History of the Whitehouse Plantation Cemetery
Section 22 - Township 24 - Range 21
According to the well documented and well researched article "This was Fort Dade" by Frank Laumer, which appeared in the "Florida Historical Quarterly"
July 1966- April 1967, on December 23, 1836 Fort Dade was born,
exactly one year after the Dade Battle and the loss of Major
Francis Langhorne Dade. From headquarters at Fort Brooke, Tampa,
General Thomas S. Jessup gave orders to erect a new fort, the
announcement read: "A fort will be erected... on the Big Withlacoochee,
at point where Fort King road crosses it, which will bear the name of
the gallant and lamented Dade." The General had come down the Fort King
Road on December 17, 1836, from Volousia, with 300 regular Troops and
500 warrior Indians headed for Fort Brooke. They crossed the
Withlacoochee River, having to ford the river because the bridge had
been destroyed; they stopped and made camp on the south shore.
This was an ideal location for a fort, at the crossroads of the
big river and the military highway in the heart of the Indian
settlement where it could be sign to the Seminoles that the white man
had come to stay. One week after the announcement of the new
fort, General Jessup issued Order No. 26, which instructed Lieutenant
Colonel William Foster of the Fourth Infantry to proceed to the
location on the Withlacoochee and establish Fort Dade. On Christmas
Day 1836 the work began, for two weeks Colonel Foster kept his men busy
clearing the site along the river to give the fort a place to stand.
Log after log was cut and sharpened like a spear and then placed
together to make an enclosure. A thousand logs stood shoulder to
shoulder and a thousand more hung from iron hinges to form the huge gate at
the entrance. Within the enclosure supplies were placed;
"twenty-five thousand ball and buck-shot cartridges, twenty-five
thousand rounds of rifle powder and bullets, fifty thousand rations,
five thousand bushels of corn, and supply of tools of every description
for service in the field as well as iron, steel and cordage." On
January 8th 1837 General Jessup arrived to set up a temporary
headquarters, for the Army of the south, at the unfinished fort.
By this time the damaged bridge had been shored up, much of the
land cleared and the construction of block buildings started; soon
barracks, storerooms and a hospital were built. A few days after
arriving, General Jessup and Col. A. Henderson of the marines formed
ranks and accompanied by the regular troops of the fort left the fort
and set out to find the Seminoles and take their land, Col. Foster and
his battalion along with Captain Lyon's artillerymen stayed to watch the
new fort.
This picture entitled "Arrival of the South Carolina Dragoons at the Withlacochee" shows the bridge that crossed the Withlacochee River along the Fort King Road. This bridge was destroyed by Indians and rebuilt by the Army numerous times. It was this location that Fort Dade was erected. (Photo from Pasco County Florida 1887-1987 Centennial)
On February 8th 1837 General Jessup and his men met with Seminoles Alligator and Jumper; Jumper had lead the attack that killed Maj. Dade. Arrangements were made for a meeting at Fort Dade to discuss peace between the white man and the Indians, the meeting was to take place on February 18th 1837. The 18th of February came and the sun rose and set just as it had every other day and the meeting never took place because the Indians didn't show. On February 22nd 1837, Major Dade's birthday, a party of Seminoles were spotted on the road, at four o'clock Cloud and Alligator entered the gates of Fort Dade. Negotiations went on for weeks and Gen. Jessup met with several chiefs including Alligator, Jumper, Cloud and Halah-too-chee a nephew and heir of Micanopy. Jessup insisted the only way for peace was emigration of the Indians. Speaking through Abraham a half-cast Negro on Sunday March 5th 1837 the two sides reached an agreement. Halah-too-chee opened the talks and stated that his uncle, Micanopy, hereditary chief of all the Seminoles, was old and ill therefore being unable to attend had appointed him and Jumper to act for him and to ratify any agreement that might be reached. General Jessup accepted and asked if it was understood that the Indians must leave the country? The question was translated through Abraham and the answer was "yes" they understood. The next day the agreement was put to paper and the chiefs made their marks. They would return and gather their people and possessions including their slaves and proceed to the camp set up by the military near Fort Brooke where they will prepare for shipment to the west.
