David McCheyne Newell (23 March 1898 – 1986) was an American journalist, novelist, and children's writer perhaps most famous for his books regarding early twentieth-century rural life in

West Central Florida Central Florida is a Regions of the United States#Florida, region of the U.S. state of Florida. Different sources give different definitions for the region, but as its name implies it is usually said to comprise the central part of the state, in ...

. In ''If Nothin' Don't Happen'' and ''The Trouble of It Is'' the fictional narrator, Billy Driggers, tells true-to-life stories about the people of Florida's Gulf Hammock (the coastal land between Cedar Key and the Withlacoochee River) and the surrounding environs during the interwar years. Earlier writings included ''The Fishing and Hunting Answer Book'', illustrated by

Lynn Bogue Hunt Lynn Bogue Hunt (1878–1960) was an American wildlife artist, and illustrator of magazines and books. Life Hunt was born in Honeoye Falls, New York, in 1878. From age 12 he lived in Albion, Michigan, and graduated from Albion High School in 1897. ...

, a children's book titled ''American Animals'', "Cougars and Cowboys" (New York. The Century Co., 1927) and numerous short stories and articles. A naturalist and lifelong hunter, he was also for several years editor of ''

Field and Stream ''Field & Stream'' (''F&S'' for short) is an American online magazine focusing on hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. The magazine was a print publication between 1895 and 2015 and became an online-only publication from 2020. History ...

'' and hosted a nature and hunting show during the early years of television in the 1950s. He accompanied Annie Oakley on hunting trips when she wintered in Florida before her death in 1926. He also befriended fellow Florida author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

Biography

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Newell moved to

Leesburg, Florida Leesburg is a city in central Florida. The population was 20,117 at the 2010 census. As of 2019, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 23,671. Leesburg is in Lake County, between Lake Harris and Lake Griffin, at the head of the ...

in 1912. He studied at Washington University in St. Louis enlisting in the United States Army in his junior year. After studying visual arts at the

St. Louis School of Fine Arts The St. Louis School of Fine Arts was founded as the Saint Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts in 1879 as part of Washington University in St. Louis, and has continuously offered visual arts and sculpture education since then. Its purpose-buil ...

, Newell went on to become a working journalist and illustrator, writing and creating art for dozens of publications including '' Life'', ''Field and Stream'', ''

Boys' Life ''Scout Life'' (formerly ''Boys' Life'') is the monthly magazine of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Its target readers are boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 18. The magazine‘s headquarters are in Irving, Texas. ''Scout Life'' is pub ...

'', '' The Saturday Evening Post'', the '' New York Herald-Tribune'' and the ''

St. Louis Post-Dispatch The ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' is a major regional newspaper based in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is the largest daily newspaper in the metropolitan area by circulation, surpassing the ''Belleville News-Dem ...

''. Newell is buried at the cemetery of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in

Fruitland Park, Florida Fruitland Park is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,078 at the 2010 census. The Census Bureau estimated the population in 2018 to be 10,122. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan St ...

next to his first wife, Frances Bosanquet Newell, with whom he had three daughters. Many of Newell's paintings and letters can be seen at the

Leesburg Heritage Museum The Leesburg Heritage Museum is located at 111 South Sixth Street, Leesburg, Florida Leesburg is a city in central Florida. The population was 20,117 at the 2010 census. As of 2019, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 23,671. ...

, in Leesburg, FL, not far from his former home.

References

Lake County, Florida biography for David M. Newell

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Newell, David Mccheyne 1898 births 1986 deaths Journalists from Chicago People from Leesburg, Florida Novelists from Florida 20th-century American novelists American male novelists American male journalists 20th-century American journalists Washington University in St. Louis alumni Novelists from Illinois 20th-century American male writers