*** Pioneer Floridian ***
"C.B." was born March 26, 1828 in Columbia County, GA, near Augusta. He was the was the youngest child of George and Susannah (Williams) Magruder, owners of a large, successful plantation. George died when C.B. was eight years old, and an older brother became C.B.'s guardian.
The 1850 Federal Census shows that when he was 22 years old, C.B. owned a small plantation in Monroe County, GA, near Forsyth. (His mother lived with him at that time.)
He moved to Thomas County, GA in 1853, where on 4Oct1855, he married Sarah Frances Smith. The first three of his children were born there: Charles B. in 1856; George Miller in 1858, and James Bailey in 1859.
In December 1859, the family moved to Jefferson County, FL, near Monticello. Two more children were born: Susan Ellen ("Jamie") in 1861, and Albert Stuart in 1863.
On 15May1862, C.B. enlisted in the Confederate Army at Camp Leon, FL as a private in "K" Company, 5th Florida Infantry. He was discharged the same day after providing a substitute (a common practice on both sides of the battle line); there is no evidence that he ever saw any combat. Nevertheless, he was known as "Major Magruder" for the rest of his life. (The substitute was killed in combat in August 1862 at the Battle of Second Manassas near Manassas, VA.)
Sarah died sometime between 1863 and 1868. It is thought that Sarah died during childbirth (along with the child) in January 1865.
C.B. married Sarah's sister, Cornelia Brown Smith, 18Jun1868 at Quitman, Brooks County, GA. Cornelia's first child, Sarah Isora ("Sallie" Isora), was born in Jefferson County, FL in 1871.
After the Civil War ended, C.B. continued to farm in Jefferson County, but the economic conditions of the Reconstruction proved to be too difficult. In 1868, he and a friend, W. R. Blake, went on an extended tour of northern and central Florida looking for (cheaper) land to homestead (see https://bit.ly/2L3ptoU).
C.B. eventually chose to settle in the Rockledge area on the Indian River (near Cape Canaveral). He traveled to his new homestead with his sons each year to build a house and to prepare the property for farming citrus and other fruits. In 1873, he moved his family down from Jefferson County. Much of the original structure is still standing today (at 1609 Rockledge Drive). [To my fellow Magruders: PLEASE DO NOT BOTHER THE PRESENT OWNERS BY SHOWING UP UNANNOUNCED, ASKING TO TOUR THE HOUSE. This is a family residence - not a public museum!]
C.B. was a citrus farmer most of the remainder of his life. He traveled all over the Southeast and even as far as Philadelphia to promote Indian River citrus. He is also thought to be the first to plant navel oranges in the state of Florida, although that has not yet been confirmed.
Cornelia continued to bear children: Hubert Johnston in 1875, Lawson in 1878, and Cornelia Frances in 1884.
In 1877, Cornelia raised funds for the construction of the first church in Rockledge, which was organized as the Rockledge Presbyterian Church in 1884. Rockledge Presbyterian is presently located at 971 Rockledge Drive.
C.B. was instrumental in Florida's successful efforts to win the gold medal for citrus at the 1884-5 World's Fair and Exposition in New Orleans - beating the Californians for the first time - and eventually establishing the Indian River Citrus brand as being as good or superior to any other citrus fruit in the world.
When the town of Rockledge was organized in 1887, it was named after the homestead house C.B. built on a low coquina bluff on the Indian River, which he affectionately called his "rock ledge home". C.B. was elected Rockledge's first mayor.
C.B. died on 31Oct1910 at the age of 82, and he is buried in the Cocoa City Cemetery in an unmarked grave (lot 2, block A).
"C.B." was born March 26, 1828 in Columbia County, GA, near Augusta. He was the was the youngest child of George and Susannah (Williams) Magruder, owners of a large, successful plantation. George died when C.B. was eight years old, and an older brother became C.B.'s guardian.
The 1850 Federal Census shows that when he was 22 years old, C.B. owned a small plantation in Monroe County, GA, near Forsyth. (His mother lived with him at that time.)
He moved to Thomas County, GA in 1853, where on 4Oct1855, he married Sarah Frances Smith. The first three of his children were born there: Charles B. in 1856; George Miller in 1858, and James Bailey in 1859.
In December 1859, the family moved to Jefferson County, FL, near Monticello. Two more children were born: Susan Ellen ("Jamie") in 1861, and Albert Stuart in 1863.
On 15May1862, C.B. enlisted in the Confederate Army at Camp Leon, FL as a private in "K" Company, 5th Florida Infantry. He was discharged the same day after providing a substitute (a common practice on both sides of the battle line); there is no evidence that he ever saw any combat. Nevertheless, he was known as "Major Magruder" for the rest of his life. (The substitute was killed in combat in August 1862 at the Battle of Second Manassas near Manassas, VA.)
Sarah died sometime between 1863 and 1868. It is thought that Sarah died during childbirth (along with the child) in January 1865.
