HISTORY OF PASCO COUNTY FLORIDA

DEDICATED TO THE SCHOOL TEACHERS OF PASCO COUNTY

BY
J. A. HENDLEY
DADE CITY, FLORIDA

I was always a lawyer, such as I was. At fourteen years of age I was practicing in the courts presided over by esquires, same as justices of the peace in this state. My first case was one in which I defended a boy friend, Joe Bridges by name, who was charged of fraudulently beating another boy in a horse trade. I stood before the jury barefooted, with pants rolled up to my knees. Dozens of boys rigged just as I was came to court to hear Jeff defend Joe for his alleged misdeeds. From that day until I retired a few years ago I have been at it most of the time. I studied law at Washington and Lee University, graduating in 1878.

In this large farming community we had only three months school. In 1879 a young man by the name of H. L. Finney and I came home from High School, built what we called the Farmington Institute. We issued great circulars describing the school building, and offering the young people a high school education. The response was overwhelming and our school was a grand success from the start. I sold my interest to another school teacher and went to western Texas.

There I organized Mitchell county and was elected to first prosecuting attorney. The adjoining unorganized counties were attached to Mitchell county for Judicial purposes, thus giving me a territory as prosecutor as large as Florida south of Dade City to Key West.

Later on I wanted to see my father and mother who still lived at Farmington, where he practiced medicine for fifty years. In 1881 I went home and found quite a number of young men planning to come to Florida. I sent in my resignation as prosecuting attorney to the governor of Texas, and joined the boys in the trip to Florida.

We all settled in that portion of Hernando county, now Pasco county, on the hills north of Blanton. The following named persons were the first new comers, as we were called, with the exception of the Ravisees, McCrays and Cochranes, to-wit: R. L. Seay, Charley Seay, H. L. Anderson, Robert L. Anderson, Charley Wray, W. L. Hendley, J. A. Hendley, M. L. Gilbert, William Sherill, Jacob Sherill, James Black, Dan Boone, Bill Kemp, A. A. Boone and Dr. Thomas Seay and family. Dr. J. F. Roberts and family came later on. The boys all engaged in orange culture. William Sherill and J. A. Hendley planted orange groves and operated a saw mill, about the first circular saw mill brought to this country. Our saw mill was located on the Levi Eiland farm about three miles west of Dade City. Hutto hauled the mill for us from Wildwood through the deep sand, with eight yokes of oxen.

Our end of the county was represented by J. A. Hendley in the constitutional convention of 1885. Pasco county was at one time a part of Hillsborough county. Later on the territory comprising Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties was cut off from Hillsborough and made a new county called Hernando. This end of Pasco county east beyond San Antonio was called Fort Dade in honor of Major Dade, who with his entire army was massacred by the Indians near Bushnell, Florida. This part of the county was called the "clabber end," for what reason I don't know unless it was because clabber milk entered so much into the diet of the people in this part of the county.

We had two water mills that ground our meal and grits. One of these mills was located a little south of Chipco -- now called Blanton. The other was farther south near the J. W. Hudson farm. Levi Eiland built these two mills in 1874 and 1875. One of them was operated by John Howell, who later sold to L. Fortner, who was running the mill when I came to this country. Columbus Gant owned the other mill. Gant's mill ground corn meal and grits, and he also had a cotton gin and press where the farmers had their cotton ginned before taking it to market. The power of these mills was furnished by dams fed by springs and high water level ponds. Before these mills were established the old-time cracker had a steel mill something on the order of an old-fashioned coffee mill on which he ground his dally bread and hominy. He had no money but always had something to eat. Commercial fertilizers were unknown to the citizens of that day. They had a few orange trees planted around near their houses and in the yard and used cattle to fertilize their orange trees and potato patches. They made the finest vegetables and oranges that the heart could wish. Many of the blighting insects of today were practically unknown.

Political subdivisions of that time were Hudson, Anclote, Hammock Creek, Darby, Wesley Chapel, Wake Forest and R. M. Wilson's store, called Fort Dade.

LETTER FROM D. E. SUMNER

Winter Haven, Florida,
August 13, 1927.

Mrs. J. A. Hendley,
Dade City, Florida,

My dear Mrs. Hendley:

Supplementing our recent conversation with reference to History of the Pioneer Settlers of (now) Pasco county, in my feeble way I will endeavor to tell you as best I can some of the experiences and tragedies in Pasco county as realized by my grandmothers and good friends that have long since passed away.

My Grandfather Sumner was born near Richmond, Virginia. His father moved to Georgia where my grandfather lived until of age or about 1838, at which time he heard of Florida as a country full of wild cattle free to any man provided he could corral and tame them. Hence he came to Florida and located in the northeastern part of (now) Pasco county, or to be exact, the present home of Mr. Henry Boyett is the spot where my grandfather and mother first located. But alas! things were not as he had dreamed. Cattle, yes, the woods were full of them -- there were also five wild Indians for every cow in the woods.

Their nearest neighbor lived twenty miles north of them, and while there were a number of cattle herders who lived in other sections of the state, none had located near him as at which time that particular section was considered an Indian Rendezvous. Therefore, my grandfather's place soon became a headquarters for other cattlemen, owing to the large quantity of cattle in that section, and the fine grass range as it is to this date.

Of course, the white men's activities soon provoked the Indians into hostilities, and trouble started in earnest. It was necessary for my grandfather to clear all timber and underbrush away for a long distance from his house, and to keep a large pack of vicious watch dogs on hand at all times for his family's protection. Strange to say it seemed that the Indian in those days did not make any great effort to kill the adults of a family, especially the men. They preferred to capture and kill his children, as the Indian seemed to realize that such persecution was more effective than killing the man. The Indians had a way of scaring women and children at night when alone by rapping on a pine tree with long switches. My grandmother related to me many instances when she stayed awake all night with only her young brother and small children and the dogs for her protection.

After living in such torment as above related for about two years, my grandparents were forced to retire to near Gainesvllle for a year. After said time, the Indians had quieted down and the government had promised protection when they returned to Pasco county, and at which time they acquired a neighbor ten miles away. And another man had located where what is known as the White House field, now a part of Dade City. Very unfortunately that man died, leaving a widow with several children to be cared for by what few people knew of them and their condition. The oldest child was a boy and under the circumstances his mother gave him to my grandfather to raise, which proved to be the saddest thing that ever happened to them. Since their return to the ranch, the Indians had been very friendly and peaceable and all seemed well. Their fears had vanished. The cattlemen had again become active. In those days rope for lassoing cattle was extremely scarce and cost a great deal. Therefore it was necessary for several men to own rope together. My grandfather had all the rope on his ranch. His neighbor ten miles away needed the rope on a certain day. He placed this boy (If I remember correctly his name was Sylvester which had been assigned to him) on a black horse and directed him to take the rope to the neighbor. The start was made in early morning. When night came the boy had not returned. My grandfather set out to find him and upon arriving at the neighbor's house, he learned that the boy had not been there. Naturally they became suspicious of the Indians again. They immediately sent out a messenger and instituted a search. They tracked the horse to the Little Withlacoochee river. The place of crossing at that time which was the old sand road is about 300 feet west of the present bridge on the new road between Riverland and Webster. There is the spot where the Indians had hidden beside a large tree and had taken the boy and horse. The white men tracked the horse considerable distance and returned for more help. In the meantime the horse came in with the boy's suspenders platted in its mane, which was a message from the Indians to my grandfather that they had his boy. During this time, men had gathered from far away and a general search was made. Three Indians were captured who confessed that they were present when the boy was killed and his scalp taken, later, to be presented to their chief, which I am told in those days the scalper received an ovation for taking the scalp of a white man. The three Indians captured were placed in a temporary log jail for keeping until further investigation. During the first night they stripped their buckskin clothes, made rope and hung themselves and were all dead when found the following morning. It was a custom in those days with the Indian never to die by the hands of a white man if he could avoid it. This practically ended the search for the lad and a general drive was made upon the Indians.

This sad event caused grandfather to move farther up the state again, where he remained for a long time. In the meantime there were many tragedies committed by the Indians in (now) Pasco county, one of which was the murdering of the two Bradley children near what is now known as Darby settlement. I was told that Mr. Bradley, the father of the old Rev. Robt. Bradley, was sick in bed; his wife and some of the children were at the cow pen milking late in the evening, while his oldest boy and girl were sitting on the door steps mending a bridle by a candle light, when an Indian slipped upon them, shot the girl dead, and wounding the boy, but he crawled inside his father's room, took the gun and shot the Indian as he was advancing upon the house. Mrs. Bradley had washed their clothes and they were hung out on the fence. The wounded Indian's comrades took the sheets from the fence, wrapped the wounded Indian and took him away. Mrs. Darby could tell you more of this if she is living in Pasco county.

