he could not have the direct personal interest in opposing the bill which might be felt by those apprehending the consequences of a sudden change of manner of constituting local officials.  He obviously acted from his clear convictions of duty under knowledge of law and usage.  He was in favor of a Constitutional Convention, to be called as he provided.

1884-07-08 Weekly Floridian
Democrat ticket for governor, lt. gov, Congress, US President.

1884-07-11 Florida Times Union
Description of Mabry, candidate for Lt. Gov and presiding officer of the Senate.
Mr. Mabry, the candidate for Lt. Governor, is a young man, and one of the best men in Florida.  Thoroughly honest and conscientious, it is impossible to impugn his motives even when one differs from him.   He is a gentleman of ability also, and as presiding officer of the Senate will reflect credit upon himself and upon his State.

1884-12-11 Weekly Times Union
FLORIDA'S OFFICIAL VOTE  - Perry elected Governor, Milton Mabry elected Lt. Governor. vote counts  Governor: Perry (Dem) 52,087; Frank Pope, (Ind. Rep.) 27,845.  Majority for Perry 4,242.  Lt. Gove: M.H. Mabry (Dem) 31,865; J.C.Greeley (Rep) 28,147.  Majority for Mabry, 3,718.

Milton Mabry was inaugurated with Governor Perry on Jan. 7, 1885 for a four-year term.  By virtue of his office, Mabry was president of the state senate presiding with dignity and rigid impartiality.

Edward A. Perry was born in Richmond, Mass., on March 15, 1831. He attended Yale University; taught briefly in Alabama; and took up residence in Pensacola, where he was admitted to the practice of law in 1853. He fought with distinction in the Confederate army. Perry was twice wounded and rose in rank from private to brigadier general. During Governor Perry's administration, Florida adopted a new constitution and established the state board of education to support public schools. At the end of his term, he returned to Pensacola, where he died on October 15, 1889.

Florida took a state census in 1885, 1925 and 1935.  Milton H. Mabry, Sr. and Ella are on the 1885 Florida State Census in Sumter County with their three sons Giddings (10), Jesse (7), and Bramlette (2)--this is John Bramlett Mabry.  Under him is listed as grandmother "Bramtelle" (55). Relationships were supposed to be to the head of house but she can't possibly be Milton's or Ella's grandmother because of their ages.  The enumerator must have been thinking in relation to two year old "Bramlette" and so she would be Ella's mother, Elizabeth (Turner) Bramlett.  The line before her name indicates that her first name was not recorded, so this is the enumerator's error of crossing the L instead of the two T's in Bramlett and adding an E at the end.)

This is the only census to record Milton as Lt. Governor.

The 1885 Constitutional Convention of Florida which met and revised the laws of the state during Governor Perry's administration did not provide for the office of Lieutenant Governor to continue and prohibited the governor from succeeding himself with a consecutive term.

1887-04-05 The Palatka Daily News
The constitution does contain this provision and it is therefore true that Mr. Mabry, the present Lt. Governor, is the "last of his line."  Nothing contained in this Constitution shall operate to vacate the office of Lt. Governor until the expiration of his present term."

1887-04-07 The Semi Weekly Times Union
The right of Lt. Gov. Mabry to preside over the Senate under the new Constitution will not be questioned since he was elected by the people themselves.

MABRY ENDORSES DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

1888-10-25 The Tampa Weekly Journal
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGNERS - Cordially Received in Every Precinct Visited Capt. Walton and Lt.-Gov Mabry Working For the Faith on the West Side.  Last Wednesday morning (17th) several carriages and buggies loaded down with Democratic orators left the city for Peru (original name for Riverview) where the first gun of the campaign was fired...In the party were Dem. Exec. Committee chairman G.B. Sparkman Esq.,  Candidate for State Senate Joseph B. Wall; S.M Sparkman, Lucius Finley, C.W.Stevens, Lamont Bailey, G.M. Mathes and W. A. Givens.

At the close of his term (as Lt. Governor) in 1889, Mabry turned his entire attention to his law practice in Leesburg which by an act of the 1887 legislature had become part of newly-created Lake County. With no thought of again holding public office, Mabry withdrew from the political arena to spend the remainder of his days in quiet, unostentatious retirement of a country life. (1957-04-28 The Tampa Tribune - "Pioneer Florida" by D. B. McKay, provided by Tampa historian Theodore Lesley.)

1890-05-29 The Semi Weekly Times Union
DADE CITY ITEMS
Lt. Gov. Mabry is building a residence two miles north of Dade City in Pasco Co. This is the last reference found referring to Mabry as Lt. Governor, even though his term ended on Jan. 8, 1889.

1890-06-22 The Florida Times Union
First reference to Mabry as Ex-Lt. Governor..
A party of six or seven families from Leesburg are negotiating for summer quarters at Clear Water.  Ex Lt Gov Mabry and family will be in the party.  (This indicates Mabry was still living in Leesburg at this time.)

THE MABRYS MOVE TO DADE CITY, PASCO COUNTY

In 1890* Milton Mabry relocated with his family to Dade City and [soon] built there on a hill overseeing the town a large 10-room house.  Close by he planted and developed three orange groves each of sizeable acreage.
(*This date is originally 1889 in the 1957-04-28 article in the Tampa Tribune - "Pioneer Florida" by D. B. McKay, provided by Tampa historian Theodore Lesley. TampaPix has changed it to 1890 according to information found in several articles indicating Mabry returned to his home in Leesburg at the close of his term.)

1890-07-01 Florida Times Union
Call for a State Democratic Convention at Ocala, Fla., on Wed. Aug. 13, 1890.
Democrat convention is announced for Ocala on Wed., Aug 13 at 12 noon for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the office of justice of the supreme court and for the office of comptroller, to fill the vacancy cause by the resignation of Hon. W.D. Barnes, and to conduct other business.

MABRY NOMINATED FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

1890-08-13  Milton Mabry was sent as a delegate to the state Democratic convention in Ocala. Without solicitation as to himself, his name was placed in nomination for justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, and on the final ballot he received the nomination over eminent but aged incumbent, Justice Maxwell. (1957-04-28 The Tampa Tribune - "Pioneer Florida" by D. B. McKay, provided by Tampa historian Theodore Lesley.In August 1890 Mabry)

1890-08-14 Pensacola News
Bloxam nominated for comptroller by a rising vote. Triangular Contest for the Supreme Judgeship - Judge Maxwell's Name Withdrawn After Several Ineffectual Ballots, and Milton H. Mabry Nominated by Acclamation.  Judge Maxwell withdrawn, Milton Mabry is nominated for Supreme Court Justice

1890-08-17 Pensacola News
THE MAJORITIES - Ocala - Democrats nominate ex-Gov Bloxam for Comptroller, Mabry for supreme court justice.

MABRY ELECTED TO SUPREME COURT

1890-11-22 Pensacola News
Florida election results: Mabry elected Supreme Court Justice 23,644 votes, Ex-Gov. Bloxam elected State Comptroller 24,530.

1890-11-27 The Semi Weekly Times Union
County by County totals for Supreme Court Justice:  M.H. Mabry vs. J.R. Challen, State Comptroller: Bloxam

1891-01-04 Pensacola News
M.H. Mabry, justice-elect, arrives in Tallahassee with his family.

MABRY'S FIRST SIX-YEAR TERM AS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

1891-01-09 Polk County News
Mabry to begin when Supreme Court meets in January.

1895-01-09 Pensacola News
The Supreme Court began its January term today...by choosing a new presiding officer.  The state constitution provides that the chief justice shall be designated by lot (random selection) by said justices, and shall be such during his term of office...and the lot fell upon Mr. Justice Milton H. Mabry, who will be chief justice during the remainder of his official term.

1897-01-15 The Florida Times-Union -  A history of the supreme court of Fla.
1895 - January term, Reorganization of court, Milton H. Mabry chosen chief justice, B.S. Liddon and R.F. Taylor associate justices.

MABRY CAMPAIGNS FOR A SECOND TERM AS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

1896-06-18 Weekly Tampa Tribune
STATE CANDIDATES - ...for supreme justice, Milton H. Mabry, of Pasco (the present incumbent), and T. M. Shackleford, of Hillsborough, have been suggested.

1896-10-01 The Pensacola News
Democrat ticket nominees: For Governor - William D. Bloxam, for Supreme Court Justice - Milton H. Mabry

MABRY ELECTED FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, 2ND TERM

Milton H. Mabry, justice, elected for six more years in Oct. 1896 [starting Jan. 1897 term.]  (1897-01-15 The Florida Times-Union -  A history of the supreme court of Fla.)

1896-10-15 The Weekly Press
Lee County results: The entire Democrat ticket for the state was elected and the constitutional amendments all carried.  Gov: W.D. Bloxham, Supreme Court Justice: Milton Mabry.

Milton Mabry served on the Supreme Court for 12 years from 1891 to 1903, as justice from 1891 to 1897, as chief justice from 1895-1897 as Chief Justice, and 1897-1903 as justice.

Florida Supreme Court - Justice Milton Harvey Mabry

1900 CENSUS, DADE CITY, PASCO CO. FLA.

Click the image to see it larger.

1901-08-07 Tampa Tribune
Judge Milton Mabry of the supreme bench, and his estimable wife, are guests of the hospitable Trice residence in Hyde Park.  Judge Mabry and Mrs. Trice were children together and attended the same college.  Judge Mabry enjoys the enviable reputation of being one of purist jurists in the South, and is a gentleman universally admired and esteemed by all who know him.

1901-08-08 Tampa Tribune
Judge Mabry and wife, who have been guests of the hospitable Trice residence in Hyde Park, leave today for Dade City where Judge Mabry owns one of the finest homes in Florida.

Read more about Judge Hocker in the article from which the above was excerpted.

