Tobias MacIvey is the book's,
A Land Remembered, first generation main character who led his family, wife Emma and son Zech, from the woods of Georgia to the swamps of Florida. Tobias MacIvey was the embodiment of hard work, integrity, and honesty and it was these qualities that helped guide his family from struggling off the land to thriving from it. He gave everything he had whether hunting for food, herding cattle, gaining and maintaining business partners, or planting orange groves. He raised a family who had nothing to a strong, unbreakable family who could have had anything. All they wanted though, was each other.
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Photo provided by Daniel Orth on Flickr May 7th, 2006 |
Tobias MacIvey deeply respected the land and new his families existence relied on it. He needed food to feed his family, livestock to sell, fruit to harvest, land to live off. Tobias viewed nature as something for all, that provides for all, as long as you're willing to work for it. He did not believe in ownership or taking more than you need. Tobias was a humble and respectful man towards man and nature. If only we all acted as Tobias MacIvey did, towards man and nature, we would all be better off.
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Photo provided by Alex Prolmos on Flickr Nov. 22nd, 2010 |
Tobias experienced a strong sense of place everywhere the cattle roamed. He felt a strong sense of place at the coral, among his orange groves, and even a the Indian Seminole site. Any time Tobias was outdoors he felt he was in his element; among others who were living off the land Tobias was there in total awareness with oneself. A place more important than any other was, perhaps, Punta Rassa. A place where Tobias traded his hard work for Spanish gold coins; where he and his family were given financial stability and an end to the stresses and insecurities of early 20th century life.
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Photo provided by d b on Flickr May 31, 2013 |
I think I most relate to Tobias MacIvey, at least I like to think I do. I value my own strong work ethic, my integrity and honesty, and my love and devotion to my family. I love to think about a time when untamed land was not owned by anyone, that people could work what they could from it and take what they needed. He was honest in his business dealings and made a great living off treating others with respect, never thinking about cheating anyone. To add to everything Tobias, and myself, have a place in our hearts for those who are disenfranchised, for those who are treated unfairly and in need of a little help.
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Photo provided by Ashley Van Haeften Feb. 20th, 2015 |