This agreement made by the Seminoles was a tactic to gain the trust of the military. The military gave them vast quantities of food, medicine and other provisions. For nearly three months most of the Seminole nation was located in a camp just outside Fort Brooke, where they gained their strength. In June they disappeared back into the woods and swamps. The meetings and agreement made at Fort Dade on March 6th 1837 was the only history that would be captured there, in the years that followed the fort was abandoned in the summer and then come fall the bustle of troops could again be heard inside the walls of the fort when men could again wage war. After 1842 when the struggle ended with the Seminoles the troops stayed at the fort for shorter periods of time and some years would be skipped entirely. In September of 1849 the last detachment was sent to Fort Dade, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bainbridge of the 7th Infantry was sent from Fort Brooke to garrison Fort Dade however the detachment stopped 8 miles short of the Big Withlacoochee River and the old Fort Dade. The detachment of troops stopped and made camp in an area near what had become known as the Fort Dade Community named for the old fort that stood on the Big Withlacoochee. It was here along the old military road that the residents had built a few shanties and placed spoils from their crops.
The soldiers sent their mail from the Fort Dade Post Office filling out their returns for Fort Dade, FL. According to the "History of Zephyrhills" by Rosemary Trottman, it was on January 2nd 1845 that the Fort Dade Post Office was established by James Gibbons. Gibbons kept the post office in his home and served as postmaster, his home became known as the Whitehouse Plantation because of his two-story whitewashed home. Gibbons homesteaded 160 acres located in the S. half of the SE. quarter of Section 22 and the N. half of the NE quarter of Section 27 in Township 24S Range 21E. According to the original survey of the Dade City area dated April 4th 1846 the Gibbons property was located just off the Fort King Road (here to see survey map), the original survey notes indicate that Gibbons owned a field of 20 acres likely containing a crop (click here to see survey notes). James Gibbons was well known throughout Hernando County, on November 6th 1843 Gibbons was elected to the Florida House of Representative, serving for Hernando County along with William Cooley and Cyprian T. Jenkins. Gibbons was re-elected again in 1844 and 1845, however while traveling to Tallahassee to take his seat in 1845 Gibbons died; it's believed that he may have been interred on his property. James Gibbons passed away before the deed to his 160 acres was issued, on December 01, 1849 a homestead deed was issued to the "heirs and legal representatives of James Gibbons, deceased." This deed also indicates that on December 20th 1842 there was a permit, for this property, issued to James Gibbons. (click here to see 1849 deed)
The heir of the property was James' wife Mary Townsend Gibbons. Soon after James Gibbons died his wife, Mary, remarried to William Kendrick who subsequently moved to the Whitehouse Plantation after the marriage. In 1849 William Kendrick became the postmaster for the Fort Dade Post Office. According to the 1850 Federal Census William Kendrick, a 27 year old farmer owned property valued at $1280 and was married to Mary Kendrick, 34; they were enumerated in the Buddy Lake Settlement along with children Harriett S. Gibbons, Margaret T. Gibbons, Mary Magdalene Gibbons, Sarah Gibbons, Isaac T. Gibbons, Elizabeth Kendrick and Ellen Kendrick. According to the 1860 Hernando County Tax Records William Kendrick paid taxes on 14 slaves valued at $7000. The plantation cemetery no longer exist and it is not known who was buried there, its possible that this was started as a Gibbons Family Cemetery or even a slave cemetery. Also given the close proximity to the encampment of troops it is possible that this cemetery was for them. With the Whitehouse Plantation being the focal and center of the community, the cemetery may have been an early burial place for the Fort Dade Community. Nothing of the plantation exist today. A historic marker on the site reads:
