THOMAS A. YANCEY (1867-1913)
Source: History of Orange County Florida, by Blackman, 1973

THOMAS A. YANCEY was born in Augusta, Ky., in 1867, was the son of Garland M. Yancey and Sallie Yancey. Garland M. Yancey, his father was president of a college for women in Kentucky, and after moving to Florida was superintendent of schools in Orlando, Key West, and several other Florida cities.

Mr. Thomas A. Yancey was a graduate with honors from the college at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mr. Yancey came to Florida in 1887, entering into the livestock, wholesale and retail meat and produce business. He was very successful in these lines, conducting one business for over 25 years in one location. He was considered by his friends to be a good judge of horse flesh, and a true gentleman sportsman on the turf.

Mr., Yancey was a communicant in the protestant Methodist Episcopal church, and was a member of several secret orders, in all of which he stood well.

Mr. Yancey, was particularly an outstanding figure in the early development of Orange county and Orlando, was very energetic, and very quick to grasp an opportunity.

Mr. Yancey, married Miss Isabella Braye, of Whist Sulphur Springs, Ga., in 1889, she being the daughter of Captain Wilbur C. Braye. There ire two children of this union now living, Thomas A. Jr., and Sarah Williams, who received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, from Rollins College, ~Vinter Park, Florida. The son is still operating in Florida very successfully, and has many friends; the daughter is doing special instruction work at Columbia University, N. Y., and is married to Mr. Jene La Reuter, who is also connected in an official capacity at Columbia.

Mr. Yancey was known by all to be a man of good sound judgment, extremely likable, and very charitable. His life in his home is a monument of achievement to him. He died in September, 1913 with poisoning in one of his feet. He was much loved by all who knew him, and his untimely death caused bereavement to all Orlando.

He never seemed too busy to give a helping hand to any one in trouble and his means he spent liberally to help the needy. His personality was the most pleasing, and his manners to all were almost courtly.

He was a true Southern gentleman in every sense of the word, and his death was a severe loss to Orlando, his friends, and family. He always wore a smile regardless of conditions.

Mr. Yancey held large quantities of real estate in and around Orlando.