Cubberly, Frederick, 1869-1932

Born in Chillicothe, Mo.; he came to Florida with his family in 1889 and settled at Archer; he studied law and was admitted to the Florida bar in 1898; in 1898 he was also appointed US Commissioner, Northern District of Florida; he was appointed collector of customs at Cedar Key in 1902 and continued in that position until he resigned in February 1909; he was also city attorney for Cedar Key, Judge of Municipal court in Gainesville as well as Gainesville City Attorney; he was elected Vice President of the Florida Historical Society in 1927 and President of the Society in 1932.

Frederick C. Cubberly was born in Chillicothe, Missouri, in 1869. He was educated in Marion, Indiana before moving to Florida in 1895. Cubberly studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1898. The same year he was appointed U.S. Commissioner for the Northern District of Florida, first of many public offices Cubberly held. In 1902 he was appointed as the customs collector for Cedar Key. He was based in Gainesville and was judge for the municipal court of Gainesville from 1914-1916 and the city attorney from 1916-1917. Cubberly served as U.S. Attorney for Northern Florida from 1908-1916 and again from 1923 to his death in 1932. In addition, he was secretary of the Florida Republican Convention in 1927 and served twice as a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

As a lawyer Cubberly is best known for his efforts to end peonage, a forced labor system created in the South to provide cheap labor after the abolition of slavery. African Americans were the main victims, although immigrants were also targeted. Although illegal, peonage survived well into the 20th century. Owners of turpentine and lumber companies often had agreements with corrupt sheriffs and judges. Black people frequently were arrested on false charges, often vagrancy, and then the companies would offer to pay their fine in return for labor. Once a person was in debt and relocated to a camp, they were essentially used as slave labor and not allowed to leave. Because of the corruption of law enforcement, peonage was very hard to prosecute. Cubberly was involved in ending the practice, however, and brought national attention to the issue.

In addition to his legal work Cubberly was also a historian. His interest in the Dade Massacre, the 1835 ambush of Major Francis Dade's troops by 180 Seminoles during the Second Seminole War, led to his appointment to the state commission that established Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Sumter County. He also was involved in the Florida Historical Society, publishing historical articles and serving as the organization's vice president and president.