The earliest marked grave, dated 1857, was that of Susan Carson, mother of Martha Carson Brandon. Traveling by wagon train, John Brandon, his wife Martha, a cousin of Kit Carson, and their six sons left Mississippi and arrived at Fort Brooke, Tampa, in 1857. John acquired land in what is now Brandon, and the family worked it until Martha died in 1867. John moved away and in 1868 married Victoria Varn, a widow with two children. In 1874 they returned to New Hope, Brandon, and established their homestead. John helped start the first school and donated land for a church and the New Hope Cemetery. He died in 1886 and was buried in the cemetery, and many of his descendants continued to live locally.