Hickory Bluff Pioneers
Lt. Nathan H. De Coster and Capt. John F. Bartholf were Union soldiers stationed at Ft. Myers. After marrying Florida women, they homesteaded in this area. John Lomans, an African-American soldier also serving at Ft. Myers, helped De Coster set up the first sawmill south of Tampa. Lomans later served as voter registrar, and De Coster became a county judge, postmaster and customs inspector. Bartholf was superintendent of public instruction when schools were established throughout the Peace River region, including Hickory Bluff in 1873. The first school house was constructed from boards sawn at De Coster's Mill.
Mathieu F. Giddens was a former Confederate soldier who owned a farm on Mill Creek and served as county commissioner. Giddens donated land for the Charlotte Harbor Cemetery after his father-in-law, Joel Knight, died in 1879.
Francis Durrance, Jr., owned a house and cattle in eastern Hickory Bluff. He was a customs collector in Punta Gorda and served as the local preacher. Around 1927, his son, Cleveland Pasco Durrance, built a Mediterranean Revival style home (called locally
the "Spanish House," now demolished) near this site. He later moved his family to the house next door and rented the Spanish House to seasonal tourists.Erected 2008 by Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 26° 57.374′ N, 82° 3.662′ W. Marker is in Charlotte Harbor, Florida, in Charlotte County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Melbourne Street and Scenic Avenue. Marker is in Chester Roberts Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Punta Gorda FL 33980, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hickory Bluff Mound (approx. 0.4 miles away); Charlotte Harbor Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Trinity United Methodist Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hickory Bluff Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); Armed Guard (approx. 1.4 miles away); Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (approx. 1.4 miles away); American Merchant Marine Veterans (approx. 1.4 miles away); U.S. Marine Corps Veterans (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlotte Harbor.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 390 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 24, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.