C.B. married Sarah's sister, Cornelia Brown Smith, 18Jun1868 at Quitman, Brooks County, GA. Cornelia's first child, Sarah Isora ("Sallie" Isora), was born in Jefferson County, FL in 1871.
After the Civil War ended, C.B. continued to farm in Jefferson County, but the economic conditions of the Reconstruction proved to be too difficult. In 1868, he and a friend, W. R. Blake, went on an extended tour of northern and central Florida looking for (cheaper) land to homestead (see https://bit.ly/2L3ptoU).
C.B. eventually chose to settle in the Rockledge area on the Indian River (near Cape Canaveral). He traveled to his new homestead with his sons each year to build a house and to prepare the property for farming citrus and other fruits. In 1873, he moved his family down from Jefferson County. Much of the original structure is still standing today (at 1609 Rockledge Drive). [To my fellow Magruders: PLEASE DO NOT BOTHER THE PRESENT OWNERS BY SHOWING UP UNANNOUNCED, ASKING TO TOUR THE HOUSE. This is a family residence - not a public museum!]
C.B. was a citrus farmer most of the remainder of his life. He traveled all over the Southeast and even as far as Philadelphia to promote Indian River citrus. He is also thought to be the first to plant navel oranges in the state of Florida, although that has not yet been confirmed.
Cornelia continued to bear children: Hubert Johnston in 1875, Lawson in 1878, and Cornelia Frances in 1884.
In 1877, Cornelia raised funds for the construction of the first church in Rockledge, which was organized as the Rockledge Presbyterian Church in 1884. Rockledge Presbyterian is presently located at 971 Rockledge Drive.
C.B. was instrumental in Florida's successful efforts to win the gold medal for citrus at the 1884-5 World's Fair and Exposition in New Orleans - beating the Californians for the first time - and eventually establishing the Indian River Citrus brand as being as good or superior to any other citrus fruit in the world.
When the town of Rockledge was organized in 1887, it was named after the homestead house C.B. built on a low coquina bluff on the Indian River, which he affectionately called his "rock ledge home". C.B. was elected Rockledge's first mayor.
C.B. died on 31Oct1910 at the age of 82, and he is buried in the Cocoa City Cemetery in an unmarked grave (lot 2, block A).
*** Pioneer Floridian ***
"C.B." was born March 26, 1828 in Columbia County, GA, near Augusta. He was the was the youngest child of George and Susannah (Williams) Magruder, owners of a large, successful plantation. George died when C.B. was eight years old, and an older brother became C.B.'s guardian.
The 1850 Federal Census shows that when he was 22 years old, C.B. owned a small plantation in Monroe County, GA, near Forsyth. (His mother lived with him at that time.)
He moved to Thomas County, GA in 1853, where on 4Oct1855, he married Sarah Frances Smith. The first three of his children were born there: Charles B. in 1856; George Miller in 1858, and James Bailey in 1859.
In December 1859, the family moved to Jefferson County, FL, near Monticello. Two more children were born: Susan Ellen ("Jamie") in 1861, and Albert Stuart in 1863.
On 15May1862, C.B. enlisted in the Confederate Army at Camp Leon, FL as a private in "K" Company, 5th Florida Infantry. He was discharged the same day after providing a substitute (a common practice on both sides of the battle line); there is no evidence that he ever saw any combat. Nevertheless, he was known as "Major Magruder" for the rest of his life. (The substitute was killed in combat in August 1862 at the Battle of Second Manassas near Manassas, VA.)
Sarah died sometime between 1863 and 1868. It is thought that Sarah died during childbirth (along with the child) in January 1865.
C.B. married Sarah's sister, Cornelia Brown Smith, 18Jun1868 at Quitman, Brooks County, GA. Cornelia's first child, Sarah Isora ("Sallie" Isora), was born in Jefferson County, FL in 1871.
After the Civil War ended, C.B. continued to farm in Jefferson County, but the economic conditions of the Reconstruction proved to be too difficult. In 1868, he and a friend, W. R. Blake, went on an extended tour of northern and central Florida looking for (cheaper) land to homestead (see https://bit.ly/2L3ptoU).
C.B. eventually chose to settle in the Rockledge area on the Indian River (near Cape Canaveral). He traveled to his new homestead with his sons each year to build a house and to prepare the property for farming citrus and other fruits. In 1873, he moved his family down from Jefferson County. Much of the original structure is still standing today (at 1609 Rockledge Drive). [To my fellow Magruders: PLEASE DO NOT BOTHER THE PRESENT OWNERS BY SHOWING UP UNANNOUNCED, ASKING TO TOUR THE HOUSE. This is a family residence - not a public museum!]
C.B. was a citrus farmer most of the remainder of his life. He traveled all over the Southeast and even as far as Philadelphia to promote Indian River citrus. He is also thought to be the first to plant navel oranges in the state of Florida, although that has not yet been confirmed.
Cornelia continued to bear children: Hubert Johnston in 1875, Lawson in 1878, and Cornelia Frances in 1884.
