Weeks, Matt

 

Biographical Summary

Born in 1892 to Nicholas and France Weeks of Bogue Sound, North Carolina, Matt Weeks was part of the contingent from the coast of North Carolina that started coming to the west coast of Florida in the winters in the late 1800s and early 1900s for commercial fishing.  Week's early love of the sea led him to work on oil freighters, but when he met Mamie Riggs at Charlotte Harbor his seafaring days ended. He started the Weeks Machine Shop and Boat Works on the Long Dock, later moved to Maud Street, married Mamie and moved to a house on Harvey Street.  He became a county commissioner and served for 23 years during the 1930s and 40s. He served with Vasco Peeples at a time when the commission was instrumental in getting new roads and bridges built. According to an interview with Leo Wotitsky "The county was trying to build some roads and streets, and Matt would go out and supervise construction and do all sorts of things."  Matt and Mamie raised 5 children in Punta Gorda: William, Ralph, Jane, Martha and Wayne.

From interview with Leo Wotitzky:

Well, Matt was part of the contingent from the coast of North Carolina that started

coming to the west coast of Florida in the winters back in the late 1800s and

early 1900s to do commercial fishing, when they could not do it, I guess, up

there. So, he was one of that North Carolina group. Uneducated but a good

citizen. A rough-talking guy. A lot of stories about Matt. He got elected, for

example, to the county commission. He did a lot of good things, too. The county

was trying to build some roads and streets, and he would go out and supervise

construction and do all sorts of things. He was actually in the marine repair

business. He had a place on the old city docks. One of the stories I have told a

lot of times, he told it to me and I (am) sure it is true. When he ran for re-election to the

county commission, he was not your ordinary campaigner, politician. One of the

folks from down on Pine Island Road and the lower folks came to see him in his

boat repair place and said, Mr. Weeks, I am going to vote for you and so is my

wife, but, you know, my wife is not going to be able to get to the polls. Matt said,

why not? Well, he said, she needs a pair of shoes. He said, can you help me? He

said, get out of here, you so and so, said, she is your wife, you buy her the

 

).

Lowe, Leff

On May 14, 1950 Vivian (Daniels) Davis & Leff Lowe put up a Revival Tent in Downtown Punta Gorda in the middle of the block on Olympia where Sprint & Time Management Ins. are  now. Vivian (Daniels) Davis, Wife of Morris Davis preached and Leff and Wife, Beulah (Driggers) Lowe were the first members. However the revival got too loud for the City residents. 

So, in 1951 a property was purchased near the Railroad tracks off Cooper Street in Punta Gorda. Then, after Leff took the lead in speaking with the City Council and the Board of County Commissioners, paving the way for the permitting and building of the structure on that property, the 

Church of God of Prophesy  was constructed and stands there today. 

Leff was a hard worker and rode as a Range Rider with Knox O'Neal, Clyde Edders and others out at the Babcock Ranch. Together they built a camp there and worked from that camp to care for the 1000 plus cattle. Leff owned cattle down on Burnt Store Road and without fences the cattle could graze anywhere from South Punta Gorda to Pine Island. 

Leff was a Game Warden for the State of Florida and a Hunting Guide for the Eagle's Nest; Alapatchie Lodge and the Hotel Punta Gorda where he would take the novice hunters out to look for quail. 

Leff and Wife Beulah (Driggers) Lowe had 12 children: Lum; Ruth; Ester; Ben; Pete; Cecil; Ada Mae; Frances; Mary Jo; Velma; Delia; and Sim

Seward, Robert Kirby

 

Name	Seward, Robert Kirby
Born	1873
Deceased	April 1, 1951
Biographical Summary	Robert Kirby Seward came to Punta Gorda in 1890 and started the Punta Gorda Herald in 1893. He also owned and operated the Punta Gorda Dry Goods Co., served on the City Council and was a Mayor of Punta Gorda.
Occupation	Newspaper owner Businessman
Spouse	Laura Wotitzky Seward

Smith, Dan

 

Born	May 1868
Birthplace	Georgia
Biographical Summary	Dan C. Smith, who came to Punta Gorda as part of Gilchrist’s survey crew, organized the first religious services for African-Americans in Trabue in 1886. He helped organize the African Methodist Episcopal Church (Bethel AME) and build St. Mark’s Progressive Baptist Church. He was one of 22 men who went to Pine Level to incorporate the City of Punta Gorda.

