7131. Elisha Gunter Akin Jr. Born on 21 February 1909. Elisha Gunter died in Winter Park, FL, on 6 January 2001; he was 91.
Elisha Gunter married Ruth McCord (Private). 7132. Araminta Elizabeth Akin. Born on 13 September 1912 in Atlanta, GA. Araminta Elizabeth died in Winter Park, FL, on 22 August 2002; she was 89.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY by ARAMINTA ELIZABETH AKIN:
"Araminta Elizabeth Akin was prematurely born Sept. 13, 1912, at 230 E. Pine St., Atlanta, Ga, the daughter of Elisha Gunter Akin, Sr. and Montine Jones Akin. She had two brothers, E.G. Akin, Jr. and George S. Akin. They lived at 69 E. Pine St., 205 St. Charles Ave., Durant Pl. and 28 Linwood Ave., Atlanta, Ga.
"She recalls the Great Atlanta Fire of May 21, 1917 and the Confederate Veterans Reunion of 1918 at Piedmont Park. During WWI she danced for the soldiers at Ft. McPherson hospital.
"Her parents were charter members of the Atlanta Primitive Baptist Church. During a revival meeting June 1923, she and her brother, E.G. were saved, baptized and joined the Atlanta Primitive Church.
"In the summer of 1925 the family moved from Atlanta to Tampa, Fla. E.G. Akin, Sr. ... had a fine fancy and import grocery which had done well for many years.
"After living in Tampa for a year and a half, they moved to Dade City where E.G., Sr. was manager of the A & P Tea Co.
"Elizabeth was involved in many activities of the community. At the eighth grade graduation, she was awarded the American Legion Medal for being the outstanding student. She started taking violin lessons from Prof. Vincent Lortie, and was on the varsity basket ball team. Her brother, E.G., graduated from Pasco High and entered the U. of Fla. He was the youngest Eagle Scout in Fla. and won the Harmon Foundation award.
"In 1929 the family moved to Kissimmee where Elizabeth played first violin in the Osceola High orchestra, and was on the varsity basket ball team.
"The family moved to Winter Park the summer of 1930 where Elizabeth was to receive a violin scholarship at Rollins College. She was voted the most popular girl in Winter Park High as well as the most outstanding student. She was elected by the Orange County School Board to represent Orange County on a trip to Washington, D.C. as the guest of Ruth Bryan Owens, Fla. Representative. At her high school graduation, she was Salutatorian.
"E.G., Jr. graduated from U. of Fla. in 1932 and practiced law for several years. He was appointed Municipal Judge.
"In the fall of 1932 Elizabeth entered F.S.C.W. (now Fla. St.) where she received many honors during her four years. She was on the varsity soccer and volley ball teams; elected Judge of the Lower Court; Judiciary; F Atheletic Club; Honorary Even Society and several others.
"Her youngest brother, George S. Akin, entered the U. of Fla.
"In 1935 her parents moved to Winter Garden. In that summer Elizabeth worked with Dr. E.J. Daniels, evangelist.
"Elizabeth graduated from F.S.C.W. in 1936 with a degree in Chemistry and Biology. In August she started teaching at Cherokee Jr. High, Orlando.
"In January 1937 she transferred to Sanford High teaching physical ed., anatomy and physiology.
"Her older brother, E.G., married Ruth McCord and lived in Winter Park.
"About this time she became interested in genealogical research with the encouragement of her father. He wanted her to trace the family lines.
"She entered the School of Nursing at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore.
"On April 19, 1940, E.G. Akin, Sr. died from a stroke.
"In the fall of 1940 she became the office nurse for Dr. H.M. Beardall.
"May 30, 1941 Elizabeth married Howard Nelson Axton at the First Baptist Church, Orlando.
"George S. Akin married Luelle Meares in Dec. 1941, Durham, N.C.
"E.G., Jr. was called into service at the beginning of WWII. He was sent throughout the world inspecting Air Bases. He held the rank of Colonel. In 1969 he retired and returned to Winter Park.
"WW II came and Nelson was drafted entering the Army on Feb. 1942 and sent to basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C. From there he went to Officers Candidate School, Ft. Benning, Ga. When he completed the course, he was sent to Camp breckinridge, Ky. and Elizabeth joined him. From there he was sent to Ft. Benning and on to Camp Rucker before being shipped to the Pacific Theatre. Elizabeth returned home to Winter Park.