This tragedy caused the final removal of most of the Indians to the Everglades, and the clearing out of Indians brought several new settlers into Pasco county section. Among them Isaac Lanier, the grandfather of Reubin Jordan.

Old Uncle Bob Sumner, the Crumbs, and from that time since the county has settled annually.

At the time the Indians were driven out, my grandfather decided to move and located two miles east of Dade City, when he acquired a large body of land, at which time he had six sons and four daughters and they all entered into farming. They grew cotton, ginned it by hand, spun and wove cloth that clothed them, tanned hides and made their own shoes. They raised all the grain that the family used, also stock feed, made the sugar and syrup, they used, but had no market for anything except beef cattle which were shipped to Cuba. All their power used was oxen and their wagons were strictly home made. The wheels were cut from large cypress trees. Their houses were built of logs, and as there were no nails, the shingles were pegged on. The house floors were hewn from split logs. Robert Sumner owned and operated the first blacksmith shop in Pasco county, near Enterprise. John Wells operated the first saw mill in Pasco county just south of Dade City. Dr. Shade Hancock and R. Alexander were the first doctors in Pasco county. Dr. Hancock lived where Mr. A. L. Auvil now lives. Dr. Alexander lived near Lake Jovita.

With reference to the first dedicated school house ever built in Pasco county, especially the eastern part, it was built where Pled Sullivan now lives and I am quite sure is the same little log smoke house that still stands in Mr. Sullivan's yard. This wonderful school building was erected by Tony Sumner, John Sumner, Cary Sumner, Alec Sumner and Joe Sumner, my father. Those boys' ages ranged from 18 to 24 years at the time they erected their school house and attended school three months which was all the schooling any of them received, each paying the teacher his portion. I do not recall the name of their teacher, but will get the name for you. In later years, Mrs. Sullivan who was a widow was donated the little log house to live in. Later she homesteaded the land the house stood on.

I might say that here is how Dade City began: One of my uncles, J. B. Sumner, married Geneva Wilson, now Mrs. B. L. Blackburn of Tampa. She is a sister of the deceased R. M. Reuben Wilson. Buck Sumner owned a lot of cattle, but did not like the business, therefore, he sold his cattle and he and Reuben Wilson opened a store where the cigar factory just south of the ice plant was erected a few years ago in Dade City. K. B. Sumner did not live but two or three years after he had opened the store. At his death W. G. Sumner bought the store and engaged R. M. Wilson to manage it for him. The business was continued for several years, when it was sold to J. T. McMichael. In the meantime the town had developed and the country was really on a boom. About 1886 the present location of Dade City was surveyed out by Mr. J. A. Hendley, who was at that time the official civil engineer. Mr. Lastinger was the first school teacher that taught in Dade City. Rev. W. H. Parker was the first Methodist minister in Pasco county. Rev. Wilson, grandfather of E. P. Wilson, was the first Baptist preacher in Pasco county. C. C. Gant owned and operated the first cotton gin and press and grist mill in Pasco county. It was powered by water near Chipco. The first newspaper in Pasco county was called the Messenger and edited by B. L. Blackburn. The first printer or type setter was Mr. Mahoney.

Now a word about wild life from 1850 to 1875. Wolves predominated. It was necessary for cattle herders to work unceasingly destroying them by poisoning in order to protect live animals of value. By 1880 the once dreaded wolf was extinct in Florida and there is none now. Pasco county was once considered the greatest game rendezvous in all Florida, because it afforded such diversified hunting, bear, panther, wild cat, deer, wild turkey, duck and squirrel, all were so numerous that it was necessary for the farmers to employ assistance in destroying them in order to protect their crops and stock.

Strange to say that in the early days there were but very few rattlesnakes in Florida. In fact I had lived to be fifteen years old when I saw the first rattlesnake. This is attributed to the fact that all wild animals are enemies of rattlesnakes, especially the wild hogs and deer. And since these are practically extinct, the rattler has taken the field. In conclusion, beg to say that I have given you a brief of my childhood memories as related to me relative to pioneering in Pasco county. You may use as you see fit.

Sincerely,
D. E. SUMNER

LETTER FROM R. C. BANKSTON

Tampa, Florida,
Nov. 25, 1927.

Mrs. J. A. Hendley
Dade City, Florida.

Dear Madam:

You ask me to relate how Pasco county received its name. From 1881 to 1887, Hernando county, especially the southern end, rapidly filled with a high type of settlers, many of whom I knew and remember pleasantly. We all were weary of traveling the sand trails of Brooksville, the county seat, to attend court, or transact other business of varied nature, and when we would meet, as neighbors will, at our community post office and stores, comment was loud and complaint vigorous and prolonged against the hardships of the trip. Such conditions aroused sentiment in favor of county division as a means of relief.

Enthusiasm was spontaneous and hope ran high. The result was a mass meeting which was attended by nearly all our male citizens, and was very representative, there being present people from every precinct in the southern end of the county. Unanimous sentiment was for division -- the proper steps to take to attain that result was the issue for discussion. After deliberation, it was resolved that a committee of two be named to go to Tallahassee in the interest of the desired end, the Hon. J. A. Hendley and myself being the committee selected. Mr. James Grady moved that we be instructed to call our county "Banner" county.

As the legislature was in session, we went on at once, being fearful for the success of our undertaking we concluded that as Mr. Hendley had an extensive acquaintance with the members of the legislature, that he should circulate among them and lobby for the bill, while I should get the measure in shape for presentation and passage. While working on it we interviewed right and left, trying to work up sentiment in our favor, but when we would tell them we wanted our county to be called "Banner County," from the immediate change of countenance we could see that we had thrown a damper upon their favorable interest. As we learned that nearly every member thought he came from the Banner county, we began to seek for an unobjectionable name. At that time the body was in joint session, voting for United States Senator, and very enthusiastically elected Judge Samuel Pasco of Monticello to the position. It struck me as an inspiration to call our county "Pasco." I immediately went to the committee room, where I had a desk and changed our bill making the name Pasco instead of Banner. We gave the finished bill to Senator A. S. Mann, who at once introduced it in the Senate, and it passed unanimously. It was expedited to the house and sponsored by F. Saxon, where it passed unanimously. The Governor was favorable and signed it. Having accomplished all we purposed, we returned home, able to report the complete success of our mission.

An interesting volume could be written of the sturdy pioneers of that day, most of whom have gone to their reward, but such is not the purpose of this article, it being a brief biographical sketch of the origin and name of Pasco County. It might be appropriate to say that the bill for passage read "A bill to divide the county of Hernando, and make therefrom the counties of Citrus and Pasco. At the request of my warm personal friend, Senator A. S. Mann, I wrote the bill that way. The offset in the northern boundary line was to bring the town of Trilby into our county. The archives at Tallahassee will bear out this statement and establish any historical point in question, and its true value in the annals of Pasco county.

Most Respectfully,
R. C. BANKSTON

When the meeting was called to order, R. M. Wilson was chosen chairman; D. O. Thrasher, Secretary. A resolution was passed that we form a new county and three names for a new county were suggested as follows: Tropic, Banner and Emanuel. After much wrangling Banner was chosen for the name of the new county.

Dr. Richard Bankston, who now lives in Tampa, and J. A. Hendley, of Dade City, were chosen as a committee to go to Tallahassee and lobby for the bill. At that time the United States senators were elected by the legislature and Senator Pasco had just been elected and was at the height of his popularity. In order to get his help and influence to put the bill through, we changed the name of the new county to Pasco.

Frank Saxon and James Latham were in the House of Representatives and A. S. Mann was in the Senate from Hernando county. H. W. Coleman had written to J. F. Latham who was from our end of the county, in regard to the division of the county, and to reply Mr. Latham wrote a very discouraging letter, stating that it was too late to the session to accomplish anything. Coleman held a consultation with N. A. Carter, John Raymond, Rube Wilson, James O'Berry and others in regard to the matter and decided that the committee go and make an effort. Frank Saxon, from Brooksville, was dead against any division. Mann, our senator, a strong determined man, hardly knew what to do, but to the meantime the north end of the county, now Citrus county, sent a delegation to Tallahassee asking to have that end of the county cut off and form a new county, and this decided Senator Mann, who was from that end of the county, and he agreed to help us. M. H. Mabry, then president of the Senate, who owned a large body of land two miles north of Dade City, also agreed to help us.

