Pioneers of Madison County: Rev. John Gramling, 1785

Generation 1 Rev. John Gramling was the son of German immigrants, Adam Gramling and Elizabeth Christina Gasoway. He was born on December 2, 1785 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. He married Elizabeth Imbroden in 1806. She was born on December 13, 1789 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. John was a circuit riding Methodist Minister in South Carolina before they moved to Centerville, Leon County, Fl. around 1835. In 1845 they settled in Cherry Lake, Fl., where he established Shiloh Methodist Church. He served at Shiloh for many years. John and Elizabeth had ten children: Andrew Peter, John Houselighter, Mary Rebecca, Lavinisah Elizabeth, Margaret Cholanna, Catherine Ann, Adam Daniel, Charles Wesley, Joel Fletcher and France Terrell. John died on February 5, 1865 in Cherry Lake, Fl. Elizabeth died on May 7, 1876 in Cherry Lake, Fl. Both are buried in the Shiloh Methodist Church Cemetery. Generation 2 Andrew Peter Gramling, son of John and Elizabeth was born on January 29, 1808 in Orangeburg, S.C. He married Elizabeth Gramling on October 30, 1832. She was born July 20, 1810 in Orangeburg, S.C. According to the 1850 census Andrew and Elizabeth were living in Leon County, Fl. Andrew and Elizabeth had five children: Margaret Ann, Martha Elizabeth “Mattie,” Jane Dorothy, Irvin Watson and Wilbur Wrightman. According to the 1860 census Andrew was a farmer living in Leon County, Fl. Irvin and Wilbur were working on the farm with him. Wilbur enlisted in Company K 5th Regiment, Florida Infantry in 1862. He was wounded on May 6, 1864 and taken prisoner. Wilbur was released June 21, 1865 and died in December 1870 of pneumonia and is buried in Leon County, Fl. Elizabeth died on November 10, 1885 and Andrew died on November 16, 1889. John Houselighter Gramling, son of John and Elizabeth was born March 15, 1810 in Orangeburg, S.C. He married Elsie “Alice” Davis on October 30,1832 in South Carolina. She was born on April 6, 1812 in Orangeburg, S.C. According to the 1850 census they were living in Lowndes County, Ga. In 1850 they resided in Madison Co. Fl., where he ran a general store, a blacksmith shop and a stable. He followed his father’s footprints and became a Methodist Preacher. According to the 1850 census John and Elizabeth had four children: William John, Frances Missouri, Marcus and Andrew Walker. John died on July 4, 1886 and was buried in Hickory Grove Methodist Church Cemetery. Alice died in 1890 in Oconee County, S.C. Mary Rebecca Gramling, daughter of John and Elizabeth was born August 24, 1812. She married John M. Reagan March 4,1833. John and Mary lived in Leon County near the Madison County line but between 1860 and 1870 they moved to Madison County, Florida. John was a minister and a member of the Shiloh Methodist Church. According to the census he was a farmer. They had two children: Martha Rebecca and Amanda Caroline. John died in 1880 and Mary November 17, 1892. Laviniah Elizabeth Gramling, daughter of John and Elizabeth was born December 31, 1814. She married Robert Wesley Rykard September 19, 1850. Robert enlisted in Company D, 5th Regiment Florida Infantry. They had one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Robert died August 21, 1863. Elizabeth died November 22, 1872 in Texas. Margaret Chloanna Gramling, daughter of John and Elizabeth was born June 4, 1814. She married Elias Davis. They settled in Waycross, Ga. Elias was a minister. They had one daughter, Angelina. Margaret died June 30, 1890 in Gwinnett, Ga. Catherine Ann Gramling, daughter of John and Elizabeth was born October 15, 1820. She married Robert Royster on July 31, 1860 in Madison County, Fl. Robert was a minister. They had no children. Catherine died March 26, 1913 and is buried in the Shiloh Church Cemetery in Cherry Lake, Fl. Adam Daniel Gramling, son of John and Elizabeth was born September 21, 1823. He married Margaret Ann Gramling, born August 2, 1830, around 1850. They had three children: Oscar Christian, Edward Olan and Mary Ann Elizabeth. Margaret died in 1856. Adam then married Mary Jane Harrell on April 26, 1863. They had one child, Emma Frances. Mary Jane died October 21, 1866. The third time, Adam married Rosa Odelia Winstine on July 5, 1865. They had six children: Maggie Rose, Eldora Kathrine, Callie J., Vida E., Nancy and Adam Daniel. Adam was listed as one of the voters on the 1845 statewide election. According to the 1880 census Adam was a farmer living in Issaquena, Mississippi. Adam died June 16, 1894. Charles Wesley Gramling, son of John and Elizabeth was born on April 13, 1826 in Spartanburg, S.C. He married Louisa Eliza Walden on November 2, 1845. She was born on April 27, 1827 in Spartanburg, S.C. In 1845 they were charter members of the Shiloh Methodist Church. In 1850 they were living in Lowndes County, Ga. but by the 1860 census they were in Madison County, Fl., where it stated he was a farmer. Charles enlisted in Company D, Florida 5th Infantry Regiment on March 26, 1862. He was promoted to Full 1st Sergeant on Jan. 17, 1863. They had six children: William Asa, John Coke, James Tinsley, Nincie Clementine, Elvira Elizabeth and Joel Emanuel. Louisa died on June 1, 1888 in Pinetta, Fl. and is buried in Hickory Grove Church Cemetery. Charles died on December 18, 1909 in Duval County, Fl. and is buried in an unmarked grave in Duval County, Fl. (There is some discrepancy on the exact date of Charles’ death.) Joel Fletcher Gramling, son of John and Elizabeth was born on October 30, 1828 in South Carolina. Joel married Margaret Elizabeth Collins Palmer September 20, 1866. Joel enlisted in Company D, Florida 5th Infantry Regiment on March 26, 1862 and mustered out on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House, Va. On the 1870 census Joel and Margaret had two children, Annie, age two and Andrew, age one. According to the 1880 census they had three children listed; Mary E., age 12, Andrew, age 11 and C.A., age nine. They were living in Hamburg, Madison County, Fl. Joel died December 5, 1903 and is buried in Hopewell Church Cemetery in Tampa, Fl. Frances Terrell Gramling, daughter of John and Elizabeth was born September 9, 1831. Frances married Daniel David Burnett September 13, 1865. Daniel had been married to Martha Ann Seaver first and they had several children. After her death he married Frances and they had four children: Margaret Dicy, Emma Hannah, Samuel Henry and Nancy Catherine. Daniel was a farmer according to the 1870 census. Frances died Dec. 14, 1901 and is buried in the Cherry Lake United Methodist Church Cemetery and Daniel died March 3, 1903.