| This photograph is of the Anclote Cemetery in July 1974 after years of neglect and falling into disrepair. Today, the cemetery is in much better condition, however there are numerous unmarked burials. (From author's private collection) |
| This photograph is of the Anclote Cemetery in July 1974 after years of neglect and falling into disrepair. Today, the cemetery is in much better condition, however there are numerous unmarked burials. (From author's private collection) |
| This cemetery is rooted deep in the history of Pasco County situated in the southwestern most part of Pasco county.
According to "Tarpon Springs Florida- The Early Years" by Gertrude Stoughton, in 1867 Frederic and Benjamin Franklin Meyer, brothers, left their plantations in Ocala with their family and livestock. After traveling the primitive roads they finally stopped about (3) miles west of present day Tarpon Springs. After acquiring property from Captain Samuel Hope the two men built log cabins, planted their first crops and planted orange seeds they had brought with them. In 1869 Frederic Meyer contracted yellow fever and after being taken by the illness was buried on the property; this was the first burial in what would become the Anclote Cemetery. On September 11th 1871 Benjamin F. Meyer became the second burial in the cemetery when he too contracted yellow fever. Benjamin served as a Sgt. in Co. H 2nd Reg. FL during the Civil War and also as a youth fought in the Mexican War. Benjamin's widow, Sarah, received a small pension from the United States for her husbands service in the Mexican War. Gradually others began to settle around the Meyer cabins and the community that was established became known as Anclote. Eventually a school, ferry, post office, general store and what was now becoming a community cemetery were established at Anclote. One of Anclote's more prominent residents was Capt. Samuel Hope who while serving with the State Legislature petitioned the House to establish a lighthouse at Anclote, which on January 16th, 1879 was passed unanimously. On January 20th, four day later, Hope pushed a joint resolution to establish a mail route from Anclote to Tampa, via the "Stevinson's Bridge". Hope next asked for a mail route to be established from Troy, FL. to Anclote; both resolution were passed, the latter with only one vote of opposition. The Anclote post office had been established only a few months prior on September 10, 1878 with William Cobb serving as post master; neither Cobb or Hope are buried in the Anclote Cemetery but both assisted in the building of the small community. According to a deed dated June 1st 1878, Samuel Hope purchased forty (40) acres of property located in Section 34, Township 26, Range 15, this property is located on the Anclote River at the present day Pinellas/ Pasco Boarder on the Pasco side. Soon after the purchase Samuel built a home and moved his family there from Brooksville where he had previously homesteaded land. Hope received the deed for his property in Brooksville about the same time he moved to Anclote with the date on the homestead deed being also June 1st 1878. 
Soon after the passing of Benjamin Meyer another pioneer resident of Anclote, Sudie Helvenson (1881), was interred in the cemetery. Sarah A. Meyer (1892) and Sarah Ann Meyer (1899) became the next internments, these were the wives of Benjamin and Frederic. William and Green Meyer, descendants of Benjamin and Frederic, became owners of the property. After the death of William Meyer in 1904, Green decided to have the grounds surveyed and platted. In November of 1913 the land was officially designated a cemetery and the plat filed with Pasco County. (click here to see 1913 plat) In 1915 another of Anclote Cemetery's confederates was laid to rest. James Richard Jacks was born in 1835, in Tennessee, to parents William Martin Jacks born 1815 KY. and Narcissia Temperence Redding born 1815. James R. Jacks was married twice, first to Bethany Herridge. The date and location of this first marriage are unknown, however to this union was born Christopher, Leonidas, Lulla, Robert E. Willis and Conealus. During the fall of 1861 Mr. Jacks became a member of the 24th Mississippi Infantry Company K, which was organized at Meridian, Mississippi with 11 companies. The 24th Mississippi Infantry moved to Florida and then returned to Mississippi to take part in the siege of Corinth, after which the company served in Kentucky and then was assigned to an Army of Tennessee where they endured Hood's winter operation. The 24th Mississippi Infantry participated in numerous battles from Murfreesboro to Atlanta and even saw action in North Carolina, this company also sustained many casualties; 116 at Murfreesboro, 132 at Chickamauga and 189 at Chatanooga. For a time the 24th Mississippi Inafantry was consolidated with the 27th regiment and in December of 1863 totaled 491 and 354 arms. After the Civil War on October 5, 1879 Mr. Jacks married Salena Emma Hall (1845-1935) in Layfete, Mississippi; to this union was born Erlie May, Ernest Lee b. 1880, Ouida b. 1884 and Olin E. b. 1890. It is not know exactly when James and Salena Jacks came to Pasco County, however they appear in the 1910 Federal Census as living in Anclote and Mr. Jacks occupation was a farmer. Both James and Salena Jacks were laid to rest in the Anclote Cemetery along with their daughter Ouida who on December 30, 1903 married Robert Mason Crumpler.
