1

February 2, 1939

Life History
Montgomery Corse,
(Wood & Fuel Dealer)
1801 Goodwin St.,
Jacksonville, Florida
Written by Rose Shepherd

MARTIN CROSS, WOOD AND FUEL DEALER

Mr. Cross, retired wood and fuel merchant, lives in a [struck: splendidly]
substantial brick home near the foot of Goodwin Street in Jacksonville,
where he can hear the lapping of the waves of the incoming and outgo-
ing tide in St. Johns River which has figured so prominently in his
life. [struck: history]

Rosa, a happy-faced colored maid, with the assurance and proprietary
manner of a well trained family servant, [struck: of an old-time Southern family,]
ushered me into the spacious living room, with "Mr. Cross, heah's the
lady you's expectin."

There he sat, a kindly man, with his eighty years resting lightly
upon him, with the exception of partial deafness and a slight stoop in
his shoulders, his hair snow-white, his skin clear, a faint pink in his
cheeks, and the twinkly blue eyes not covered with glasses.

He rises, shakes hands, [struck: in a cavalier fashion] and places a rocking
chair - which from its size and comfortable cushions must be the favor-
ite chair of Mrs. Cross - and says:

"My memory is failing and I'm not sure I can give you the informa-
tion you wish, but I'll do my best, and perhaps when we get further
along in the interview, more will come to me.

"I came to Florida from Virginia in the early 1880's and settled
with my family on an orange grove near Picolata, a prosperous river
town on the banks of the St. Johns, about 18 miles from St. Augustine.

1282