William Jackson Brack
Encyclopedia
William Jackson Brack was the first mayor of Orlando, Florida
from 1875 to 1877.
He was born to John and Eliza Brack in Georgia
on June 17, 1837. He married firstly to the former Olive Chancey (1838–1864) of Clinch County, Georgia
, by whom he had two sons who died young. The Bracks removed to Alexandria, Louisiana
before the outbreak of the American Civil War
. During that conflict, the future mayor served in Company C of the 27th Louisiana Infantry Regiment.
After the war, the widowed Brack came to Florida, where he married his second wife Amy (July 5, 1847 - May 25, 1880). They had three daughters before her untimely death: Olive, Bessie, and Josphine Brack.
It is unclear exactly when Brack settled in the Orlando
area. He was certainly there by October 16, 1873, when he was mentioned as guardian ad litem for the orphans of Mrs. Lucinda Hughey Terrell in a lawsuit filed in the circuit court of Orange County, Florida
.
In 1875, when Orlando was formally incorporated, Brack was elected its first mayor. He was subsequently re-elected to a second one-year term.
After leaving office, the former mayor remained in the Orlando area as a farmer and fruit grower until at least 1880. He was married there to his third wife Eliza A. Tison on March 6, 1881. They had seven children: John P. ("Jack"), Rosa B., Gussie, Emma H., Ruby, Blanche, and Lydia Brack.
The Bracks left Orlando to live on the north shore of Lake Tohopekaliga
in what is now Osceola County, Florida
, where they operated a general store and sawmill at "Brack's Landing." From that point, he also captained a 35-foot sidewheel steamboat
called "Spray" along the inland canals that connected the Kissimmee River
valley to Fort Myers, Florida
on the Gulf of Mexico
.
The former mayor retired to a cattle ranch near Narcoossee, Florida
, where he died April 30, 1901. He is buried at Mount Peace Cemetery in Saint Cloud, Florida.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
from 1875 to 1877.
He was born to John and Eliza Brack in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
on June 17, 1837. He married firstly to the former Olive Chancey (1838–1864) of Clinch County, Georgia
Clinch County, Georgia
Clinch County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 14, 1850, named in honor of Duncan Lamont Clinch. As of 2000, the population is 6,878. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 6,992...
, by whom he had two sons who died young. The Bracks removed to Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
before the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. During that conflict, the future mayor served in Company C of the 27th Louisiana Infantry Regiment.
After the war, the widowed Brack came to Florida, where he married his second wife Amy (July 5, 1847 - May 25, 1880). They had three daughters before her untimely death: Olive, Bessie, and Josphine Brack.
It is unclear exactly when Brack settled in the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
area. He was certainly there by October 16, 1873, when he was mentioned as guardian ad litem for the orphans of Mrs. Lucinda Hughey Terrell in a lawsuit filed in the circuit court of Orange County, Florida
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
.
In 1875, when Orlando was formally incorporated, Brack was elected its first mayor. He was subsequently re-elected to a second one-year term.
After leaving office, the former mayor remained in the Orlando area as a farmer and fruit grower until at least 1880. He was married there to his third wife Eliza A. Tison on March 6, 1881. They had seven children: John P. ("Jack"), Rosa B., Gussie, Emma H., Ruby, Blanche, and Lydia Brack.
The Bracks left Orlando to live on the north shore of Lake Tohopekaliga
Lake Tohopekaliga
Lake Tohopekaliga Tohopeka ; Tohopekaliga [from tohopke /to-hó:pk-i/ fence, fort + likv /léyk-a/ site] Lake Toho, West Lake, or simply Toho for short, native name meaning "we will gather together here", is a lake in Osceola County, Florida, United States. It is the primary inflow of Shingle Creek,...
in what is now Osceola County, Florida
Osceola County, Florida
Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045, making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
, where they operated a general store and sawmill at "Brack's Landing." From that point, he also captained a 35-foot sidewheel steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
called "Spray" along the inland canals that connected the Kissimmee River
Kissimmee River
The Kissimmee River is a river in south-central Florida, United States.-Course:The Kissimmee River arises in Osceola County as the outflow from East Lake Tohopekaliga, passing through Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Cypress, Lake Hatchineha and Lake Kissimmee...
valley to Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
on the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
.
The former mayor retired to a cattle ranch near Narcoossee, Florida
Narcoossee, Florida
Narcoossee is a small unincorporated community in eastern Osceola County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east side of East Lake Tohopekaliga. The only major road which runs through Narcoossee is State Road 15, commonly referred to as Narcoossee Road, which connects to U.S. Route 192...
, where he died April 30, 1901. He is buried at Mount Peace Cemetery in Saint Cloud, Florida.