Like most cemeteries in Pasco County there are many unmarked graves in the Anclote Cemetery. There are also several graves that lie on the outside of the cemetery property, these names will be included in the list of burial which will be added soon. Many times the graves on the outside of these properties are neglected, in some cases headstones are removed and graves are sometimes developed with the property; forever destroying history. This cemetery is now under the care of Vincent Funeral Homes and seems to be pretty well maintained at the time of this posting but has had reports of unfit conditions in the past. A newspaper article states that the Anclote Cemetery was recently cleaned by a group of Pasco County inmates in 2005.
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| NOTE: In addition to the taking of a headstone
inscription reading we have also consulted a number of other records
including but not limited to cemetery research
by Mary Wilson, Florida Death Index*, Local Funeral Home Records, W.P.A. Records, Unpublished Genealogical Society
Records, obituaries and newspaper articles. If we have an
obituary on file for someone listed we would be happy to provide a
copy upon request. **This cemetery contains numerous unmarked graves. There are also a number of temporary markers that have been removed since this transcription and as a result those burials are now unmarked. There are also several Smith graves on the outside of the cemetery fence and on the neighbors adjoining property. If you have additional burial information or additional burial information please contact Jeff Cannon. KEY FOR SYMBOLS
s/o - Son Of d/o - Daughter Of w/o - Wife Of h/o - Husband Of ss/w- Side by Side With AHMAD, Infant b. Dec. 3, 1992 (Moss-Feaster Funeral Home marker)
ANDERSON, Alice no dates (Vinson Funeral Home marker) ANDERSON, Bernett N. no dates ANDERSON, Margaret M. b. April 17, 1906 d. Jan. 21, 1976 ANDERSON, Penny L. no dates (Vinson Funeral Home marker) ANDERSON, Theodore James b. Jan. 19, 1918 d. Jan. 20, 1976 (BM1 USN- WWII) ANDERSON, William B. b. 1888 d. 1960 (Vinson Funeral Home marker) ANDERSON, William R. b. July 28, 1915 d. April 11, 1978 (S SGT USA- WWII) AUGUSTA, Janice L. b. Jan. 1, 1946 d. April 7, 1988 AYOTTE, Walter Russell b. May 3, 1920 d. July 7, 1987 (Sgt. USA- WWII) B. F. M.- no dates (headstone missing- foot marker with initials only- Benjamin Franklin Meyers?) BECK, Mary E. b. 1880 d. 1961 BONNER, Herbert b. June 26, 1884 d. Aug. 13, 1957 BOWEN, Edgar R. b. Oct. 21, 1967 d. April 13, 1987 BOYD, Carrie Frances b. Aug. 17, 1887 d. March 24, 1967 BOYD, Cornelius E. b. 1894 d. 1973 (North Funeral Home marker) BOYD, Joshua C. b. Jan. 12, 1924 d. Nov. 25, 1990 (TEC 5 USA- WWII) BOYD, Sr., Robert Lee b. March 27, 1889 d. Dec. 20, 1965 BRADY, Amelia A. b. Nov. 18, 1855 d. Jan. 15, 1894 BRADY, John A b. Jan. 26, 1856 d. Oct. 4, 1925 BRAGG, Alma L. b. July 27, 1906 d. Aug. 4, 1968 BRAGG, Frank