Dr. Oliver Bronson

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Dr. Oliver Bronson

Dr. Oliver Bronson was the first school Superintendent of the St. Johns
County School system. The facts surrounding his entry into St. Johns
County are still a mystery but in Reconstruction Florida a unique and
important person came to set-up the new school system. Buckingham Smith
or Sarah Mather may have been the instigators of bringing him to St.
Augustine both had pre-Civil War contacts with him. He was also the cousin
of the late Judge Isaac Bronson of St. Augustine.

Family
Dr. Bronson was the son of Isaac Bronson (1760- May 19, 1839) and Anna
Olcott Bronson (1765 - May 17, 1850). Anna, born 1765; married, August
30, 1789, Isaac Bronson, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Isaac Bronson was born the son of a farmer (and state legislator) in
Middlebury Connecticut. Bronson was one of the wealthiest men in New
York City. In 1828 his assets were over $250,000 (a very handsome sum in
1828 currency). Isaac had been apprenticed to Dr. Lemuel Hopkins a
Waterburg physician. Isaac enlisted as a surgeon in the 2nd Regiment of
Light Dragoons commanded by Col Elisha Sheldon on November 14, 1779
in the Revolutionary War and rose to the rank of senior surgeon. He was
present at the capture, trial and execution of Major John Andre of the British
army who was executed for spying in Benedict Arnold's betrayal.

After the war Isaac abandoned medicine and traveled to Europe and India.
He married Anna Olcott in 1789 and had ten children. Isaac founded the
New York and Ohio Life Insurance and Trust companies and was the
director and president of the Bridgeport Bank in Connecticut. Using the
funds of the insurance companies he purchased a third of a million acres
across multiple states.

On December 14, 1807 Isaac Bronson dozed in a speeding stagecoach.
Suddenly the cab rattled and shook, and the inside lit up like daylight.
Nearby houses shuddered. Dr. Bronson urged the terrified driver to
continue, even though he, too, feared the end of the world was nigh. He'd
seen horrible things on the battlefield, but nothing had prepared him for this.
He was a witness to "Weston Fall" one of the first meteorite sightings in the
United States.

The estate of Isaac Bronson carried on for years. Dr. Bronson became the
surviving Executor and trustee under the last Will and Testament of Isaac
Bronson. Even through 1869 property issues were still being resolved.

Uncle and Cousin Isaac Bronson of Florida
Ethel Bronson (b July 22, 1765 - 1825) was the younger brother of Isaac.
His son Isaac Bronson (October 16, 1802-August 13, 1855). He was
elected to Congress from New York in 1836. In 1838 after being defeated for
a second term he was appointed Judge of the fifth Judicial district of New
York. In 1840 he was appointed United States Judge for the Eastern District
of Florida till 1845 when Florida became a state. He lived in St. Augustine.
At the first session of the new legislature he was named Circuit Judge of the
Eastern Circuit of Florida. Soon after he was appointed United States
District Judge of the State. Later when the district divided he was the
District Judge of the Northern half of the state. He died August 13, 1855 at
his home Sunny Point in Palatka. Isaac would bring another New Englander
to Florida as his clerk...George Fairbanks. Fairbanks dedicated his 1871
History of Florida to Judge Bronson.

Family of Isaac Bronson Father of Oliver
The first child of Isaac and Anna was named Oliver who died in infancy. The
second child Maria also died in infancy. The third child Maria was born
August 18, 1793 in New York City, married December 27, 1814 to Col. John
B Murray of New York City. She had 7 children and died on Dec 21, 1851.
Harriet born January 14, 1798 in New York City and died unmarried in
November 1835 in Switzerland. Caroline born January 14, 1798 in New York
City. She married Dr. Marinus Willet of New York, son of Col. Marinus Willet
and died of consumption March 1, 1853 leaving 6 children. Arthur born
January 14, 1801, in New York City married Anna Eliza the daughter of
General Theodorus Bailey, November 20, 1823; died of pneumonia
November 19, 1844 leaving 3 children. Frederic born May 2, 1802 in New
York city, married March 1, 1838 Charlotte Brinckerhoff of New York City.
They had 3 children. Mary born August 2, 1806 at Greenfield, unmarried.
Ann born March 25, 1810 at Greenfield, died July 19, 1840, unmarried.