1902-02-19 Tampa Tribune
JUSTICE MABRY WILL RETIRE - Hon. W.A. Hocker will seek to succeed him on the Supreme Bench
Tallahassee, Fla. Feb. 18 - It was given out authoritatively this afternoon that Hon. M.H. Mabry for the past twelve years Supreme Court justice, will not be a candidate for re-election, and that Hon. W. A. Hocker, formerly judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and now Supreme Court commissioner, will offer for the position made vacant by the retirement of Judge Mabry.

1902-02-25 Tampa Tribune
Judge Jos. B. Wall for Supreme Court - Circuit Court Jurist yesterday announced his candidacy to succeed Justice Mabry who resigned.  Sure Winner. The other candidate is Judge W. A. Hocker of Ocala. (Further endorsements and praise for Wall.)

1902-12-12 Tampa Tribune
Judge Mabry of Tallahassee will come to Tampa later in the season and will make this city their home.  They will be welcome new-comers.

1903-01-01 Tampa Tribune
MILTON MABRY COMING TO TAMPA - Giddings.E. Mabry has returned to Tampa from Tallahassee, his father Judge M H Mabry will arrive in a few days to locate here for the practice of his profession.

1903-01-01 The Tampa Tribune
A Distinguished Acquisition
Judge Mabry who retired from the Supreme Court today has already arrived in Tampa where he will make his future home. Judge Mabry will practice law in this city and the acquisition of himself and his estimable family is greatly appreciated by Tampa.  He is considered on of the shrewdest and most successful lawyers in this State, and the Tribune is confident that his most sanguine anticipations will be more than realized in his new home.

1903-01-04 The Florida Times Union
Judge Mabry has moved his family to Tampa.  His term as a Supreme Court Justice having expired, he locates at Tampa for the practice of law.  Judge Mabry and his family made many friends in Tallahassee during their stay here who regret to see them leave the capital.

1903-01-07 The Florida Times Union
The Supreme Court met on Monday with Judge Mabry as member.  Today the court organized with Judge Hocker in the place of Justice Mabry, whose term expired yesterday.

1903-02-06 TRIB - The only reference to Mabry & Mabry in Florida newspapers
Wants Her Maiden Name
Mary M. Watson files suit against husband Richard L. Watson, for divorce.  She will also ask that her original name, Mary M. Carpenter, be restored.  She is represented by Mabry & Mabry.

1904-02-02 Tampa Tribune
Death of Ella D. Mabry on Jan. 31, 1904, wife of Milton H. Mabry.

MILTON MABRY LEAVES TAMPA, RETURNS TO TALLAHASSEE AS CLERK OF SUPREME COURT

1905-03-31 The Weekly True Democrat (Tallahassee)
Mr. B. B. Wilson today retires from the office of clerk of the Supreme Court and turns over that office to Judge M. H. Mabry....of Tampa, an ex-Judge of the Supreme Court and is of course thoroughly conversant with the duties upon which he is entering, as well as a gentleman very highly esteemed, especially among the legal fraternity of the State.

1906-02-08 Pensacola News Journal
Dear sir, The court has today directed the entry of judgment in the case of L.B. Croom, plaintiff in error, vs. C. Fred Schad, marshale, defendant in error from Escambia county, affirming judgment in the case.  The decision of the court was en banc and the opinion prepared by Mr. Justice Taylor.
Very truly yours, M.H. Mabry, Clerk Supreme Court.

MILTON MABRY REMARRIES

1906-11-16 The Louisville Courier Journal
Quiet Wedding Solemnized Yesterday at the Home of the Bride.
This article is incorrect concerning Milton being a member of Mabry & Mabry.  He had already moved back to Tallahassee in 1905.  After the wedding, the Mabrys honeymooned in Miami, with expectations of going to Cuba, but political unrest there made them decide not to go.

1906-12-2 Florida Times Union - THE MABRYS RETURN FROM THEIR WEDDING TRIP
Judge Milton H. Mabry and Mrs. Mabry returned Saturday from their wedding trip and are making their home with Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Gilmore.  Mrs. Mabry has a host of friends here who remember her as a charming visitor of last season, and who are delighted that she has returned to make her home in Florida as the wife of one of the state's mos distinguished men.
 

1909-10-22 TRIB Death of John Bramlett Mabry, son of Milton and Ella Mabry

SECOND RETIREMENT

1915-06-06 Tampa Tribune
MABRY QUITS AS CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT - Is succeeded by Talbot Whitfield, Governor's secretary.  Judge Mabry's health is reason for change. TALLAHASSEE, JUNE 5 - Hon. Milton H. Mabry has resigned as clerk of the Supreme Court.  The statement is made that the probable reason for the resignation is the Judge's health. Hon. Talbot Whitfield, private secretary to the Governor, has been named as Judge Mabry's successor. The retirement of Judge Mabry marks the ending of a long and enviable record in the service of Florida, and those who have known and learned to love him express for him the wishes for peace and prosperity as a reward for his fidelity.

1915-06-10 Tampa Times
Judge Mabry and family of Tallahassee have located in Clearwater for the summer, and probably will make this their permanent home.

1915-07-04 The Florida Tmes-Union (Tallahassee)
Judge Milton H. Mabry...turned over the jurisdiction of his office, clerk of the supreme court, to Hon. G. T. Whitfield.  Judge Mabry will remain in the city for a week or two winding up his business and then will enjoy a much deserved vacation, a part of which he will possibly spend at Clearwater.  His son, Dale Mabry, has been here for a few days assisting his father in the conclusion of his affairs.  He returned to his home in Tampa Thursday.

1917-01-31 Tampa Tribune
Mrs. Milton H. Mabry, Sr., is the wife of Judge Mabry and has recently moved from Tallahassee to Tampa.  She is a charming woman and will be an asset to Tampa's society.

DEATH OF MILTON H. MABRY, SR.

1919-03-03 Milton H. Mabry, Sr. death certificate
Milton Harvey Mabry died at his residence at 310 Fielding in Tampa from pulmonary tuberculosis on March 3, 1919, at age 68. His length of time in this location was 18 years.  His date of birth was June 17, 1850 in Alabama, occupation Lawyer.  Parents Jesse H. Mabry of SC and Sarah Prude (no birthplace given).  The informant was his widow, Mrs. Milton H. Mabry, of 310 Fielding. The place of burial was Dade City Cemetery.
 

MILTON H. MABRY OBITUARIES

Be aware that obituaries are rarely 100% accurate as they depend on the information of relatives and/or friends.  For example, the press constantly refers to him as "Milton Harze Mabry" or Milton Harse Mabry.

1919-03-04 Florida Times Union See whole article.
Tampa, March 2 - MILTON H. MABRY DIES AT HIS TAMPA HOME - One-Time Lt. Governor of Fla., justice of the State Supreme Court and later Clerk of That Court.  Errors:  "Milton Harze Mabry".  ...became Lt. Gov. a position he filled until 1888.  Mabry held this position to the end of his term in 1890. Survivors: wife, five sons, and a daughter.  The sons are "C.E. Mabry, Jr." (Should be G. E. Mabry and not a junior) and Narton Mabry of Tampa" (should be HARTON Mabry), J. M. Mabry of Newport News, Va. (Should be Dr. J. H. Mabry - Jesse Hughes Mabry, "and Lt. Dale H. Mabry" (NO source ever attributes a middle name or middle initial for Dale.  Not even his Jan. 28, 1921 application for a passport which bears his own signature.)  OMITS MILTON HARVEY MABRY JR.
 

1919-03-04 Tampa Times See whole article
MABRY FUNERAL OCCURRED TODAY - Former Justice of Supreme Court Died at Home Here.
Errors: Judge Mabry was born Jun 17, 1851...(b. 1850). In 1883 he was elected as a member of the house of representatives from Lake County. Mabry was a representative from SUMTER COUNTY.  Survivors are correct. G.E. Mabry, M. H. Mabry Jr, Harton Mabry, all of Tampa, Dr. J. H. Mabry of Newport News VA, Lt. Dale Mabry with expeditionary forces in France, and daughter Mrs. Taver Bayler (Bailey) of Clearwater.
 

1919-03-04 Tampa Tribune See whole article
JUDGE M. H. MABRY DIES FOLLOWING LONG ILLNESS, Spent several years at Tallahassee, Former Justice Supreme Court, Lt. Gov. and Representative Lake County (NO, Sumter County.)  Judge Milton HARZE Mabry...born Pickens Co., Alabama June 17, 1851 (no, HARVEY, 1850).  67 years old (no, 68) He was elected in 1883 as a member of the state house of representatives from Lake County..(NO, elected 1882, started 1883, represented SUMTER Co.)  This obit is almost word-for-word from the Times obit.

1919-03-05 Tallahassee Democrat See whole article
JUDGE M. H. MABRY DIES IN TAMPA - Same errors as above: - Milton HARZE Mabry.  Born 1851, Elected 1883...was Lt. Gov. until 1888 when office was done away with. NO, was Lt. Gov until Jan. 8, 1889.

1919-03-05 Tampa Tribune - All correct, has no dates.  See whole article

1919-03-06 Tampa Times - All correct
Judge Mabry's Funeral Was in Dade City - Dade City, March 6 - Several prominent attorneys of Tampa, besides all the attorneys of the Dade City bar and old-time friends of Judge Milton H. Mabry, attended his funeral here Tuesday.  The services, which were conducted by Rev. C. W. Duke of Tampa, were simple but impressive.  Interment was made in the Dade City cemetery.

1919-03-06 Tampa Tribune - All correct
MANY MEMBERS OF BAR ATTEND MABRY FUNERAL, Late Judge Interred at Dade City
Dade City, March 5 - The remains of Judge Milton H. Mabry were laid to rest in the municipal cemetery here yesterday.  The funeral services, conducted by Rev. C. W. Duke of Tampa, were extremely simple. All the attorneys of the Dade City bar, several prominent attorneys from Tampa and many of the old time friends of the judge, who once lived here, were present.

