Charles Edward Eiland (1887-1938) - Find a Grave Memorial

Charles Edward Eiland

Birth

16 Aug 1887

Dade City, Pasco County, Florida, USA

Death

17 Aug 1938 (aged 51)

Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida, USA

Burial

Mount Zion Cemetery

Dade City, Pasco County, Florida, USA Add to Map

Plot

Row: 18W; Lot: 28

Memorial ID

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Charles was one of 14 children born to Neri Daniel and Emily Ellen (Jones) Eiland. He married Miss Zola Ophelia O'Berry on March 15, 1908 in Brooksville, Florida. Together they raised six children: Charles was born with a talent for working with wood and became a carpenter by trade and had been working as a carpenter since before he got married. With 20+ years experience he was hired to build a large hotel on St. Petersburg Beach in Florida in 1928. The hotel was named the "Don Cesar Beach Resort." Charles moved his family to Pinellas County, Florida during the construction of the hotel. When the hotel was complete it was instantly known as "Florida's Pink Castle." Times were good for the Eiland's and THEN - the DEPRESSION HIT! Financial institutions failed and they lost it ALL. This tragedy would teach their children to distrust financial institution for the rest of their lives. To say Charles and Zola were devastated was surely an understatement. They both went into a deep depression and began to drink heavily. On August 17, 1938; Charles started drinking fairly early in the afternoon; not sure if Zola had been drinking that particular day or not; there was an argument and Charles stormed out of their home. Zola got back to her household chores and when she opened the back door to toss out the dirty dish water, her husband was lying in wait and shot her. Neighbors called police - Zola was rushed to the hospital where officers had been sent to obtain a statement. With the information gathered from neighbors and eyewitnesses officers began their search for Charles. He was spotted just a few blocks from his home and the chase ensued. Officers shouted at him to halt and drop his weapon and that order was given and ignored several times. Charles continued running and just as he mounted a fence to jump over he was shot and killed. Officers were then dispatched to the hospital to notify his wife. He died the day after his 51st birthday. Zola passed away a few days later. I can only imagine it was her family's decision that not only was she not to be buried next to the man responsible for her death but not even in the same cemetery.