A Tropical Frontier (Pioneers and Settlers of Southeast Florida, 1800-1890, A comprehensive history)

On April 2, 1894, a train rolled southbound along shiny new tracks, destined for the new train station in the fledgling town of West Palm Beach. As it chugged down the rails, people all along the way cheered its arrival, for with it came civilization and a shiny new day. Also with it came the end of pioneer days in Southeast Florida, and overnight a way of life ended - for better or worse. This book is for, about and by the pioneers, those hearty souls who left their families and the soft comforts of civilization and moved to a roadless, watery wilderness, a place with none of the conveniences of home, not to mention swarms of bloodthirsty mosquitos, large furry animals with fangs and claws, snakes of all kinds, and a multitudinous array of interesting, new crawly things ... including the biggest, ugliest roaches any of them had ever seen. It was the blood, sweat and tears of these brave men and women that paved the way for Henry Flagler's railroad, and it is their stories that are told in this book. This compendium of biographies attempts to bring the reader to a point as close as possible to understanding what it was really like to be a pioneer in Southeast Florida. It includes everyone who settled, or made a mark, in Southeast Florida (Sebastian River to Elliott Key) between the years of 1800 and 1890, just prior to the arrival of the railroad. Depending on the information available, these biographies range from as short as a few words to as long as twenty pages. With direct quotes liberally placed throughout the text, the reader is able to get a glimpse into the very minds of these brave and hearty souls, a window, so to speak, into their individual and collective hopes, dreams and fears.