We told Frank Saxon that unless he came across and helped us out that we would send a man from the north end of the county, and one from the south end to the legislature next time, and we would split the county right in the middle of Brooksville. Brooksville was dear to his heart, and he knew that we had the power to send such men as we wanted to, and that we would surely split old Hernando right to the middle and make two counties instead of three, that it was up to him, and Frank came across and introduced the bill dividing the county into three.

Dr. Hawkins of Tallahassee also owned a body of land within two miles of Dade City. He had a nephew. Gen. Lamar, and a negro that belonged to him in slave time, I think, members of the legislature, and he agreed to help us -- there were negroes in the legislature at that time. We got the Doctor's negro to fix the balance of the negroes, for many telegrams were coming form Brooksville to defeat the bill and we had to work fast. The bill was introduced in the house and senate at the same time, and in four hours after it as introduced it was in the hands of the Governor to sign, and Pasco and Citrus county were born, and Dade City was made the county site of Pasco on the 2nd day of June, 1887.

J. A. HENDLEY

There were two political factions in the county, at that time, known as Mann and Anti Mann. The Mannites were in power at that time and had the ear of the governor. The Mannites held their meeting for the selection of officers for the new county at San Antonio, the other at Dade City. The Mann faction succeeded in getting the appointments for all of the officers except one, which they overlooked, and that was the county surveyor, as well as I remember.

The meeting at San Antonio selected the following named persons to fill the various offices of the new county, who were all appointed by the governor: County Judge D. O. Thrasher; Clerk Circuit Court, H. H. Henley; Sheriff, J. A. Grady; Tax Collector, Robert Bradley; Tax Assessor, Nick Bishoff; Superintendent, A. H. Ravisies; E. G. Liles, Daniel McLeod, Bird Hudson, Jack Gillet, and W. R. Lilburn were appointed county commissioners; and C. W. Beardon, J. W. Higgins, Mitchel Jones, Stephen Weeks, and William B. Hay, the first school board. Later on J. A. Hendley was elected, by the board of county commissioners, as attorney for the county, and he held the place continuously for more than a quarter of a century with the exception of one intermission of two years.

Coleman and Ferguson built a long one-story house where the hardware store of Treiber and Otto is now located, and gave it to the county for two years for a courthouse, and court was held in that house until an election was called to locate the county seat.

The commissioners called the election and Dade City, San Antonio, Ehren, Urbana and Pasadena were all put in the field as aspirants for the capital of Pasco county. Then business picked up, perhaps it was the hottest campaign that was ever pulled off in any part of Florida. It was bitter, the best of friends fell out and abused each other, but after it was over with everything got lovely. J. A. Hendley was the first senator from Pasco county and J. F. Latham was the first representative.

Reuben Wilson never aspired to any county office, but was always ready to help any of his friends, a true and loyal old boy, peace to his ashes. He never asked his friends to help him except one time, he wanted the post office at Dade City, and he got it.

PASCO COUNTY RAILROADS
SEPTEMBER, 1882

The most of the towns and villages followed in the wake of the railroads so we will remark in that direction. The Atlantic Coast Line railroad was chartered as Florida Southern Railway Co., and H. B. Hanes was its first President. Later on it was called South Florida Railway Co., with H. B. Ingraham president. It was purchased by H. B. Plant, merged with other roads and called the Plant System, with Mr. H. B. Plant its president. The Atlantic Coast Line railroad was built into this county in the year of 1885. R. M. Wilson, enthusiastic for railroads, and James Redding of Tuckertown, now Richland, obtained the right of way through the county without money and without price. The survey for the right of way went through Reuben Wilson's orange grove, big trees bearing ten or twelve boxes to the tree. The engineer informed him that it would take two rows of his orange trees in order to have sufficient room for the right of way and wanted to know what the damages would be. Reuben said, "They will cost you nothing, dig 'em up, and I will give them to Rev. Belle, the Baptist preacher." The preacher got the trees and set them out on his place.

H. C. Griffin, late of Pasco county, brought about a hundred negroes here and built the railroad through this part of the country. He anchored here and made this his home until he died about a year ago. Many of his hands who followed him to this country also stayed, after the road was finished, the remainder of their lives. Griffin was made sheriff of the county and served eight years. After the death of his son, Clarence, he took over the drug and hardware business which occupied him until his death.

J. F. Roberts was the first depot and express agent in this county. He filled the position for many years until he finally resigned and accepted a position with Garner and Daiger, merchants, who built the store in which the Touchton Drug store is now doing business. Later on Mr. Roberts worked for Coleman and Ferguson Co., until he was retired a few years ago. He is still active and engaged in the poultry business and farming.

The writer will be excused for relating a story illustrating the character of Reuben Wilson. He was a man strong for his friends, and his enemies could go -- hunt water, or some other place. He was one of the most noted characters in the country at that time. He had been so liberal with the railroads he thought that they would be very liberal with him for past favors. He didn't know that a corporation had no soul. Soon after the road was built Gov. Bloxham came through here, campaigning for governor or something, and he requested some of us go with him to Lakeland where he was to speak at night. Several of us went with him, Reuben was one of the number invited. We started to the depot about train time, but Reuben lagged behind. He was told to hurry up, that the train was then due, but he said, "You go ahead, they will wait for me." The train pulled out, Reuben wasn't there. As we passed through his orange grove there stood Reuben on the track, waiving his handkerchief, a signal to stop. The engineer gave one little toot, and Reuben had to jump off the track to save himself. What Reuben said about that railroad afterwards wouldn't do to print.

SEABOARD RAILROAD

The railroad company had a public sale of these lands in Sumter county, hundreds of people attended the sale, the land brought from three to seven dollars per acre. At this sale those who had squatted on the lands had the preference to purchase the lands on which they had located. All they were required to do was to make an affidavit describing the land on which they were situated and their improvements. The writer remembers that he made quite a sum of money that day fixing papers for these squatters.

The engineers made one survey through Dade City, and one a mile and a half west of town. The people of Dade City then held a meeting to adopt ways and means in order to bring the road through here. The engineers claimed that it would be very hard to get through the hills out of Dade City should this route be adopted; that the better route would be a mile west around Hay Pond. Again we came together in consultation and it was agreed that we would secure the right of way from Macon -- Trilby -- throughout the county without cost to the railroad; we also got up $150.00 and gave them some lots in the town for their extra trouble in changing the route. Dr. G. M. Roberts and Dr. McElroy donated the lots. We also gave them all of the land from the Edwinola Hotel east down to Coleman and Ferguson's store for depot purposes. The engineer then told McElroy to drive a stob where he wanted the depot built, which was done, and the depot stands there to this day.

ORANGE BELT RAILWAY

The Tampa Southern railroad was built through Pasco county from Brooksville to Tampa, passing through the center of the county. So far as the writer can find from records, it was built in 1907.

The Tampa & Gulf Coast railroad, so far as records have disclosed, was built into Pasco county in 1908, and runs from Tampa via Tarpon Springs to New Port Richey, thence to St. Petersburg. It is a part of the Seaboard railroad system. P. L. Weeks built this road from Lavilla to New Port Richey.

FORT DADE -- DADE CITY

AN ENTIRE TOWN MOVED FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER AT ONE TIME

The White House referred to was an old field cleared by William Kendrick, it was claimed. Others claimed that it was settled by Jimmy Goodbread. Kendrick told the writer that he assisted Goodbread to break out of jail, where they had him incarcerated, at Ocala, then a hamlet, which was the closest place they had that they called a jail, and a poor excuse for a jail it was. When Goodbread got out of jail he gave Kendrick this property. About 1857 Kendrick built a house on this property and painted it white. It was the only white house, so far as known, at that time in south Florida, and it was a stopping place for the traveling public. It was the first settled place in this county long before the Indians were driven out. Kendrick's wife was buried in the old White House field near where Mrs. Hill now lives. At one time two oak trees marked the spot.

When the railroad entered Dade City, Jacob Shofner, A. C. Sumner, W. C. Sumner, Coleman and Ferguson, and R. B. Jones, were the merchants who carried general stocks of merchandise; and F. P. McElroy, T. J. Howard, and A. B. Hall conducted the drug business. Dr. G. B. Roberts. Dr. J. G. Wallace, Dr. C. T. Seay, and Dr. Alexander attended to the health of the country at large. About this time everything was in confusion. All our merchants owned the store houses which they occupied and they hated to move. The railroad people were pushing the sale of lots in their town. We saw that our little town was doomed and we were both mad and chagrined.

