Gonzalez, Emanuel, 1767-1838.

Soldier, farmer, rancher, land developer, entrepreneur.

Born in 1767 in Spain, Don Emanuel Gonzalez was a prominent Spanish colonist who came to Pensacola, Florida, in 1784 with a land grant from the King of Spain. In the early 1800s, General Andrew Jackson was pursuing the Spanish army near Pensacola, and captured Gonzalez. Through this interaction they became friends, and Jackson stopped at his ranch on various other occasions. Gonzalez became successful in the livestock feed business.

Gonzalez was a second corporal in the Seventh Regiment of the Third Battalion of Louisiana, and was appointed Justice of the Peace for Escambia County by Andrew Jackson in 1821. He also served as Quartermaster General beginning in 1822. Gonzalez was married to Maria Luisa Bonifay and had five sons, Celestino, Joseph, Pedro, James and Merced, and two daughters, Eululia and Josefa. He died in 1838.