John Louis Florville Levonle later William Florville (Fleurville) (1807-1868) was Haitian-born. After his parents died, he moved from Haiti to Baltimore, Maryland where he attended Catholic school and was an apprentice in a barber shop. He moved to New Orleans to set up a barber shop and then St. Louis. He arrived in Springfield in 1831. In 1832 he married Phoebe Roundtree, a former slave. He was a barber and businessman whose shop on Adams Street between Fifth and Sixth streets became a regular meeting place for Springfieldians, including Abraham Lincoln. The surname has a variety of spellings Floriville, Fleurville, De Fleurville.
The materials include Wm. Florville’s will and probate, marriage license, and possible arrival in the US, materials related to his business in Springfield and Bloomington, materials from his time in Baltimore, information about his birthplace, information on his mentors John Noel and Elias Merriman, materials on his descendants, materials related to Florville and Lincoln, materials on Phoebe’s family (Roun(d)tree), her application for a certificate of freedom and her probate. Also included is an academic paper from the researcher who compiled this information.
Contemporary photo of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Baltimore where Wm. Florville attended church and classes.
Two contemporary photos of “French Alley” in Baltimore. The John Noel (Florville’s mentor) barbershop was on the corner. Florville worked there and lived above with the Noel Family.
Passenger list (Master Flowile)-possible record of the arrival to the US on June 30 1823, a male, age 16
Indenture agreement between John Louis Florville Levonle (William Florville) and John Noel 1824
Info on Cap-Haïtien birthplace of John Louis Florville Levonle later known as William Florville