Then about this time the Seaboard railroad made its appearance and it was suggested that F. P. McElroy and Dr. Roberts lay off an addition to Dade City where the town is now located, which was done. All of our merchants secured lots on this new location and immediately built store houses in which to conduct their businesses. James Lee, Ed. Staley, and G. D. Brookman were the leading carpenters who built the dwellings and store houses as fast as they could. The merchants and citizens of Fort Dade removed their businesses into their new quarters about the same time, and left the old town for the bats and owls to roost in and the railroad town died a homing. Our merchants gave all their patronage to the Seaboard railroad.

About this time Wilkerson Call, our U. S. Senator, and R. H. McDavidson came here on a campaign. When they were ready to leave we went with them to the Coast Line depot, and we walked with them, so they would understand the situation, through the sand. They were very warm when they reached the depot. Rube Wilson said. "Now gentlemen, we have to walk here to get our mail every day." They agreed that it was all wrong. We gave them the name of F. P. McElroy and in a few weeks he was appointed postmaster and brought the post office to Dade City, and the Hatton post office was discontinued.

As the writer now remembers B. L. Blackburn, the big Sumner family, Mode Wilson, the father of twenty-two children, and his offspring, Jake, Jack and many others too numerous to mention; John Lanier, the grandfather of the Bryant family, some of whom now live on the River Road, R. O. Carter, Jack Tait, Shade Hancock, Charles Croft, Henry Jordan, and Dowling were the old-time settlers around Fort Dade. The writer remembers quite an experience with Uncle Henry Jordan, as he was called. One day he asked me to help him get one of his cows out of a bog. We pulled the old cow out on dry land; he told me to run, and I jumped behind a bunch of palmetto where she could not see me, but took after the old man and ran him around a tree. I could not imagine what she held against us, we had done her a favor. I suppose that she was like some people that I know, do them a favor and they hook you in the back, first chance they get.

Dave Leneave, Dr. Cochrane, the Ravisies, McCrays and Thrashers were here when the writer came, but they were not numbered with the old-time Florida crackers.

FORT DADE POST OFFICE

All this section of the country was called Fort Dade after Major Dade's Massacre. There was no post office for a long time, and mail was brought from Brooksville, by any of the neighbors who happened to go up there.

About the year of 1872 a post office was established at Fort Dade and Henry Ryals, the father of the late Rev. Henry Ryals, was appointed postmaster. He lived south of Lake Pasadena and kept the post office at his home. He had a cabinet made of cypress by a cabinet maker in Tampa, in which he kept the belonging of the post office. Jasper Carter now has the old cabinet at his home in Dade City.

Mr. Ryals gave up the office after a time and it floated about the country just where anyone would have it, as it did not pay more than about $10.00 a year commissions. It was at one time kept by a school teacher at the school house near Indian Lake, and as mail came only on Saturdays from Brooksville on horse back, the teacher would meet the mail man and those who were looking for mail, and open the pouch and deliver the mail to them, put the balance in his pocket and take it home with him.

After that R. M. Wilson, who had a store near the present ice plant, was postmaster for a time, but turned it down because the government wanted a report each three months and he thought once a year was enough.

Then Mr. N. A. Carter took it and kept it in his home for several years, and then in his store, until he sold his store to Marshall and Sumner in 1883, Mr. R. J. Marshall becoming postmaster.

In 1885 Mr. Carter was appointed assignee for the firm of Marshall and Sumner, and Jasper C. Carter was appointed acting postmaster.

Dade City was granted a post office about this time, and as business of the section moved to Dade City after railroads came, the Fort Dade post office was abandoned about 1889.

Rev. Henry Harper, a negro, Jim Rowe Harper's grandfather, brought the mail from Brooksville to W. C. Sumner's store once a week.

ELECTION TO LOCATE THE COUNTY SEAT OF PASCO COUNTY

There were five places put in nomination for the electors of the county to select from, to-wit: Dade City, San Antonio, Pasadena, Urbana and Ehren.

The citizens of Dade City executed a bond in which they covenanted to build the court house provided the electors of the county selected this place by their votes in the election. P. A. Deemans, president of the Orange Railroad, made a verbal promise to build the court house at San Antonio provided that place was selected; likewise James L. Clarkson made the same kind of promise for Urbana; Pasadena tendered an uncertified check, for the sum of five thousand dollars signed by Thomas Mclenden, a non-resident payable to the county commissioners provided Pasadena was selected; and Ehren's big drawing card was that it was near the center of the county, later on Ehren was withdrawn from the contest.

There was quite a stir among the people of the county caused by the deep interest in the election. Up to this time everything had been lovely between all religious creeds. It was the first time that religion had entered into the political affairs of the county. It was charged that the people of Dade City had stirred up the Protestant clergy to take an active part to the election against the Catholic colony at San Antonio in order to control the Protestant vote; and we were constantly nagged about the preachers taking such an active part in the campaign.

The negroes also played an important part in this election. Henry Macon, a barber, a big yellow fellow; and Dan Hartfield, a big black fellow, were the leading negroes in the county. It was suggested to them that they organize a company, have a captain, a band; and all march to the polls and vote at the same time. On the day of the election here came Henry and Dan, dressed In long black Jim swagger coats; tall silk hats, and each with a great silken sash extending over the left shoulder down to the hips; a bunch of flowers pinned to the sash on the right breast; just behind them a great company of negroes, waving banners, marching two by two, and keeping step to the martial music of a string band; inscribed on cash banner was: Dade City for the court house. John Waller, a citizen of Pasadena, on the look out to see that we didn't stuff the ballot box. looked up and said: Who in the hell is that bunch coming yonder? Coleman told him: That it was just another crowd of preachers that he had heard so much about.

Dade City was selected by a good majority, then we tried to wiggle out of building the court house. The county commissioners let the contract to James Lee and H. C. Griffin to build it for sum of seven thousand dollars; but the San Antonio boys would have none of it, and they proceeded to obtain an injunction against the county commissioners and Griffin and Lee. We claimed that none of the other places that sought the county seat were sincere, because they made verbal promises to build the court house which could not be enforced, therefore we should not be held liable; and the court agreed with us that none of them were sincere but us sincere we made a good bond, and that we must build it, which we did.

ELLERSLIE

There was a great deal of disturbance caused by a contest over the land that D. E. Wallace attempted to homestead, as I understand, he made a mistake in the township, or range when he made his application to the land office. In the fall of 1882, M. F. O'Neal and E. A. Farra landed here from Kentucky, and were stopping at D. H. Thrasher's place, which was called "Double Kitchens by the pond." D. H. Thrasher wrote many letters to a paper called Home and Farm, published at Louisville, Ky. These letters were signed D. H. Thrasher, "Double Kitchens by the pond," Fort Dade, Florida. Mrs. E. M. Larkin now lives on this place. D. H. Thrasher was Justice of the peace and land agent; and had a supply of maps from the land office at Gainesville; these maps showed that the land was vacant; and O'Neal and Farra homesteaded these and other lands adjacent through D. H. Thrasher. They built a double-room house on the line between their lands, one room on Farra's homestead and one room on O'Neal's homestead so they could live together and keep batch, they were both single men. Wallace built on one corner of the land; trouble began between O'Neal who had homesteaded this land, and Wallace who thought that he had homesteaded it also. The older settlers took sides in the controversy which raged between the contestants and many threats were made. John Raymond was leader of the bunch that favored O'Neal and D. T. Clements led the clan that sided with Wallace. Finally cooler heads interfered to bring about a settlement between the contestants. It was agreed that O'Neal was to pay for the buildings that Wallace and Sturkie had put on the land. O'Neal drew a check on a bank in Kentucky for the amount agreed upon.

Later on the houses burned; and O'Neal stopped the payment of the check. They took the matter into court, and it was never settled until after the county was divided. O'Neal was a gentleman to the manor born. The outstanding man of the community in which he lived. It was through his efforts that a thriving church was built and maintained at Richland. His home was a stopping place for the ministers of the gospel. Mrs. O'Neal was a cultured lady and was one of the leaders in the church work throughout the county. The writer was a very close friend of Mr. O'Neal, we often visited together. All of Ellerslie has been wiped out and almost forgotten. Strangers now occupy and cultivate the land where a thriving village once stood.

FIRST AND ONLY CANNING FACTORY

SAN ANTONIO

Prior to the Catholic settlement this territory was sparsely settled by such men as John Platt, John Howell, Isam Howell, Jack Howell, N. A. Carter, Jack Jackson and his numerous offsprings, William Mobley, Dave Osburn and his offsprings, N. A. Carter and Levi Eiland. At that time there was plenty of wild life in this territory such as deer, wildcats, foxes, etc.

