James Lawrence Colding, 1898James Lawrence Coldingwas born in Barnwell, South Carolina on May 29, 1832 to parents Samuel B. Sr. and Jemima Calhoun Colding, who are among South Carolina's pioneer settlers.  It is also said that Jemima Calhoun Colding was related to Vice President John C. Calhoun, possibly a half-sister.  When James was 10 years old the family set out and moved south to Florida where they settled in Alachua County in February of 1842.  In Alachua County the Colding Family settled and Samuel Sr. soon engaged in farming.

After living in Alachua County for a little more than 10 years James and his older brother, Samuel B. Jr., moved to Pasco County where they settled on 120 acres of property in the central part of the county.  Upon moving to Pasco County James didn't purchase property for himself but rather lived on property that his brother, Samuel, had purchased.  (See Samuel Colding Bio)

Shortly after arriving to Pasco County, in 1856, the neighborhood where the Colding Brothers had settled was attacked by Seminole Indians.  This attack occurred a short distance away at the home of Robert D. Bradley, two young children were killed.  With the Indian hostilities the call for arms was sent and preparation for the 3rd Seminole Indian War was soon underway.  Later that year, at the young age of 24 years old James L. Colding enlisted for services with the Florida Militia and for service in the 3rd Seminole Indian War of Florida.  During his services James was detached for special detail under Lieutenant John McNeil.  It was during this special service that Lt. McNeil was killed while the detachment engaged with the Seminoles.  In 1858, after serving as a private for nearly 3 years, James was mustered out of service and returned to his home in Pasco County.

After his services in the 3rd Seminole Indian War, James turned his attentions to his own personal life and soon engaged in farming and raising cattle and hogs.  By 1860 James had acquired one horse and 20 head of cattle and hogs, which he kept on a portion of his brothers property.  It was also sometime in 1860 that James was married to a young neighborhood girl who lived only a short distance from his farm.  While we do not know the exact date we do know that James L. Colding was married to Nancy Ada "Babe" Bradley at a ceremony held in the small community of Amelia or Darby in 1860.  Nancy Ada was the daughter of Robert D. and Nancy Bradley who was attacked by Indian in 1856.  No doubt that Nancy Ada Bradley and James Colding knew each other for several years before they were married as they were neighbors in the Darby Community.  (Click here to view a photo of Babe Bradley Colding)

By 1861 the Civil War was raging on and once again men were requested for enlistment, this time under the Confederate State of America.  In Hernando County a local company of men was being formed by resident Samuel Hope and in June of 1862 Jame L. Colding enlisted for service.  Eventually Hope's Company was muste   red into service as Company C of the 9th Florida Infantry Regt.  where they engaged in the Battle of Olustee before being sent to the front in Virginia.  According to the writings of James Colding, "the Company was involved in some of the heaviest fighting while in Virginia."  After the company's heavy fighting in Virginia they were discharged from service on April 13, 1865 and James returned home.  Two months after his discharge, in June of 1865, James received his official parole at Bayport, Florida in Hernando County.  During his early Civil War services James contracted a case of dysentery, which was treated at Bayport by the company doctor, Dr. Columbus Alexander. [See Dr. Alexander Bio]

After the Civil War James returned home to his wife, Babe, and he soon engaged once again in farming.  By 1869 James had purchased another horse, now owning two.  In addition James was the owner of 18 head of cattle and hogs, which were likely sold and used for food.  James also hired a young man to work as a farm laborer on his farm, this young 18 year old was Steven Douglass.  By 1872 James had sold one of his horses and several of his cattle and hogs, in 1872 he was recorded as owning only 5 cattle and 6 pigs.

After saving enough money James finally purchased his own property in 1883.  According to land records on January 22, 1883 James purchased a 80 acres property from the State of Florida, this property was further described as being located in sections 28 & 31, township 24, range 20; which was located next to the property owned by his brother.  Four months later on May 14, 1883 James purchased an additional 40 acres of property from the State of Florida further described as being located in section 31, township 24, range 20.  This additional 40 acres of property was situated next to his previously purchased 40 acres in the small community of Darby.

It was also in 1883 when James L. Colding was appointed to a position on the Hernando County School Board.  In his position James, along with other board members, held monthly meetings in Brooksville to discuss and vote on matters of education in Hernando County.  Both James and his brother were very involved in the early education of Pasco and Hernando County.  While James was very involved with the areas early education he and his wife, Babe, never had any children of their own.  James and Babe did attempt to have children, however the one time that Babe was expecting with child the baby eventually died at a very young age, perhaps at birth.

In his old age James became stricken and was ill in health.  In July of 1909 James was examined by Dr. James W. Gatton, M.D. and was found to be totally blind in his left eye, likely from the bad cataracts in the eye.  In addition James was suffering from a hernia and rupture on his right side, he was also suffering from heart disease.  Being ill in health James was unable to work the manual labor needed to tend his farm and he looked to other means to support he and his wife.

In 1910, at the age of 78 years old, James Colding worked worked as a mail carrier in the small town of Darby.  Likely by horseback, James carried mail to each home in the small community.  In addition James worked as a general contractor as a side job.  Being to ill to perform manual labor its believed that he simply oversaw the work crews that he gathered.

For more than 65 years James Colding lived in the small community of Darby.  Sometime after 1920 James passed away at his Darby home, the exact date unknown at this time.  Its believed that James was interred in a small family cemetery, which was located somewhere in Darby.  Today efforts are being put forth to locate the small family cemetery so that the site and history can be preserved for future generations.

(Photo courtesy of Paul Sedwick)
(Research by Jeff Cannon- Copyright © 2008)