The Real Florida Cowboy

MANATEE COUNTY — The cowboy is an iconic symbol often associated with America and the Wild West. Identified by their wide-brimmed hats, boots, spurs, bandanas and holsters, the rugged frontiersmen of the 1800s spent their days tirelessly driving cattle over rough, dry terrain. Those that know my column also know that cattle-driving is a big part of Florida culture as well, and during the days of the open range the Florida terrain was just as rugged as the Wild West, if not more so. What many might not know is that the very first cow hunters were far from the iconic image of the American Cowboy, as those original cow hunters were actually native and black Americans. The Seminole Nation—the collective name given to the combination of various groups of native Americans and black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century—was first associated with Alachua County (of which Manatee County was part of). A colony became the first cow hunters, domesticating herds of cattle and riding Spanish ponies. Many slaves and free blacks joined the Seminoles and found work in the cattle business. Those Florida cow hunters frontiersmen rounded up pineywoods cattle, which were originally brought over by the Spaniards during the 1500s, and sold them for profit. In order to drive the wild animals in the right direction, cow hunters would crack a whip, which is where the term ‘Florida crackers’ originated. When Florida became an American territory in 1821, most of its inhabitants fled for other Spanish colonies. However, 5,000 Seminoles (including 500 of African descent) stayed on. So did many free black cowboys, even though the American system imposed severe restrictions on them. During the Civil War, vast herds of cattle were driven north by black and white cow hunters to supply the Confederate Army. Many runaway slaves joined the Union Army and often served as drovers to supply the troops with beef. After the war, many of Florida's black cowboys migrated to work the large cattle ranches out west...more