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From: "Steve Frizzell" < >
Subject: [BOZEMAN] Another genealogy adventure...
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2002 14:35:42 -0400


The moral of this story is that you should plan your genealogy excursions!

Last Thursday, Bob Bozeman (my father-in-law) and I took a day trip to
Suwannee County to visit the site of the farm where he grew up. Sadly,
there is nothing left of the 40 acre farm. Today, it is a stand of planted
pine trees. While in the area, we visited the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
& Cemetery where his parents are buried and I took a couple of pictures of
tombstones. After leaving Suwannee County, we drove over to the town of
Monticello in Jefferson County. I was hoping to spend a little time in the
genealogy library there to look for information about David J. Bozeman, the
first Bozeman pioneer in Florida and ancestor of my wife. We arrived at the
public libary in downtown Monticello at about 2:30. I soon discovered that
the public library has no genealogy section. But, the helpful librarian
gave me directions to the genealogy library across town. She even called to
see if they were open. Unfortunately, the genealogy library was closed. I
now know that the genealogy library is only open on Wednesday and Thursdays
and only until 3:00pm. But, even though it was Thursday and it was only
2:30, the library had apparently closed early. The librarian said that the
volunteers who staff the genealogy library often leave early if no one is
there. Next, we decided to stop at the public library in the town of
Madison in neighboring Madison County. Unfortunately, the public libary had
only a single, small shelf of genealogy references. I didn't find anything
relating to the Bozeman family. As I was leaving the libary, I stopped to
chat with the librarian who mentioned that there was also a genealogy
library in Madison. So, off I went to Elmer's Genealogy Library in downtown
Madison, Florida. I arrived at 3:55 only to discover that the library
closes at 4:00. Elmer charges an $8/day fee (or $30/year) to use the
facility. But, since they were closing in five minutes, the librarian gave
me five minutes of free research time! But, the best part, is that she
remembered that she had the following article in the files and made a copy
for me. I have typed it as it was written. Those of you who are familiar
with this branch of the family will notice some discrepancies in the data
presented. But, I thought the story was interesting so I am sharing it with
the list. Enjoy!
==========================================================================
The Bozeman Family, published in the Enterprise-Recorder on Mar. 3, 1939
(Madison County, Florida)
By Carlton Smith

Long before the Revolutionary war, there lived in the colony of Maryland,
the Bozeman family.

Founder Was Luke
The founder of the name in Georgia was Luke Bozeman, who was born it is
supposed, in Maryland, where the name was formerly spelled Boseman, a form
still retained by some members of the family. Migrating southward, Luke
Bozeman settled in Twiggs county, Georgia, as a pioneer. Georgia at that
time a frontier state, Indians being far more numerous than whites.
Purchasing a tract of wild land, he reclaimed a homestead from the forests
and there spend the remainder of his years. He married Sarah Mann, who was
also a native of Maryland, and to them eight children were born as follows:
Elizabeth, Dorothy, David, James, Luke, William and Eldred.

Early Activities
David Bozeman, son of Luke, was born and reared in Twiggs county, Georgia,
his birth occurring February 16, 1794. About 1828, in company with his
brother-in-law Solomon Matthews and families, he removed to Florida. They
made the trip with ox teams, taking along their household goods and stock,
cooking and camping by the wayside. Each night some of the men would stand
guard against the raids of Indians. They located in Jefferson county, being
among the early settlers there. Soon after their arrival they built a
stockade or fort of logs, to which the women and children could flee when
the dusky savages started a raid. Taking part in the Florida Seminole
Indian War of 1836, David Bozeman served as first Lieutenant.

Pioneer Life
Soon after locating in Jefferson county, David Bozeman purchased from the
government one hundred and sixty acres of land, and on it built of round
logs the house which the family occupied for a number of years. For many
years after his arrival in Florida there were no railroads, the nearest
markets and trading points were Tallahassee and Port Leon, thirty miles away
and all the surplus products were hauled there by ox teams. He in common
with all of the pioneers, labored hard in addition to tilling the land,
tanning the skins and making the shoes for the family for several years
using coon skins, while his wife did the cooking by the fireplace, and in
addition to her other duties used to card, spin and weave the material from
which she fashioned the garments worn by the family.

Survivors
On the farm which he cleared and improved, David Bozeman died February 16,
1848. He was twice married, first to Sarah Mann, who lost her life by
accident, having been burned to death. Second he married Catharine Barr,
who was born in Florida, where her parents were among the first English
speaking settlers. By his first marriage David Bozeman reared six children
as follows: Elisha Ward, Caroline and Mary Ann (twins), Luke, Elizabeth and
Celia. By his second marriage he became the father of John David and Sarah
Ann.
Elisha Ward Bozeman, son of the above David Bozeman married Sarah Lastinger.
Enlisting in the Confederate Army in 1861, he died in 1864. Living in
Madison county today is Mr. James Perry Bozeman, a son of the above Elisha
Bozeman.
==========================================================================

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