WPA
Mrs. Sarah Leaming
Historical Records Survey
State Archives Survey
11/10/36
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF HERNANDO COUNTY
By an act approved by the Legislative Council on February 24, 1843, Hernando County was created from a section of Alachua County. It was bounded on the north by Alachua, on the east by Mosquito County (see footnote), on the south by Hillsborough County and on the west by the Gulf of Mexico, embracing what now comprises Pasco, Hernando and Citrus Counties.
The name "Hernando" was given this county in honor of Hernando De Soto, a Spanish nobleman, conqueror and explorer, who landed in Tampa Bay and marched through this territory in July, 1839.
Upon the passage of an act in 1842 which gave every desirable settler a section of land below the Withlacoochee River as an inducement to bring people into the state, there came pioneers with their wives and children. To their courage and hardihood is Hernando County indebted for its development and progress. Among the first newcomers were Col. Byrd Pearson, Mrs. J. S. Brunner and Captain Bradley.
The first settlement in this county was in 1843 at Old De Soto, located one and a half [miles] northeast of the present site of Brooksville, on Gorden Lake, and named for Hernando De Soto, as was the county. Several families lived in this settlement built
Footnote: Mosquito changed to Orange, Jan. 30, 1845.
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of sturdy pine logs. A block house, or meeting house, and several cabins were enclosed by a high log stockade in which loop-holes were cut for the sentry to stand guard against surprise attacks by the Indians. The old stage road ran in front of the settlement and brought in supplies at irregular intervals.
Because a hard limerock sub-surface made it impossible to reach water, the settlement abandoned Old De Soto and moved to the present site amidst the springs, which later was named Brooksville.
In 1855 the Board of County Commissioners decided to erect a courthouse on the site where the present courthouse now stands. This building was constructed of wood and a cannon mounted on the west lawn to be fired in case of fire or other emergencies.
PARSONS IN LEG 1854, 1855
In 1860 Major John Parsons, elected to the Legislative Council, contending that Bay Port was more suitable a site for a county seat since it was accessible by water as well as by land caused the county seat to be moved to Bay Port.
At the change of the county seat political friction and personal feeling ran high. However, when the Federals bombed the city in 1863 during the Civil War the county records were moved out in the dead of night and Brooksville again became the county seat. Only two terms of court were held in Bay Port.
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In 1877 the courthouse was burned, destroying all records. It is believed that the fire was incendiary, inasmuch as two murder cases were on the calendar for the next term of court.
The courthouse was rebuilt in 1878. This was a two-story frame structure of unfinished wood which had been sawed by the first saw mill ever to operate in the county, owned by T. S. Coogler. At the completion of the building a volunteer fire brigade was established to facilitate fire fighting.
Due to the march of progress and the increasing number of settlements, it became evident that the county seats were too far apart for their affairs to be efficiently administered. Thus, a series of legislative acts followed, resulting in 1884 in the division of Hernando County and the creation of Pasco and Citrus counties therefrom.
By the act of the General Assembly the boundary lines of Hernando County were declared as follows: commencing at a point on the Withlacoochee River on the section line dividing sections twelve and thirteen, township twenty-one, south, of range twenty, east, and running thence up said river to the junction therewith of the Little Withlacoochee River to the head of the same; thence south on the range line to the line dividing sections twenty-three, south, of range twenty-two, east; thence west to the line dividing
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townships twenty-three and twenty-four; thence west along said line to the Gulf of Mexico; thence northerly along said Gulf, including islands, to the south line of Citrus County; thence along the south line of Citrus County to the place of beginning.
At a called mass meeting of the citizens of Brooksville on September 9, 1880, there was elected a mayor, a marshall, a clerk, five aldermen, a treasurer, an assessor, and a collector of revenue. At this meeting Mr. John L. May donated fifteen acres of the land east of the main street and Mr. Joseph Hale donated fifteen acres west of the main to the town of Brooksville for public property. The proceeds of the sale of any or all of said acreage to be used for the operating expenses of the town.
On June 5, 1911, the Board of County Commissioners asked for bids for the erection of a new fire-proof courthouse according to the plans and specifications of Chamberlin & Co., architects. The new brick structure of two and a half stories was erected on the site of the former building and occupies the entire square in the center of the business section reserved by the county for that purpose.
In 1925 Brooksville was incorporated.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Brevard. History of Florida.
2. Fairbanks. History of Florida.
3. Mayo, Nathan. Sixth Census of the State of Florida, 1935.
4. Stockbridge. Florida in the Making.
5. Compiled General Laws of Florida, 1927.
CONSULTANTS
1. Brunner, Mrs. Carrie. Brooksville, Fla.
2. Coogler, A. C. Pres., First National Bank, Brooksville, Fla.
3. Hancock, Mrs. Tom. Brooksville, Fla.
4. Mickler, Harry M. Clerk of Circuit Court, Brooksville, Fla.
5. Sanders, Bud. Brooksville, Fla.
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