After the Catholics took hold of this part of the country, the name of Clear Lake was changed to Lake Jovita. It was occupied by such citizens and their families as Dr. Harved, E. G. Liles, T. J. O'Neal, John S. Flanagan, Thomas Boland, Jack and Pat McCabe, L. M. Fountain, Miss Exie Fountain, Adam Dick, William Sultenfuss, P. Carroll, Nathan Wischers, Dr. Corrigan. N. P. Bishoff, and M. B. Weaver. A store, known as the Colony store, was established by John Frese, and Joseph Frese in 1881. P. Carroll also conducted a general merchandise business in San Antonio. R. H. Down was the first postmaster, and Paul Gailmard assistant.

About December, 1887, the San Antonio Literary Society was organized, John J. O'Neal was elected president; on this date the society established a newspaper called the San Antonio News. John J. O'Neal was chosen editor and P. F. Lyons assistant editor. Prior to this there was a small paper published by Judge Dunne and his two small boys; name of the paper and date of its birth forgotten. The first Catholic church was erected in 1883; Rev. John O'Boyle was the first resident priest. He built the first Catholic church in San Antonio, a rough barn-like structure in which they worshipped until the Rev. Albert Schaller took charge of the mission and constructed the present buildings, both the church and the parochial school. From the inception of the mission a Catholic school has been maintained. Mrs. Cecilia Morse was the first teacher.

Later on the Benedictine Sisters took charge of the school which has been in continuous operation to this day. The Sisters of St. Joseph, through Bishop Moore, purchased the Sultenfuss hotel, had it remodeled, and opened school on the 28th day of February, A. D. 1889. This Convent was incorporated May 24, 1893, under the name and title of Holy Name Academy. Sister Dolorese was the first mother superior, and served, for six years in that capacity. Later on Mother Rose Marie held this important position. She was probably the most widely known, among the Protestants, of any since the Convent was established.

In June, 1911, the Benedictine Sisters decided to remove the Convent to a more desirable location on Lake Jovita. This action, on their part, brought about considerable opposition, of some of the residents. Father Albert consulted the writer, in regard to whether they could legally change the location, who told him to go ahead, move it and apologize afterwards; but they all became pacified and well pleased since they saw that the new location was much more pleasant, picturesque and lovable.

J. G. Kirchner and Adam Dick were the blacksmiths. The San Antonio nursery was conducted by Brand and Wichers. In 1884 R. H. Brown raised the first strawberries for the market; as the writer remembers, he broke the land and cultivated the berries with a garden push plow. Afterwards the strawberry crop was extensively cultivated in the San Antonio district, and it at one time rivaled Plant City in the growth and shipment of the berry.

The writer has known this colony of Catholic people since they first settled in the county. They have always been a law abiding, harmless people that attended to their own affairs.

BASEBALL

The following persons composed the team of Dade City: Jesse Roberts, captain; A. P. Hill, D. T. Clement, James Grady, Joseph Roberts, John Cox, Bart Sturkie, David Lofton and W. Vickers. Will Lynch was captain of the San Antonio team. The writer did not know the rest of them, all strangers that had recently settled in and around San Antonio. If a lot of noise, quarreling, and threatening the umpire with baseball bats made a good game, it was a success. The writer umpired the game. Jesse Roberts, captain of our team, still lives in Dade City, engaged in the poultry business.

FARMERS ALLIANCE

1st. The mutual information to enable its members by cooperation to purchase their supplies and dispose of their products.

2nd. To buy for cash and sell for cash.

3rd. The Alliance believes it were better, and prefer dealing with local merchants if they could do as well as elsewhere.

4th. Disclaiming control over politics of its members.

5th. Meetings to be held on Saturday of each month.

It was the largest crowd of people that ever assembled in Pasco county. The writer was there, and noted the expressions and actions of some of the leading members; could see politics written all over them which, proved true later on in the next election. The writer was then a candidate for the Senate, while the Alliance disclaimed taking any part in politics the leaders seemed to think that the president of the Alliance was the right man for the Senate, and was put in the field to oppose the writer because he was a lawyer.

The alliance had little use for the lawyer in the open, but did like to consult him when it came to fixing papers and perfecting the organization.

In 1888, the Alliance started a general mercantile business at Dade City in one of the business houses which had been vacated in the old town -- Charles Blocker was put in charge of the business, which flourished for awhile; but when the members of the Alliance began to want to get credit in their store, which they had been used to, when trading with independent merchants, Blocker saw the handwriting on the wall; and got out of it, then Mr. Delemeter built a small store house on the northwest comer of the lot where the court house is now located, put in a stock of general merchandise, and catered to the trade of the members of the Alliance. In the meantime most of them had gone back to trade with their old merchants. The president of the Alliance had been defeated together with those, who sought county offices on the same ticket. About this time Mr. Delemeter started a paper called "The Industrialist," the organ of the Alliance, which became the standard bearer of the third party organized in this county. The main plank in the platform was The Government ownership of railroads and utilities.

2nd. Do away with lawyers and other junk not otherwise provided for.

ST. LEO

The St. Leo College was raised to a priory in 1894, and in 1902 it was raised to an Abbey and Father Charles was the first Abbot, which position he held until his death.

Dr. J. F. Corrigan, a very estimable gentleman, a brother of Bishop Corrigan of New York. was the first mayor of St. Leo. It was at his palatial home that I met the first and only bearded priest that I ever saw. The first passenger train stopped at the station at St. Leo to February, 1888. The railroad hesitated when it came to having a station so close to San Antonio, but Dr. Corrigan and the brotherhood built the station so they would have no excuse to ignore the wishes of the St. Leo people.

The school at St. Leo has been a success from the start. True it had a small beginning and has had many back sets. The original building was destroyed by fire. A splendid stone building was erected in its stead with all proper equipment of a first class College. It is a monument to the enterprise of Abbot Charles and the industry of the brotherhood who did the work.

This college ranks highly and its curriculum is equal to any College in the state. Many a boy, without much chance elsewhere, has been educated there and given a chance in life and they have become prominent useful citizens.

St. Leo Abbey has extended its influence far and wide in the southern part of Florida. St. Anthony church at Lake Jovita, Sacred Heart church at St. Joseph, St. Rita church at Dade City, St. Joseph church at Zephyrhills and the New Port Richey church at New Port Richey have all been established by the brotherhood of priests sent out from St. Leo Abbey.

Abbot Charles was a high type of man, sociable, liberal, a fine host and entertainer. On two occasions he donated $100.00 to the Woman's Club at Dade City. On the 14th day of April, 1914, the Woman's Club, through Mrs. J. A. Hendley, president, and Mrs. C. A. Lock, corresponding secretary, invited the president of Women's Clubs and other prominent club women throughout the state to a convention to be held at Dade City. The club women of Dade City entertained about three hundred guests. While here Abbot Charles invited the whole convention to St. Leo where they were entertained at luncheon in the large dining room of St. Leo College. C. A. Lock and the writer furnished conveyance to some of these visiting club women on that day. Of course we were not invited to the luncheon (it being a skirt affair) and we stayed on the outside waiting for them to finish their repast, but before they were through some brother came outside and conducted us into the dining room. The Abbot, in a humorous way, said, "There are two guests that are not clothed with the proper garments," and called upon the women to know whether we should be expelled or stay and eat; a chorus of voices rang out, "Let 'em stay," and we sat down, in the midst of that great bunch of women, to broiled chicken, salads, cake and refreshing drinks on which we feasted.

Mrs. W. S. Jennings, wife of a former governor of Florida, with the sanction of the late Abbot Charles obtained a request from the Governor to ban all restrictions for the day, permitting this group of women to be personally conducted through the building where they had the privilege of viewing the beautiful vestments and symbols and received special prayers in the Chapel.

LOURDES OF ST. LEO

In 1872 about two thousand persons visited the Virgin Mary grotto. It is said that many miraculous cures have been wrought in answer to prayers offered at this shrine.

The Abbot has the full jurisdiction over his community, Church, Seminary, College, High School and the Lourdes of St. Leo which he built at St. Leo College is quite a show place to strangers who come to Florida. When they look upon the works that have been done there, they realize what can be accomplished in Florida, backed by honesty and purpose, industry and enterprise.

On the 4th day of October, 1924, the South Florida Press Association, on invitation from Carl Rerick, then editor of the Dade City Banner, held its annual convention at Dade City, was entertained with a banquet in the large dining room at St. Leo College. The party and their wives consisted of about seventy-five. Mrs. C. A. Lock and husband and Mrs. J. A. Hendley and husband were requested to furnish cars to assist in conveying the party to St. Leo, and we were also at the banquet.

