An Historical Political Profile

2004 promises to be an interesting political year for Levy County. For historic political interest, each month for eight months, we will present a brief profile of one of Levy County`s political officers who held office during
the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s.

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS WILLIAM AUGUSTINE SHANDS

William Augustine Shands and his wife, Sarah Jane Jackson were married in White Springs, Hamilton County on 25 January 1852. When the Civil War came along, Shands enlisted in the Confederate Army and served as a Lieutenant in Company "F," 5th Florida Regiment, Perry`s Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia.

The harsh Northern winters took their toll on Shands and due to hemorrhages of the lungs he was transferred back to Florida in 1864 where he continued in the service as a conscript officer. His duties of enrolling military personnel were performed in Columbia and Suwannee Counties.

The Shands name first appears in Levy County records around 1868 and the family became very active in the Bronson Methodist Church. William and Sarah Jane had four children: Joseph F.; Willie Augustine, a physician; Thomas Walter; and Lela Glenn.

In 1871, Shands was elected Superintendent of Schools in Levy County and served for two years. At that time, each county had a Board of Public Instruction composed of a Superintendent and two members elected by county voters. It was the job of the Board to set and pay the salaries of the teachers. Each local school had its own special tax school district or "sub-school district" with its own elected trustees. The residents of a sub-school district were called "patrons" and voted on the mileage rate they would pay to support their school. The patrons also donated the land and frequently the building for the use of the schools.

Shands died 03 September 1875 and is buried along with several of his children in the Old Bronson Cemetery behind the Levy County Courthouse. His descendant served in the Florida Legislature and was instrumental in bringing health care to North Central Florida.

The grave of W.A. Shands stands in the
Old Bronson Cemetery located behind the
Levy County Courthouse.

Toni C. Collins
Historic Records Coordinator