Octavia’s Trip To Italy, Met the Pope and Brownings – Brenda Rees – Shaping Florida

Presidents of the United States aren't the only ones afforded private audiences with the Pope in Italy. Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert met Pope Pius IX in 1855 during her second European tour. Octavia is the daughter of George Walton, Jr., namesake of Walton County, Florida.

Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert met the Pope during her 1855 European tour. While in Italy, she also met the Brownings. She wrote about these extraordinary audiences in her “Souvenirs of Travel” published in 1857. (c) Brenda Rees, All Rights Reserved Pictures by Brenda Rees


My personal copy of Octavia's 1857 book "Souvenirs of Travel" which is published in two volumes.


Octavia wrote about her visit with Pope Pius IX (May 13, 1792 – February 7, 1878) in a letter to her mother and published in her "Souvenirs of Travel" book. Some of her remarks follow.

“Rome, Italy, April 19th, 1855
I cannot sleep tonight, precious Mamma, until I have written, and told you of the delight we experienced in being presented to the Pope of Rome, and of the affectionate and captivating kindness with which he received us. A cordial letter from our excellent Bishop Porter introduced us...

Anna’s Stories – Planes, Trains and Automobiles (& Boats!)

Walton County, Florida and its beautiful and historic venues are accessible by many modes of transportation. The historic Smith family utilized a number of methods to reach their DeFuniak Springs homes and dairy, and beach and resort homes at Grayton Beach, South Walton, Camp Walton and Mary Esther along the Emerald Coast. Read more about the Smith family in my other blogs under “Anna’s Stories.” Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon collected pictures and wrote about her family's adventures in Walton County and the Emerald Coast.


Anna Smith wrote: The "Bluebird" in front of the "Cedars. " Read more about "The Cedars" in my Camp Walton - Mary Esther blog of Anna's Stories. From the Anna Smith - Sonny Hollingsworth collection.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/blogs/brenda-rees/510-annas-stories-masons-story-walton-county-fl-brenda-rees-shaping-florida.html

http://www.sowal.com/bb/blogs/brenda-rees/504-annas-stories-p-w-smith-dairy-1906-1949-historic-florida-dairy.html

http://www.sowal.com/bb/blogs/brenda-rees/494-annas-stories-camp-walton-mary-esther-brenda-rees-shaping-florida.html

http://www.sowal.com/bb/blogs/brenda-rees/473-annas-stories-anna-early-walton-county-boat-1910.html...

In honor of America's Fourth of July celebration, I'll post something about the patriotic and historic Walton family. Walton County, Florida was named in honor of George Walton, Jr. His father, George Walton, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert's rich and famous history, although largely unknown today, is weaved through the early territorial days of Florida and Walton County.

Walton County was founded December 29, 1824 and is one of the oldest counties in Florida. The history of Walton County matches its beauty and environmental treasures.

While the Walton family did not live in Walton County, they probably traveled through it a number of times and perhaps stayed with family and friends during their many travels. Octavia was tutored by her grandmother, Dorothy Walton, and knew first hand the true story of America's quest for freedom. See my other blogs on Octavia, Edgar Allan Poe, Alaqua, etc.
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(c) Brenda Rees, All Rights Reserved
All Photographs by and (c) Brenda Rees


Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert was world renown and a treasure to her home states of Florida,...

Anna’s Stories – A Mason’s Story, Walton County, Florida
Brenda Rees – Shaping Florida Presentation


Masonic program from the collection of Anna Smith and Sonny Hollingsworth, 1955. Other pages posted at end of blog. Be sure to Log In to see historic pictures and program.

Anna Smith’s handwritten notes (Written around 1978 recalling her maternal grandparents.)
Hugh Thornber 4-8-1844 --11-30-1928
Martha E. Burrow Thornber 3-6-1851 – 8-4-36

Page 5 …
Granddad Thornber’s and Uncle L.I. Smith’s life-long friendship started in Tyndall. Granddad’s main interests were his business, the Masonic Lodge, card games such as “set back”, and lawn croquet.


Anna wrote on back of this picture "Granddad Thornber and Uncle L.I. playing croquet at Wiscasett." Wiscasett was the name of home at Smith Dairy in DeFuniak Springs. From the private collection of Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon and Sonny Hollingsworth. L.I. Smith's great nephew, Tuff Smith, had a beach home at Grayton Beach. L.I. and his nephew, P.W. Smith, made a trip to Grayton in 1899. Read about it in Grayton...

Anna Smith's son, Ernest L. (Sonny) Hollingsworth, and her sister-in-law, Alline (Tuff's wife) Smith, wrote an account in 1990 of the P.W. Smith Dairy in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida. They noted it as "The Oldest Continuous Run Dairy in the State of Florida." P.W. Smith was Anna's father and Sonny's grandfather. Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon is quoted and referenced in a number of history books as "Anna Reardon."

It was these dairy farmers and entrepreneurs who were among the early visitors and beach home owners in South Walton's Grayton Beach and Camp Walton (once part of Walton County). The Florida Chautauqua was most important in attracting an affluent and educated population. Read Anna's story about P.W. Smith's trip to Grayton Beach in 1899 in "Anna's Stories -- Grayton Beach ... " blog by Brenda Rees -- Shaping Florida.

Here is their story saved among the papers and pictures of Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon. Historic pictures as well as a picture of Sonny visiting his former home on Friday, May 5, 2009 will be included in this report. Brenda Rees -- Shaping Florida (c) pictures by Brenda Rees All Rights Reserved


Sonny Hollingsworth kept a dairy bottle lid...