In 1877, Cornelia raised funds for the construction of the first church in Rockledge, which was organized as the Rockledge Presbyterian Church in 1884. Rockledge Presbyterian is presently located at 971 Rockledge Drive.
C.B. was instrumental in Florida's successful efforts to win the gold medal for citrus at the 1884-5 World's Fair and Exposition in New Orleans - beating the Californians for the first time - and eventually establishing the Indian River Citrus brand as being as good or superior to any other citrus fruit in the world.
When the town of Rockledge was organized in 1887, it was named after the homestead house C.B. built on a low coquina bluff on the Indian River, which he affectionately called his "rock ledge home". C.B. was elected Rockledge's first mayor.
C.B. died on 31Oct1910 at the age of 82, and he is buried in the Cocoa City Cemetery in an unmarked grave (lot 2, block A).
"C.B." was born March 26, 1828 in Columbia County, GA, near Augusta. He was the was the youngest child of George and Susannah (Williams) Magruder, owners of a large, successful plantation. George died when C.B. was eight years old, and an older brother became C.B.'s guardian.
The 1850 Federal Census shows that when he was 22 years old, C.B. owned a small plantation in Monroe County, GA, near Forsyth. (His mother lived with him at that time.)
He moved to Thomas County, GA in 1853, where on 4Oct1855, he married Sarah Frances Smith. The first three of his children were born there: Charles B. in 1856; George Miller in 1858, and James Bailey in 1859.
In December 1859, the family moved to Jefferson County, FL, near Monticello. Two more children were born: Susan Ellen ("Jamie") in 1861, and Albert Stuart in 1863.
On 15May1862, C.B. enlisted in the Confederate Army at Camp Leon, FL as a private in "K" Company, 5th Florida Infantry. He was discharged the same day after providing a substitute (a common practice on both sides of the battle line); there is no evidence that he ever saw any combat. Nevertheless, he was known as "Major Magruder" for the rest of his life. (The substitute was killed in combat in August 1862 at the Battle of Second Manassas near Manassas, VA.)
Sarah died sometime between 1863 and 1868. It is thought that Sarah died during childbirth (along with the child) in January 1865.
C.B. married Sarah's sister, Cornelia Brown Smith, 18Jun1868 at Quitman, Brooks County, GA. Cornelia's first child, Sarah Isora ("Sallie" Isora), was born in Jefferson County, FL in 1871.
After the Civil War ended, C.B. continued to farm in Jefferson County, but the economic conditions of the Reconstruction proved to be too difficult. In 1868, he and a friend, W. R. Blake, went on an extended tour of northern and central Florida looking for (cheaper) land to homestead (see https://bit.ly/2L3ptoU).
C.B. eventually chose to settle in the Rockledge area on the Indian River (near Cape Canaveral). He traveled to his new homestead with his sons each year to build a house and to prepare the property for farming citrus and other fruits. In 1873, he moved his family down from Jefferson County. Much of the original structure is still standing today (at 1609 Rockledge Drive). [To my fellow Magruders: PLEASE DO NOT BOTHER THE PRESENT OWNERS BY SHOWING UP UNANNOUNCED, ASKING TO TOUR THE HOUSE. This is a family residence - not a public museum!]
C.B. was a citrus farmer most of the remainder of his life. He traveled all over the Southeast and even as far as Philadelphia to promote Indian River citrus. He is also thought to be the first to plant navel oranges in the state of Florida, although that has not yet been confirmed.
Cornelia continued to bear children: Hubert Johnston in 1875, Lawson in 1878, and Cornelia Frances in 1884.
In 1877, Cornelia raised funds for the construction of the first church in Rockledge, which was organized as the Rockledge Presbyterian Church in 1884. Rockledge Presbyterian is presently located at 971 Rockledge Drive.
C.B. was instrumental in Florida's successful efforts to win the gold medal for citrus at the 1884-5 World's Fair and Exposition in New Orleans - beating the Californians for the first time - and eventually establishing the Indian River Citrus brand as being as good or superior to any other citrus fruit in the world.
When the town of Rockledge was organized in 1887, it was named after the homestead house C.B. built on a low coquina bluff on the Indian River, which he affectionately called his "rock ledge home". C.B. was elected Rockledge's first mayor.
C.B. died on 31Oct1910 at the age of 82, and he is buried in the Cocoa City Cemetery in an unmarked grave (lot 2, block A).
Gravesite Details
Click on the picture(s) for more information about the location of the grave.
Family Members
Siblings
Children
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Charles B. Magruder
1856–1896
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George Miller Magruder
1858–1898
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James Bailey Magruder Sr
1859–1925
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Susan Jamie Magruder
1861–1961
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Albert Stuart Magruder
1863–1896
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Sarah Isora "Sallie" Magruder
1871–1958
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Hubert Johnston Magruder
1875–1957
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Lawson Magruder
1878–1938
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Cornelia Frances Magruder Sessions
1884–1972
