Dr. Joseph M. Abbott  was born in June of 1845, little is known about Abbott's early life including who his parents were.  By 1860 Joseph Abbott was living in Louisville, Kentucky; at the age of 16 he was living by his self and living in a boarding house.  At the start of the Civil War Abbott was too young to enlist, only being 17 years old in 1861.  As a result Abbott waited and finally enlisted on September 5, 1862 with service with the Confederate States Army with Company E of the Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Lewis' Brigade, Hord Corps.  By October of 1862 Abbott had been elected to serve as the 3rd Lieutenant of his company and subsequently by 1863 was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.  By 1864 Abbott had taken command of his company, serving as Captain of Company E. After the war, Abbott moved to Hill County Texas where he took up residence, it is believed it was in Texas where the doctor received his medical education.  On September 7, 1875 Joseph M. Abbott married to the love of his life, Mrs. Henrietta M. Varnell, who had born in Hill Count Texas.  For the next 8 years the Abbott's continued to reside in Hill County Texas where Joseph engaged in the medical practice by opening an office. In October of 1883, being ill, Dr. Abbott made the decision to move farther south to Florida and Pasco County, at the direction of his doctor.  According to The History of Zephyrhills 1821-1921 by Rosemary Trottman, "In Texas Andrew Jackson Green was told by his friend, Dr. J. M. Abbott, who was ill and worn out from the strenuous work as a physician, that another doctor said he might live another six months if he came to Florida.  In the company of his friend Green, Dr. Abbott arrived [in Florida].  At that time he measured six feet two inches and weighed ninety-eight pounds.  They found lodging in Tuckertown, and before long the doctor's health began to improve.  Mr. Green and Dr. Abbott went into partnership and set up a sawmill in the pines about where the present Zephyr Shopping Center and the overpass on Highway 301 are located.  The doctor seemed interested only financially in the sawmill.  Greatly improved in health, he brought his family -- wife, mother, son, and daughter -- to Lake Buddy (Pasadena)." Soon after arriving to Pasco County Dr. Abbott sought out property on which he could settle and claim under the homestead act.  Dr. Abbott decided upon 160 acres of property that was situated near property owned by John D. Spivey.  Spivey was then living on 40 acres of property situated just north of present day Zephyrhills and south of Richland, Spivey called his small settlement Oakdale.  After building a home where he could live, Dr. Abbott soon began promoting and improving the small community of Oakdale.  Among Dr. Abbott's first accomplishments was the opening of a doctor's office and drug store in the small town of Oakdale, here the doctor tended to the medical needs of the small community. By October 6, 1884 the need for education became prevalent in the small community of Oakdale, as a result the citizens petitioned the Public School Board for the establishment of a school.  Upon petition the school was granted for Oakdale and Dr. Abbott served as the first trustee of the school along with John D. Spivey and Elias Geiger.  With no school building the children likely held classes in the local church.  Dr. Abbott's position of school trustee was carried out and served until the following year, at which time he felt he should be appointed to a teaching position with the school.  Dr. Abbott felt he deserved the teaching position since as trustee he had done the major business work of the school, he felt his appointment was in the best interest of the school. On October 6, 1885 Dr. Abbott came before the school board to request his appointment to teacher of the Oakdale School, according to school board minutes, "Capt Abbott of Oakdale near Tuckertown appeared with a numerously signed petition from the patrons of the school there, for his appointment as teacher. He was himself a trustee but would resign. There were two other trustees- one of the three opposed his appointment and the other favored it but he was reluctant to vote against his colleague. He, Capt. Abbott had done the chief work in the business of the school house and if appointed would devote apart of his salary toward obtaining suitable furniture. As there evidently were some display of feeling in this matter in the Oakdale District the Board decided to postpone the subject until next meeting. In the meantime Capt. Abbott was to again consult his people. " Less than one month after Abbott's petition to the school board, he would again appear before the board.  On November 3, 1885 Dr. Abbott traveled to Brooksville for the monthly school board meeting, his matter of business was to give the board a deed to property where a school building could be built in Oakdale.  According to school board minutes, "Mr. Abbott presented a deed for the Oakdaale School property, which was accepted."  It is beleived that the Oakdale School was located upon property that Abbott had applied for homestead, see description below for location. On September 6, 1886 school board records show that Dr. Abbott was appointed as "Trustee to the Bonny House School", this may have been another name for the Oakdale School since Dr. Abbott was living in Oakdale at the time.  By 1888 the Oakdale School had been discontinued with students being sent to Richland and Childers Schools. On July 3, 1889 Dr. Abbott finally met the requirements of his homestead application by living and make good use of his property for 5 years or more, by meeting the requirements he received the deed for his 160 acre homestead.   Dr. Abbott's homestead property is further described as being located in in section 14, township 26, range 21 in Pasco County.  It was also in 1889 that the Oakdale community received another school.  The time the school was named in honor of Dr. Abbott was was called the Abbott School.  Eventually the town of Oakdale would come to be known as the town of Abbott, name for Dr. Joseph Abbott. In addition to be an active member of the Oakdale Community Dr. Abbott also joined and became a member of United Confederate Veteran Camp No. 57 of Pasco County, which was located in Dade City.  By 1900 Dr. Abbott had relocated to Trilby where again he engaged in the medical practice and opened an office.  While it is not known why Dr. Abbott relocated to Trilby, it is believed it may have been a result of Capt. E.B. Jefferies interest and founding of the Zephyr Colony Company.  As a result the area of Abbot became known as Zephyrhills, which was promoted to Union Veterans of the Civil War. On January 4, 1907 Dr. Joseph M. Abbott died while living in Trilby, he was buried in the Dade City Cemetery. (Research by Jeff Cannon- Copyright © 2008)