Mrs. J. A. Hendley and Mrs. C. A. Lock, president and corresponding secretary, invited Dr. Cook of North Pole fame to lecture on his trip to the North Pole. Dr. Cook arrived on the 11th day of March, 1914. Hendley and Lock went with him to the College to invite the Abbot and brotherhood to hear him lecture, but the Abbot failed to appear.

During the World War all sorts of complaints were made against these people; that they were sympathizers with Germany; that they had a wireless outfit on top of the college and were in daily communication with the German government. A man from Washington was sent to investigate the charges. He found a freight elevator used for carrying mortar and blocks to build the addition to the college.

The writer was sent out to San Antonio to make a war talk to these people and find out how they stood. After the speaking a crowd gathered around him, took him by the hand and pledged themselves to do their part in maintaining the war.

Among the many good priests that served one way and another at St. Leo Abbey one of the best known to the people of all denominations and classes was the Rev. James Aloysius Delebar prior, generally known as Father Aloysius. He was known as a kind, consecrated man. He contracted the white plague while nursing a consumptive. His body lies in the Catholic cemetery at St. Leo.

Also the Rev. Father Francis Sadlier (now Abbot). He was for a long time financial man of the order and had held every office from prior to Abbot. In the year of 1929 Abbot Charles, in failing health, recognized that the work was too much for him and called for a Coadjutor to assist him, and on the 2nd day of the following August, Father Francis was elected and consecrated as assistant Abbot Coadjutor and held this position until the death of Abbot Charles, then he became the Abbot and holds that office to the present time.

The school has not suffered since he took charge, and he maintains it upon that high plane of usefulness, accomplished by the efforts of Abbot Charles in his lifetime.

BRADLEY CHILDREN KILLED BY SEMINOLES NEAR DARBY IN FALL OF 1855

John Darby, Captain Robert Bradley, Captain John McNeal and Charles Johnston the grandfather of Charles Johnston who still lives in that section of the county, were the early settlers who blazed the way for civilization.

It was late in the evening in the fall of 1855, Captain Robert Bradley lay sick in a room in his double log house. There was a large hallway between the two cabins where the children were romping and playing; and the larger children and negroes were out gathering the herd of cattle for the night. The sun was low, its last lingering gleam had flashed its spears of light on the tips of the lofty pines and hid behind the great waters of the Gulf. Out in the gloaming over the distant hills and swamps the long drawn, weird notes of the Florida cow whoop rolled along the low atmosphere, then gradually increased in volume as it rose higher and higher into endless space, and the echo took up the notes and passed them along the hills and dales until they died away on the waves of sound. Gun shots were heard, the Bradley home was attacked by the Indians. Billy Munday, leading a bunch of Seminole Indians, had steadily approached the house and fired on the children playing in the hall; Billie and his little sister, Mary, were wounded; Captain Bradley returned the fire, and little Billie, although wounded unto death, went into the battle and killed one of the Indians before he fell; after the battle little Billie and his sister lay dead in the hall. The savages took sheets hanging on the line in the yard, wrapped them around their dead and carried him away. The negroes and other children at the cow pen heard the shots and ran to Charles Johnston's home for protection. Mr. Johnson went to Fort Taylor, got some soldiers who came and guarded the Bradley home. Later on George W. Adkins, the father of Mrs. J. W. Douglas now living in Darby, Charles Johnston, Captain John McNeal and others with some soldiers drove the Indians out of the country into the Everglades. A short time before the attack on the Bradley home Captain Bradley had killed an Indian Chief in a skirmish which was the probable cause of the Indian raid on his home.

Darby has been divided into two political subdivisions known as Pasco and Greenfield. J. W. Douglas, Charles Johnston, M. F. Hancock, R. B. McKendree, C. W. Hancock, J. E. Bellamy. G. W. Bates, J. C. Bates, W. J. McNatt. C. T. McNatt, N. V. Sessoms, W. J. Sessoms, J. W. Wells, H. L. Burnside, B. F. Asbell and many others of the same names are now residing within the boundary lines of old Darby.

Let me here remark that someone who loves to listen to the radio, loves poetry and song, and is interested in preserving the history of Florida, should have a record made of this cow whoop which is a product of Florida, and used nowhere else, it will soon pass away and be forgotten unless preserved by record.

Long ago when Wilks Call was making the race for the U. S. Senate and R. H. M. Davidson, opposed by Pope, a Republican, was making the race for Congress several of us went with them from here to Socrum, Joe O'Berry was our guide, now and then, Mr. Davidson would call upon Joe to "give the cow whoop" and Joe would make the welkin ring "with the cow whoop." It is no longer heard around Dade City. Henry Boyett and a few others are the only ones left who can hallo it.

NEW PORT RICHEY

In 1883 Captain A. M. Richey and family settled at the mouth of the Cotee river. In that vicinity they found Malcolm Hill and family, James W. Clark and family and Jack Caraway and family, who had come close on the heels of the red man that had been pushed further into the glades and swamps of South Florida.

There are two places: one is called Old Port Richey and the other New Port Richey. They are so close together that it is hard to tell where one quits and the other commences. R. E. Nicks, who settled there later on, owned most of Old Port Richey.

In 1911 P. L. Weeks bought a portion of these lands and he and his brother and W. E. Guilford formed the Port Richey Land Company. In 1911 P. L. Weeks built a branch railroad from Lake Villa to Port Richey, about eight miles long. He afterwards sold it and it is now a part of the Seaboard Air Line system.

Among the first settlers of the city were Fred Sass and family, J. H. Moran, Frank Grey, John Holzcheiter, Mrs. Nymon, O. W. Hermes, B. H. Hermanson, C. E. Snell, and R. E. Nicks, together with their families. In January, 1915, P. L. Weeks, owner of the property, sold his interests. R. E. Flicher and George R. Sims acquired Weeks' interest and still have it in charge. In 1919 George R. Sims built the first brick building in New Port Richey. The first public school was opened in 1914. In 1921 The First State Bank was completed and occupied. In 1921 a new high school was built. In 1922 bonds to the extent of a half million dollars were voted by the people of Pasco county to build a paved road from Dade City to Paradise loop to the Dixie highway that runs through New Port Richey.

October, 1927, New Port Richey was incorporated and E. M. Avery was the first mayor. In 1913 the Methodist church was organized, the first minister was Rev. H. Logan. J. M. Mitchell was the first superintendent of the Sunday School; later on the Methodists built a substantial church. There is also a community church, a Catholic church and a Baptist church which were established later on.

It has grown to be quite a little city and has a cosmopolitan population. People from the east, north and west have settled along by the side of the Florida cracker and they all dwell together in peace and harmony; but I notice that when the election time comes up the candidates get mighty busy down that way, for they are all Democrats during the primary.

Fivay is located in the western part of the county near the Gulf of Mexico. In 1905 Sessions and Bullard sold a large body of land north of New Port Richey to the Aripeka Saw Mills corporation. This corporation built a huge saw mill around which a town rapidly grew. Gordon Abbot, Charles P. Ayer, H. M. Atkinson, M. P. Amorous and P. S. Arkwright owned the property. One will notice that all the names of these five men began with the letter A, so the town was called five A's, at first, later on the name was abbreviated and called Fivay for the five men who owned the property.

The town flourished like a green bay tree for awhile. Many whites and negroes were employed by this corporation; trams were built over which the logs were conveyed to the mill, and many houses were built for stores, dwelling and drying rooms in which the green lumber was seasoned for the market. The boilers of the mill were never cold, a day and night shift kept the mill in constant operation. Millions of feet were cut from the maiden forest and shipped to northern and southern markets. The timber supply was finally exhausted, a town without a payroll, abandoned. It looks like a deserted western mining town after the gold ore had been exhausted.

I was employed by the management to defend Brazill and I learned all that the negroes would tell me about the history of the jooke, which was very little.

TUCKERTOWN AND RICHLAND

The vicinity of Tuckertown was first settled by a Mr. Smith (Christian name unknown). Henry Tucker, Harriet Tucker, who after her first husband, died married William Smith; Joseph W. Tucker, Alfonso Tucker, Elijah Tucker, A. W. Tucker, Sam Stafford, William Stafford and Isaac Lanier settled there before the Indians were driven out and often had to resort to Fort Broom for protection. Fort Broom was located about two and a half miles a little southeast of Dade City near a pond just below the E. S. Larkin farm. This fort took its name from Governor Broom, one-time governor of the state of Florida.

