First Settlers

Home built by James Lanier 

Before the late 1800s there was nothing but woods and swamps where Punta Gorda now stands. There was one thatched cottage there understood to have been built by some Spaniards who came occasionally on a boat and occupied it for varying intervals.

In 1876, a man named James Lockhart and his wife Josephine are said to have chosen the location on the south bank of the Peace River to build their new home, likely at the old “Spanish dwelling.” The site itself was described as being near the only pine trees as the lowest elevation in the area, finding excellent water where two previous settlers had found only salt water. On July 28, the schooner Santa Maria arrived with their personal beiongings and the Lockharts occupied the structure. They planted a vegetable garden,lemon,lime and orange trees, and also raised pigs goats and chickens.

The October 20 hurricane of 1876 brought torrential rain, and the Lockharts found their home standing in two feet of water. They rode out the storm with three alligator hunters who sought refuge with 13 recent kills. Fish were plentiful. especially mullet and tarpon.  Alligators, bears, panthers and deer populated the area. Mail came by schooner from Key West.  Their closest neighbors were the Howards east of them in an area they called Solana and across the river at Hickory Bluff.  

Approximately two years later Lockhart sold his property to James

Madison Lanier.  Lanier replaced Lockhart's log cabin with a small house built of sawed lumber purchased from Knight's store and rafted it  across the bay.

James and his wife Sarah remained  there until 1883 when 30.8 acres were sold to Isaac Trabue.  

Souces:

Jarvis Howard Diaries

Lindsey Williams’ interviews and research for news articles reprinted in “Our Fascinating Past.”

Research notes of Vernon Peeples.