His sons Arthur (January 14th, 1801- November 19th, 1844), Frederic
(1802-1868) and Oliver (October 3,1799 at Greenfield, CN -1875) aided
Isaac in the land speculation business. His daughter Ann died in July, 1840
in Utica New York. Harriet lived from 1796- 1835 and Mary from 1806-1861.
Arthur married Anna Eliza Bailey, daughter of General Theodorus Bailey of
New York, on November 20, 1823. They had three children. Arthur helped
create both the New York and Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Companies.
Arthur and his father, Isaac, co-wrote the charters for these two companies
along with securing the approvals from both the state of Ohio and New York
legislatures.

Oliver Bronson (Oct. 1799 - July 21, 1875)
Oliver was born in Oct. 1799 and named Oliver in memory of his older
brother who had died as an infant. From around 1815-1816 Oliver attended
Yale University and received his Bachelors of Arts degree in 1818. While at
Yale he was a member of the Brothers in Unity Society. He graduated from
the New York Physicians and Surgery in 1825. His paper was on the
Influence of Man's Physical Structure on his character as an intelligent being
and moral agent. The Medical society of the County of New Your in 1829
gave him a certificate of membership into the society. They reported that he
had the legal qualifications for the practice of physic and surgery. He was a
councillor for the School of Medicine from as early as 1861 through 1867.
In 1830 he is listed as an attending physician at the New York Dispensary.

At 25 he received $10,000 from dad (each child received this amount at age
25). In 1831 he toured France stayed in Paris at Hotels Des Princes &
De'Europe Meubles. He would return to Europe in 1838, 1842 and 1854. He
owned stock in the New York and Harlem Railroad, Indianapolis and Belle
Fontaine Rail Road, Madison and Indianapolis, Hudson River Rail Road,
Galeua and Chicago Union, Delaware and Hudson Canal Co, Hudson and
Berkshire Bond, Central Ohio Rail Road, Hudson Gas Company, Hudson
Iron Company, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Panama Rail Road Stock,
Michigan Central Rail Road, New York Central Stock and bonds, New York
and Erie Bonds, New York Trust and Life and Ohio Trust stock.

Dr. Bronson would marry Joanna Donaldson Bronson of North Carolina
(1806-February 13, 1876) on May 15, 1833 at the Murray Street
Presbyterian Church. Joanna was described by her niece Isabel Bronson as
"a beauty in her youth---Black waving hair, beautiful grey eyes and much
color of complexion---very gay and very entertaining. She became very deaf
(in her old age) but was so agreeable that everyone sought her society."
Her picture is in the collection of Richard Hampton Jenrette.

He gave money to the Monticello Female Seminary in Illinois. His wife would
give money to the Ladies Peon Fund for its endowment. He also gave
money to the American Tract Society, Asylum for Respectable Aged Indigent
Females, Foreign Evangelical Society, American Home Missionary Society.

Isabel Donaldson Bronson described Dr. Oliver Bronson as "a cultivated,
intelligent man, well-educated in his profession both in America & in Paris.
His very delicate health obliged him to early give up active practice, but to
the end of his kind and charitable life he ministered to the poor and lonely.
He was a most excellent physician and a most excellent man.....He was a
serious man, taking a stern view of life in accordance with his strict
Presbyterian belief."

In 1838 he was a manager for the New York colonization society. The
concern of the society was providing for missionaries for West Africa.

Dr. Oliver Bronson's Hudson New York house was recently made a national
landmark. It will soon be open to the public run by Historic Hudson, Inc. The
Plumb-Bronson House is a Federal-style villa that was built for Samuel Plum
on a bluff overlooking the Hudson's South bay. The house and surrounding
landscape is the subject of a watercolor by William Guy Wall completed in
1819 on display in the New York Historical Society. Dr. Bronson purchased
the home in 1838 and hired Alexander Jackson Davis to refit the house. The
house was made in a Hudson River "bracketed" style (part of the
Picturesque movement) and completed in 1849 with an Italianate style river
facade, a three-story bracket tower, semi-octagonal rooms, bays and an
ornamental veranda. He owned a pew at the Hudson Presbyterian Church
where he taught a catechism class In his 1852 balance sheet he had
$176,530.05. He was well dressed with his gold spectacles.