E. b. Aug. 31, 1895 d. May 7, 1968 (FLA PFC. CO. E 168 INF- WWI) CALHOUN, Marchand b. 1910 d. 1972 CALHOUN, Marchand b. 1910 d. 1973, (Vinson Funeral Home marker) CAREY, Lena D. (1911 only date) CAREY, Wayne (1903 only date) CHANEY, David E. b. 1963 d. 1991, (Dobies Funeral Home marker) CHANEY, Paul E. b. 1958 d. 1992 COLLIER, Mildred L. (April 24, 1931 only date) COLLIER, Robert E."Kid" b. June 19, 1930 d. March 18, 1987 COOK, Willie R. b. 1931 d. 1960 COONEY, Celia b. 1904 d. 1992 COVERT, Huldah C. b. 1881 d. 1953 COVERT, Irving b. 1882 d. 1956 COX, Ida Mary b. May 21, 1894 d. April 22, 1967 (w/o J.L.- Jesse Lee Cox) COX, Jesse L. b. Jan. 13, 1894 d. Sept. 15, 1960 (Michigan PVT.CO. M Casualty DET- WWI) CROSBY, Cora M. (April 19, 1900 only date) (Age 66 yrs.- d/o H. S. & S. A. Crosby) CROSBY, Sarah A. (March 18, 1893 only date) (Age 92 yrs.- w/o H. S. Crosby) CROSBY, Spencer A. (Nov. 10, 1893 only date) (Age 54 yrs.- s/o H. S. & S. A. Crosby) DICKS, Charlotte (Sep. 28, 1946 only date) (Age 74) DICKS, Henry E. b. 1900 d. 1986 DICKS, Horace Samuel b. Nov. 7, 1890 d. Jan. 2, 1965 (FLA CPL CONST DIV MC- WWI) DICKS, John Griffen (Dec. 3, 1947 only date) (Age 84- Vinson Funeral Home marker) DICKS, Mary R. b. Sept. 12, 1910 d. May 10, 1984 DONNELL, Marguerite O. b. 1896 d. 1984 DUKES, Doris B. b. Oct 25, 1913 d. Apr 21 1989 DUKES, Fielding H. b. Sept. 1, 1913 d. Dec. 4, 1968 DUPUIS, William b. Jan. 11, 1979 d. Jan. 28, 1979 EADY, James M. (May 13,1982 only date) (s/o Lavon & Mary Eady) EADY, Mary A. b. June 21, 1950 d. June 8, 1982 EAGLES, John W. b. July 13, 1958 d. Oct. 22, 1982, ("We Love You" Joni, Kellie,Steve, Pat, Clifton, Bruce, Tessie , Danielle, Free Bird and All Friends) EMMINS, Douglas R. (1984 only date) (Dobies Funeral Home marker) GIBSON, John b. 1938 d. 1993 GLOVER, William F. b. March 5, 1900 d. April 15, 1945 (Florida PVT. Air Service) GOETHE, Annie E. b. 1866 d. 1943 GOETHE, Edward D. b. 1860 d. 1936 GOETHE, Franklin Marion b. July 14, 1891 d. Sept. 23, 1912 (s/o E. D. & A. E. Goethe) GOETHE, Susie b. Dec. 16, 1898 d. Nov. 21, 1904 (d/o E. D. & A. E. Goethe- broken headstone) GOETHE, William Edward b. May 13, 1889 d. Dec. 31, 1909 (s/o E. D. & A. E. Goethe) GREEN, Mrytle Mae b. Sept. 11, 1925 d. Nov. 3, 1992, (Vinson Funeral Home marker) GREEN, William H. b. Aug. 24, 1919 d. May 22, 1976 (PFC USA WWII) GRIFFEN, Alvin b. 1865 d. 1936 GRIFFEN, Baby Girl b. 1990 d. 1990 GRIFFEN, Mary O. b. 1859 d. 1938 HADSOCK, Daniel J. b. April 24, 1919 d. Oct. 12, 1988 HADSOCK, James D. (1939 only date) HADSOCK, Mary F. b. May 18, 1921 d. May 29, 1981 HADSOCK, William A. b. Feb. 10, 1949 d. Aug 18, 1968 (FLA PFC CO E 7 MAR 1 MAR DIV- VIETNAM PH) HAZELDINE, Charles A. b. Sept. 2, 1905 d. Dec. 28, 1970 HAZELDINE, Marion E. b. Jan. 15, 1903 d. Aug. 14, 1975 HELVENSTON, Samuel L. b. Aug. 31, 1881 d. Nov. 11, 1881 (s/o John J. & Sudie M Helventson). HELVENSTON, Sudie M. b. July 20, 1861 d. Sept. 16 1881 (w/o John) J. M. B. (no