Photo courtesy of fivay.org
This picture entitled "Arrival of the South Carolina Dragoons at the Withlacochee" shows the bridge that crossed the Withlacochee River along the Fort King Road. This bridge was destroyed by Indians and rebuilt by the Army numerous times. It was this location that Fort Dade was erected. (Photo from Pasco County Florida 1887-1987 Centennial)
On February 8th 1837 General Jessup and his men met with Seminoles Alligator and Jumper; Jumper had lead the attack that killed Maj. Dade. Arrangements were made for a meeting at Fort Dade to discuss peace between the white man and the Indians, the meeting was to take place on February 18th 1837. The 18th of February came and the sun rose and set just as it had every other day and the meeting never took place because the Indians didn't show. On February 22nd 1837, Major Dade's birthday, a party of Seminoles were spotted on the road, at four o'clock Cloud and Alligator entered the gates of Fort Dade. Negotiations went on for weeks and Gen. Jessup met with several chiefs including Alligator, Jumper, Cloud and Halah-too-chee a nephew and heir of Micanopy. Jessup insisted the only way for peace was emigration of the Indians. Speaking through Abraham a half-cast Negro on Sunday March 5th 1837 the two sides reached an agreement. Halah-too-chee opened the talks and stated that his uncle, Micanopy, hereditary chief of all the Seminoles, was old and ill therefore being unable to attend had appointed him and Jumper to act for him and to ratify any agreement that might be reached. General Jessup accepted and asked if it was understood that the Indians must leave the country? The question was translated through Abraham and the answer was "yes" they understood. The next day the agreement was put to paper and the chiefs made their marks. They would return and gather their people and possessions including their slaves and proceed to the camp set up by the military near Fort Brooke where they will prepare for shipment to the west.
This agreement made by the Seminoles was a tactic to gain the trust of the military. The military gave them vast quantities of food, medicine and other provisions. For nearly three months most of the Seminole nation was located in a camp just outside Fort Brooke, where they gained their strength. In June they disappeared back into the woods and swamps. The meetings and agreement made at Fort Dade on March 6th 1837 was the only history that would be captured there, in the years that followed the fort was abandoned in the summer and then come fall the bustle of troops could again be heard inside the walls of the fort when men could again wage war. After 1842 when the struggle ended with the Seminoles the troops stayed at the fort for shorter periods of time and some years would be skipped entirely. In September of 1849 the last detachment was sent to Fort Dade, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bainbridge of the 7th Infantry was sent from Fort Brooke to garrison Fort Dade however the detachment stopped 8 miles short of the Big Withlacoochee River and the old Fort Dade. The detachment of troops stopped and made camp in an area near what had become known as the Fort Dade Community named for the old fort that stood on the Big Withlacoochee. It was here along the old military road that the residents had built a few shanties and placed spoils from their crops.
