WPA
Sumter Co-
History
(Garratt)
HISTORY OF SUMTER COUNTY
Ira T. Sprinkle
Sumter County is especially famous because of the Dade Massacre.
In 1821 Florida was transferred from Spain to the United States. General Andrew Jackson was made Military Governor. In making two divisions of Florida, the Suwanee River was used as a dividing line. St. Johns County included all territory in the present bounds of the state east of the Suwanee River. Escambia County, all territory within the bounds of the state west of the Suwanee.
In 1822-23 Duval was formed from St. Johns. December 1824, the Peninsular separated from St. Johns and from this territory three counties were formed: Mosquito County, on the Atlantic; Alachua County, on the gulf [sic], extending south to Charlotte Harbor; and Monroe County, at the end of the Peninsular, southeast of Charlotte Harbor.
Chapter 107, Florida Laws of 1847. That the district of country bounded as follows, to wit;- Beginning at the mouth of the Big Withlacoochee river, thence up said river to the junction of the Little Withlacoochee river, thence up said Little Withlacoochee to the head of the same, thence east to the meridian line, thence along said meridian line south to the Hillsborough river, thence down said river to the line dividing Townships numbered twenty-six and twenty-seven south, thence due west along said line to the Gulf of Mexico, thence along said Gulf to the place of beginning, including all the lands and islands which said river lines and Gulf may enclose.
Section 2. That from and after the passage of this act, the line dividing Townships numbered twenty-six and twenty-seven be and the same is hereby declared to be the line dividing Hillsborough and Benton
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Counties.
In 1853 Sumter County was created (spelled Sumpter). Chapter 548, Laws of Florida. The County of Sumter (spelled Sumpter) be established, and that all that portion of Marion County which lies south of the line dividing Townships seventeen and eighteen, will be Sumter County. Approved January 8, 1853.
In 1871 the boundaries of Sumter and Polk Counties were changed. Chapter 1848, Laws of Florida. County line between Polk and Sumter Counties changed so as to make the Withlacoochee river the boundary line between the counties.
The first towns established were: Wildwood, Sumterville, and Adamsville. Others followed in succession, Center Hill, Bushnell, Oxford, Coleman, and Webster.
In 1872 a part of Sumter was given to Orange County. In 1879 we find that the boundaries of Sumter, Orange and Polk Counties were again changed.
In 1887, Chapter 3771, Florida Laws, Lake County was created from Sumter County.
In 1889, Chapter 3932, laws of Florida, again changes the boundary of Sumter. An act to declare the territory lying south of Township Line dividing Townships twenty-four and twenty-five, now part of Sumter county, a part of Polk County.
The last official law that directly affects the county of Sumter is Chapter 8503, Laws of Florida 1921, an act to establish Dade Memorial Park. Provide for a commission to acquire necessary land and make appropriation to meet the expenses.
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The first court house was a little one-room log cabin in Adamsville in 1839. In 1861 the county seat was moved to Sumterville. Sumterville had the frst post office in 1854. The court house at Sumterville was burned in 1909 and by a vote of the people the county seat was moved to Bushnell and the present court house was built.
The first railroad of the county was from Jacksonville to Wildwood in 1850. This road was extended to Tampa in 1884.
Tuckeho was settled in 1840. Later Major Lovell's daughter gave it the name of Center Hill. The reason she gave for this name was that it was situated in the center of the county and state.
John Tompkins and Granville Beville brought the first slaves to the county in 1845-46.
Dade Massacre. In the latter part of the month of December, 1835, Major Dade left Tampa for Fort King with 139 men. He had a sixpowder field piece and a wagon with rations for ten days. He had as guide a negro named Lewis. It is believed that Lewis told the Indians when the march would begin and what the route would be, for they were gathered at the Big Wahoo Swamp to make an attack. The Indians had burned the bridge on the Hillsboro River, and this delayed the expedition a few days.
On the morning of December 28, the same day on which General Thompson was killed, the company was marching along a road near the Withlacoochee, where the country was covered with palmettoes. On the western side of the road the Indians were concealed in the palmettoes waiting for the approach of the soldiers. A sudden volley from their rifles killed half the command. Major Dade was one of the first that fell. The survivors rallied quickly and drove the Indians over a small ridge. Then they hastily made a small triangular breast work of pine trees. In about three-quarters of an hour the Indians made an
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nother attack, and the dreadful work was soon done. Only two of the men escaped. When all had fallen, the savages rushed into the fort, stripping the dead of their arms and accouterments.
The guide had escaped to his Indian friends. The whole country was shocked at the news of this Massacre, and at first could hardly believe the dreadful truth.
Bibliography: Laws of Florida
Records of County Court House
Miss Corrinne Smith
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