"Kathryn Elizabeth Akin was born Sep. 27, 1943, at Orange Memorial Hosp.
"Nelson came home from the Pacific in Feb. 1946. Immediately he was asked to work in the finance dept. of the Orange County Public Schools. Later he became supervisor of the School Food Service Dept.
"Howard Nelson Axton II was born Jan . 15, 1947, at Orange Memorial Hosp.
"Elizabeth was active in Girl Scouting for ten years and was in the Water Safety Program of the American Red Cross for many years.
"Nelson and Elizabeth were active at the First Baptist Church, Orlando in Sunday School, Training Union and choir. In the 1950s they transferred to the College Park Baptist Church and served in Sunday School, Training Union and choir. Nelson was a deacon. They returned to the First Baptist Church in the 1960s.
"In 1959 and in 1965 she compiled a list of 105 Confederate Veterans buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Orlando.
"She established the Microfilm Dept. of U.S. Census Records at the Albertson Public Library :(Orlando Public Library) for genealogical research.
"She compiled Confederate Veteran Records for the Judah P. Benjamin Museum, Ellenton, Fla. Also, the Florida Parks Dept. requested that she take some fifty color slides of the Gamble Mansion, Ellenton, Fla.
"Throughout the years she wrote historical articles for newspapers and magazines.
"Howard N. Axton II graduated from high school and entered Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.
"Kathryn Axton was married Dec. 17, to Richard Allen Burgher at the First Baptist Church, Orlando. They lived at Neptune Beach. Pamela was born Feb. 6, 1968, and Janice April 19, 1971. When Janice was only a month old , the father deserted his family.
"Elizabeth's mother, Montine Jones Akin, died Oct. 7, 1967. She had lived with her daughter and son-in-law for seven years.
"Soon after that, Nelson became ill with cancer and died May 23, 1969. It was necessary for Elizabeth to work. She was offered a position as Attendance Assistant/School Social Worker which position she held for twenty-three years.
"In July 1972 E.G. Akin, Jr.'s daughter, Ray, died leaving a son, Paul.
"On July 17, 1973, Kathryn E. Axton Burgher was killed by Charles Fain King at Gainesville, Fla. Elizabeth took her two girls, Pamela and Janice, to her home and adopted them caring for them for nineteen years.
"Howard was in the Army for a year and then returned to the U. of Fla. where he received his engineering and math degrees.
"Since the 1950s and 1960s, Elizabeth had become a member of the united Daughters of the Confederacy, Daughters of the American Revolution, Southern Dames of America and Daughters of the American Colonists holding local, state and national offices in each organizatio.
"In 1973 she joined the Winter Park Baptist Church where she and the two girls attended for several years. In 1978 she changed membership to the Orlando Bible Church where she has remained.
"In 1978 she was a charter member of the Scottish American Society and the girls started taking Highland Scottish dancing and competed for eight years. Also, they took piano lessons for eight years.
"Oct. 17, 1980 Howard N. Axton II was married to Barbara A. Clark at the Orlando Bible Church. Nathan was born July 24, 1983 and Leah Oct. 17, 1985.
"Elizabeth visited Scotland, England and Wales in 1981, 1985, 1988.
"During her work as a School Social Worker, she received many honors for her accomplishments. She received the 'School Social Worker of The Year Award' in 1986, the first one to be presented. In 1989 she was given the 'Better Than Ever Award' by the Orange County Public Schools.
"On Jan. 3, 1992, her young brother, George, died in Colorado.
"In 1992 she received a special award from the Superintendant for her outstanding contribution to the schools and communities for her contribution to children and their families.
"After retirement she compiled twenty-five volumes of Pictorial Biographies of the members of her family in addition to the genealogy of her family and that of her husband.
"In 1994 she became acquainted with Lester Buckalew and later with Jay Buckalew, Jack Buckelew and Charles Earnest which began a very pleasant and rewarding relationship regarding Buckelew records. At last, Elizabeth found others who were interested in research on the Buckelew (Buccleuch) line."
On 30 May 1941 when Araminta Elizabeth was 28, she married Howard Nelson Axton, in Orlando, FL. Born on 17 December 1910 in W. Brownsville, PA. Howard Nelson died in Winter Park, FL, on 23 May 1969; he was 58.