The soldiers sent their mail from the Fort Dade Post Office filling out their returns for Fort Dade, FL. According to the "History of Zephyrhills" by Rosemary Trottman, it was on January 2nd 1845 that the Fort Dade Post Office was established by James Gibbons. Gibbons kept the post office in his home and served as postmaster, his home became known as the Whitehouse Plantation because of his two-story whitewashed home. Gibbons homesteaded 160 acres located in the S. half of the SE. quarter of Section 22 and the N. half of the NE quarter of Section 27 in Township 24S Range 21E. According to the original survey of the Dade City area dated April 4th 1846 the Gibbons property was located just off the Fort King Road (here to see survey map), the original survey notes indicate that Gibbons owned a field of 20 acres likely containing a crop (click here to see survey notes). James Gibbons was well known throughout Hernando County, on November 6th 1843 Gibbons was elected to the Florida House of Representative, serving for Hernando County along with William Cooley and Cyprian T. Jenkins. Gibbons was re-elected again in 1844 and 1845, however while traveling to Tallahassee to take his seat in 1845 Gibbons died; it's believed that he may have been interred on his property. James Gibbons passed away before the deed to his 160 acres was issued, on December 01, 1849 a homestead deed was issued to the "heirs and legal representatives of James Gibbons, deceased." This deed also indicates that on December 20th 1842 there was a permit, for this property, issued to James Gibbons. (click here to see 1849 deed)
The heir of the property was James' wife Mary Townsend Gibbons. Soon after James Gibbons died his wife, Mary, remarried to William Kendrick who subsequently moved to the Whitehouse Plantation after the marriage. In 1849 William Kendrick became the postmaster for the Fort Dade Post Office. According to the 1850 Federal Census William Kendrick, a 27 year old farmer owned property valued at $1280 and was married to Mary Kendrick, 34; they were enumerated in the Buddy Lake Settlement along with children Harriett S. Gibbons, Margaret T. Gibbons, Mary Magdalene Gibbons, Sarah Gibbons, Isaac T. Gibbons, Elizabeth Kendrick and Ellen Kendrick. According to the 1860 Hernando County Tax Records William Kendrick paid taxes on 14 slaves valued at $7000. The plantation cemetery no longer exist and it is not known who was buried there, its possible that this was started as a Gibbons Family Cemetery or even a slave cemetery. Also given the close proximity to the encampment of troops it is possible that this cemetery was for them. With the Whitehouse Plantation being the focal and center of the community, the cemetery may have been an early burial place for the Fort Dade Community. Nothing of the plantation exist today. A historic marker on the site reads:
Photo courtesy of fivay.org
Aside from the Whitehouse Plantation
there were other plantations throughout Pasco/ Hernando County.
Just to the East of the Whitehouse Plantation was neighbor
William T. Brown. On August 1, 1849 a homestead deed, for 160
acres, was issued to William T. Brown. The deed indicates that on
March 17, 1843 a permit had been issued to William for this property.
(click here to see homestead deed)
These permits indicated that the person named had applied for
homestead. According to the survey notes that accompany the
original survey of 1846 "William Brown, Selects the SE 1/4 of Sec. 23.
This contains all his improvements; viz. a dwelling house, smoke house,
kitchen, corn crib, negro house, stable & lot, and about 15 acres
of land in cultivation." Noted among the buildings that William
owned was a negro house, obviously used to house the slaves that he
owned. Even though William only had a small plantation at the
time it was still considered to be a plantation. Keep in mind
that at the time of the survey William had only been improving his
plantation for three years and had not yet completed the homestead
process and qualification.
On January 13, 1859 the Florida Peninsular publisheda story titled "A Trip to Brooksville", in this article one of the reporters for the Tampa based newspaper company wrote about a wonderful trip he had taken to their "sister county" of Hernando. It is believed that the reporter traveled the Fort King Road from Tampa to Brooksville since this was the most direct route for his travels. Actually the Fort King Road went from Fort Brooke in Tampa to Fort King in Ocala with Brooksville being a stopping point along the way. He wrote, "Brooksville is the county town and has a beautiful site. Located in the heart of one of the richest sections of the country in Florida, and is surrounded by staunch planters, it cannot be other than an interesting and thriving little city in a few years. A short ride from Brooksville in any direction, carries one past many fine plantations, the appearance of which dissolves the idea that Florida can never become an agricultural State. Cotton is the staple of this section, and, although last season was unfavorable to a large crop the planters are not dispirited, but will pick their flints and try again. comfort and quiet are inseparably associated with the contemplation of a well regulated farm, and was I never more forcibly reminded of this fact than when viewing the plantations of Hernando. The dwellings are comfortable and neat- some of them having pretentions to architectural beauty- and the good taste universally displayed in the arrangements of the yards."
