Deep within the heart of Florida, a forgotten chapter of American history lies buried, centered around the enigmatic site of Fort Kissimmee, Florida. Once a vital military outpost and a bustling pioneer settlement in Highlands County, this area played a pivotal role in the tumultuous era of the Seminole Wars and the development of the Florida frontier. Today, almost all physical traces of this significant location have vanished, leaving behind only echoes of its vibrant past and a solitary cemetery as a poignant reminder of those who once called it home.
The Genesis of Fort Kissimmee: A Strategic Military Outpost
The mid-19th century in Florida was marked by escalating tensions between the United States and the Seminole Indians, leading to a series of conflicts known as the Seminole Wars. In 1849, as another Indian war loomed, General David Twiggs initiated a crucial undertaking: the establishment of the first cross-Florida trail. This strategic pathway stretched from Fort Brooke on the west coast to Fort Capron on the east, designed to facilitate troop movements and supply lines across the vast, untamed wilderness. Along this critical corridor, a chain of military installations was strategically erected, including Fort Arbuckle, Fort Drum, and the future site of Fort Kissimmee.
The construction of the structure officially known as Fort Kissimmee commenced in January 1850. Initially, its use was sporadic, primarily due to the severe challenges posed by the harsh Florida environment. Repeated outbreaks of malaria among the garrisoned soldiers frequently forced its temporary abandonment. However, the fort’s strategic importance became undeniable with the eruption of the Third Seminole War in late 1855, leading to its full reactivation. For several years, it served as a vital operational base, providing protection and a logistical hub for military actions against the Seminoles. Upon the cessation of hostilities and the official closure of the fort in 1858, only its central blockhouse and a handful of smaller outbuildings remained, standing as silent sentinels to its military past.
From Military Post to Flourishing Pioneer Settlement
Even as the military presence waned, the strategic location and existing infrastructure of Fort Kissimmee proved attractive to a different kind of pioneer. A small, resilient civilian settlement gradually blossomed around the former military post, adopting the same name. This burgeoning community was deeply intertwined with the evolving landscape of Southern Florida. In 1859, with much of the region still designated as Seminole Indian territory, the U.S. government opened the northern half of Florida for free-range cattle grazing, an economic boon that would shape the character of the Fort Kissimmee settlement for decades to come.
Among the visionary founding residents of the town of Fort Kissimmee was Lewis Henry Thomas, a man whose foresight and generosity left an indelible mark on the community. Thomas notably donated the land necessary for the construction of Fort Kissimmee’s first church, its inaugural schoolhouse, and a designated cemetery, laying the foundational elements of a structured society. He also established and operated a crucial barge ferry, situated two miles upriver from the fort. This ferry served as a vital link, transporting children from distant ranchlands, and even some from the Polk County sawmill settlement of Kicco (pronounced Kisso), to attend school in Fort Kissimmee. While Kicco eventually built its own school, it too would ultimately fade into history, becoming a ghost town with only foundation stones and a solitary schoolhouse sidewalk left to hint at its former existence.
Life in the isolated Florida Heartland presented unique challenges, particularly concerning transportation. With few established roads, early travel to and from the community was arduous. Consequently, the Kissimmee River became the lifeblood of the settlement, with steamboats serving as the primary mode of transport. These vessels were essential for bringing in much-needed supplies and, in turn, for hauling out the agricultural produce of the area’s farmers and the growing herds of cattle from its ranchers, connecting Fort Kissimmee to the wider world.
Lewis Henry Thomas: A Pillar of the Community
Lewis Henry Thomas’s influence extended far beyond his initial donations. From 1885 to 1890, he systematically acquired significant parcels of land along the scenic Kissimmee River, establishing extensive cattle and hog operations that thrived on the open range. Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit, he also managed a successful citrus packinghouse in the nearby locale of Orange Hammock. In 1890, Lewis Thomas married Spicey Ann Underhill, and together, they built a life and raised nine children in their riverside home. Such was his reputation for kindness, integrity, and generosity that Thomas was affectionately known as “Grandpa” by the entire community, embodying the true spirit of a pioneer patriarch.