From 1841 through 1854 Dr. Bronson served as a Superintendent of
Schools in Hudson, Columbia County, New York. It is unclear exactly what a
superintendent was in Hudson as there were 3 superintendents. In all
probability this was the school board for the City of Hudson. He served 18
years with Josiah W. Fairfield and six years each with Cyrus Curtiss,
Matthew Mitchell and Charles McArthur. He resigned that position in 1854
with the following:

Gentleman
Permit me to tender to you my resignation of the office of superintendent of
the District schools of this city and at the same time to avail myself of the
opportunity of expressing my grateful acknowledgement in having... kind and
cordial in... which the Superintendent have always experienced from your
honorable body in all their efforts to promote the welfare of the school's
committee to their charges.
Very Respectfully,
O Bronson

At the end of the Civil War he was in New York as the Chairman of the
Publications Committee for the New York Branch of the United States
Christian Commission. This commission was designed to support soldiers
and sailors of the Union in the Christian faith.

He received a resolution of appreciation from his committee:

"The Committee was most fortunate in having as the Chairman of the
Committee on Publications, Dr. Oliver Bronson, of New York. Though in
feeble and failing health, he devoted all this time and strength to this work.
Besides carefully selecting from the issues of the different societies, and of
the various publishing housed in the city, he had several small books and
tracts prepared, with special application to the men in service. Every thing in
this department came under his personal supervision and care. In view of
his efficient services, the General Board unanimously adopted the following
resolution:

Resolved, That the thanks of this Commission are justly due, and they are
hereby presented to Oliver Bronson, M. D., for his unwearied zeal and
attention as Chairman of the Committee on Publications; for the time,
patience, and labor expended, and the judgment exhibited by him in the
selection of the various publications, and the care exercised by him in their
distribution.

This resolution but expressed the true sentiments of every member of the
Board."

He was a major donor to the New York library (who was a shareholder of
the library) giving over 331 standard books of medical science and 100
other books on physical science and foreign literature.

Dr. Oliver Bronson in St. Johns County Florida

St. Johns County Schools
In 1868 a new constitution for the State of Florida established a statewide
school system. It starts with Section 1: "It is the paramount duty of the state
to make ample provisions for the education of all the children residing within
its borders, without distinction or preference." While this new system was de
facto segregated, it was expected to be equal. The school law of 1869
established a system of county funding for the new school system.

In 1867 George Peabody an expatriate New Englander living in London,
donated $1 million to a fund that would help schools in the south. Dr.
Bronson met with the fund's representative in 1868 and secured support for
a white school to be set up as an example to the county (Public School No.
1 in St. Augustine). Money was also given from this fund to establish the
library in the African-American School (Public School No. 2.)

Dr. Bronson was appointed first superintendent of the new St. Johns County
school system in November of 1868 by the Florida Governor, Harrison
Reed. The school board was appointed by March 1869 (two more
Presbyterians: George Burt and Dr. N. D. Benedict)

In reopening School No. 1 in December, 1869 the tasks were difficult. The
old public school on the Burnt Hospital lot (next to the present day St.
Augustine Historical Research Library) was turned over by the St. Augustine
City Government that had been using it as a town hall and council
chambers. It had to be retrofitted to accommodate what would be a larger
group of students (this building with more modifications was in used till
1909). Books need to be procured. Teachers found. Most important, the tax
dollars had not been collected so individual funds needed to be raised.

The following citizens contributed the necessary money: George N. Burt, J.
E. Peck, C. W. Allen, G. W. Walton, Francis Andreu, Bartolo Pacetti, J.
Manucy, D. B. Usina, Charles H. Bohn, Andreu Humman, Ignito Lopez, Anna
Genova, William Brag, Charles D. Segui, Con Walker, O. Bronson, Miss
Perrit, F. Maignar, N. D. Benedict, B. E. Carr, J. W. Allen, J. J. Crain, Mrs.
Newbury and F. Dunham.