Harriet Smith was a well-known woman. The writer got much of his information from her. She at one time got mixed up in the ownership of a sawmill and had something to do with operating it. She wrote a long letter to the paper giving her experiences in the sawmill business, and she was known for some time as Sawmill Harriet. The writer has questioned some of Smith's posterity as to his Christian name but none of them seem to remember. Away back in the dim distance someone told the writer that his name was Henry; but it seems unlikely, for none of them I know of bear the name of Henry. Smith had five boys, Frank, Willis, Allen, Chap, and William. He had six girls, Elizabeth, Sarah, Elisa, Mary; the names of the other two I cannot call to mind. They all married cattlemen and settled in that part of the country, and to Smith and his family goes the honor of settling that part of the wilderness.

In the years of 1881 to 1884 John Raymond, James Pedrick, Alonzo Shearer, Captain J. W. Renfrew, A. T. Roberts, Richard Williams, Thomas Williams and James Ingram settled in that neighborhood. Roberts and Williams raised orange groves. The name of Tuckertown was changed to Richland when the Atlantic Coast Line railroad was built through the place in 1885.

Joseph W. Tucker, Isaac Lanier, Wilder, and others owned large herds of cattle that roamed in the swamps of the Withlacoochee river. This coveted range gave rise to much trouble in which many thousands of dollars were spent in prosecution of murders that occurred; but the chief characters in the drama have passed away and it would serve no good purpose to record them here. Like all other feuds in this country at that time the writer will pass it by.

The first telegraph office in this section was located at Tuckertown. The federal government built a line from Ocala to Tampa via Tuckertown along the public highway which is known to this day as the Wire road. One James Redding of New York superintended the construction of the line. He established an office at Tuckertown where he settled and married one of Harriet Smith's daughters. Redding and D. T. Clements were the first telegraph operators in this part of the country. The first store was operated by little Joe Tucker, I think. Later on Anderson and Kersey did a general mercantile business at this place then known as Richland. This Anderson had a pistol duel and killed Thomas Evans in a political brawl at Richland. G. A. Combs, Warren Haynes, M. D. King, A. Mote, and others were merchants at this place. Among the principal inhabitants at this time are Warren Haynes, R. Sullivan, Ed. Williams, J. L. Wells, Buck Stewart, John Browning, Sessions and George W. Tucker, who is one of the best, most progressive farmers in the country. There is a big sign on a shanty which reads, "The Chamber of Commerce" -- progression.

THE GARDEN OF EDEN, NEAR RICHLAND

On the north side I discovered a log house and a small outbuilding which proved to be the domicile of the Rev. Cadden, the man I was looking for. In later years immigration, they called it progress, destroyed all of this beautiful scenery. The woodman's ax, the log wagon, and sawmill destroyed it all. It is now the home of George W. Tucker, one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers in the county.

You will excuse a little digression. It has to do with Tuckertown. When Tilden ran against Hayes for President, Florida was stolen from the Democrats and placed in the Republican columns, thereby electing Hayes. The late Judge Fan Taylor, Judge of the state supreme court for more than forty years, was sent to Tampa to get the election returns and take them to Tallahassee. Judge Taylor, driving two ponies hitched to a small wagon, followed the Wire road on his way to Tampa. He spent the night with James Redding at Tuckertown, and next morning Redding directed him a nearer way to Tampa, so he left this road and followed Redding's directions; and luck for him that he did; the carpet-baggers had been put on notice that Taylor would pass that way, so they hid in the swamp on the Wire road to kill him when he attempted to pass. He was on the other route and thus saved a long and useful life for the state of Florida.

HUDSON

J. B. Hudson writes the following history of Hudson as he remembers it:

Isaac W. Hudson and family settled on the Gulf in February, 1878. When we moved over there, we brought with us corn, bacon, sugar and syrup to last until we made a crop. We had put up a couple of log houses here the year before, and we used one for living quarters and the other for storage of supplies for ourselves and the stock.

Our nearest neighbor was two miles away and there was no road to get here except the Old Salt Road which took its name from the Confederates who came over here in the time of the Civil War to make salt while the Yankees had us bottled up, so we could not get salt to season our rations with.

Our nearest post office was Brooksville and Bay Port, a distance of twenty-five miles. There was not a church house, nor a school house in this end of the county, except a little round pole cabin down near the mouth of the Anclote River.

When we moved over here game was plentiful. There was also plenty of bear and panthers in the nearby swamps in 1881. The neighbors got together and decided to put up a school house. B. L. Blackburn taught our first school, a three month term. The Post Office Department established a Star Route from Brooksville to the mouth of the Anclote River, and there was an office established out east of Port Richey at old man Worley's place, the name of which was Hopeville. While Blackburn was teaching the school he got a Post Office established at Hudson. When the department asked for a name for the office, Brother Bill and Father suggested that we call it Hudson's Landing, but I disagreed with them, and suggested the name of Gulf View, but Hudson's Landing was sent up. And in a few days we were advised that the Department had cut off Landing and named the office Hudson, so this is how the town got its name, in the year of 1881. J. W. Hudson was made postmaster and J. B. Hudson was made assistant.

The school house was also used for church purposes. Old Uncle Alderman Wilson preached our first sermon. He was a great preacher to go to the out-edge of civilization and preach and establish churches.

After the mail route from Brooksville to Anclote River was established, the road was made a public road, J. W. Hudson being appointed overseer, so he summoned out the eligible road hands, and the Whiddens flatly refused to work, saying they could go through the woods anywhere they wanted to go.

In 1874 the fishing industry started at this place. Bill Lang operated it. The price of mullet then, and for several years after, was one cent each as they were thrown out on the bank.

Our great Florida West Coast Scenic Highway is now coming through. The right-of-way "which is 200 feet wide" has been cleared across the town plot of Hudson. This road is going to be the greatest highway in the state, when completed.

 

J. W. HUDSON

I knew I. W. Hudson as far back as 1882. He was a very hospitable man and entertained anyone that stopped at his place, without charge. In those days we candidates for office roamed over the woods, riding horses and in cheap buggies from one settlement to another. I. W. Hudson, Sam Stevenson, Malcolm Hill, Allen Hill, John Bailey, William Bailey and Bud Stevenson were our stopping places. Sometimes we spent the night in the woods by a log fire and made it to Spark Prodham's or Adam Dick's for breakfast. Adam lived down near Ehren at that time.

J. W. Hudson, a youth of about twenty-two years, owned the first boat that made regular trips between Hudson and Cedar Keys; the only outlet for produce raised in that part of the country which was shipped to Cedar Keys. On his return voyage he brought merchandise for the neighborhood. He should be called Commodore Hudson for his aggressive progress and aid to civilization, when but a youth. He and his brother, William, established the first mercantile business at Hudson. The store room extended from the bank to a boiling spring in the bayou where he anchored his boat and discharged the freight. The cause of this spring is a matter of conjecture. Some hold that it is caused by the ebb and flow of the tide, others claim that it is water through some hidden passage from Bear Creek which finds an outlet at the bottom of the bayou.

A LEGEND. TRADITION FROM INDIAN LORE

A few days afterwards an Indian hunter, passing by, saw the body of the maiden still tossing around in the same place. He reported what he had seen and the Chieftain went to investigate and there sure enough was the maiden's body dressed in fiery red tinted with green, blue and gold, flashing in the sunlight as it tossed around. While they viewed the body, her hands were freed. She stood straightway up, one hand, paled with death, pointed to the Chieftain and she said: "My curse upon thee. May you be pursued by the pale face, driven from place to place, perish in the swamp where the wild animals shall feast upon your flesh and your bones rot in the murky waters of the swamps." Then it slowly dropped into the water and was thrown out of the whirlpool to drift with the tide into the Gulf of Mexico and was seen no more, but the fountain stayed on in commemoration of the tragedy.

In the long ago, this legend was attributed to the Everglades, but the Everglades do not border on the Gulf and Hudson is the only place that has a bayou leading into the Gulf, so we locate it at Hudson.

BOOTLEGGER ORIGIN

It originated on the Dunbar farm about eight miles South of Mayfield, Kentucky. On Sunday evening the negroes would play what they called Boot. They would divide into two squads, two or four on a side, and pitch the boot at each other, something like football, and they would gradually work toward the fence next to the woods, slip a silver dollar into the boot and throw it over the fence in the woods and Old Gill Watson or some other moonshiner picked the boot up, took the money and put a bottle of whiskey in the boot and threw it over into the field. The negroes took the bottle of whiskey and went to the creek and drank the liquor and fished as much as they wanted to on Sunday. So you see those moonshiners (called Pot Rum) were named bootleggers, hence the name bootleggers.

You ask how did the slaves get the money? Many of the men who owned slaves in that day and time gave them Saturday evening off to make a patch of tobacco (Bawker) as they called it. The money the patch of tobacco brought at sale was absolutely theirs. They always demanded silver for the purchase money of their tobacco, which brought them ten or fifteen dollars. They were well clothed and fed and had no use for the money except to play big negro among their women and buy whiskey with it when they got a chance.

