As we prepare to venture to Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands region for the annual Florida Cattlemen's Association Convention and Allied Trade Show, we wanted to take a trip back in time to get a rare first person look at what that part of Florida was like before civilization had fully reached it. Such accounts of early Florida history are few and far between so this abbreviated autobiography is a real treasure. First featured in the American Eagle, Estero FL 1926, it was reprinted and featured as an appendix in the book "Totch: A Life In The Everglades" which is a must-read on its own merits. We hope you enjoy this look at pioneer Florida.