G.V. Black, father of modern dentistry, was born in 1836 on a farm near Winchester, Illinois. He studied medicine and dentistry and in 1857 began his practice of dentistry in Winchester. After serving in the Civil War, he resumed dental practice in Jacksonville. His home and last office stood on this site. Here he did extensive research, invented dental instruments, and wrote hundreds of papers and books. Many of his ideas on care and restoration of teeth became the accepted methods. Dr. Black taught operative dentistry and pathology at several dental schools. He moved to Chicago in 1897 to become Dean of the Northwestern University Dental School, serving until his death in 1915.

On September 12, 1906, 22 charter members met at the home of the Rev. E.G. Musgrove to organize the Central Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Two weeks later, a revival led by the noted Baptist preacher George W. Truett resulted in 32 additions to the congregation. Affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, as well as the Southern Baptist Convention, Central Baptist Church was named for its central location in Jacksonville. It received its charter on May 4, 1909. The congregation began meeting at 401 South Main in a small white frame building that was eventually sold and moved in 1913 to make room for new construction. In 1919, a devastating fire destroyed the interior of the new building. The day after the fire members voted to rebuild without outside aid, and they successfully achieved their goal within five years. In 1939, the church added the D.B. Lloyd Educational Building for Sunday school classes. The church has sponsored a variety of outreach programs, including four mission churches. During the Depression era, the Goodfellows Bible Class helped those in need, and since 1943 the congregation has sponsored Boy Scout Troop 403. The congregation built a new sanctuary and formal hall, as well as educational and office space in 1951. In 2003, it relocated to 1909 E. Rusk Street. By the following year, 19 pastors had served the congregation. Its membership included more than 2,500 members, and more than 1,600 participated in Sunday school, one of the church's many ministries. Though no longer centrally located, the church continues to focus on outreach to the community.

This rich hammock land once covered with oaks, magnolias and especially palms was originally known as the Plains of Diego, after Don Diego de Espinosa, who built a small fort nearby in the 1730's. Around 1900, the community of Diego was renamed Palm Valley after the Sabal Palm. The Sabal or Cabbage Palm, Florida's state tree, was for many years an important contributor to the local economy, adding hundreds of dollars annually to the meager income of area settlers. Each winter, orders came from the nation's churches for fresh cut palm buds for the celebration of Palm Sunday. Palm buds were cut by the thousands, packed in bunches of twenty-five or fifty, and taken to Durbin Station on the Florida East Coast Railway where they were picked up by the train. Later, after the Intracoastal Waterway was opened in 1912, stacks of palms were taken to a dock on the canal where they were picked up by the Navajo or the Alamo, two packet boats that hauled freight between Miami and Jacksonville over the new waterway. The completion of the Intracoastal Waterway through Palm Valley, in addition to allowing boat passage, effectively drained much of the area that was formerly marshland.

This marker commemorates the attack on the USS Gulfamerica on April 10, 1942, during World War II (1941-1945) by a German U-boat just off the coast of Jacksonville Beach. The Gulfamerica, a merchant marine vessel, was on her maiden voyage from Port Arthur, Texas to New York carrying 90,000 barrels of fuel oil. It was one of the first merchant vessels to be fitted with weapons and carried seven naval armed guards in addition to its crew of 41 men. German U-boat, U-123, first fired a torpedo, striking the Gulfamerica on her starboard side; then maneuvered between the vessel and the shore to shell the tanker with its deck gun in full view of spectators on the boardwalk in Jacksonville Beach. Captain Oscar Anderson of the Gulfamerica ordered the ship to be abandoned. There was great confusion while loading the lifeboats and 19 men were killed, by drowning or from shellfire. The Gulfamerica and its cargo of oil burned for several days before sinking. Today the wreck sits in 60 feet of water, 4½ miles from the Jacksonville Beach coastline. In response to the sinking of the Gulfamerica, Florida Governor Spessard Holland declared a blackout of coastal areas to prevent the silhouetting of passing ships.

Brevard County was founded in 1855 and Titusville became the county seat in 1879. The first courthouse was a two-story classical revival wood structure built in 1882, on land donated by Titusville founder Col. Henry Titus. In 1912, County Commissioners ordered the construction of a new courthouse which opened in March 1913. The old wooden structure was moved to the back of the site and sold at auction. Lightman, McDonald & Co. of Jacksonville built the two-story structure of re-enforced concrete for $30,566. Four large classical columns mark the original main entrance on the east side. On the north and south entrances were two small piazzas with one-story classical columns. County Commissioners, Clerk of the Court, Treasurer, Tax Assessor/Collector, and Surveyor offices were on the first floor. On the second floor were a large courtroom, lawyer's offices, judge's chamber, and jury rooms. In 1926, a three-story wing was added to the west side. On the third floor were jail cells, warden's quarters, kitchen, and hospital ward. Sheriff, other county offices, and vault room were located on the second floor. The courthouse continues to serve Brevard County, and the jail facilities on the third floor are no longer used.

The Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad Company Freight Depot, built in 1858, is one of the oldest railroad buildings in Florida and the oldest still used as a passenger rail station. The one-story depot was built when Tallahassee was the center of Florida's cotton trade. By 1885 the two-story addition was added. Middle Florida (now North Florida), with its rich agriculture lands, grew rapidly in the 19th century. By 1890, Leon County was the top producer of livestock, sweet potatoes, corn and cotton in the state. With cotton in great demand, Tallahassee was the region's commercial hub, shipping 16,686 bales of ginned cotton in 1860. Wagons brought the cotton from local plantations to be processed. It then went by rail to the coast for shipping. A new rail line between Pensacola and Jacksonville provided access to ports and made transporting both freight and passengers easier. In 1905 a passenger station was built across from the original one. It was used continuously until 1971 when, for the first time in 113 years, passenger service ended. Tallahassee was a freight only stop until 1992 when passenger services resumed, with the old freight depot used as the passenger station.

Before railroads to Lake Maitland were established, travelers make their way to Jacksonville to board a steamboat for the trip up the St. Johns River to Sanford Landing at Sanford, passengers found it necessary to hire a horse or team to take them over the primitive trail to Lake Maitland. The South Florida Railroad was the first railroad to this area from Sanford, and was backed by Henry Sanford. Lake Maitland resident, Dr. Clement C. Haskell was treasurer of the railroad, and Bolling Robinson Swoope of Lake Maitland was the Superintendent and Manager. The engines which were provided with extended smokestacks to protect passengers from smoke and cinders were dubbed "cabbage heads". The new railroad was completed to Maitland in 1880 and terminated at the southern edge of town, and opened new markets for shipments of citrus and other products to the north. Tourists from the north sought the Lake Maitland area for the health giving benefits of the mild climate. Passengers were met at the depot and were transported by horse and buggy to their hotel. The stationmaster's office was located in Packwood Hall, then the town hall, until the depot was built in 1883. The depot was still in use when a small tornado moved it from its foundation in 1969 and it was torn down. In 1883 the railroad was purchased by the Henry B. Plant Investment Company, making it part of the Plant System and the line was extended to Tampa. The Plant System consolidated into the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1903.

Additonal information:
In response to the desire of Missouri Veterans to be buried in a military cemetery, the Missouri Veterans Commission and the National Cemetery Administration established a State Veterans Cemetery at Jacksonville to serve the Veterans of Northeast Missouri. The first interment services were held at the Jacksonville facility on November 3, 2003. The cemetery is situated on 117.4 softly contoured acres which includes a 10 acre lake. Within this extremely attractive location, 59 manicured acres represent the first development phase of the cemetery. This area encompasses an administration building, maintenance facility, committal shelter for interment services, columbarium wall for placement of cremations, lake with floating fountain, and a walking path with a bridge spanning the lake. The tranquility of this magnificent setting is further enhanced by a carillon tower which plays a different hymn each hour. The developed portion of the cemetery has approximately 40,000 burial sites along with the Columbarium that has 800 niches for cremations.

CONDUCT OF INTERMENT SERVICE: The interment service is essentially a traditional graveside service although it is held in the committal shelter. The service normally consists of brief remarks and prayer by a member of the clergy followed by military honors.

LOCATION AND DRIVING DIRECTIONS: The cemetery is located on County road 1675 in Randolph County. Take Highway 63 North of Moberly Missouri to Jacksonville then follow the signs to County road 1675 or take Highway 63 South of Kirksville Missouri to Jacksonville and follow the signs. For additional information, please call the cemetery at 660-295-4237.

Text on Dedication Plaque:

This narrow part of the St Johns River, near a clear, freshwater spring was a crossing point for Indians and early travelers. The Indian name Wacca Pilakta, meaning "Cows Crossing", was shortened by the English to Cow Ford, and Jacksonville was known by this name for many years. This crossing was used by the English when they made an old Timucuan Indian trail into King's Road.

Harlem became the birthplace of the rotune member of one of Hollywood's greatest comedy teams when Oliver Hardy was born January 18, 1892. After his father died and was buried in the Harlem Cemetary the year of Oliver's birth, his mother took the family to Milledgeville where she became the manager of the Baldwin Hotel. Young Oliver was enthralled by the visiting troupes of performers who stayed there. Later, as the manager of the towns first movie theater, Hardy performed regularly.

After attending the Georgia Military Academy, the Atlanta Conservatory of Music, and, for a short time, the University of Georgia, Hardy left Georgia in 1913 for the newly established film colony in Jacksonville, Florida. After working at various studios on the east coast, he left for Hollywood in 1918.

"Babe", as Hardy became known to his friends, worked for several years as a supporting actor until he was accidently teamed with a young Englishman, Stan Laurel. Laurel and Hardy remained parteners and friends until Hardy's death in Hollywood in 1957.