1919-03-11 Tampa Times
DRAW RESOLUTIONS RESPECT TO MABRY - Circuit Judge F. M. Robles (Francis Marion Robles, son of Tampa pioneer Joseph Robles) today named a committee of seven old lawyers who during the time Judge M. H. Mabry practiced were members of the Tampa bar with him, to draw up suitable resolutions and present to the court Saturday morning at 11 o'clock.  Lawyers asked to serve on the committee are Judges James F. Glen, S. M. Sparkman, Tom Palmer, H. C. Macfarlane, C. C. Whitaker, H. P. Bailey and Wm. Hunter.  Judge Robles said this morning that he thinks it fitting that the local bar association and courts remember the distinguished judge and local lawyer.

1919-03-14 Florida Times Union - same errors as before
Same errors as before:  Milton Harze Mabry, born 1851 (1850), elected 1883 to state house, served as Lt. Gov until 1888 (1890) when office was abolished (no) survived by sons C.E. Mabry Jr (NO, G.E. Mabry)., Narton (HARTON) Mabry, Lt. Dale H.(no) Mabry. Missing Dr. Jesse Hughes Mabry.

1919-03-15 Tampa Tribune from the Gainesville Sun
Judge Milton H. Mabry - When this distinguished Floridian passed off the state of action a day or two ago, he practiced law with William A. Hocker at Leesburg.  Both these gentlemen represented Lake county in the state legislature.  (NO, both represented Sumter County). and both became judges of the supreme court of Florida.  Judge Mabry (like his friend and co-partner, Judge Hocker) was a lawyer in whom there was neither guile nor deception.  He was a profound lawyer; a gentleman of the old school. Courteous always and a scrupulous disciple of the code of honor. His whole life was one that those coming after him may emulate with profit to themselves and to their country.

1919-03-17 Tampa Tribune See whole article.
SPLENDID TRIBUTE IS PAID TO JUDGE MABRY - RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY BAR ASSOCIATION - Many Accomplishments of This Noble Citizen Reviewed in Memorial.
Accurate birth date. Mention of becoming mayor of Tupelo but says "twice." Mentions partnership with William A. Hocker for more than ten years. Accurate year of beginning as member of the Fla. House of Reps, 1883. Nominated and elected Lt. Gov. in 1884, (Nominated in 1884) Although a newcomer and stranger to the people and politics of Florida, so impressed his worth upon the thinking people of this state, that he was, without effort on his part (NO, he campaigned for this position, they are confused with his Supreme Court nomination) nominated and elected Lt. Gov. of this state in 1884. (NO, elected 1884, served starting 1885. ) This office he filled acceptably to the people until 1884. (NO, served to 1890.) 

1919-03-18 Tampa Times See whole article
RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED, Committee Meets in the Circuit Court Room to Honor Judge Mabry.
Resolutions: Accurate birth date, accurate name, Milton Harvey Mabry, again says "twice honored with election to the mayoralty of said town (Tupelo)"  This may be accurate if mayors served 1-year terms. nominated and elected Lt. Gov. of this state in 1884. (elected 1884, served starting 1885. ) This office he filled acceptably to the people until 1884. (NO, served to 1890.)  Tribute to character follows.

CLICK TO SEE LARGER

GIDDINGS ELDON MABRY, SON OF MILTON H. MABRY, SR. & ELLA DALE BRAMLETT

Born on Oct 8, 1877 in Tupelo, Miss., Giddings E. Mabry was influenced in his choice of a career by his father, Milton Harvey Mabry, who had a distinguished career as a lawyer and public servant.

Giddings was educated in West Florida Seminary (1894-96) and Richmond College, VA. (1896-98). He received his law degree from Cumberland University Law School in Lebanon, TN, in 1901. In the same year he was admitted to practice in Florida, commencing his practice of law in Tampa in 1901. In 1903 he was joined by his father, Milton Harvey Mabry, and they became "Mabry & Mabry."

Milton had practiced law in Tupelo from 1872 to 1878. In 1879, Milton H. Mabry was persuaded to come Florida for his health by his friend and future law partner, William A. Hocker, At two years old, Giddings and his younger brother Jesse were brought by their parents to Leesburg in Sumter Co., Florida. From 1883 to 1884, Milton was a member of the Florida House of Representatives. In 1884, he was elected Lt. Governor of Florida, but upon adoption of a new Florida Constitution in 1885, that office was eliminated; Mabry served out his term.  Milton H. Mabry was elected to the Supreme Court of Florida in 1891. He later became Chief Justice, serving two terms on the Court until 1903. Declining then to seek reelection, he moved from Tallahassee to Tampa to join his son in the practice of law.

Justice Mabry practiced law with his son for about two years in Tampa from 1903 to 1904. He then returned to Tallahassee. According to David E. Ward, Justice Mabry said he “didn’t care for the private practice of law.” Upon his return to Tallahassee, Milton became Clerk of the Florida Supreme Court where he served until 1915.

On Nov. 1, 1906, Giddings Mabry married Mabel Robey, daughter of Rev. George C. and Rebecca J. (Kelly) Robey. Giddings and Mabel had one daughter around 1910, Mabel Mabry. Daughter Mabel was a pleasant, friendly woman, always supportive of the firm. She married happily late in life and moved with her husband to New York.

Giddings Mabry served as City Attorney from 1910 to 1913, during which time some of his accomplishments were securing for the city the land needed for the estuary development and the property on Zack St. where the new Fire Station #1 was built.  He served as County Attorney from 1917 to 1923. 

Giddings' brother, Milton H. Mabry, Jr. became a prominent realtor in Tampa for many years. In 1953 he was still active in that work and did business under the name of Mabry, Rice & Boring. Giddings’ brother Dale Mabry was a WW1 veteran and Captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was well known for his pioneer work in lighter-than-air aircraft. He was at the controls of the airship Roma when the dirigible collapsed and struck a 2,200 volt network of power lines at Langley Field, near Norfolk, VA. in Feb. of 1922. (Tallahassee’s airport was for many years named for him. In the 1940’s, when a road was built to connect MacDill Airfield with Drew Airfield in Tampa, the road was named in his honor.)

D. Wallace Fields noted that Mr. Mabry was a thoughtful and generous man. He cared about those who worked with him. This was his legacy. He was a fine citizen, an able lawyer and a quiet, but effective influence upon partners more publicly prominent than he. He left the active practice with his firm in the mid-1960s.  He was a solid rock on which to build. Throughout these times, the Firm’s founders were leaders in public, religious and civic activities. Their partnership soon began to take the forefront in the building and shaping of Tampa’s legal and real estate development.

Some of the information above is from “A History of Our Firm” compiled by Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. in 1990. It is a collection of information gathered from many sources, including interviews with then senior members of the firm and firm history from Peter J. Winders.

MILTON MABRY AND FAMILY, 1880 Census, Leesburg, Sumter Co., Fla.

Giddings was enumerated as "Elding;" an attempt by the enumerator to spell "Eldon." 
The Hockers were living 5 dwellings away, the dwellings in between them have been removed here.

Giddings Mabry was educated in the Leesburg public grade schools and Leon County High School in Tallahassee.  In 1894 he entered the West Florida Seminary in Tallahassee until 1896. 

Photo courtesy of Florida Memory, State Library and Archives of Florida

Giddings Mabry then attended Richmond College at Richmond, Va. from 1896-1898, where he studied Latin, Greek, English and philosophy, obtaining his undergraduate degree in English and Latin.

Detailed history of Richmond College

RICHMOND COLLEGE, RICHMOND VA. 1898
Images courtesy of Richmond College Catalogue, 1897-1898
 

Giddings' brother, Jesse Hughes Mabry (named for his paternal grandfather), also attended Richmond College.  Jesse went on to a medical doctor career and practiced in Newport News, Va.

It was in mid-1898 when the Spanish-American war broke out that young Giddings was fired up with patriotic enthusiasm to help Col. Roosevelt free Cuba from Spanish rule and oppression.  He was ready to join when his family convinced him into completing his education.
(1963-03-14 Tampa Tribune -  Giddings Mabry,  Faith that works.)

LAW DEGREE AT CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY

Upon graduating from Richmond College, Giddings entered Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1898 and obtained his Bachelor of Law degree in Dec. 1900.  This was the same institution where his father, Milton, obtained his law degree in 1872.

1900-06-10 FLORIDA TIMES UNION
Giddings E. Mabry, a student at Cumberland University, Tenn., attended the West Florida Seminary exercises.

https://archive.org/details/internationaldir0153unse/mode/2up

Cumberland University

Established as Cumberland College at Lebanon in 1842 under the patronage of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland University received a charter as a university in 1843. Except for the period from 1962 to 1982, when the name was officially Cumberland College of Tennessee, the institution has operated continuously as Cumberland University and is the oldest institution of higher education in the central South operating under its original chartered name. Shortly after its founding, Cumberland University occupied a large new Greek Revival-style building. Robert L. Caruthers, lawyer, soldier, jurist, and congressman, took a leading role in the subscription drive that produced ten thousand dollars for the new college; he became the first president of the board of trustees. In 1847 trustees at Cumberland University established a school of law. It opened a theological school and a school of engineering in 1853. By 1859 the law school was among the largest in the United States.

Catalogue of Cumberland University, 1900
 

Memorial Hall, University building, front

Memorial Hall, University building, rear

Divinity Hall	Caruthers Hall

1900 CENSUS, PASCO CO., DADE CITY

1901-01-29 The Florida Times Union (Tallahassee)
Giddings Mabry, son of Justice Mabry of the Supreme Court, has returned home from Lebanon Law School, where he graduated.

1901-01-29 The Tampa Tribune
Giddings Mabry arrived in Tampa in late January, 1901, and left for Ocala to join Judge Hocker.

Service: January 6, 1903-January 5, 1915.

Born December 5, 1844 in Buckingham County, Virginia. Educated at Hampden-Sidney College of the University of Virginia. Admitted to bar, 1869. Moved to Florida, 1874. Member of Florida Legislature in 1877 representing Sumter County and in 1891 representing Lake County. Member of 1885 Constitutional Convention. Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit 1893-1901. Died in Jacksonville, July 16, 1918.

