August 17, 1929
An excerpt from the book, “Some Gave All,” available on Amazon.
By Mike Simmons
In the middle of the Florida panhandle lies the rural community of Bear Head. It’s located at the head of the creek that flows into Bear Head Pond. Bear Head is a small, close-knit community. If you were from out of town and went there asking questions, you would likely hear, “You ain’t from ‘round here, are ya?”
To the passer-by, the small, spread-out community seems unremarkable. There are many long-leaf and loblolly pines, scrub oaks, and some live oaks bunched together. But to those who are fortunate enough to live there, the landscape is beautiful! The wildflowers and Swamp TiTi can measure up to any botanical garden in the world! The pines and live oaks provide a comfortable canopy, and the Spanish moss which drapes the oaks looks like an old man’s beard! The area is known for fishing and hunting…but not for outsiders.
When the Eighteenth Amendment passed in 1920, making, transporting, and selling alcohol became illegal across the country. Commonly known as Prohibition, the passing of the law ushered in a new way of supplying alcohol – under the table. Even though folks had been making their own spirits for many years, it suddenly became big business in the United States, beginning in 1920. Moonshining, rum running, and bootlegging became household words.
As the illegal making, transporting and selling of alcohol became big business, the number of Revenue Agents increased substantially. Known as “Revenooers,” it was the duty of these men to hunt down illegal stills and destroy them. It worked – sort of.
The town of Freeport, Florida lies about 15 miles south of Defuniak Springs, on the north shore of Choctawhatchee Bay. It’s an old waterfront and fishing settlement, having been around since about 1830.
James and Becky Blount had two little girls as they scratched out a living in Freeport. In 1882, they were greeted by Little Tom, the newest edition of the Blount family. Two years later, the last child, another girl, would join the family Ancestry.com. .
As he grew into a young man, he noticed that good-looking Katie King. Soon he got up the nerve to ask for her hand, and on March 24, 1918, the two were married.
Tom spent most of his time working in the local store as a clerk. They had five children, so the clerk job didn’t seem to pay the bills. Tom was relieved when, in 1929, he landed a job as a deputy sheriff. Part of his job was to act as a sort of “County Revenooer.”
He didn’t know them – the Nowling Brothers. Besides, Tom wasn’t from around there…he was an outsider. He had only been a deputy for a few weeks. He was soon educated quickly in the rottenness of Matthew, William, and Albert Nowling. Albert was the leader and the worst of the lot. He was the brains that was running the illegal still for moonshining that the brothers had in Bear Head.
In August 1929, it was time for a raid. Tom had been on one before, but not one involving thugs who were as dangerous as the Nowling brothers. But he was ready – and excited. The arrival was great – quick and quiet. As the posse descended on the scene of the stills, one was still in operation. They also saw three figures fleeing the scene. Tom, who had been a hunter his entire life, began tracking the suspects into the woods. As he made his way in pursuit, he caught sight of two of the gang members and the chase began. What Tom didn’t know was that he had been lured directly into an ambush. He ran past Albert Nowling, who was hiding in the woods. After Tom got by, Albert stepped out and shot him in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun. Tom died on the spot.
Of course, the sheriff and other deputies caught and arrested the three criminals. However, upon their court appearance, Matthew and William were released. Albert was charged and tried for murder. The jury found him guilty of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to twenty years in prison. However, after only five years into his sentence, he was given a conditional pardon and released. All three of the bad guys were free, yet a widow and five children were still deprived of their father – forever.
Rest in Peace, Sir.