Websters dictionary defines a plantation as, an agricultural estate usually worked by resident labor. The deep and rich history of Dade City all began around the Whitehouse Plantation. There are many who believe there were "no plantations" in Hernando or Pasco Counties, however it was the local plantations that assisted with the growth and development of the area. It must be stated that the plantations of Hernando and Pasco Counties were no where near the size and magnitude of the plantations in neighboring states but they were still plantations according to definition.
During these early times the community was known as both the Fort Dade Community and the Buddy Lake Settlement, named for nearby Lake Buddy now known as Lake Pasadena. The Fort Dade/ Buddy Lake Settlement utilized two different post offices, which were the Fort Dade and the Cedar Tree Post Offices. As noted above the Fort Dade post office was established in January of 1845 by James Gibbons, who also served as the first postmaster. According to the History of Zephyrhills by Rosemary Trottman, after Gibbons died William D. Spencer was appointed postmaster of Fort Dade on Jan. 31, 1845. He was followed by Clement Tyner in 1848 and Capt. William Kendrick in 1849. After Kendrick's service as Fort Dade postmaster, the post office drifted from place to place and the postmaster position was filled by whom ever would take it.
By 1853 the Cedar Tree post office was established, perhaps because of the inconsistent location of the Fort Dade post office. According to fivay.org, it was on August 20, 1853 that the Cedar Tree post office began its services with James Bates serving as the first postmaster. James Bates settled a few miles northwest of the Fort Dade/ Buddy Lake Settlement. On August 01, 1849 a homestead deed, for 160 acres, was issued to James Bates. Like his neighbors, James was also issued a permit for his property as indicated on the deed, this permit was issued on December 19, 1842. (click here to see Bates deed) It is believed that James kept the post office in his home like many early postmasters. James' property was located in sections 35 & 36, township 23, range 20, this property is located near the present day Pasco/ Hernando County line. On February 12, 1872 the Cedar Tree post office discontinued its services.
Ca. 1872 the Fort Dade post office found another new home and new postmaster. According to "Fort Dade Post Office" by Jasper Carter, "About the year 1872 Daniel 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 and in this he kept the belongings of the post office. Mr. Ryals gave up the post office after a time and it floated about the country just where anyone would have it as it did not pay more than $10.00 a year's commission. At one time it was kept by a school teacher at the school house near Indian Lake. As mail came only on Saturdays from Brooksville on horse back, the teacher would meet the mailman and those who were looking for mail would be there. The pouch would be opened, mail delivered to waiting people, putting the balance in his pocket and took it home with him." Daniel Ryals owned several pieces of property south of Lake Pasadena or Lake Buddy. On July 1, 1875 Daniel C. Rioles (sic) received a deed to eighty acres of property located in section 21, township 25, range 21, it is believed that this is where the post office was located. According to the History of Pasco County, FL. by J.A. Hendley, after Ryals gave up the postmaster position "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."
Ca. 1884 the Fort Dade Community began to change. With the population growing the little community was becoming a city, with most of the population being centered around the downtown business district. According to Hendley, "In 1884 the hamlet known as Fort Dade was surveyed and cut into lots and blocks. It included the old store where Reuben Wilson and Sumner did business, which was then owned by W. C. Sumner. This old store house had been occupied, perhaps ten years before the survey was made, by different merchants, and was the only mercantile business conducted in the county." On December 1, 1884 the doors opened at another store, named the Coleman and Ferguson Company. Operated by Henry Coleman and William N. Ferguson the two had purchased a lot on the Main Street from Reuben Wilson for $100.00. Later the store was located to a more central location in downtown Dade City. According to H.W. Coleman's obituary,
William Ferguson and Henry Coleman rebuilt their store, a brick building replaced the old wood frame building that was destroyed. According to Historic Places of Pasco County, "They built their store in 10 days, opening only 10 days after construction began. In the early part of the century, particularly in small towns and rural areas, the general store, like Sears, stocked and sold just about everything one needed: fencing, roofing, hardware, clothing, food, etc., and included was the funeral department to take care of those who passed on. This was the Coleman & Ferguson Company serving East Pasco County for all their needs, including death. Mr. J.Y. O'Neil, who managed Coleman & Ferguson for many years, bought the controlling interest of the business in the mid- 1930's. He remodeled the old frame building on Live Oak and 7th Street into a funeral home with an apartment above. At a later date, Mr. O'Neil sold the Meridian [Main Street] site and business to Belk-Lindsey Co., keeping the Live Oak property and the funeral home."
