Indian Mound Cemetery - Arcadia, FL, US
Posted by: 
rogueblack
N 27° 15.120 W 081° 59.039
17R E 402589 N 3014730
A faded flag flies over Indian Mound Cemetery, one of the lasting remnants of Pine Level, FL.
Waymark Code: WM5785
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 11/22/2008
Views: 19
In the early to mid-1800's, Pine Level was a growing farming community within Manatee County, before DeSoto County had been established. Its settlers were primarily orange farmers and cattle ranchers. For a number of years Pine Level was the county seat of Manatee County and went down in history as having the worst courthouse in all of Florida.
Without counting the fleas at the Pine Level courthouse, life in this area of Manatee County was unusually rough. It was difficult terrain to travel from other parts of Manatee County. Pine Level did experience relief after the ferry at Tater Hill Bluff was replaced with a bridge and several stores, restaurants, boarding houses, schools and government buildings were established.
When Florida Southern Railroad bypassed Pine Level to stop at Arcadia, formerly Tater Hill Bluff, Pine Level degraded into a ghost town. For those who stayed after transportation and the environment harshened, they faced the deadly yellow fever in the early 1900's.
All that remains of Pine Level today is Pine Level United Methodist Church, Indian Mound Cemetery and Pine Level Campground Cemetery.
Indian Mound Cemetery is set in the middle of what is now privately owned farm land. DeSoto County and the owners have a cooperative agreement that allows visitors to the cemetery during daylight hours. A gate locks to prevent visitors at night.
The grave monument for Daniel and Martha Keen Whidden laid beneath a faded U.S. flag is inscribed with the following text:
Daniel · Martha "Keen"
Whidden
1885: Settled this section in old log home at 70 & Horse Creek with Cattle & Citris. Citrus froze in 1895, Dan & Martha died of yellow fever at age 27. Left 7 kids under age 9 in new 2 story house.
Big Dan sat tall in the saddle and barefoot in the stirrups.
As of the survey performed in 1998, there were 59 individuals buried with partial or full identification and 16 individuals, mostly children, who rested in unmarked graves. People have continued to be laid to rest in this cemetery, as recent as 2005.