Jay Henry DALKE

Notes:

Member of Elks Club

Alvin married Bessie Jane HACKETT on 29 Nov 1958. Bessie (daughter of Ralph Charles HACKETT and Alma Gertrude PROCTOR) was born on 27 Aug 1930 in Summerfield, FL; died on 7 Jul 2020 in Ocala, FL; was buried in Crum Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Independent political party

Member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha

Jacob married Fredricka HOFFMAN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Member of Worldwide Association of Electrical Inspectors

Ralph managed to keep all of his family together after the death of Alma, eventually marrying again.

Known Addresses:
1615 Tulane Street, Orlando, FL
818 Montana Street, Orlando, FL
1907 Weber Street, Orlando, FL

Ralph married Alma Gertrude PROCTOR on 16 Oct 1929. Alma (daughter of James Dillon PROCTOR and Emma Jane CARUTHERS) was born on 16 Mar 1908 in Summerfield, Florida; died on 6 Dec 1940 in Orlando, Florida; was buried in Pine Level Cemetary, Oxford, Florida. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Alma and Ralph fell in love when he came to Florida with his parents because of his mothers's health. After his mother died, Ralph moved away with his family. Alma and Ralph corresponded, and Alma eventually convinced Ralph to return to Florida. Donna Hackett has copies of some of Alma's love letters to Ralph.

Alma died ten days after giving birth to their fifth child. After Linda's birth, doctors performed a hysterectomy and an appendectomy. Neither surgery was required for medical reasons. The surgeon apparently perforated her intestine during the operation, and Alma developed peritonitis, an inflammation of the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and the abdominal organs. Alma died a very painful death. Penicillin, an antibiotic that could have saved Alma's life, did not become widely available until a few years after her death.

Ralph married Bessie Jane MATHER on 4 Sep 1900. Bessie (daughter of Asa Thaddeus MATHER and Kathryn L. PAULUS) was born on 6 Jul 1879; died on 27 Nov 1924 in Summerfield, FL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Hackett family moved to Florida because doctors believed the warmer climate would help Bessie's ailments. She died three days after they arrived. She had made a lemon pie for Thanksgiving, and then died on Thanksgiving day. Because of the strong memories associated with her death, Bessie's son Ralph would not eat lemon pies.

Notes:

Mr. Proctor (Jim) married Emma Jane Caruthers of Oxford in 1897 and moved to Summerfield. Their first home located on Highway 42 was up on a hill (Buck Mountain) To the northwest of where the home pictured is located.

Construction of this home was started in late 1800's, probably during the year of 1898. It was completed and occupied in or around 1902.

Grandpa cut the large pine trees from his property and hauled them to his father's sawmill in Pedro. They were cut in to lumber and he built this home. This home is located the corner of highway 42 and 470 Avenue in Summerfield.

Information from Ralph Dillon Hackett, their Grandson

-------------------------

TRIBUTE TO MOTHER AND DAD, by Louise Proctor Livingston
My Mother and Dad were exceptional people, I think. When they were first married my Dad worked away from home long hours, for $1 a day. After the first year he built a house, doing most of the work himself, even splitting the shingles for the roof and cutting the logs and carrying [them] to his Dads mill for sawing. Dad worked at a mill near the house some. One day, when he was there, the mill blew up and injured many. He felt very fortunate to have missed the disaster. He and Mother -Lived together in this house for the next, 67 years. My Mother was ninety-two in Aug 1971 and still lives in this house. They had one child before building (born at another place) then 7 in this house and numerous grandchildren. There has been only 1 death in this house; the third child, Carl, age four.

Back in early times farmers let their hogs and cows graze on open range identifying by marks and brands. Land was cleared partly by slave labor before the Civil War.

I remember Dad going out at daybreak and working until sundown, just taking time to eat at noon and a short rest. He grew corn and always took some to the mill for our own use. That was the BEST meal and grits. He made syrup grinding his own cane and again using the mule at the mill. We had sweet potatoes and all vegetables. He grew tomatoes and melons, also cantalopes [sic] for trucks. He never owned a tractor. He did most of his cattle tending on horseback but did own a jeep the last few years. He was active up until 77 years old.

Mother was always busy about the house and garden. She cooked big meals daily and of course canned fruits and vegetables. We had our own hogs and worked our own meats, sausage, etc. She taught me to cook, can, and sew and we made all of our clothes. Aside from raising her own children, she has helped with grandchildren and we had company continually. It seemed she never tired. I've heard her tell of the times when she had many small children, about rocking the cradle with one foot, while ironing, sewing or cooking.

My deepest love and appreciation to them for their faithfulness and devotion.

-----------------------

From the "History of the First Baptist Church, Summerfield, FL,":

When J.D., called Mr. Jim by his friends, and Emma married they first lived near Pedro. Early in 1900 they built a house on Cemetery Road near the corner of what is now 47th Ave. and Hwy 42. The house continues to be in the family. Like so many of his kin and friends, J.D. was primarily a farmer and cattleman.

According to records the church letters of J.D. and Emma and daughters Alma and Edith were received by our church from Pedro on Christmas Day, 1924. They had been in their home on Cemetery Road nearly a quarter of a century. The Pedro and Summerfield churches are about the same distance from this house. No reason is known as to why they changed churches. But thank the Lord for it because of the contributions in service made not only by J.D. and Emma but their descendants as well.

------------------------

James Proctor bid on the job of taking children from Summerfield to the schoolhouse, and was hired in 1920. He purchased an open air Ford bus with canvas awnings. His daughter Edith drove the first year, and his daughter Ruth drove for the next three years.

James married Emma Jane CARUTHERS on 20 Oct 1898. Emma (daughter of Preston CARUTHERS and Marion Tibitha PERRY) was born on 19 Aug 1879; died on 14 Apr 1972 in Summerfield, FL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]