Central Florida Cattlemen

The St. John’s River valley has been a grazing area since Spanish Andalusian cattle were introduced into Florida in the 1500’s. Cattle from central Florida were often gathered for drives to the port of Punta Rassa near Fort Myers for shipment to Cuba, or were driven northward to the railhead at Baldwin or on to Savannah or Charleston to feed the Confederate Army. Jacob Summerlin, known as the “King of the Crackers,” and his son Sam frequently started these cattle drives in St. Augustine, sending word ahead to cattlemen to round up their cattle at designated points on the chosen route. Ten dollars to twelve dollars was paid for a fat steer. Holding pens built of split wooden rails held the cattle until the drive started, and these pens were the only fences used in those days because the cattle were left on the open range. In some areas there were no pens, so cow hunters and their dogs rode around the herd day and night until the drive started or came along. Florida remained open range until 1949, when the Fence Law was passed. Since the early days, when men packed saddle bags, a small bedroll, a slicker, a long plaited leather cow whip, and lean cow dogs and headed into the woods cow hunting, camping wherever nightfall caught them and sleeping under open skies by a campfire while mosquitos and flies tormented man and beast alike, the cattle industry has changed greatly, and today horses, dogs, and men are transported to and from work and market by truck.

Florida · United States