dates- father- possible footstone?) J. M. B. Jr. (Foot marker with initials only) JACKS, James R. b. 1835 d. 1915 JACKS, Olin E. b. 1890 d. 1965 JACKS, Salena E. b. 1845 d. 1935 JACOBS, Gerald (1932 only date) JACOBS, Gertrude A. (1908 only date) JACOBS, Margaret E. (1926 only date) JACOBS, Rudolph A. Jr. b. 1927 d. 1985 JACOBS, Rudolph A. Sr. b. 1905 d. 1985 JOHNS, Angela Leigh b. May 29, 1964 d. April 28, 1978 JOHNS, Bernard C. b. March 6, 1930 d. Oct. 4, 1987 (PVT US ARMY) JOHNS, Clive b. July 3, 1906 d. April 3, 1969 JOHNS, G. W. b. 1880 d. 1941 JOHNS, George W. b. Aug. 5, 1907 d. Aug. 29, 1971 JOHNS, Glenda Gail b. Aug. 7, 1940 d. Aug. 7, 1940 JOHNS, Ida Lang b. 1885 d. 1908 (Dau) JOHNS, James F. b. 1851 d. 1902 (Father) JOHNS, Jeffery F. b. Oct. 18, 1909 d. Dec. 13, 1974 JOHNS, Jessie Lou b. 1874 d. 1953 JOHNS, Mary J. b. 1855 d. 1913 LANG, Edna R. b. Sept. 12, 1910 d. Nov. 29, 1980 LANG, George A. b. 1881 d. 1941 (Father) LANG, Ida b. 1885 d. 1908 (Daughter- Funeral marker) LANG, J. Easton b. Dec. 24, 1905 d. Aug. 22, 1974 LANG, James Erwin b. Sept. 20, 1927 d. March 9, 1963 (FLA FA USN- WWII) LANG, Michael John b. Dec. 20, 1960 (only date- Infant) M. M. J.- no dates (Foot marker with initials only) MANSFIELD, Dorthoy L. no dates (Vinson Funeral Home marker) MEYER, B.F. b. March 27, 1825 d. Sept. 11, 1871 (Sgt. Co A- 2nd REGT Fla. Calv. C.S.A.) MEYER, Elden King b. Aug. 4, 1877 d. Aug. 28, 1953 MEYER, Emma White b. 1880 d. 1945 (w/o W.F. Meyer) MEYER, Fred Jr. b. 1858 d. 1927 MEYER, Fredrick b. 1819 d. 1869 MEYER, G. B. d. Jun 3 1906 (Age 44 yrs. 11 mos.) MEYER, Green b. 1867 d. 1917 MEYER, Gus Reeves b. Aug. 24, 1909 d. Jan. 4, 1949 (FLA GMIC USNR- WWII) MEYER, Keith A. b. Jan. 15, 1903 d. Jan. 26, 1903 (s/o R.S. & N.B. Meyer) MEYER, Nannie B. b. Jan. 28, 1876 d. July 21, 1920 (w/o Robert S. Meyer) MEYER, R. Ivan b. Feb. 21, 1900 d. May 8, 1973 MEYER, Robert S. b. Feb. 4, 1868 d. Jan. 31, 1945 MEYER, Sarah A. b. June 14, 1831 d. April 15, 1892 (w/o B.F. Meyer) MEYER, Sarah Ann b. 1833 d. 1899 MEYER, William F. b. 1864 d. 1904 MEYERS, Victoria b. 1898 d. 1992 (Dobies Funeral Home marker) MILLER, Anthony D. b. 1899 d. 1954 MILLER, Donna Jo d. July 27, 1962 MILLER, E. Irene b. 1903 d. 1972 No Name, No dates (Vinson Funeral Home) OLSON, Anna M. b. July 19, 1901 d. Nov. 14, 1989 OLSON, Waldimer O. b. Dec. 4, 1903 d. Nov. 14, 1988 OSWALD, Naomi b. 1906 d. 1988 (Pvt. USA) PERRY, Marjorie M. b. Nov. 9, 1930 d. July 22, 1963 PERRY, Roy Nelson b. 1904 d. 1967 POWERS, Frank b. Sept. 10, 1916 d. March 15, 1993 QUINTANA, Hector N. b. 1953 d. 1991 QUIRK, Edward K. b. June 29, 1911 d. Sept. 15, 1992 RASMUSSEN, Carl b. 1917 d. 1967 RASMUSSEN, Dovie Mae b. 1910 d. 1987, (Vinson Funeral Home marker) RASMUSSEN, Eunice Tucker b. 1918 d. 1972 (w/o Carl Rasmussen) RASMUSSEN, Myra b. 1879 d. 1941, (Part of a chrome bumper filled with cemment as the headstone) RASMUSSEN, Peter b. 1882 d. 1935 REWIS, James M. b. 1930 