Remembering Suwannee: Black history in Suwannee County, Part 8

Eric Musgrove

Contributor

Last week, we discussed African American schools and higher learning in Suwannee County. Today, we continue looking at Black history.

Steamboats plied the Suwannee River during the last half of the 19^th Century and the first years of the 20^th century. Probably the most famous steamboat on the river was the Belle of Suwannee, built by Captain Robert Ivey in Branford. Belle’s most famous pilot was Dan McQueen, a biracial (“mulatto” as he was called at the time) man who had spent much of his life on the Suwannee River. It is said that McQueen knew every nook and cranny along the Suwannee and could navigate a steamboat in the dark. McQueen had helped to build the Belle of Suwannee in 1889 and served aboard many steamboats over the years. When he was not piloting steamboats or serving as their master, he taught at an African American school in Old Town. Belle of Suwannee steamed on the Suwannee River without incident until the Hurricane of 1896 wrecked the economy of the area and caused many casualties. Belle of Suwannee was feared lost until McQueen piloted her back to Cedar Key despite the loss of her funnels and pilothouse. Belle would eventually be lost near the mouth of the Suwannee River.

McQueen also worked for Captain E. L. Magruder aboard Thetis for over a year and then continued working for the Suwannee River Steamboat Company when they bought the steamboat in March of 1900. McQueen also captained Sam Pyles, one of the last steamboats on the Suwannee River, and probably served on others throughout the years.

African Americans had a difficult time after Reconstruction during the era of the Jim Crow laws. Despite this, there were opportunities for advancement for African Americans. One such person was Thomas S. Harris, the first African American postmaster of Live Oak. He was appointed postmaster in 1893, according to one source, and in 1898, according to another, having previously served as a member of the Suwannee County School Board. Unfortunately, not everyone liked that he was now the postmaster, and he received death threats. Some of the threats made it all the way into the New York Times in 1901:

“Threaten Negro Postmaster

“May be lynched at Live Oak, Fla., if he does not resign.

“Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 9 – There is great excitement at Live Oak, a prosperous town and the county seat of Suwannee County, over the matter of a negro Postmaster. Thomas S. Harris, the negro official, was appointed some time ago, but the office continued under the management of S. B. Connor, a white man, until a week ago. Then Mr. Connor retired and Harris assumed the full duties of his position. Since that time the indignation of the white patrons of the office has grown until a letter was finally sent to the official advising that he resign at once.

“To this letter Harris made the statement, it is alleged, that he would not notice the threatening letter, and would continue at his official post. This was followed yesterday by a letter in which he was told that he must resign and leave at once or take his life in his own hands. ‘The writer has sworn by Almighty God,’ continued the letter, ‘that you shall not remain in the office, and that you shall quit at once, being out of place in a white man’s country.’”

“The Postmaster is now considerably alarmed, it is stated, and will appeal to the Administration for protection against the threatened lynching if he does not surrender his position.”

Harris survived the threat on his life, as he was listed as a delegate to the 1904 Republican National Convention in Chicago and was also a merchant in Live Oak in 1907 (among other years). It is unfortunate that sometimes even now, as then, some people are judged simply because of the color of their skin.

Next week, we will continue our discussion of Black history.

Eric Musgrove can be reached at ericm@suwgov.org or 386-362-0564.