Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park History
The arrival of the white man was actually the very beginning of the cattle industry in Florida. When Juan Ponce de Leon arrived in 1512, he brought horses and seven Andalusian cows. But he was a conqueror, not a settler and when he left, the cattle stayed. These early cattle were described as “rather lean and scrawny”, easily recognized by their horns which were often three feet wide from tip to tip. They eventually evolved into what we know today as the Texas Longhorn.
Franciscan friars living among the native Indians taught them many things including how to establish cattle herds. Early Spaniards attempted cattle raising, but the Seminole Indians clearly demonstrated the economic potential of cattle raising in Florida. Some groups, such as the Oconee established a very profitable cattle industry. In the 1800’s Indians replaced the friars as Florida’s most important stock raisers.
Early settlers moving into Florida found the interior plentifully stocked with wild cattle. It was necessary to hunt for the cattle in the vast, untamed wilderness. These men soon became known as cow hunters.
During a short British occupation of Florida, many British planters started cattle herds. At the end of the American Revolution, Spain regained control of Florida and liberalized their immigration policy. New types of cowmen arrived, some bringing their own herds of cattle. Soon they were challenging the Indians who ran their stock on better pastures in the prairies.
In the early 1800’s, cattle were constantly being stolen by roving bands of Indians. Cattle rustling was believed to be one cause of the Seminole Indian Wars. When Andrew Jackson led several skirmishes into Seminole territory in 1817, he netted over 1600 head of cattle, some with brands from Georgia farms.
After the end of the Seminole Wars, settlers began moving farther south into the interior, many to establish their own cattle industry. It was these territorial cowmen of the nineteenth century that made cattle an important part of Florida’s economy.
Early cattle round-ups lasted eight to ten days. The cowmen would take an ox wagon with rations consisting of biscuits, fat back for meat and sweet potatoes, which would sour after three days in the heat. The biscuits were good the first day but would harden after that and sometimes mold would have to be cut off to eat them.
At other times, women would travel with the round-up crew. A fly tent would be set up and a cow butchered for meat. Big slabs of meat would be hung over the campfire and swamp cabbage (hearts of cabbage palm trees) would be added to the menu.
After the introduction of railroads in 1915, herds of 1000-1200 cattle would be driven down highway 98 or 441 right through Okeechobee to the railroad station.
In the early 1940’s the Latt Maxcy Corporation began purchasing prairie land directly east of the Kissimmee River on what is now known as Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Considerable improvements were made for cattle ranching activities on the prairie. The Avon Park Bombing Range leased a large amount of the land for training B-17 aircraft crews in air to ground bombing maneuvers. These leases were terminated in 1946 and 1963.
After the lease termination Latt Maxcy Corporation continued to improve their property for cattle grazing by constructing drainage ditches through wet areas and sloughs and cultivating pastures. Cattle dipping vats were constructed to dip the cattle against ticks and screw worms.
Today 6,000 acres of the park that was converted to improved pasture is still grazed by cattle. Revenue generated from the park cattle lease supports resource management and restoration projects.
Franciscan friars living among the native Indians taught them many things including how to establish cattle herds. Early Spaniards attempted cattle raising, but the Seminole Indians clearly demonstrated the economic potential of cattle raising in Florida. Some groups, such as the Oconee established a very profitable cattle industry. In the 1800’s Indians replaced the friars as Florida’s most important stock raisers.
Early settlers moving into Florida found the interior plentifully stocked with wild cattle. It was necessary to hunt for the cattle in the vast, untamed wilderness. These men soon became known as cow hunters.
During a short British occupation of Florida, many British planters started cattle herds. At the end of the American Revolution, Spain regained control of Florida and liberalized their immigration policy. New types of cowmen arrived, some bringing their own herds of cattle. Soon they were challenging the Indians who ran their stock on better pastures in the prairies.
In the early 1800’s, cattle were constantly being stolen by roving bands of Indians. Cattle rustling was believed to be one cause of the Seminole Indian Wars. When Andrew Jackson led several skirmishes into Seminole territory in 1817, he netted over 1600 head of cattle, some with brands from Georgia farms.
After the end of the Seminole Wars, settlers began moving farther south into the interior, many to establish their own cattle industry. It was these territorial cowmen of the nineteenth century that made cattle an important part of Florida’s economy.
Early cattle round-ups lasted eight to ten days. The cowmen would take an ox wagon with rations consisting of biscuits, fat back for meat and sweet potatoes, which would sour after three days in the heat. The biscuits were good the first day but would harden after that and sometimes mold would have to be cut off to eat them.
At other times, women would travel with the round-up crew. A fly tent would be set up and a cow butchered for meat. Big slabs of meat would be hung over the campfire and swamp cabbage (hearts of cabbage palm trees) would be added to the menu.
After the introduction of railroads in 1915, herds of 1000-1200 cattle would be driven down highway 98 or 441 right through Okeechobee to the railroad station.
In the early 1940’s the Latt Maxcy Corporation began purchasing prairie land directly east of the Kissimmee River on what is now known as Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Considerable improvements were made for cattle ranching activities on the prairie. The Avon Park Bombing Range leased a large amount of the land for training B-17 aircraft crews in air to ground bombing maneuvers. These leases were terminated in 1946 and 1963.
After the lease termination Latt Maxcy Corporation continued to improve their property for cattle grazing by constructing drainage ditches through wet areas and sloughs and cultivating pastures. Cattle dipping vats were constructed to dip the cattle against ticks and screw worms.
Today 6,000 acres of the park that was converted to improved pasture is still grazed by cattle. Revenue generated from the park cattle lease supports resource management and restoration projects.
