From Proud Heritage, Volume III by DCPA. This 352 page hardcover book is available online.
Emet David Florence was born on the family homestead in Mesquite on 22 November 1885. He was the third child born to David Walker and Julia Savannah (Beaty) Florence.
David was born 28 October 1848 in St. Clair County, Alabama, where the Florence family operated a ferry on the Coosa River. In 1856, the family immigrated to Texas. They settled in Van Zandt County and established farms. David married Julia Savannah Beaty there on 29 December 1866, at age 18.
Julia Beaty was born 15 February 1850 in Arkansas, the youngest of twelve children born to Thomas and Roxie Beaty. She was orphaned at a young age and lived with family and friends near Jordan’s Saline, now Grand Saline.
The Florence families moved to Dallas County in 1871, buying over a thousand acres of prairie land in the north Mesquite area. David and Julia built a farmhouse and barns, and she planted a bois d’arc hedgerow surrounding their original 160 acres.
David and Julia had two other children. John H. was born in 1868 in Van Zandt County, became a doctor and married Kathleen “Kitty” Best in 1889, and they had eight children. Dr. Florence served as Dallas City Health Officer, Quarantine Officer in Brownsville and Galveston, and Texas State Health Officer. He was elected to one term as a Texas State Representative. “Kitty” died in 1912 and was buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Houston. Dr. Florence died in 1938 and was buried at Mesquite City Cemetery.
Martha A., their daughter, was born at the Florence homestead in Mesquite on 6 September 1872 and died of the “summer complaint” 15 July 1873. She was buried in Garland but was moved to the Florence family plot in Mesquite City Cemetery.
Emet Florence married Perle Curtis at the Presbyterian manse in Mesquite on 23 December 1906 at age 21. Perle was born 11 September 1889 at her family home south of New Hope. She was the youngest of seven children born to Robert Pennington Curtis and Elzora “Ella” (Porter), who were married 1 January 1879 in New Hope. Both Curtis and Porter families were early settlers in the Mesquite area.
Perle graduated from high school in Guymon, Oklahoma Territory, in 1905. She and her parents had lived several years in the Oklahoma panhandle, staking a claim. They returned to New Hope after her graduation. One Curtis son, Jackson Wesley, remained there on the family homestead.
When David Florence retired from ranching in 1914, Emet followed his father’s example and made the farm his home and livelihood. He purchased more land and took over all farming operations. He raised horses, mules, shorthorn cattle and sheep. The ranch was able to supply its own stock hay, as well as sell to area ranchers, from the 320-acre meadow of native prairie hay.
The ranch at that time had over 600 acres and was known as Meadow View Farm. Florence was recognized nationally as a leading breeder and exhibitor of fine Percheron horses. He regularly attended the State Fair of Texas and the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show, where he generally was a top premium winner.
Perle began her distinguished civic career in the 1930s when she was Dallas Deputy County Clerk and during the War, she worked in the Price and Rationing Administration. For many years, she headed the Pioneer Picnic and homecoming in conjunction with the Mesquite Community Fair, later known as the Dallas County Fair. She became the first woman to serve on a city board when she was appointed to the Mesquite Park Board.
She served as president of the Mesquite Woman’s Club and the Wednesday Study Club. As a faithful and active member of the First Christian Church, she founded their Perle C. Florence Library, dedicated in 1966.
Emet and Perle had two children. Their daughter, Florence WinElla Julia, was born at the family homestead 22 October 1909 and married Frank Schulz, Jr. 28 July 1945. They had one daughter, Julia Florence Schulz. Florence died at her home on the Florence homestead 26 April 2000 and was buried at Restland Cemetery.
A son, Emet David, Jr., was born 20 July 1920. He lived just a few hours and was buried at the Florence family plot in Mesquite City Cemetery.
Emet died 24 September 1963 in Memphis, Tennessee, on a trip to visit relatives in Alabama. Perle died 30 June 1976 in Dallas. Both are buried at Hillcrest Mausoleum.
In 1987, David and Julia Florence’s granddaughter, Florence, and her daughter, Julia (Schulz) Morris, donated the original farmhouse and four acres to the City of Mesquite. The Florence Ranch Homestead was the city’s first historical park.
By Julie S. Morris
