John Hoodless (1834-1912) was a cousin of Gerrit L Hoodless and William J Hoodless, both of whom immigrated to the United States in the mid 1800s and whose experiences I’ve documented on the site previously. John’s father, James Raithby Hoodless was brother to Gerrit and William’s father, Captain William Hoodless, who arrived in New York, 1831 and became a naturlised citizen in October of that year.
John is recorded in the US Federal Census for New York in 1850 as a 16 year old and living in a rooming house in North Castle, Westchester County, with his uncle, Samuel Hoodless, who is working as a shoemaker. From the 1900 US Federal Census we know John immigrated in 1845, as an 11 year old child, likely accompanying his Uncle.
From rural North Castle, about 35 miles north of Manhattan, close to the Connecticut border, the New Jersey Compiled Census of 1860 picks him up in Camden City in New Jersey. Within the next two years John meets his future wife, Cassius Ann Dycus, born 1846 to Green Berry Dycus and his second wife Susanna, either in Tennessee or Kentucky depending on which document you look at – but most likely Kentucky. Where they met and married is not documented but John and Cassius are living in Milton, Florida by the 1870 Federal Census. Their eldest child, a son, Arthur Samuel Hoodless born circa 1862 is documented as born in Brooklyn, New York. Cassius was just 16 years old when Arthur is born. There is a gap of 5 years until their second child comes along, a girl named Cassius born in Florida in 1867, which aligns with the span of the Civil War.
In 1870 the Federal Census places the family in Milton, Florida with a third child, Jane, born a year earlier. John is working as a ship carpenter and claiming to originate from Canada.
Milton was founded in 1844, near Pensacola, a year before Florida became a state. It was strategically placed on the Blackwater River, with ample timber supplies in the area to establish it as a sawmilling and boatbuilding hub. A key trading post supporting the Naval Shipyards at Pensacola. According to the U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959, John Hoodless served as a shipwright in the Equipment Department of the Pensacola Naval Yard.
From newspaper clippings in the Pensacola News through the 1890’s we know John travelled frequently between Milton and Pensacola, regularly staying at the Plaza Hotel on Government Street. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and attended the Grand Lodge meeting in Jacksonville in 1896. In 1896 the Grand Council of Royal and Select Master Mason’s also met in the Masonic Temple in Milton and John was acting as Grand Conductor of Council. He designed and built the marine ways in Milton to enable large vessels to be taken out of the water for refitting and maintenance and owned the shipyard there. John had a respected reputation locally as a skilled shipwright and was involved in refitting, salvaging and surveying vessels at his shipyard. His eldest son Arthur was employed there.
His father-in-law, Captain Green Berry Dycus, operated a steamboat service between Galveston, Texas and Milton, Florida, indicating that ships and maritime ventures were part of the family indentity.
Captain John was survived by his wife Cassie and six of his eight children. He passed away on 4th December 1912 leaving a legacy as a businessman, carpenter, shipwright, freemason, Civil War veteran and Floridian pioneer who helped develop the boatbuilding and marine services of Milton.
Here’s a link to a great article detailing some more of the history of Milton.
John Hoodless Progeny 1834 – 1912