Portrait courtesy of Florida Memory Archives & State Library
 

About Judge Hocker

GIDDINGS MABRY RETURNS TO TAMPA TO START HIS ONE-MAN LAW OFFICE

Upon arriving in Tampa at age 24, Giddings Mabry established his residence in a rooming house at 409 East Street in Ft. Brooke.  There he shared a room with Herbert S. Phillips, who was admitted to practice in Tampa in Feb.1901 and would soon serve as U.S. District attorney for 25 years. in Oct. 1901, Giddings opened his private law practice in the Knight Building at the southeast corner of Franklin & Lafayette St., 

Fort Brooke was an area separate from the City of Tampa which had not yet been annexed.  It originally consisted of all the land south of Whiting St. extending north to the area later that became Ybor City. 

See The Final Battle of Fort Brooke at TampaPix.

GIDDINGS MABRY OPENS AN OFFICE IN THE KNIGHT BUILDING

1901-10-11 TRIB
LAWYER MABRY
Mr. Giddens [sic] Mabry, son of Judge Mabry of the Supreme Court, has decided to cast his lot in Tampa and will practice law in this city, occupying elegant quarters in the Knight building.  Mr. Mabry is an exceedingly bright young gentleman and will no doubt gain fame and fortune in his chosen profession.

THE KNIGHT BUILDING
Located on the southeast corner of Lafayette St. (now Kennedy Blvd.) & Franklin St., articles mentioning it as "the new Knight building" begin in April of 1893.

At the far left of the photo can be seen the back side of the old City Hall built in 1892 and demolished in 1915 to build the old City Hall that still exists today at that same location.
 

This photo was originally published in the Jan.1900 Tampa Tribune mid-winter edition.  Some years later, the Burgert Brothers obtained this issue from Tribune archives and photographed most of the pages that pertained to the development of Tampa, thus producing glass-plate negatives.  When the Burgert negatives were discovered in a backyard shed of a Tampa home, the Library organized to obtain funding to print the over 20,000 of the negatives, scan them and put them online.

LOCATION OF THE KNIGHT BUILDING, 1903
The 1903 Sanborn map presented below shows the location of the Knight building, which was next to saloons, a liquor store and a billiard hall, places Giddings likely abhorred.

The first City Hall seen looking southwest from Florida Avenue and Lafayette St. in 1900
Photo from the Jan. 1900 Tampa Tribune mid-winter edition, rephotographed by the Burgert Bros.
and available from the Tampa-Hillsborough Co. Public Library System.

Below: The rear of the Knight building can be seen at far right in the photo below.
Notice that the City Hall rooftop structure has been removed.  Find out when and why.

The signage on the building is an indication that the photo was taken after Oct. 1911. When the Fire Department moved out and into its new building on Zack Street in late 1911, the old City Hall building was then repaired and renovated in Oct. of that year. The remodeling was done to accommodate the Police Headquarters almost entirely . (These events are detailed in this feature.) When originally built, the signage showed "Head Quarters Tampa Fire Department." The Burgerts were commercial photographers and a newly completed repair/ renovation would have been a good reason to hire them to photograph the building at this time.

Today the site of the Knight building is the courtyard in front of the City Hall annex.

Known as the "Knight building" from the time it was built, the name change to the "Hendry & Knight" building was a gradual one over the years.  The address of the1915 City Hall was 315 Lafayette St. and the Knight building occupied a handful of lots from 301 to 309 Lafayette. 

In 1923 the building was sold by Jack Knight to the Florida Mortgage Title & Bonding Co. (according to a May 16, 1930 Tampa Tribune article described below.)

A May 7, 1925 Tampa Times article shows that the Civil Service board was located in Room 9 of the Knight building.

City Hall and the Hendry & Knight building, Nov. 13, 1925
Photo by Burgert Bros.

A Tampa Times Dec. 31, 1925 article listing the "Outstanding Events of 1925 states "May 11, 1925. W. L. McNevin Co. announces sale by Chas. H. Brown of 3-story Hendry & Knight building to northern investors for $350k or more than $6k per front foot." This price was a good example of how the peak of the land boom in Florida affected property values. Property was being bought with the intention of selling it a short time later at great profits.  Charles H. Brown was Tampa's mayor under a commissioner form of government from Jan. 1821 to Jan 1924.

Just over 3 months later, the Tampa Tribune published on Sep. 2, 1925, that the Hendry & Knight building was purchased for $500k by W. L. McNevin & Associates who intended to alter the structure to provide more office facilities.  The seller was George W. Ward of Washington, D.C.  Tentative plans were to demolish the building and build a thoroughly modern office building, or the old structure would be renovated throughout.

On Apr. 16, 1930, the Tribune announced that the Hendry & Knight building at Franklin & Lafayette had been sold to "Northern interests."  Described as "considered to be one of the most valuable corners of downtown Tampa."    Sold by Florida Mortgage Title & Bonding Co., president Dr. G. C. Rankin, to a buyer who requested "this phase of the deal be not disclosed at present."  At this time the building consisted of business offices on the 1st floor, 26 offices on the 2nd floor, and a lodge hall on the 3rd floor.

On Apr. 23, 1930, the Tampa Chapter of the D.A.V. (Disabled American Veterans) moved their headquarters from 212 Franklin St. to the 3rd floor of the Hendry & Knight building.

On Feb. 25, 1945, the Tampa Tribune announced that the property known as the "Hendry-Knight" building at the southeast corner of Franklin & Lafayette was being purchased by the New York Bakery and Delicatessen Co. for reportedly $80k. The bakery currently had quarters at 607 Tampa St. but planned to move the the H-K building in "the near future."  The building now houses a billiard parlor and cigar store on the lower floor, offices on the 2nd floor, and lodge rooms on the 3rd floor.  County tax rolls valued it at $42k for 1944.

On Apr. 14, 1945, the Tampa Tribune announced that county tax collector Sparkman, whose office was in a cramped office at the county courthouse, wanted offices in City Hall for himself and his employees because of their cramped quarters in small offices on the 2nd floor of the Hendry-Knight building, which was costing the county $540 a year. The article ends with "The Hendry-Knight building was purchased recently by a large bakery concern.  A bakery will be established on the ground floor, and a billiard parlor formerly on that floor is being moved to the 3rd floor. 

In May 1945 the county made another plea to mayor Curtis Hixon for space in City Hall when county tax assessor Sparkman complained about the noise from the billiards parlor on the 3rd floor.  "The installation of a bakery on the 1st floor caused the billiard parlor to be moved to the third floor.  Pool balls falling on the floor and pool cues banged on the floor by disgusted players proved a great annoyance to the assessing staff on the floor below.  I'm through trying to make any request of the city.  We asked them once, and they turned us down.  I don't feel like begging."

The New York Bakery & Deli opened in this location on Sep. 24, 1945 and closed up shop in March 1950. The tower seen above the building was on top of the Tampa Times building which was home to WDAE radio station at Washington & Franklin St.

The Hendry & Knight building in August, 1953 as seen from the vacant lot across Lafayette St.  The lot was the location of of the 1891brick Hillsborough County Courthouse demolished in early 1952.
See the whole photo which includes City Hall.

The building was demolished in Jan.1976 along with all the other buildings along Franklin St. between Kennedy Blvd. and Jackson St.

1901-10-18 The Tampa Tribune
MERRITT SENT UP - Grant Merritt, the negro who carried away a considerable portion of the goods of L.D. Geiger...was convicted of grand larceny and sentenced to 18 months in the penitentiary.  Giddens [sic] Mabry, who has just begun the practice of law here, was appointed by Judge Graham to defend the negro, and made a creditable showing in a clear case of guilt.

1901-11-12 The Tampa Tribune
G MABRY DEFENDS WALKER
Doc Walker, burglary, was successfully defended by Attorney G. E. Mabry.
 

GIDDINGS MABRY ADMITTED TO THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

1902-02-09 The Tampa Tribune
GIDDINGS MABRY APPLIES FOR HCBA
GUNBY IS CHOSEN as president of the Hillsborough Co. Bar Association.  The meeting was held in the office of Circuit Judge Joseph. B. Wall.  Applications for membership were received from G. E. Mabry and G. E. Lucas of Tampa.  E.R. Gunby was elected as president, Thomas M. Shackleford as vice-president.

1902-08-06 The Tampa Tribune
LAWSON IS FREE - Jury Agreed At Late Hour Last Night
Attorney Mabry cleared his client of assault with intent to rape after a hard fight against trained lawyers.
Lawson was defended by G. E. Mabry; Solicitor Simonton and Samuel Borchardt represented the State.

1902-09-11 The Florida Times-Union - Former roommates travel to Tallahassee
Giddings E. Mabry, a promising young lawyer of Tampa, and Hon. H. S. Philips, nominee for State Attorney in the Fifth Circuit, are on a visit to the capital.
 

THE START OF MABRY & MABRY

When Milton H. Mabry, Sr's service as a Florida Supreme Court justice was over, he declined re-election and moved to Tampa to join his son in the private practice of law.  Giddings E. Mabry, attorney at law, became "Mabry & Mabry."

1903-01-01 The Tampa Tribune
MILTON MABRY (SR.) COMING TO TAMPA - Giddings E. Mabry has returned to Tampa from Tallahassee; his father, Judge M H Mabry, will arrive in a few days to locate here for the practice of his profession.

1903-01-01 The Tampa Tribune
A Distinguished Acquisition
Judge Mabry who retired from the Supreme Court today has already arrived in Tampa where he will make his future home. Judge Mabry will practice law in this city and the acquisition of himself and his estimable family is greatly appreciated by Tampa.  He is considered on of the shrewdest and most successful lawyers in this State, and the Tribune is confident that his most sanguine anticipations will be more than realized in his new home.