MINNIE MILDREW

Poe was filled with a drug and his thoughts were the wanderings of a distorted mind. Ravens do not come to a door in town, and this was one of the distorted illusions of a wandering mind.

In this poem the surroundings were natural and possible and true. That which I called a chimney was made of boards with a built-in dirt hearth and was about six feet high. Owls or any other birds could fly into the wide opening. There was no ceiling in the cabin. There were some poles which reached across from wall to wall and rested thereon, so an owl or other birds could fly into the cabin and light on one of those poles, which it did while I was sitting there smoking and thinking of a girl in a far away Eastern state.

A little owl, called a "screutch owl," flew into the opening of my chimney and lit upon the pole above my head and uttered one of those shrill piercing notes which sounded like "Never for you." I seized my pen and wrote the poem just as it is here written, before I left my seat, which was about midnight.

Tonight to reverie I sit me down,
The breeze through the mossy bows is gently stirring
Permeating the forest with that peculiar muttering sound
Like some phantom's wings a-whirring.
The night is dark, the hammock dense,
My cabin to the wild storms a puny defense.
Out beyond in the dreary night
The Will-O-Wisp, its lantern lights,
Upon the marshy plains
Wet and cold like some spectre in a region old
Its flickering rays dance upon flock and herd
And upon the plumage of many birds.

In the lofty cypress, they have sunk to rest.
The zephyrs gently fan their snowy breasts.
To the left winds the Withlacoochee,
That wandering stream.
Upon its peaceful bosom the pink curlew makes its wildest scream,
The gentle breeze from off the cove
Wafts the sweet perfume of the orange grove. The lotus berry is eaten,
The Land of birth forgotten.
Before me rises a vision bright
As if touched-with a heavenly light.
A beautiful girl with golden hair,
Soft blue eyes and a form like the angels fair.
The lotus berry has failed to veil away
This vision to me bright as day.

Her voice, like an eolian harp, charms the very oaks.
Gazing upon the picture before me,
I cried. We will meet again somewhere, sometime
On this broad domain
My beautiful Minnie, My Minnie Mildrew.
Never for you, burst like a damned spirit's wall.
Above my head from off the rafter rail.
Darkness around me seemed to fall
As I watched the shadows on the. rough and uneven wall.
Gazing, never stirring, fearing the table upon which
I was leaning would turn to a damned spirit too, and cry out,
Never for you.

At last a friendly beetle crept from the crevice of the rude table
And pointed with one of its long beards
To the moss-covered roof above my head.
Upward I turned my nervous gaze,
There In the lamp light's flickering rays,
An owl gray and old,
Sat perched upon the rounded pole.

You hateful and fiendish bird.
Did you utter those startling words?
Prom whence do you come to break the reverie in my cabin home?
There are no mice here on which you can feast.
Then go from here, ungainly- beast,
For I am thinking of My Minnie Mildrew.
Never for you.

I cried, bird of the dreary regions,
Enemy to Saints and friend to Demons,
What know you of the emotions of the human heart?
Upon the arena of life, go act thy part.
From an aged spinster's coop,
One of her finest and fattest fowls hook,
And away in the dense hammock to thy nest,
And fill the ugly young upon Its tender breast.
I hear their young with hunger scream,
Go, break not into my dream,
For I am thinking of Minnie, My Minnie Mildrew.
Again the hellish bird quoth.
Never for you.

Demon of the night.
What knowest of my vision bright.
Away amid New England snowy hills I see,
This night she bends her beautiful form to pray for me.
Together we are linked with destiny's chain.
How can she or I be remembered with the slain!
No conception of the human heart can enter thy old pate,
Whose blood never quickened in Its channels when calling to thy
Go back to thy mate and thy young which are calling thee.
And let me continue my reverie
Of Minnie, My Minnie Mildrew.
Again the owl sang out,
Never for you.

Old croaker, how do you know for me she was never created?
The only being on earth to which my heart could be mated.
Of all beauty, full of life and glee,
She Is the light of the world to me.
Through her influence gentle and kind,
I was led through the Valley of Sin, weary and blind.
While at the foot of the cross, kneeling,
My eyes upon the Lamb a-bleeding,
And there upon the bended knee,
I felt that she was given to me.
Many barks are sailing the mystic waters blue,
But she the old Scythe of time never slew.
Again those ominous words,
Never for you.

Now beneath the hand of superstition fierce and wild,
I bowed like a trembling child before the bird,
With a wild feeling of unrest for my love.
I stretched one trembling hand above,
With a voice filled with utter despair,
I plead with this untamed bird of the air.
In the dense hammock or wild mountain cliff,
What spirits do you hold communion with?
These ominous words, like a fiery dart,
Sink into the depths of my poor heart.
Sweet bird, open thy bill one time and say, for you.
But the owl sat for a moment without a word,
As though my wild pleadings were unheard.
The lamp light flickering in the breeze that blew,
He whetted his bill on the round pole and sang out,
Never for you.

With a wild wall I leaped to my feet,
The gazing of the Demon to meet.
Bird of Devil. Mountain or Hill,
Nothing but lies utter thy old bill.
In my heart thou hast fastened thy fangs,
And would feed thy hateful young on its tender strings.
The heart that throbs for Minnie, My Minnie Mildrew.
He flapped his wings 'and away he flew,
With a farewell,
Never for you.

THE FLORIDA CRACKER

The Florida Cracker -- as he called himself -- one of the most unique of all the different classes of people I ever met. He had a peculiar code of morals, custom made his rules of conduct.

It seemed to be a pleasure to beat a Furiner in trade -- and tell each other how he hooked the Furiner who came here to live and he wanted to buy about sixty head of cattle, so the Cracker drove the cows through a lane to be counted, about twenty head, and turned and at the other end of the lane drove them through the woods and back up the lane to be counted again. The Furiner counted them and they repeated the drive until he thought he had sixty head of the cattle, the number he wanted. In the drove there was a big old white-faced cow and the Cracker said when he drove the cows through the lane to be counted that old white-faced cow turned her head around and looked right at him and he was so afraid that the Furiner would recognize her but he did not notice her, so when he gathered his cows he found twenty head instead of sixty.

I heard him tell it to a bunch and they all thought it was a shrewd trick.

His Home

His gentle hogs slept under the house and the wild hogs stayed in the woods and were captured with well-trained dogs. His field was from five to ten acres in size. He made a farm each year as he called it. He raised a corn patch, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, collards, turnips, and rice. He also filled his larder with wild turkey and deer. Game was plentiful. His cows came home at night and "tromped his pens" and stood by a log fire to keep off the mosquitoes. In these pens he raised sweet potatoes, which often took the place of bread. His hair was never cut short. His wife was his barber. His beard was cut off now and then. His wife made him a full suit of clothes out of a cotton cloth which resembled blue denim. She knit his socks. A cotton patch furnished the material which he made each year. She also wore cotton socks, a cotton dress through the week, but she had a calico dress for Sunday. The lakes, rivers and ponds were filled with fish and thousands of wild fowl (one to four feet high) could be seen fishing in these waters. The Crackers also knew how to catch them. At their picnics they had plenty of fried fish, tater pone and orange pie for dessert, washed down with coffee and buttermilk. A patch of long cotton was their money crop, which they hauled to Tampa, a small village, and sold it to Miller & Henderson.

He paid no taxes to speak of. Many of them were squatters. He cultivated his crops with a pony horse geared with wooden harness, traces and plow. They had no collar for their work horses. He hauled his "Stuff" to market and went to church in a two-wheeled cart. His horse walked in the shafts, his women and children were bunched in the center of the earthed and he rode the pony with his feet on top of the shafts, with his stirrups dangling down.

Religion

I rode with one of the old-time preachers from Brooksville home. I had a bottle of whiskey in my saddle bags. I asked him to excuse me, that it was a little bit cool and I would take a drink. He said, "Well, I believe I will join you." So the ice was broken and we had several drinks during that long night ride and enjoyed each other's company and the bottle, too, but we did not get drunk.

Believe it or not, many of those old Crackers are descendants of Heroes who fought under Washington and gave this country the freedom that we have enjoyed -- pure blood not mixed with any foreign blood like most of us. He did not like to work but loved to fish and hunt. He raised Hyda potatoes, large sweet potatoes four or five inches thick and seven inches long. His wife would cut them across to circles and fry them. He loved a fish fry on the river and had plenty of fish, corn pone, coffee and clabber milk. I have been with them many times and enjoyed these picnics The woods full of hogs, cows, deer, and turkey and the lakes full of fish, he had only to l