As the small community grew there were churches and schools established for the people. There was no community cemetery prior to the late 1870's but there were several small church cemeteries that the community utilized such as the Prospect, Freedtown, Oak Grove, Fort Dade or Mt. Zion and many others. With no community cemetery pioneer families would many times bury loved ones on their property or in the church cemetery. It wasn't until 1901 that a community cemetery was established. The trustees of the Oak Grove Baptist Church deeded their church property to Dade City, followed by the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church a few months later. The small church cemetery that was established by the Oak Grove Baptist Church was renamed and became the Dade City Municipal Cemetery. As time past Dade City acquired more and more property expanding their municipal cemetery. (click here to read more about the Dade City Cemetery)
This page was last revised on August 17, 2006
On January 13, 1859 the Florida Peninsular publisheda story titled "A Trip to Brooksville", in this article one of the reporters for the Tampa based newspaper company wrote about a wonderful trip he had taken to their "sister county" of Hernando. It is believed that the reporter traveled the Fort King Road from Tampa to Brooksville since this was the most direct route for his travels. Actually the Fort King Road went from Fort Brooke in Tampa to Fort King in Ocala with Brooksville being a stopping point along the way. He wrote, "Brooksville is the county town and has a beautiful site. Located in the heart of one of the richest sections of the country in Florida, and is surrounded by staunch planters, it cannot be other than an interesting and thriving little city in a few years. A short ride from Brooksville in any direction, carries one past many fine plantations, the appearance of which dissolves the idea that Florida can never become an agricultural State. Cotton is the staple of this section, and, although last season was unfavorable to a large crop the planters are not dispirited, but will pick their flints and try again. comfort and quiet are inseparably associated with the contemplation of a well regulated farm, and was I never more forcibly reminded of this fact than when viewing the plantations of Hernando. The dwellings are comfortable and neat- some of them having pretentions to architectural beauty- and the good taste universally displayed in the arrangements of the yards."
Websters dictionary defines a plantation as, an agricultural estate usually worked by resident labor. The deep and rich history of Dade City all began around the Whitehouse Plantation. There are many who believe there were "no plantations" in Hernando or Pasco Counties, however it was the local plantations that assisted with the growth and development of the area. It must be stated that the plantations of Hernando and Pasco Counties were no where near the size and magnitude of the plantations in neighboring states but they were still plantations according to definition.
During these early times the community was known as both the Fort Dade Community and the Buddy Lake Settlement, named for nearby Lake Buddy now known as Lake Pasadena. The Fort Dade/ Buddy Lake Settlement utilized two different post offices, which were the Fort Dade and the Cedar Tree Post Offices. As noted above the Fort Dade post office was established in January of 1845 by James Gibbons, who also served as the first postmaster. According to the History of Zephyrhills by Rosemary Trottman, after Gibbons died William D. Spencer was appointed postmaster of Fort Dade on Jan. 31, 1845. He was followed by Clement Tyner in 1848 and Capt. William Kendrick in 1849. After Kendrick's service as Fort Dade postmaster, the post office drifted from place to place and the postmaster position was filled by whom ever would take it.