1903-01-06 The Tampa Tribune
MILTON MABRY, SR. ARRIVES IN TAMPA

1903-02-06 The Tampa Tribune - FIRST AND ONLY MENTION OF MABRY & MABRY IN FLORIDA NEWSPAPERS
WANTS HER MAIDEN NAME
Mrs. Mary M. Watson is represented by Mabry & Mabry in a divorce lawsuit against her husband, Richard L. Watson.  She also asked that her original name, Mary M. Carpenter, be restored.  "She is the same gentle lady of approximately 70 summers who shot at her husband several weeks ago for trespassing on her property.

1904-02-02 Tampa Tribune
Death of Ella Dale Mabry on Jan. 31, 1904, mother of Giddings Mabry

1904-02-18 The Weekly Tampa Tribune
HILLSBOROUGH CO. BAR ASSOCIATION ELECTS OFFICERS
Giddens [sic] E. Mabry is elected treasurer.

1904-04-12 The Tampa Tribune
By mid-April 1904, Giddings Mabry had moved his practice into the Hampton Building. 
Giddings Mabry, a leader in the temperance movement, was giving out badges to members of the WCTU (Women's Christian Temperance Union).  Over 800 women had been pinned.
 

1904-05-15 The Tampa Tribune
Mabry, G. E., Hampton Block. Pen (Peninsular) Phone 1123

The Hampton building was located on the east side of the 700 block of Franklin St. on the corner at Polk St.
The Hampton Building, 1921

Behind the far right lamp post can be seen one of the three 1-story businesses that were demolished to build the Tampa Theater in 1926. Construction on the Hampton building began in late Sept. 1900 after the wood frame structures on the corner were demolished (meat market, tailor shop, barber shop, restaurant, and laundry) and was completed in late Feb. 1901.
(1900-04-08 Tampa Tribune - "ANOTHER BRICK BLOCK - Hampton to Erect Handsome Structure at Franklin and Polk.)
 

On the 1903 Sanborn Fire Insurance map below can be seen outlined in blue where the Tampa Theater office tower and auditorium were built in 1926.

The bank at lower left was the Citizens Bank.
 

The Hampton building on Mar. 1, 1934, home to McCrory's 5 & 10.
Burgert Bros. photo.

In early Oct. 1934 it became the home of an air-conditioned Walgreen Drug Store. 
Notice the removal of the top decorative facade of the right side of the building.

	WILLIAM WADE HAMPTON The Hampton block and the building were named for William Wade Hampton, Sr, a Gainesville attorney who owned a large amount of valuable property in the state including in Tampa.  Born in Albany, Georgia in 1856, he came to Florida in 1876 at Gainesville where he  founded the town's first law firm, Hampton and Hampton, with his brother Edwin, William was the first president of the Florida Bar Association. He was the first of three generations of Wade Hamptons who practiced law in Gainesville from 1875 until 2006.  In early April, 1900, he announced plans to build a new brick business block on his property at Franklin and Polk St.
Courtesy of "Men of the South" 1922		Courtesy of Florida Memory, Archives & State Library

 Looking north from Franklin St. and Zack toward Hampton block in 1911.
At far right is the Citizens Bank Building.  Place your mouse on the photo to see the Hampton Building highlighted.
Burgert Bros photo courtesy of the Tampa Hillsborough County Public Library System

1905-03-31 The Weekly True Democrat (Tallahassee)
Mr. B. B. Wilson today retires from the office of clerk of the Supreme Court and turns over that office to Judge M. H. Mabry....of Tampa, an ex-Judge of the Supreme Court and is of course thoroughly conversant with the duties upon which he is entering, as well as a gentleman very highly esteemed, especially among the legal fraternity of the State.

GIDDINGS MABRY JOINS TAMPA BOARD OF TRADE, 1905

1905-03-12 The Tampa Tribune
Is your name on this list?
Official list of the member of Tampa's Board of Trade, Mabry, G.E., attorney-at-law, Hampton building.
Other members have been omitted.

1905-06-20 The Tampa Tribune - Read the whole article.
MABRY WAS CHIEF COOK, demonstrated rare culinary ability in Green Springs Camp.
Seven boys, counting Mabry, returned from Green Springs where they camped out for a week and enjoyed life to the fullest.  Besides his other duties, Mr. Mabry acted as chief cook and gained 10 pounds on the menu he prepared.  He was so successful that he was offered a steady salary of $4 a week to surrender his legal career in Tampa and devote himself exclusively to the culinary art at the Springs, an offer which his natural modest and retiring disposition impelled him to refuse.  Two tents and a house were needed to accommodate the Tampa youth. Mr. Mabry, who is an expert carpenter as well as a cook and barrister, building a handsome and commodious one story residence, designated "Giddings' Castle," on the bluff near the hotel, during leisure moments when not cooking, cutting wood, bathing, fishing, hunting, sleeping, or otherwise occupied.

MARRIAGE OF GIDDINGS MABRY & MABEL ROBEY

1906-10-07 The Tampa Tribune
MABRY - ROBEY
A wedding that will be of general interest all over Tampa and especially in Hyde Park, will be that of Miss Mabel Robey and Mr. Giddings E. Mabry.  This will take place the first part of November.  Both Miss Robey and Mr. Mabry have endeared themselves to a host of friends in Tampa and their future happiness is the wish of all who know them.

1906-10-16 The Tampa Tribune
MABRY-ROBEY
The following invitations were issued yesterday:  "Rev. and Mrs. George W. Robey invite you to be present at the marriage of their daughter, Mabel, to Mr. Giddings Eldon Mabry, on the evening of Thursday, the first of November at 7:30 o'clock, First Baptist Church, Tampa, Fla."
 

On Nov. 1, 1906, Giddings married Iowa-born Miss Mabel Robey, a daughter of the Rev. George C. and Rebecca J. (Kelly) Robey.

1906-11-02 Tampa Tribune  Read a detailed article about the wedding.
1906-11-04 Tampa Tribune - Read another detailed account of the wedding.
 

From "Men of the South, A Work for the Newspaper Reference Library" 1922, Southern Biographical Association.

JOSEPH WHEELER FRAZIER
Joseph Wheeler Frazier, attorney-at-law, was born in Rhett County, Tenn., Feb. 24, 1875.  He was educated at the University of Tennessee, graduating in 1900.

Mr. Frazier came to Tampa in 1901 and was admitted to the bar the same year.  He has practiced law in Tampa ever since.  He has had a large practice, mainly in commercial law, and is one of the most extensive owners of real estate in the city.

Mr. Frazier is an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, a Woodman of the World, a member of the Tampa Yacht and Country Club and the Golf Club.

He was married June 8, 1904 to Miss Nellie Hendry of Fort Myers, Fla.  They have four children, to boys and two girls.

Mr. Frazier has offices at 915-916 Citizens-American Bank building.  He has never aspired to public office but has devoted himself strictly to the practice of his profession and to his real estate interests.  He is specially versed in the law applying to business dealings and has had remarkable success in special branches of law

The First National Bank started life as "The Bank of Tampa" in 1883 in a small wood frame structure on Washington St. just west of Franklin St. 

This photo from the Hampton Dunn Collection was taken at least NINE  YEARS after the bank had moved out and occupied its second location.   According to Hampton Dunn, the signage was added on by a photo artist.  Proof is that the bank was not "The First National Bank of Tampa" until after 1887 when it occupied its 2nd location.  While in this shack, it was "The Bank of Tampa."  This indicates that the artist altered the photo to add the sign after the bank had changed its name- By this time this location was in bad shape.  It did NOT look like this when the bank occupied it. See top map at right about the vacant lot seen in the above photo.

On the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps below, you can see there was another wood frame structure to the right of the bank.  The wood planks protruding from the roof in the photo indicate that this adjacent building shared part of the roof, and when that building was torn down, the planks were cut between them. This structure was still next to the old bank shack on the 1892 Sanborn maps. It was a vacant lot on the 1895 Sanborn maps which indicates the Hampton Dunn photo was taken between 1892 and 1895 or later.


Seen below, the old bank building was vacant and had moved to the new brick building on the opposite side of the street to the corner.

SECOND LOCATION

In 1886 the first brick building in Tampa was built for the bank at the southwest corner of Franklin and Washington St.

In the photo, Franklin St. is on the left, Washington St. on the right.

Notice decorative woodwork on the sign and trees have been added..

THIRD LOCATION

In mid-1894 construction began on a new First National Bank building at the southwest corner of Franklin and Madison.  Completed by January 1895, the marble front facade was its most prominent architectural feature and was a example of Richarsonian Romanesque influence. The building architecture was so unique it made the Register of Historic buildings in 1974, even though the building had been taken down in 1925.  Read on later about how this took place.

This is the building that Joseph Frazier occupied when Mabry joined him in 1907.

The Bank of Tampa moved from Franklin & Washington St. to this building in early 1895, becoming the First National Bank.

The First National Bank bldg at at 414-416 Franklin St., the northwest corner of Franklin St. and Madison. Photo from the Tampa Tribune Midwinter edition, Jan. 1900.

The First National
Bank building in 1920

The 1913 Burgert Bros. photo below shows an elevated view of Franklin Street looking north. The First National Bank building can be seen on the left side of the street with flag on the roof.  The building which appears unfinished seen immediately to the left of the dome was the new Hillsboro Hotel. The south face was built practically without windows because the next phase was to expand it even taller on this side.  The building under construction in the distance is the Citizens Bank tower at Franklin and Zack Street. At the time of this photo, the bank occupied the building directly across Franklin St seen here with the "witch hat" roof and flag on its corner tower.

The building at far left was known as "Giddens Corner, the location of Tampa merchant I.S. Giddens' store at Lafayette and Franklin streets.  This is probably why Giddings Mabry was frequently in the papers as "Giddens."  The obelisk in the courtyard was a Confederate memorial.  At the far end of the courtyard was a bandstand. The building under construction in the distance was the new Citizens Bank building at Franklin & Zack.

1895 Sanford Fire Insurance map
Franklin St. between Madison and Lafayette.
Pink structures are brick, wood frame in yellow, stone in blue.

By mid-1895, the first brick building in Tampa, the 2nd home of the Bank of Tampa, became a saloon and storage.