King, Zeba

 

Born	3/12/1837
Deceased	3/6/1901
Birthplace	Ware County GA
Biographical Summary	He was the father of eight children and at the time of his death was the		largest cattle owner in Florida. Ziba King was a native of Ware County and was the first judge of the County Court of Clinch County. He came to this county about 1857. In 1861 he enlisted in the Second Florida Regiment and served throughout the war in the Confederate Army. Judge King move to South Florida in 1869, locating first at Tampa. He subsequently removed to Desoto County, Florida where he became very wealthy in the cattle business and made his home. An imposing man in wealth and appearance (6’6", +225 lbs) his colorful personality made him a legendary character. There were several unsuccessful attempts to assassinate him. Even though he was a Justice of the Peace, he was charged with several crimes. The year 1878 was one of the most disastrous years in southwest Florida. There was complete failure of crops and the people faced financial ruin. Ziba King, the cattleman, doubled the amount paid to paupers by the county and offered to pay the entire tax of the county and wait six months or longer to give the people more tie to catch up. This offer included the county school taxes. King wanted to make sure teachers were paid and schools were open. By 1880 Ziba King was shipping about 6,000 head of cattle annually to Cuba and was paid in Spanish gold. This complex man was father of 14 children. He flourished in an era when only the strong survived. The king of the cowboys died in 1901. Ziba King was a large man who cast a large shadow.
Born 3/12/1837

Deceased	3/6/1901
Birthplace	Ware County GA
Biographical Summary	He was the father of eight children and at the time of his death was the		largest cattle owner in Florida. Ziba King was a native of Ware County and was the first judge of the County Court of Clinch County. He came to this county about 1857. In 1861 he enlisted in the Second Florida Regiment and served throughout the war in the Confederate Army. Judge King move to South Florida in 1869, locating first at Tampa. He subsequently removed to Desoto County, Florida where he became very wealthy in the cattle business and made his home. An imposing man in wealth and appearance (6’6", +225 lbs) his colorful personality made him a legendary character. There were several unsuccessful attempts to assassinate him. Even though he was a Justice of the Peace, he was charged with several crimes. The year 1878 was one of the most disastrous years in southwest Florida. There was complete failure of crops and the people faced financial ruin. Ziba King, the cattleman, doubled the amount paid to paupers by the county and offered to pay the entire tax of the county and wait six months or longer to give the people more tie to catch up. This offer included the county school taxes. King wanted to make sure teachers were paid and schools were open. By 1880 Ziba King was shipping about 6,000 head of cattle annually to Cuba and was paid in Spanish gold. This complex man was father of 14 children. He flourished in an era when only the strong survived. The king of the cowboys died in 1901. Ziba King was a large man who cast a large shadow.

Wotizky, Leo

 

Born	1912
Deceased	2005
Birthplace	Punta Gorda, FL
Biographical Summary	State legislator from Punta Gorda, teacher, civic leader, attorney and businessman. Advocate for public education and public good.
Occupation	Attorney Legislator Punta Gorda Herald editor
Education	Charlotte High School University of Florida College of Education University of Florida College of Law
Spouse	Zena

Peeples, Vasco

 

Born	1905
Deceased	1985
Birthplace	North Florida

Born and raised on a farm in North Florida between Live Oak and Jaspar on Highway 29, Vasco worked beside his Father Verner as

they grew cotton and tobacco until his Father passed away after
an illness when Vasco was 14. Vasco quit school and went to
work to help his Mother raise his Brothers and Sisters.
Later Vasco got the opportunity to attend classes at the University
of Florida; got his Teaching Degree and was blessed with the
ability to read something and not forget it. In 1919, Vasco got a
call from his Cousin, William Bell who was the Principle of
Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda and he came here to teach
and become the Principal of Vineland School in Englewood.
Vasco went with Bert Cole over to Gasparilla and there he met
Lois Cole they started seeing one another, and later married. They
moved to Live Oak and Vasco taught school at Mycowpin Florida,
where his Daughter Carmen was born.
Vasco was elected to serve in the State House as a State
Representative from Suwannee County, he served two or more
terms. There Lois worked for Claude Pepper and he and Vasco
became lifelong friends. One of the bills that Vasco introduced
to the House was a bill that required all Buses to have STOP
signs on them, and that drivers had to stop whether coming or
going so that the children could safely embark or disembark the
bus. That is why they are on the buses today.
Gus Cole needed them to return to Punta Gorda to run his store
for him and in 1933 they bought the store and moved it from
Marion Ave. and Sullivan St. to the corner of Cross and Marion.