The first year saw three schools opening in St. Johns County besides the
Freedmen's Bureau School (No. 2) and the Peabody School (No. 1), in Fruit
Cove another African-American school was opened (No. 3). From this year
forward public education was never in doubt in the county.

Beginnings of African-American Education in St. Johns County
In St. Augustine significant things had taken place in the education of
freedmen. The Freedmen's Bureau before its demise was able to build a
school building in St. Augustine. The lot was at 61 Cordova the Dragoons
Barracks lot. In 1870 the trustees of the school were Fatio Dunham, George
W. Atwood, Josue Riley and Pablo Gray. Pablo Gray was a former Corporal
in the 21 Regt Company A of the USCT.

The school faced Spanish street. The building was 33 ft long and 15 feet
wide with a 10 porch that was 3 ft wide. The Freedmen's Bureau report
listed it as 30 x 60 which would reflect that it was a two story building. The
cost of the building was $4000.00 which was substantially more than the
rest of the buildings in the state of Florida where buildings averaged only a
little over $1000. The land was occupied by the permission of the Sec of
War. Interestingly enough the land was requested almost 20 years
previously as the site for a school but the transfer was never approved. The
authority to build for the Freedmen's Bureau came about on May 26, 1869
and the construction was approved July 15, 1869. The school was ready for
the fall term. The school became Public school #2 (Colored) in the St. Johns
County School system and would retain that designation for the following
decades.
However, the first name listed for the school was the Bronson school after
Dr. Oliver Bronson Jr.

Through Bronson's donation a second building was constructed on the
school lot. A 15x15 cottage with porches on the east and west. Later an
outdoor kitchen was constructed. This building was used to house the
teachers and finance the school through rentals to St. Augustine tourists.
This is perhaps one of the most unique methods of financing black
education to be found in the south.

While the Freedmen's Bureau existed it paid for the teacher's transportation
and other school costs by the "fiction" of paying rent for classrooms. The
classrooms were actually donated by churches and citizens such as Miss
Sarah Mather who established support for African-American schools. The
American Missionary Association was providing the teachers. In 1869 the
end of the bureau was at hand. The final act of the bureau was to build
school houses. The bureau built the second largest public school building in
Florida at St. Augustine on Spanish Street (Stanton Normal School in
Jacksonville was the largest. (Why St. Augustine got it's first
African-American school building.) For a few years the African-American
community had a better chance at an education the the white community.
(See correspondence of the first teachers of School No. 2.)

By virtue of his office he became a founding trustee of the Florida
Agricultural College in 1872. He held that position until his death in 1876
and was replaced by B.F. Oliveros the 3rd Superintendent of St. Johns
County Public Schools.

Saturday Oct 27, 1866
Through the generosity of Dr. Bronson, the plaza is being ornamented with
water oaks. They grow so rapidly that in a very few years they will afford a
refreshing shade.

Buckingham Smith Benevolent Association
On January 4, 1871 Buckingham Smith suffered a heart attack and was
found unconscious on the streets of New York by a policeman who thought
he was drunk. He died without regaining consciousness in Bellevue Hospital.

He left a life interest to lands in St. Augustine to an African-American named
Jack one of his slaves, and $100 each to three other former servants. After
disposing of personal effects to friends and relative, he left the rest and
residue of his property for the use of the black people of St. Augustine and
their successors in all time to come..."providing first for the aged and invalid
of those blacks which have been mine."

Dr. Bronson was his executor. As soon as it was practicable, in order to
make a more permanent provision for accomplishing the purposes of the
testator, Dr. Bronson determined to create a corporate institution, which was
named The Buckingham Smith Benevolent Association.