In the early 1910s this old bank building became the home of the Tampa Times which was owned by D. B. McKay.  McKay soon installed radio equipment, a studio and offices for WDAE radio station with towering antenna on the roof. The Times moved out when the paper was bought by the Tampa Tribune in 1958 becoming the Tampa Tribune-Times. The Tribune became the morning paper and the Times the evening paper.

In November 1960, this building became the home of Tampa Hardware Co. founded in 1884 as Clarke & Knight (predecessor to Knight & Wall Hardware.)  It was bought by the Tampa Merchants Association in 1963 who used the two 9,500 sq. ft. floors with their collections department on the 2nd floor. By this time the building was a composite of two buildings which had been consolidated years earlier.  It was then demolished in 1980 with other properties in the area to build the One Tampa City Center complex.

	The Times Building in 1958 Photo courtesy of the Hampton Dunn Collection, Sunland Tribune.

1910-04-22 The Tampa Tribune
FRECKER CAUSE GETS HOT SHOT - McKay Forces Hold Enthusiastic Rally - Speaking Continues Until 11:45 With Mabry, McKay, Raney, Sherouse and Wall Holding the Floor
The meeting was presided over by G. E. Mabry, who made the first address.  Mr. Mabry opened by stating that this is an important period in the growth of the city and that at this time, important issues confront the people...   Read all of Mabry's comments about why he supports McKay and not Frecker, the incumbent.

Mayor D. B. McKay
Photo courtesy of Fla. Memory
State Library & Archives of Fla.

The April 1, 1910 Census in Tampa finds Giddings E. Mabry, living at 207 Cardy St. in Hyde Park, age 32, married for 3 years to 32 year old Mabel R. Mabry,  Giddings's occupation was "lawyer, general practice" In their home was their 7 month old daughter, Mabel Mabry.  Listed last is Bessie Brown, their cook, a 28 year old widow.. 

THE END OF FRAZIER & MABRY

1910-06-04 The Tampa Tribune
The last listing for Frazier & Mabry appears in the June 4, 1910 Tribune, but the legal section of court case schedules shows Frazier & Mabry representing clients until March 1, 1911.  These listings were called "cards" back then.

Frazier and Mabry probably parted ways in mutual agreement due to Mabry's appointment as City Attorney.  No article about the dissolution of their partnership could be found.

1910-06-22 The Tampa Tribune
MAYOR MAKES APPOINTMENTS
On Jun. 21, 1910, Giddings Mabry was chosen by newly-elected mayor Donald Brenham McKay to serve as City Attorney, serving until 1913. Among the first of his many accomplishments, Giddings secured land that enabled development of the Ybor channel and estuary area. 
 

Construction of Ybor Channel, the key project in Tampa's harbor development program, was made possible by a Federal appropriation of $1,750,000 authorized June 25, 1910. The channel was dredged in a marsh which had once been part of the Fort Brooke military reservation and was then owned by four businessmen.  Another large tract was held in the name of Charles Ballit had been deeded to him by his father-in-law, Stephen M. Sparkman, before the latter became congressman: The U.S. government insisted that the city must secure at least 700 feet on each side of the channel before dredging would be started. Giddings Mabry, as city attorney, immediately started negotiations with the property owners and the necessary land was secured late in 1911,  The arrangements provided that the owners should be paid with certificates which could be used to pay taxes on remaining lands for eight years. Dredging was started February 19, 1912, and proceeded rapidly thereafter.

Martindale's Directory was first published in 1868 by James B. Martindale, a lawyer and businessman. The first edition of Hubbell's Legal Directory was published in 1870. By 1896, Martindale's Directory included basic information that still appears in today's Martindale-Hubbell Directory. This edition introduced law digests for all the states and provinces. The same year, the 26th edition of the Hubbell's Legal Directory was published.  By combining the Martindale's Directory and Hubbell's Legal Directory, the first edition of the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory was published in 1931 as a two-volume set.  (Wikipedia)

1911-03-01 The Tampa Tribune - LAST MENTION OF FRAZIER & MABRY

This March 1911 court session was the last mention of Frazier & Mabry representing clients together. Other cases have been edited out.

GIDDINGS MABRY HANDLES LAND ISSUES FOR NEW FIRE STATION

As city attorney, in March 1911, Giddings was called to negotiate contracts with property owners of land surrounding the site of the planned, new Tampa Fire Station at Zack and Jefferson St.  This location would be only the 2nd site of Fire Station #1, after being housed in the ramshackle City Hall built in 1892 at Lafayette between Florida Ave. and Franklin St.  Today this building on Zack Street is the Tampa Firefighters Museum, and the old 1892 City Hall building was replaced in 1915 by the old historic City Hall we have today.  See Burgert Bros. page 4 for close ups of the men.

The new brick headquarters at Zack St. would be two stories with concrete floor, measuring 100 feet along Zack St. and 69 feet along Jefferson, with entrances at both streets. The ground floor would be used for offices, one for Fire Chief Mathews and one for public business. Also on the ground floor was storage for hose racks, horse wagons, automobiles, and stalls. The second floor would house dorms for the firemen and lavatories, as well as three rooms for the Chief, Asst. Chief and the Captain in charge of Station 1. Racks for drying the firemen's clothing would be located on the gravel roof, but out of view the general public. The new headquarters would result in more room at City Hall for other branches of City government.

The photo of City Hall below is dated 1901 and a tower can be seen on the rooftop. It was intended to house the fire alarm system, but was too weak to support it. A separate tower had to be built for the system instead, which can be seen at the left rear corner of the building. Read about this at TampaPix.  Displayed on the street are the truck, wagons, pumper and horses stored in the old City Hall building. At far left can be seen the old Dr. Sheldon Stringer house.

These photos are courtesy of Bill Townsend's "Tampa's Bravest".

Soon after Doyle Carlton joined Giddings Mabry, the firm began to prosper. The Hubbell Law Directory listed nine clients including Tampa Dairy Company, which eventually became a part of the Borden Company.

Carlton was a superb public speaker and handled the firm’s trial work during this period, while Mabry specialized in title examinations. Carlton went on to have a distinguished political career. He was elected to the State Senate from 1917-19 as the State Senator from the 11th District, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. He is credited with leading the fight in Tallahassee for women’s suffrage, for free school books and for creation of the first state road board. The Florida land boom commenced in the early 1920s, and the following years brought the Firm prosperity through real estate development and litigation. 

1915-01-28 TAMPA TRIBUNE - MEMBERS OF BENCH & BAR, TAMPA

The image at right is a crop and rotation of a full size page image showing other members of the bench and bar.  Judge F. M. Robles was Francis Marion Robles, a son of Tampa pioneer Joe Robles.

It is not known why Peter O. Knight was cut from the page.
Click to see it larger.

The July 31, 1915 Tampa Times says it was Dale Mabry, the July 31, 1915 Lakeland Ledger says it was G. E. Mabry.

The Times subtitle is "REAL ESTATE MAN PINNED BETWEEN TWO CARS."  It says Dale Mabry of the Mabry Realty Co. drove a Henderson automobile with Mr. & Mrs G.E Mabry and Mr. & Mrs Trice to Lakeland to attend a meeting at the Lakeland Baptist Church. From this point on, only "Mr. Mabry" is referred to. The car was parked in front of the church and when the meeting was over, "Mr Mabry" came out to crank start the car. (Before cars had battery powered ignition, a turn-crank was located in front of the car, usually in front of the radiator or above the bumper.)  Not realizing he had left the car in gear, the car started forward, pinning Mr. Mabry between it and the car parked in front of it.  The cars proceeded 75 to 100 feet down the street with Mabry pinned between them, ultimately stopping when the front car ran up on a sidewalk and smashed into a telephone pole. It ends with Mr. Mabry not having any broken bones or internal injuries, and except for a little soreness, feels no effects of the experience.

The Lakeland Ledger says "COL. G.E. MABRY OF TAMPA PAINFULLY INJURED.." it claims it was G.E. Mabry who had cranked the car and was pinned and makes no mention of his brother Dale having driven the car to Lakeland. However, it is made credible by the the use of "Col." Mabry and the conclusion of the article.  When describing the damage to the front car, a new Ford owned by D. H. Sloan, it says "Col. Mabry told Mr. Sloan to have his car repaired and send him the bill, but the latter feels that Col. Mabry did the Baptists a favor by coming to Lakeland to speak, and with his customary desire to give every man a fair deal, he does not entertain any desire to allow Mr. Mabry to repair his car..."  Dale would not have been referred to as "Col." which is a title of respect, age, esteem and honor in the South.  Dale was only around 24 yrs old and had not yet entered the military. He & his brother Milton Mabry, Jr. were in the real estate business in Tampa at this time. He was not a Baptist speaker who anyone would invite to speak at their church and consider it to be such an favor as to not want him to pay for the damage. Only Giddings would have been called "Col."

Born in Elizabethtown, Ky on Jan. 4, 1869, the son of Jasper and Eliza (Duncan) Stovall. Left an orphan at age five, he spent his early years on a farm while attending public schools of his native town. He moved to Florida in 1886 at 17 years old and entered into the business life with a job at a country newspaper at Lake Weir and later Ocala, Sumterville, then Bartow. Starting at the "bottom" he learned the business first in the laborious print shops. In 1890 at age 21, he established The Polk County News at Bartow, at which he was the owner, editor and general manager, and often the printer and pressman. He saw an inviting opportunity in Tampa and so his Polk County News was left behind in Bartow for a promise of future commercial importance. In 1893 The Tampa Tribune was born. The paper soon kept the pace of development and advancement of Tampa and went from a "blanket sheet" with out-of-date equipment and limited circulation to become in 27 years the leading journal south of Jacksonville, with modern equipment, Associate Press service, and the largest, most complete, it became the most prosperous and progressive newspaper in South Florida. He recently completed the construction of the W. F. Stovall building, a modern seven-story office building. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a Mason. Wallace F. Stovall died on Apr 16, 1950 at age 81. Read his lengthy obit in the Tampa Tribune. Read his obit in the Tampa Times.  Wallace F. Stovall died on Apr 16, 1950 at age 81.  Read his lengthy obit in the Tampa Tribune.  Read his obit in the Tampa Times

The Stovall Building occupied the southwest corner of Tampa & Madison streets with four handsome stores on the ground floor and 120 modern offices on the six floors above. Designed by architect B. C. Bonfoey, it was constructed of reinforced concrete fireproof construction, faced with attractive buff pressed brick, trimmed with cement window bases and stucco cornice at the approximate cost of $300,000. Mosaic tile floors were laid throughout the lobbies while the office floors were of maroon colored hard finished cement  An eight inch marble base set off the tile effect wainscoting and on each floor were automatic ice water fountains fed from an Isko refrigerating plant on the ground floor.  The woodwork was finished in mission and of green tint, while the wood was long leaf yellow pine of selected grain.  Each floor had two toilets.

