1913 Memorial to Captain Pacetty A LETTER FROM BOSTON
John P Leonard
Captain Pacetti— An Appreciation
I happen to be one of a number of Northerners who, through visits to Saint Augustine, became well acquainted with Captain Adolphus N Pacetti who died on May 10th. Many and many an hour I have spent chatting with the old gentleman in the Plaza, on those soft balmy days of early spring so common to Saint Augustine. I have not seen him for several years, he had turned eighty then, but my recollection of him is still clear and strong. On the whole he was, I think, one of the most intelligent man I've ever known, with all the innate grace and dignity of the gentleman. To a splendidly well balanced and well ordered mind he added the equipment that years of well selected reading, supplemented by quiet and sober reflection, also can give. His memory for man over eighty was marvelous; his wit was remarkably keen and subtle; his humor delightful; and his sharpness and skillfulness at repartee and retort were of an extremely high order, yet the same time free from any viciousness or sting. He was sound and sane and saw men and events without personal prejudice or coloring, but with a leveled mind.
One meets a great many men, but I doubt if those of us who had the privilege of knowing Captain Pacetti will ever meet a more charming and more interesting personality. I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that he was without any question one of the finest conversationalists I ever listened to. He knew men so well; he was so tolerant; he was so catholic in his tastes and his sympathies; and all this was reflected in his conversation. He understood and appreciated your point of view it held tenaciously to his own. He was a friendly, sociable man who felt at ease in any society—as much at ease in the presence of the mighty is in the presence of the lowly. He had to poison the man and what he knew, and was not afraid.
Those of us who knew him well are glad that we had the opportunity of knowing him well. And now that he has "crossed the river and rests under the shade of the trees", his memory will be with us for many a long day.
(Signed) John P. Leonard 53 State Street Boston
May 16, 1913.
[Cover letter to Dr AJ Hanna, Woodstock NY]
St Augustine, Fla August 15th, 1947
Capt. Adolphus N Pacetti was born in St Marys, Ga. July 10th, 1829. died in St. Augustine Florida May 10th, 1913. he and my mother Amelia L Monson were married in the cathedral in St Augustine, Fla, November 6th, 1868.
The enclosed a testimonial to the memory of my father Capt Adolphus N Pacetti was written by Mr John P Leonard, attorney and counselor at law of Boston, Mass. it was published in the Evening Record.
I think this appreciation will give you more of his personal characteristics and anything that I can write you. In looks my father was about 5 foot 10 inches tall, stocky and broad shoulders, blue eyes, light hair and mustache, ruddy complexion.
In 1855 my father and some of his relatives went from here to Tampa. traveling by canvas covered wagon drawn by two horses. They reached Tampa safely without molestation from the Indians.
Ellen Pacetti Jones
Thank you kindly for the union [-----] of Floridians. It is interesting.
My father, Adolphus N Pacetti, was born in St Marys Ga, July 10th, 1829. He was the son of Andrace Pacetti and Charlotte E Smith, who were married in St Marys, Georgia, in 1826. My father, Adolphus Pacetti, and my mother, Amelia L Pacetti, were married in the Cathedral at St Augustine, Fla. My father died May 10th, 1913. My mother died Jan 2nd, 1936. As a young boy, my father lived in Tampa. Some of his relatives in 1855 he took by stagecoach to Tampa. They had many adventures on the way. Traveling by stagecoach to Palatka and from there to Tampa. Traveling by in a canvas covered wagon drawn by two horses, they reached Tampa without molestation from the Indians.
This enclosed testimonial to the memory of my father was written by Mr. John P Leonard, attorney and counselor at law in Boston, Mass., Friend of my father. It was published in our evening record. I think it will give you more of his personal characteristics than anything that I could write you. My father was a brave man. He was a remarkable person. My father was born in St Marys Ga, July 10th, 1829. He was the son of Andrew Pacetti and Charlotte E Smith, who were married in St Marys, Ga, in 1826. My father, Adolphus Pacetti, and my mother, Amelia L Monson, were married in the Cathedral at St Augustine, Fla, November 4th, 1868. My father died May 10th, 1913. My mother died January 2nd, 1936. My father was about 5 feet, 10 inches, in height. His eyes were very blue. He was broad shouldered and very direct. His massage was a reddish light hair. When my father was a young man he lived most of the time in Tampa. Once he and some of his relatives went from here to Tampa. It was in 1855. They went from here by stagecoach to pick a lotto and from there to Palatka by boat. My father then took them to Tampa, travelling in a canvas covered wagon drawn by two horses. They reached Tampa safely without molestation from the Indians.
[Verified as writing of Mrs. Nelly Pacetti Jones by her daughters, 1958]