By 1853 the Cedar Tree post office was established, perhaps because of the inconsistent location of the Fort Dade post office. According to fivay.org, it was on August 20, 1853 that the Cedar Tree post office began its services with James Bates serving as the first postmaster. James Bates settled a few miles northwest of the Fort Dade/ Buddy Lake Settlement. On August 01, 1849 a homestead deed, for 160 acres, was issued to James Bates. Like his neighbors, James was also issued a permit for his property as indicated on the deed, this permit was issued on December 19, 1842. (click here to see Bates deed) It is believed that James kept the post office in his home like many early postmasters. James' property was located in sections 35 & 36, township 23, range 20, this property is located near the present day Pasco/ Hernando County line. On February 12, 1872 the Cedar Tree post office discontinued its services.
Ca. 1872 the Fort Dade post office found another new home and new postmaster. According to "Fort Dade Post Office" by Jasper Carter, "About the year 1872 Daniel 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 and in this he kept the belongings of the post office. Mr. Ryals gave up the post office after a time and it floated about the country just where anyone would have it as it did not pay more than $10.00 a year's commission. At one time it was kept by a school teacher at the school house near Indian Lake. As mail came only on Saturdays from Brooksville on horse back, the teacher would meet the mailman and those who were looking for mail would be there. The pouch would be opened, mail delivered to waiting people, putting the balance in his pocket and took it home with him." Daniel Ryals owned several pieces of property south of Lake Pasadena or Lake Buddy. On July 1, 1875 Daniel C. Rioles (sic) received a deed to eighty acres of property located in section 21, township 25, range 21, it is believed that this is where the post office was located. According to the History of Pasco County, FL. by J.A. Hendley, after Ryals gave up the postmaster position "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."
Ca. 1884 the Fort Dade Community began to change. With the population growing the little community was becoming a city, with most of the population being centered around the downtown business district. According to Hendley, "In 1884 the hamlet known as Fort Dade was surveyed and cut into lots and blocks. It included the old store where Reuben Wilson and Sumner did business, which was then owned by W. C. Sumner. This old store house had been occupied, perhaps ten years before the survey was made, by different merchants, and was the only mercantile business conducted in the county." On December 1, 1884 the doors opened at another store, named the Coleman and Ferguson Company. Operated by Henry Coleman and William N. Ferguson the two had purchased a lot on the Main Street from Reuben Wilson for $100.00. Later the store was located to a more central location in downtown Dade City. According to H.W. Coleman's obituary,
"Mr. Coleman was born in Henry county, Georgia, about twenty miles from Atlanta, in 1856, to Louis and Sarah Coleman. When eighteen years of age he entered the employment of D. P. Ferguson in Jonesboro as a clerk. A few years later Mr. Ferguson went to Atlanta and engaged in the manufacture of wagons and implements. His son, W. N. Ferguson, was his bookkeeper, and Mr. Coleman became the traveling salesman. The two young men were the closest of friends and they managed along with their work to attend a business college in the city together. In 1882 Mr. Coleman married Miss Ella Dorsey of Jonesboro, and a year or two afterward made a trip further south into Florida than he had gone before, and must have seen visions of the development of this state, for on his return to Atlanta he announced to his friend that he was going to Florida to stay. Mr. Ferguson fell in with the idea and in a short time they were looking for a business site in this state. They came to the small village, which is now Dade City, for the reason that the Seaboard railroad was built to Wildwood and surveyed on through to Tampa. The survey for the railroad, now the Atlantic Coast Line through Dade City, had also been made. When they arrived here in November, 1884, it was raining, nearly everybody was ill with chills and fever and a large part of the old town was covered with water. The situation was altogether depressing and they planned to go on to Bartow, when Hunter Henley, the clerk of court, showed them the advantages of locating here, and they bought a lot of Reuben Wilson and the same day began to haul lumber to build their store. This store was on the lot on which the cigar factory now stands. Here they opened the second general store in Dade City, the first store having been built but a short time before by W. C. Sumner. When the Seaboard railroad was built, about 1886, the business location was found to be at fault and a new town was laid out just to the south of the old site. Coleman and Ferguson bought a block in the center of the plat and built a larger store to accommodate their increasing business. This store was burned about 1893 and they erected the building which has been the home of their business ever since. This fire was followed by the "big freeze" which ruined so many people in Florida, but with grit and confidence Coleman and Ferguson pushed ahead with their business, overcoming every obstacle and threatened catastrophe. Their trade has come from a radius of thirty miles around Dade City and they have done considerable jobbing business with country stores. From the start they have been foremost in the mercantile life of Dade City."