April 15, 1930

Architect's sketch

Steam radiators were located in each office and in the lobbies.  Attractive rubbed brass electric fixtures, both wall and chain-effect overhead, increase the effect and the utility of the offices, where wee also piped for gas.  Running water with lavatories were located in each room, and with 360 windows in the building, the average was three cheery open windows to the room.  There were f59 windows on each floor and every office had at least two, some having as many as five.  Every office had an exterior view.  Two high-power , speed Otis elevators served the six upper floors insuring a maximum of service--one more rapid than in any other structures in the city. The elevator shaft, located in the center of the building, also served as a ventilating well.  Around it wound marble stairs from the bottom floor to the top. 

The entrance lobby was finished as was the remainder of the interior, with Mosaic tile in an attractive pattern, and mission finished wood.

The store fronts were "things of beauty" offering a maximum of plate glass display.  The baser of the show windows was only 18 inches high and made of marble and finished wood  The two inside stores had glass fronts in the lobby giving the same effect as obtainable on the corner.

The construction was of fireproof construction, designed by B. C. Bonfoey and built by General Contractor C. F. Aulick and superintendent of construction James McGucken.The tile was laid by the G.A. Miller company.

The building replaced two unsightly old structures before Stovall purchased the property.

 First mention of Reaves and Singletary together.

Last mention of Singletary & Reaves.

Hundreds of court activity section articles from 1906 to 1910 show Singletary & Reaves representing their clients.

From Feb. 2, 1925 to the summer of 1927, Doyle Carlton was the city attorney of Tampa, replacing Hilton S. Hampton who retired.  Though Carlton campaigned in 1923 for mayoral candidate Charles Brown's re-election, who was defeated by Perry G. Wall, Mayor Wall still appointed Carlton to the position.

Read about the Walls of Tampa.

Carlton resigned in June 1927 in order to campaign for governor of Florida, and until Karl Whitaker was appointed as city attorney on Jan. 11, 1928, the City relied on the services of Giddings Mabry and Judge Reaves.  (The Tampa Tribune - Jan. 11, 1928)

City Attorney Karl Whittaker
Jan. 11, 1928 - Tampa Tribune

In addition to his successful law practice and his city and county attorney positions, Giddings Mabry was successful in many business ventures.  He was a director of the Mabry-Hall Realty Co with his brother, Milton Mabry, Jr.  Giddings was president of the Guaranty Mortgage Co., and a director of United Markets, the Tampa Tribune, and the Trice-O'Neal Furniture Co.

In 1928, Mabry, Reaves & Carlton moved its offices into the new 13-story First National Bank Building at the corner of Franklin and Twiggs Streets, with the firm’s offices occupying the 12th floor of the building.

FOURTH HOME OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK

1925-02-20 TIMES Tentative plans for 10-story Bank building
Stockholders of the First National Bank approved tentative plans of President T.C. Taliaferro to build a 10-story bank and office building on the site of the present 4-story structure at Franklin and Madison streets.  Holmes & Winslow of New York are the architects and final plans are expected to be completed soon.

1925-04-03 Plans and specifications on file.
The bank, Holmes & Winslow of NY, and Franklin O. Adams, resident architect, are calling for a 10-story building at the present bank site.  Bids to be closed April 13.  About 15 contractors from Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Newark, Philadelphia, Toledo, Sarasota, and five from Tampa were expected to bid on the construction.

OLD BANK BUILDING BOUGHT, DISASSEMBLED & MOVED

Here is the first step in this old building's second life which led to it's historic building status in 1974. Constant Street is today's Laurel St. 

This article states that the building will be taken down and reassembled at the new site at a cost of about $60k and goes on to describe the entire new building site.

Read the fabled history of the DeSoto Hotel here at TampaPix.

He also owned Joughin's Corner in 1920 at Lafayette & Tampa streets.

In 1929, Linius Monroe Hatton would be terminated as
sheriff of Hillsborough County by Governor Carlton
over accusations of corruption and
was replaced by Robert Joughin.

Robert T. Joughin from
Men of the South, 1922
 

Construction on the new 13-story First National Bank building began in 1924 after the removal of the 1895 building. 

The bank moved into temporary offices next to the Knight & Wall Hardware store before demolition began in 1925.

PA 1180 1925-09-08 CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
Photo courtesy of the Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library System Burgert Bros Collection.

CLICK TO SEE THIS PHOTO LARGER
The Stovall office building can be seen at upper right.
At upper left is the TECO power plant smokestack and the Knight & Wall building with water tank on top.

Sep. 8, 1925

With all steel work on the thirteen-story First National Bank building completed, workmen are engaged in laying concrete flooring.  This phase of the project has been carried to four stories. Carl Thoner, Tribune Staff photographer.
 

NEARING COMPLETION  May 12, 1926
Photo courtesy of the Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library System Burgert Bros Collection
PA 2344

1926-02-25 PA 36 CONSTRUCTION
The steelwork was completed in late Dec. 1925.

See the entire photo above before cropping. 
Read about the Greeson Theater building seen at the bottom right corner

Oct. 25, 1926   PA 201
Click to read the signage in the top two floors windows.

Sep. 8, 1926 LOBBY
PA 1197

1929-01-31 TAMPA TIMES

MABRY, REAVES & CARLTON MOVES INTO THE NEW FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING

Inauguration day photo courtesy of the Stetson University Archives

In the Democratic gubernatorial primary of June 5, 1928, Carlton received 77,569 first choice votes and 28,471 second choice votes to win from a field of five Democrat candidates which included former Gov. Sidney J. Catts and State Roads Dept. chairman Fons Hathaway.

Carlton often criticized the State Roads Department for overspending. Apparently, as a state roads department official, Fons Hathaway had submitted and received payment for a number of repair bills on an old car. The bills were exorbitant and the car could not be found.

Often literally speaking from a stump, Carlton waved the repair bills before his audience and asked the crowd, “Where is this fine car?” Carlton won the election and later he observed that Hathaway rode to Tallahassee in a flivver.**

**The earliest use of the word “flivver” meant a small, cheap, or old run-down car, and in the early days referred especially to a run down Ford Model A or Model T. This sense is first found in 1910. Nowadays this use is typically historical or jocular; it's rarely found when discussing current cars.

Carlton ran on the platform of "good government, good schools, and good roads."  In November 1928, Carlton defeated his Republican opponent, William John Howey, 148,455 votes to 95,018 votes. He assumed the office of governor on January 8, 1929.

Upon election as governor, Carlton resigned from the firm and Morris E. White was brought into the firm in the Governor’s place; for the next four years the firm's name was Mabry, Reaves & White.

DOYLE CARLTON AS GOVERNOR

Carlton assumed the office of governor on January 8, 1929. He was the youngest ever (41) to assume this office at the time. Florida Supreme Court Justice Whitfield described Carlton’s four years of service as “the most progressive administration in memory.” Carlton was immensely popular and that popularity followed him throughout his career. He was widely acclaimed for his integrity and his commitment to fiscal responsibility. He voluntarily reduced his salary from $7,500 per year to $5,000 per year in his effort to balance the State’s budget.

Carlton served as governor during one of the most critical peacetime periods in Florida's history. During his term, he faced several difficult problems, helping the state through them all. The collapse of the state's land boom, a violent hurricane hit the state, a Mediterranean fruit fly infestation, and the Great Depression began during his term. He cut many state jobs in an attempt to reduce the state's budget. Leland Hawes, historical writer for The Tampa Tribune, commented that Governor Carlton came out of his four-year term with a reputation for integrity in the face of great pressure.

Gov. Carlton circa 1929

Governor Doyle Carlton and Florida State Troopers posing on
the steps of the Tampa Bay Hotel.  USF Burgert Bros Collection

Arthur L. Anderson
Circa 1950
(1907-1953)
Arthur Anderson was an excellent trial lawyer with a substantial clientele of insurance companies.

D. Wallace Fields, 1950.
(1910-1991)
Photo courtesy of his sons,
D. W. Fields, Jr. & Bob Fields

Original announcement from the Carlton Fields Heritage Conference Room.
Anderson was added before Fields due to his seniority as a practicing attorney.
The "1" after "Tampa" was the beginning of what would become Zip Codes

.

 ARTHUR ANDERSON

Arthur L. Anderson was born in Ocala on November 7, 1907. He was a son of Clifford Lockridge Anderson and Eula Lee lzlar Anderson. Arthur’s grandfather, Robert Anderson, was admitted to the Bar in 1883 and was the President of the Florida State Bar Association in 1907. Robert was one of several prominent Ocalans who did well on the State level in politics.

Arthur received his early education in the Ocala public schools when his family moved to the West Coast in 1915.  He graduated from Hillsborough High School and received his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Florida in 1931. He then returned to Tampa to practice law and became affiliated as a partner with Judge George P. Raney and his son, George P. Raney, Jr.  The firm practiced under the name of Raney, Raney and Anderson.  In 1944 he became a member of the firm of Mabry, Reaves and Carlton and was practicing there at the time of his death at the age of 45 on Jan. 14, 1953. 

