Remembering Suwannee: Nancy Parshley, Part 3

Eric Musgrove Contributor This week, we'll complete our discussion on Nancy Parshley, wife of John Parshley and an early pioneer of Live Oak. In 1870, the AME Church Conference held a meeting in Quincy, Fla., to determine a suitable site for an African American college. Live Oak was chosen as the best location due to its junction of east-west and north-south railroads, but little was done for the next two years. However, the realization that a Baptist institute (Florida Institute) was being established at Nathan Walker's proposed courthouse building spurred additional activity. A 10-acre tract was purchased on March 5, 1872, from Parshley near the current John Hale Park for the construct