863-04 Land Use Amendment for Jeter Property

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OR BK 5910 PO 1456 9 of 25 Some of the first settlers to enter into the new territory included James S. Gibbons and William Spencer who built residences near Fort King Road. Other Pasco County settlers were Captain Jack Townsend, near Brooksville, Dan C. Ryals, also near Fort King Road, W.A. and Benjamin Guy, Jacob Wells, Mr. Riggs,near St. Leo College,W.F. Smith,near Bonnet Lake, and W.C. Brown. In 1838, Osceola was captured in St. Augustine under a flag of truce and he subsequently died from a fever. Shortly thereafter, a treaty with the Native American leaders and the United States military was made at Fort King. The Native Americans relocated to areas near the Peace River to the south. Armed conflict continued to pervade the area with the killing of Indian leader Chekika in 1840, although attacks subsided after the arrest of Caocoochee. Caocoochee persuaded his followers to leave for Arkansas and a reservation was established on the west shore of Lake Okeechobee for the 300 Seminoles still remaining in Florida. Attacks continued to take place and white settlement in the territory was slow. The conflict ended in 1842 when the remaining Seminoles negotiated a peace with the U.S. government which guaranteed that those Native Americans who wished to stay in Florida could do so provided that they live in the area of southwest Florida south of the Caloosahatchee River. In 1842,the Armed Occupation Act went into effect. This bill gave title to land to any veteran who cleared acreage,built a house, and protected against Native Americans. In 1843,Alachua County was divided to form Levy, Marion, and Benton(later changed to Hernando) Counties. The land office opened near Gainesville and surveyor William Jackson traveled to Fort Brooke in Tampa to begin mapping the area. There were approximately 300 settlers in the area south of the Withlacoochee River and north of the Hillsborough river. Settlers in Pasco County that arrived during this time were David Osburn, Major R.D. Bradley,near Lake Buddy, John Mobley near Camp Wright, and Allen Godwin and Jack Gillett near Wesley Chapel. Communities that existed in the 1840s included Camp Wright,Tuckertown, Godwin,Melindez, Pierceville, Bayport,Aripeka, and Hudson. By 1844, Benton County had an elected government but no courthouse. Statehood, 1845-1860 In 1845,Florida was admitted into the Union and a courthouse began at Pierceville(later renamed Brooksville). John Geiger settled in the area to the west and south of Lake Zephyr and John Fillmon and a Mr. Williams settled in Tuckertown. The Fort Dade(formerly Camp Wright) community began to grow. In 1851, Ephraim Hale bought the first steam sawmill and built a home in the area that would later be called Abbott. In 1852, Joseph Stafford bought 30 orange trees and planted a grove near Tuckertown. Transportation was precarious during these days with only the Fort King Road and Indian trails traversing through the area. A post road(later called Stage Road and then Handcart Road)was cut from Gainesville to Tampa during this time. By 1850,Benton County had been renamed Hernando County and the population was 604 persons. Many families continued to move to the area and the original white settlers were in their second generation. Dr. Frederick Lykes moved to Spring Hill near Pierceville(Brooksville) in the 1850s. He began a large cattle ranching operation that was to have a great influence in the growing economy of the area. In 1856, Hernando County asked for assistance from the Army to remove the Native Americans remaining in the area and some clashes between the white settlers ensued. Fort Broome was established and named for the governor. It was located on the farm of W.C. Brown near "Ellersville"or near Pretty Pond. This period,referred to as the Third Seminole War(1855- 1858)was also called the Billy Bowlegs' War. At the end of 1857, Bowlegs and his followers were sent west and the conflict was declared over. The 300 remaining Native Americans retreated to the Everglades. Civil War, 1861-1865 During the War Between the States, sentiment was mixed in Hernando County. This was due, in part,to the loyalty of many to the United States military for its role in the Seminole Wars. However, on January 10, 1861, secession was voted favorably in the Florida Legislature with a 3