Stanley Charles Minshall (1899 - 1967)

Born 5 Mar 1899 in Dereham, Oxford, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Verna Cameron (Laird) Minshall — married 2 Mar 1926 in Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada

Died 24 Jan 1967 at age 67 in Saint Petersburg, Pinellas, Florida, USA

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Biography

Stanley was born in 1899. He was the son of Franklin Minshall and Harriet Nancekivell. He was born on a farm at Mount Elgin, Ontario, Canada. He attended public school at Mount Elgin and high school at Ingersoll Collegiate Institute.

In 1917 he joined the Royal Flying Corps of England, but later that year he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Canadian Air Force. Later he was discharged.

He studied salesmanship at the Greenslade Institute of Chicago in 1920 and 1921.

In 1921 he joined the staff of J. Gammage and Sons Ltd., florists in London, Ontario. He worked as a salesman and an apprentice designer. Later he accepted a position with Simmons and Sons Ltd in Toronto.

He was married in 1926 and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to work for Devoe Flowers.

In 1928 he established Minshall The Florist at 631Central Ave in St Petersburg, where it continued to operate for 81 years. Stanley's daughter, Marion Lucciola and her husband operated the business after his death in 1967. Minshall The Florist closed in 2009.^[1]

Two years after he became an American citizen, Stanley Minshall was elected to a four year term on St. Petersburg city council in the office of Vice-Mayor. At the conclusion of his term, in 1943 the city recognized him for his "meritorious civil service".

He was elected to the Florida state legislature in 1940; elected Mayor of St. Petersburg in 1949; in 1954 he helped to establish and served on the initial board of directors of the Citizen's National Bank of St Petersburg; he was the vice chairman of the Government Research Commission of St Petersburg in 1960 and 61.^[2]

His Masonic interest, began at St John's Lodge No. 68 A.F. in Ingersoll and he was raised through various degrees and held may offices of the Masonic Lodge and the Eastern Star.

Despite his many interests and positions he always remained active in the florist industry. He was elected to the board of directors of the FTD Association International. He was international president, travelling through the States, Canada and parts of South America.

After his speech at an FTD convention in Virginia in January of 1967 he was given a standing ovation then collapsed and died from a heart attack.

Stanley and his wife Verna are buried at Royal Palms Cemetery in St. Petersburg Florida.^[3]

Sources

• Find A Grave Memorial# 12015388

• Tampa Bay Times Story of Minshall the Florist

• Wikipedia List of Mayor's of St. Petersburg Florida

• Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014

• Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, Archives of Ontario; Series: MS932; Reel: 763

• Ontario, Canada Births, 1869-1909, Archives of Ontario; Series: MS929; Reel: 147

• 1901 Census of Canada, Year: 1901; Census Place: Dereham, Norfolk (north/nord), Ontario; Page: 4; Family No: 37

• 1911 Census of Canada, Year: 1911; Census Place: 1 - Dereham, Oxford South, Ontario; Page: 3; Family No: 29

• 1921 Census of Canada, Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 78; Census Place: Oxford West (Township), Oxford South, Ontario; Page Number: 7

• 1930 United States Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: St Petersburg, Pinellas, Florida; Roll: 329; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0013; Image: 447.0; FHL microfilm: 2340064

• 1935 Florida State Census

• Photo Credit: Deborah Peach

1. ↑ Tampa Bay Times Wednesday, March 25, 2009
2. ↑ Ingersoll Tribune Thursday July 26, 1949
3. ↑ Information from Deborah Peach family member