In addition to conducting a large law practice, Arthur gave time and labor to many charitable civic and church activities.  He was Chairman of the Hillsborough County Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, President of the Young Democratic Club of Hillsborough Co., Chairman of the Florida State Democratic Campaign Committee, Chairman of the Hillsborough Co., Russell for President Campaign, member of the Circuit Court Commission of Hillsborough Co., and was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church on the Vestry of the church. 

In his practice, he displayed an extraordinary knowledge of the law, acquired by his efforts and diligence in study and attention to his beloved profession; and that which stood him even better than his Assiduous work was his understanding of people with their vices and virtues, making all realize that he well knew that in every lawsuit there were flesh and blood on both sides, and that justice should prevail in any event.  He was loyal to his clients, and fought valiantly for the protection of their rights, but he didn't forget his loyalty to the right.  His integrity matched his superb ability, and although he was the recipient of many honors as a lawyer and leader in his community, he bore them all with dignity, never with lordly pride.  In his mind every honor implied a duty, and to that duty he bent his energies. 

Those who knew Arthur were indeed fortunate, and their lives were fuller from their acquaintance with him.  He enjoyed fellowship, and his quick wit and friendliness endeared him to all.  Arthur's untimely death left an empty place in his law firm, and deprived his splendid wife and daughter of a devoted husband and father. 
(From a Resolution by the members of the Bar Associations of Tampa and Hillsborough County.)

 

DANIEL WALLACE FIELDS 

D. Wallace “Wally” Fields was born in Whitesburg, Kentucky, on Feb. 9, 1910. He was one of four children of Leroy Wilson Fields and Belle Salyer Fields. Wally’s father Leroy (L. Wilson Fields) was also an attorney, and so was Leroy’s father, Daniel David Fields.

Wally was educated in the public schools of Kentucky and completed his undergraduate work at the University of Kentucky. After he moved to Florida, he entered John B. Stetson University from which he received an LL.B. degree in 1933. In the same year, he was admitted to practice in Kentucky and Florida. Wally enjoyed music and played the trumpet in dance and school bands during his high school and college days. In 1929, he was a member of the Stetson band that played at Governor Carlton's inauguration. While at Stetson, Wally became friends with Judge Reaves' son, Charles K. Reaves, and at some point in time Charles dated Wally's younger sister.

Wally Fields circa 1930.  Fourth from left.
Photo courtesy of his sons, D. W. Fields, Jr. & Bob Fields

While still at Stetson, in 1933, Wally married Martha Ann Smith. Martha was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Rodney G. Smith of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Martha also graduated from Stetson University and shared a love of music; she was a concert pianist.

B & B Supermarket at Dale Mabry Highway and Henderson Blvd, Sep. 7, 1950.
Courtesy of Tampa-Hillsborough Co. Public Library System, Burgert Bros.

Around 1940, Governor Carlton & Wally began to represent major oil companies, one of which was Humble Oil & Refinery Company. In the mid 1940s, Humble Oil & Refining brought their Sunniland oil field to Florida when oil was first discovered here. Humble was later acquired by the Exxon Corporation.  

In 1946, Wally moved to Tallahassee where the firm opened an office in the Midyette-Moor Building to serve oil and gas clients. Joe Sharit, Jr. worked with him there as an associate. During the ensuing years, Wally practiced oil and gas law exclusively and examined titles for oil company leases on millions of acres of land. He also helped write the oil & gas legislation for the State of Florida. At that time, he represented 17 major oil companies engaged in exploration, including Humble, Phillips Petroleum, Amerada Hess, Getty Oil, Sun Oil and Louisiana Land & Development Company. When the leasing work was completed in 1950, the Tallahassee office was closed and Wally and Joe returned to the firm in Tampa. Thereafter, he continued his oil and gas work in Tampa, solidly established as THE oil and gas lawyer in Florida.  In the 1950s when Phillips Petroleum decided to enter the state as a major gasoline retailer, they went straight to Wally Fields for help.

Wally became a pioneer again, this time in condominium and shopping center work. His condominium representation began in Pinellas County where he attended meetings of hundreds of persons in order to explain the condominium concept. In Tampa, he represented the 27 developers of  the Henderson Boulevard Center, Northgate Shopping Center, Britton Plaza, and Tampa Bay Center, as well as other major shopping centers.

Britton Plaza at Dale Mabry Hwy. and Euclid, Dec. 21, 1956. Notice the vacant lot at upper right.  Belk Lindsey wasn't built there until Jan. 1961. Courtesy of Tampa-Hillsborough Co. Public Library System, Burgert Bros.

For a while, Fields was swamped with the legal work involved in acquiring filling station sites throughout Florida. He became so good at it that when Humble Oil decided to do the same a few years later, Wally handled it “with his left hand while his right hand was busily engaged in doing the legal work on the burgeoning shopping centers being built in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties.

In 1955, Governor LeRoy Collins appointed Wally Fields as Florida’s representative on the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, a position he held for 5 years. Wally wrote the chapter on “Minerals” for the Florida Bar’s Continuing Legal Education series and authored a much cited article in the ABA’s Ten Year Symposium on Oil and & Gas Conservation.

Wally Fields at his xylophone, Christmas, 1962. Photo courtesy of sons Dan & Robert Fields.

Wally remained active in the firm for many years thereafter. He trained most of his firm's young lawyers who did real estate, oil and gas work. He saw countless changes – many of which stemmed from his leadership.  When the Firm incorporated as a Professional Association in 1969, he served as its first president. Wally did legal work for major contractors such as Disney World who were seeking homes to live in while their companies were on site at Disney.  Throughout his active years with the Firm, Wally staunchly supported the view that they should not keep records of individual fee production. Rather he believed, as many still do, that advancement in the Firm should be based on a lawyer's overall contribution to its welfare. Wally retired from the firm in 1977. 

Wally and Marty had three sons, all of whom resided in Tampa.  Dan, who in 1980 was a division manager for a large pharmaceutical company, Rodney, a well-known and well-loved dentist in Tampa (who passed away in 2002); and Robert, a well-known Tampa lawyer. Bob was the fourth generation of the Fields family to carry on in the legal profession.

For many years, Wally and his family resided at 2804 Parkland Boulevard in the Palma Ceia area. After Marty’s death, Wally married a friend of many years, Virginia Straus, the widow of George Straus, a prominent Tampa banker. Wally & Virginia lived at Harbour House. 

Special thanks to Dan W. Fields, Jr., and his brother Robert Fields for their contributions to this feature, including photos.

The "1" after "Tampa" was the beginning of what would become zip codes. Tampa was divided into 4 zones.

Mich Emmanuel in 1979
Photo courtesy of Carlton Fields PA photo archives
 

GOVERNOR CARLTON'S MILLION-DOLLAR JOKE

During the 1930s, the period of the Great Depression, our firm represented the Lake Istokpoga Drainage District, a quasi-governmental entity with the power to levy taxes and float tax exempt bonds. Of course, levying taxes during the Depression was an exercise in futility since most people were in default on their basic city, county and school district taxes.

Accordingly, Governor Carlton was directed by the board of the Lake Istokpoga Drainage District to apply to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC), a federal agency, for a loan. After several months, a loan of $2 million was negotiated and the date for closing set.

As was the custom In those days, the entire Istokpoga board took the train to Washington D.C. to meet with the chairman of the RFC, a hard-bitten Texan by the name of Jesse Jones.

There was stunned silence since this was not the deal that Governor had negotiated. Two or three minutes passed before Governor leaned forward to address Mr. Jones.

“Mr. Chairman,” he said. “This reminds me of the farmer who wrote to Sears & Roebuck to order a gross of toilet paper. In due time, he received a response: ‘When ordering from Sears & Roebuck, please give catalog page and item number.’ To which the farmer replied: ‘Dear Mr. Sears and Mr. Roebuck, if I had your catalog, I wouldn’t need your d---- toilet paper.’”  

Jesse Jones threw back his head and laughed uproariously and called a recess to consult with his staff. The papers were redrawn and that evening Governor Carlton and the members of the Istokpoga board left Washington with a check for $2 million. I have always referred to this as Governor Carlton’s $1 million joke. (Michel G. Emmanuel)

In 2025, this joke would be worth approximately $23 million.

Judge Reaves portrait from the Heritage Conference Room of Carlton Fields, PA.

#2 in the article:  A mistake by the Tampa Times, they omitted the next line.

#3 in the article: Regarding the desk described in the article and seen in the photo.  This article presents a different origin of the desk Reaves used during his judgeship and eventually given to Reece Smith. If the County provided a desk, it would not have been the partnership desk he used while partnering with John Singletary.  His partnership desk would not have been described as "nothing fancy about it" because it was very unique.  Also, the County would certainly not have furnished Judge Reaves with such a massive desk as the partnership desk was, as his office would probably not been able to easily accommodate it. 

The most probable scenario is that John Singletary (born c.1869, died 1953) being the senior partner of Singletary & Reaves, retained the partnership desk when Reaves became a judge in 1915. Reaves was then provided with the desk in this photo by Manatee County in 1915.  Upon retiring as a judge in 1921, he could have bought the desk seen here from the county when he joined Mabry & Carlton, and used it while located in the First National Bank building when this article was written. At some point before John Singletary died in 1953, he gave the partnership desk to O.K. Reaves (or left it to him afterward in his will) but Reaves may have had no room for it in his office in the First National Bank building. Reaves may have used it at home or stored it. When the Firm moved into the new Exchange Bank tower in 1964 or at some time after that, the partnership desk was given to Reece Smith.

Clearly, this photo was not Mr. Singletary at age 80.
He died in Bradenton in July 1953.  That article about his death states that he was 84..  So he only aged 4 years during the 7 years after his 80th birthday.

 In Sept. 1954 Judge Reaves was honored at Stetson (with other 50-year graduates) by former Governor Carlton as the principal speaker for the formal ceremonies of the new Stetson University in St. Petersburg.