In order to carry out the intentions of Mr. Smith, and to put the institution on
a permanent basis, Dr. Bronson purchased at his own expense, had erected
a large building completely furnished with everything necessary to make it
comfortable, which he deeded to the Directors. there were ample piazzas on
the north and south sides, a large dining room and sitting room, and an
apartment for the matron; an outbuilding for a large kitchen and rooms for
the domestics. This was connected to the main building by a room open on
the south designed as a sitting room in pleasant weather. Dr. Bronson
donated this without cost to the Association, so that the income from Mr.
smith's estate could be devoted to the maintenance of the inmates of the
home.

A "Board of Lady Managers" was formed to aid in this benevolent work, with
a membership composed of some of the most prominent ladies in town. Miss
Margaret Worth was the Secretary, her sister Mrs. John Prague, and the
Misses Humphreys and Benet were Vice Presidents, Miss Rebecca Perit
was Treasurer, and Miss Sarah Mather, the President.

These ladies immediately began making articles of clothing and other
necessities for the home, and on December 8, 1873, six aged colored
women and two colored men took their first meal in the newly erected Home.
Others were admitted from time to time. The institution was in charge of a
matron, assisted by a cook and a house girl.

The first officers of the Association were Oliver Bronson, M.D., President,
General John T. Sprague and Oliver Bronson, Jr., Vice Presidents, Dr.
Andrew Anderson, M.D., Physician and Secretary, and Mr. James W. Allen,
Treasurer.

St. Augustine House of Dr. Bronson
Dr. Bronson's home in St. Augustine was on St. Georges street besides
Trinity Episcopal Church. The house of Dr. Oliver Bronson became the St.
George's Hotel. It was originally a small hotel provided over by Col. Tyler but
in 1887 Charles Tyler, his son, enlarged it. The hotel was located next to the
Trinity Episcopal Church on St. George Street. By 1888 the property was
owned by L. K. Tyler of Newark, New Jersey.

Wm. A. Fry, Real Estate Agent advertised the house as: fronting on the
Plaza, bounded by St. George St., Artillery Lane and Trinity Church. The
house is commodious, surrounded with piazzas and in good repair. The
gardens are filled with tropical trees, shrubs, etc. (March 22, 1879)

Dr. Bronson died in Richfield Springs, N.Y. on July 21, 1875 after a short
illness at the age of 76.

A street was named in his honor only to become Granada Street in the
Flagler era.

Children
Isaac Bronson, (born 19 March 1835) a lawyer, died at Aiken S. C. on
March 28th 1872. He was 37 years old. He started as the school of L. J.
Dudley in Northampton, Mass. He graduated Williams College in 1856.
Isaac studied in the Albany Law School and received his LL.B in 1858. He
had married Harriet Whitney Phoenix, in St. Paul's Chapel, New York, 1
March 1859, by Rev. Frederick Ogilby, D. D., Prot. Epis. Harriet died of
diphtheria, 22 Aug. 1864, at Baden-Baden, Germany, without children; and
was buried in the Whitney chapel, Greenwood Cemetery. He then married
Alice Whetten in 1866. There was a daughter from this marriage. During the
Civil War he served as Assistant Adjutant-General on the staff of General
Sheridan but received a serious injury to his ankle.

By 1883 Willett Bronson (born August 23, 1839) (Dr. Bronson's son) went
bankrupt in New York after buying up-town lots and having houses built on
them. He was married to Margaret O'F. Brown on Nov 16, 1871. The
resources for his business were from the estate of his father. Willett was a
lawyer. He would die on May 28, 1917 in a New York sanitarium.

Oliver Bronson, Jr., a St. Johns County Commissioner during
Reconstruction would move back to New York and practice law. He was
born in New York in 1837 and was a graduate of Williams College and
Harvard Law School. His wife was Julia Frances Colt Bronson. They were
married in Trinity Episcopal Church by Rev Smedes on Thursday, June 2,
1870. He died on June 29, 1918 leaving a son Francis P. Bronson. Julia
Frances Colt lived in St. Augustine at the Fatio House. They lived in the
house across the street in what today is the bed and breakfast - Casa de
Solana.

Dr. Oliver Bronson Sr. Documents:
1870 School Report
1873 School Report
1872 Original Letter with Signatur e