A Glimpse into Frontier Life: The Fort Kissimmee Duel
The rugged nature of frontier life in Fort Kissimmee occasionally brought forth stark reminders of its wildness. In 1892, a dramatic and tragic event unfolded when two hardened cattlemen engaged in a duel to the death. The conflict began when Henry Shaw was accused of stealing a hog by John Sheffield, who had witnessed the alleged theft and reported it to the hog’s owner. Enraged by the accusation, Shaw issued a challenge to Sheffield. The two men met, standing back-to-back, their firearms ready. After measuring out ten paces, they turned and fired simultaneously, resulting in a grim outcome: both men were killed. Their remains were laid to rest side-by-side beneath the protective shade of a giant oak tree in the venerable Fort Kissimmee Cemetery, a poignant testament to the harsh justice of the era.
Fort Kissimmee’s Transformation: The Impact of World War II
The tranquil existence of the Fort Kissimmee settlement, however, was destined to face an unforeseen and ultimate disruption. With the onset of World War II, the U.S. Government, in a sweeping act of eminent domain, “condemned” the vast tracts of land surrounding Fort Kissimmee for the critical purpose of establishing an air force bombing range. This meant that the resilient settlers, whose families had painstakingly built lives in this remote corner of Florida, were mandatorily relocated, their homes and livelihoods uprooted for the national war effort.
The Avon Park General Bombing and Gunnery Range officially opened in March 1942, initially encompassing 107,059 acres of Florida’s unique swamp and scrubland. The following year, in 1943, the government further expanded its operational footprint by acquiring an additional 111,165 acres in Okeechobee County, bringing the total area to an immense approximately 352 square miles. This vast range began as a sub-base of MacDill Field in Tampa but rapidly evolved, becoming its own fully integrated airbase by November 1943, a testament to its strategic importance in the war.
The Modern Legacy: Avon Park Air Force Range and the Enduring Cemetery
In the decades following World War II, significant portions of the land originally acquired for the Avon Park Air Force Range were declared surplus and subsequently disposed of. Nevertheless, the range continues to exist as a formidable military installation, currently encompassing approximately 106,000 acres. Its primary function remains crucial: military air-to-ground training operations, ensuring the readiness of America’s armed forces. Interestingly, despite its military purpose, about 82,000 acres of the range are periodically opened to the public for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, and general outdoor enjoyment, typically during weekends when military missions permit.
Today, of all that once constituted the thriving military outpost and civilian settlement of Fort Kissimmee, only the quiet, hallowed grounds of its cemetery remain. This historic burial site holds the remains of many other early pioneers and settlers, including members of the Boney, McClelland, and Rimes families, whose stories are interwoven with the very fabric of the region. It stands as one of the oldest and most significant pioneer cemeteries in the Florida Heartland, a tangible link to a bygone era.
Though situated near the eastern boundary of the active Avon Park Bombing Range, the cemetery holds a unique status. In the 1950s, it was formally deeded to the Fort Kissimmee Cemetery Association, an organization that continues to operate and meticulously maintain the grounds, often spearheaded by the direct descendants of those original pioneering families. This enduring stewardship ensures that the legacy of Fort Kissimmee’s early inhabitants is preserved for future generations.
The cemetery is located approximately 20 miles east of Avon Park, Florida, nestled along the serene Kissimmee River, specifically at the eastern terminus of Kissimmee Road, within the operational boundaries of the Avon Park Air Force Range. Due to its location within an active military installation, the Air Force Range is closed to civilian visitors at certain times. Therefore, prospective visitors are strongly advised to call ahead to inquire about current visiting hours and access restrictions to ensure a respectful and safe visit to this historic site.
Conclusion: An Echo from the Past
The story of Fort Kissimmee, Florida, is a compelling narrative of adaptation, resilience, and ultimate disappearance, encapsulating a significant slice of Florida’s frontier history. From its strategic origins as a military fort designed to secure a volatile border during the Seminole Wars, it evolved into a self-sufficient pioneer settlement, a testament to the pioneering spirit of individuals like Lewis Henry Thomas. Its fate, however, was dramatically altered by the exigencies of global conflict, leading to its transformation into a vital training ground for World War II. Today, the physical remnants of the fort and its bustling town may be lost to time and military necessity, but the Fort Kissimmee Cemetery stands as a powerful and solitary monument. It reminds us of the lives lived, the challenges overcome, and the enduring human spirit that shaped this unique corner of the Florida Heartland, ensuring that the legacy of Fort Kissimmee continues to resonate through the silent stones of its oldest residents.