d. 1985, (Vinson funeral Home marker- inside Rasmussen family plot) REWIS, John Jackson b. June 2, 1882 d. Dec. 12, 1954 RIPPY, James R. b. 1906 d. 1986 (North Funeral Home marker) RIPPY, Jewell d. Sep 23 1991 ROBINSON, Frances Marie b. June 12, 1963 d. March 27, 1982 S. A. C. no dates (foot marker with initials only) S. E. H., Jr. (foot marker with initials only) SAPP, Aida Louise b. 1911 d. 1978 (Burns Funeral Home marker) SAPP, Ellard E. b. Dec. 14, 1903 d. May 21, 1967 SAPP, Martha Kate b. 1886 d. 1981 (Vinson Funeral Home marker) SAPP, Vivian b. Feb. 8, 1924 d. Nov. 25, 1935 SHORT, Annie b. 1886 d. 1972 SHOUP, Sara b. July 21, 1854 d. March 15, 1938 SMITH, G. Fred b. 1864 d. 1951 SMITH, Nelly W. b. 1866 d. 1940 (Erected by Jessie Ryals, Lula C. Uzzell, Olivia McCormac) STEWART, Florence b. 1893 d. 1991, (Dobies Funeral Home marker) TANKSLEY, Maymie b. 1901 d. 1930 THOMAS, Joseph David b. Dec. 17, 1882 d. Feb. 3, 1943 THOMPSON, Joseph G. b. 1850 d. 1921 THOMPSON, Sarah b. 1861 d. 1947 THORNBY, Paul Reed "TROLL" b. July 4, 1946 d. July 25, 1982 (Thorney, Paul Reed-"Let Those That Ride Decide) TONGAY, Elizabeth b. 1914 d. 1992 (Vinson Funeral Home) TONGAY, Kathy b. May 22, 1947 d. May 6, 1953 (d/o Elizabeth Tongay) TONGAY, Rusty b. 1944 d. 1945 (s/o Elizabeth Tongay) TUCKER, Arthur H. no dates (CO 'A' 35 NY INF) TUCKER, Eunice R. b. 1918 d. 1972 UNKNOWN (Grave Site - grave item with no marker) UNKNOWN (Grave Site- Possibly Depuis- Dobies Funeral Home) UNKNOWN, Gravesite (Gravesite -Identical To Sapp, Martha Kate, probably "Sapp") VAN WERT, Gilbert b. Feb. 29, 1880 d. Jan. 13, 1957 VAUGHN, Clara L. (1903 only date) (w/o George A Vaughn). VAUGHN, George A. b. 1896 d. 1981 (Horseshoer USA- WWI) VAUGHN, George A. b. Jan. 19, 1927 d. May 12, 1977 (TEC USA- WWII) WAHLER, Edgar J. b. 1934 d. 1987 WELCH, Ruby Green b. 1919 d. 1969 WELLER, W. E. b. 1859 d. 1936 WEST, Richard b. June 23, 1934 d. Sept. 5, 1991 WHITE, Christine R. b. 1913 d. 1983 WHITE, Mary b. 1900 d. 1965 WOLFENBARGER, John Richard b. Dec. 19, 1936 d. Jan. 25, 1972 WOLFENBARGER, Teresa Ann b. Oct. 19, 1965 d. Feb. 21, 1972 WRINKLE, Hugh E. b. June 14, 1915 d. Feb. 9, 1984 (Pvt. USA) |
There are also a few, of the many, Anclote Lighthouse Keepers buried
here. Among those are Benjamin Franklin Meyer, mentioned above, and his
son Robert S. Meyer who was a keeper for 43 years. It is believed that Dr. Baggett is buried here but there is no
headstone for him, however there is a small marker with the initials
JMB. Dr. James M. Baggett was the first dentist in
Florida to become certified and served as lighthouse
keeper from Oct. 1888- July 1891. Among Dr. Baggett's achievements was
helping establish the West Hillsborough Times (now the St. Petersburg Times).
To the left is a picture provided to this web page by Brenda
Knowles and may not be reproduced, which shows the Anclote Lighthouse
and the home of the lighthouse keepers, the date of the photo is
unknown.