(Left) Henry W. Coleman Sr. (Middle) Henry W. Coleman Jr. (Right) Miss Sarah Elizabeth Coleman who followed in her fathers footsteps to become an early Dade City businesswoman. (Photos Courtesy of The Florida Pioneer Museum)
On August 11th 1896 the Atlanta Constitution reported on a devastating fire, which destroyed the second location of the Coleman and Ferguson Store. " Firebugs Work in Dade City-- Florida Town Visited by a Disastrous Configuration, Dade City Fla., August 10-- A disastrous fire occurred at 1 o'clock this morning, in which Coleman & Ferguson's General Store, T.J. Howard's drug store, J.J. Wilson's poolroom, Powell's Barbershop, and A.A. Boone's grocery store were destroyed by fire. The loss is about $27,000. Insurance: Coleman & Ferguson, 13,600; Howard, $2,300 and Boone $500. Boone is the greatest looser. The others were not insured. The fire is supposed to be the work of incendiaries."
William Ferguson and Henry Coleman rebuilt their store, a brick building replaced the old wood frame building that was destroyed. According to Historic Places of Pasco County, "They built their store in 10 days, opening only 10 days after construction began. In the early part of the century, particularly in small towns and rural areas, the general store, like Sears, stocked and sold just about everything one needed: fencing, roofing, hardware, clothing, food, etc., and included was the funeral department to take care of those who passed on. This was the Coleman & Ferguson Company serving East Pasco County for all their needs, including death. Mr. J.Y. O'Neil, who managed Coleman & Ferguson for many years, bought the controlling interest of the business in the mid- 1930's. He remodeled the old frame building on Live Oak and 7th Street into a funeral home with an apartment above. At a later date, Mr. O'Neil sold the Meridian [Main Street] site and business to Belk-Lindsey Co., keeping the Live Oak property and the funeral home."
Taken
ca. 1896 this photo shows the second Coleman and Ferguson Co. Store
built in Dade City. This building was destroyed by fire in 1896
and a new brick building was built in its place. This photo
appeared in a November 30, 1934 Dade City Banner article celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Coleman and Ferguson Co.
On December 18, 1884 a new post office was established for the growing
city, properly it was named the Dade City post office. Once again
the
community utilized two different post offices, the Fort Dade and the
Dade City Post Offices. Strangely enough when the Dade City post
office was established Dade City was not yet incorporated. On
January 15, 1889 Dade City official became incorporated and
became a city, five years after the Dade City post office was
established. The following individuals were elected as the first
city officials for Dade City: Jno B. Johnston, Mayor; D. J. Clermont;
F. P. McElroy, J. T. McMichael and J. E. Lee, Alderman and J. C.
Calhoun, City Clerk. (click here to see Dade City article of inc.)As the small community grew there were churches and schools established for the people. There was no community cemetery prior to the late 1870's but there were several small church cemeteries that the community utilized such as the Prospect, Freedtown, Oak Grove, Fort Dade or Mt. Zion and many others. With no community cemetery pioneer families would many times bury loved ones on their property or in the church cemetery. It wasn't until 1901 that a community cemetery was established. The trustees of the Oak Grove Baptist Church deeded their church property to Dade City, followed by the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church a few months later. The small church cemetery that was established by the Oak Grove Baptist Church was renamed and became the Dade City Municipal Cemetery. As time past Dade City acquired more and more property expanding their municipal cemetery. (click here to read more about the Dade City Cemetery)
This page was last revised on August 17, 2006