General History of Indian Key Excerpts from the Key West Enquirer newspaper on Indian Key: By Dr. Joe Knetsch Page by Jerry Wilkinson - [Terms "in ballast" means no cargo (additional ballast has been loaded to produce the weight of the non-existent cargo. "Ballast to master" means no cargo and the ship's master (cargo ships used the title master rather than captain) is acting as the agent (no hired agent in port)J.W.]  - January 3, 1835: Married, At Indian Key, on Wednesday the 24th ult by the Rev. Mr. Gazaway, CHARLES HOWE, Esq. to Mrs. ABIGAIL TALBOT, daughter of Silas Fletcher Esq. all of that Island. - - January 24, 1835: MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE Dr. Henry S. Waterhouse and his son, residents of Indian Key, left the island on Saturday evening the 17th inst. in a boat on an excursion of fishing. The following morning it was discovered they had not returned - boats were immediately despatched in search of them, the boat in which they went was very soon discovered bottom upwards, and on further examination during the day, the body of the Doctor was found and brought to this island, and this day interred. No discovery has yet been made of his son. It is the general opinion that the boat capsized in a very severe squall which occurred during the evening they left the Key. Indian Key, Jan. 18, 1835. [There is evidence that Silas Fletcher established a private post office at Indian Key in 1833. However, Dr. Waterhouse was officially appointed as postmaster April 19, 1834. As the result of his death, Charles Howe was appointed February 9, 1835.] - - February 21, 1835: Marine Intelligence. Port of Key West. Arrived. Sch. Thistle, Eagans, Indian Key, ballast to master, Passengers, Mrs. Eagans and Mrs. Otis, of Indian Key. Sailed. S1 [sloop] Thistle, Eagans, Indian Key, Passengers, Mrs. Eagans and Mrs. Otis.       Six weeks after date I shall apply to the Honorable the Judge of the county court for Monroe county, for letters of adminstration on the estate of H. S. Waterhouse deed. JACOB HOUSMAN. Feb. 5, 1835  - - March 28, 1835: Marine Intelligence. Port of Key West. Arrived. March 23, Sloop Actor, Willse, Indian Key, ballast, to master. Cleared. March 22 Sloop Sarah Isabella, Coombs, Indian Key, F. A. Browne. -  GREAT, VALUABLE, AND INTERESTING WORK - The Family Physician and Gazette of Human Life. Being a Library of Health and Hygenie, and of Popular and General Medical Knowledge, rendered familiar to every individal; embracing every subject connected with the prevention, treatment and cure of diseases - the qualities of medicines - their good and ill effects on health - the ingredients of secret or patent medicines - the true principles of eating and drinking, or eating and drinking to live - domestic cookery - chemistry - and a great variety of curious, valuable, and interesting knowledge of the highest importance to all, and hitherto hidden from the mass of mankind. Contributed to by a number of practicing physicians. The object of this work is to present every subject connected with diseases and its treatment, which, by its simplicity and perspicuity of its details, shall enable all who wish, to be thoroughly informed in this most interesting and important of sciences. The advantages for - the County of  Monroe, will be held on Monday the 4th day of May, 1835 at the following places in said county under the superintendence of the following inspectors, viz: In Key West, at the Engine House. Inspectors. THOMAS EASTIN. JN. P. BALDWIN. ASA F. TIFT. In Indian Key at the store of Jacob Houseman Esqr. Inspectors. SILAS FLETCHER. WILLIAM H. FLETCHER. ODIT PHILLIPPI. Given under my hand and seal this 1st day of April 1835. WM. R. HACKLEY, Judge M.C.C. By the Judge: JOS. A. THOURON, Clerk, M.C.C. - - April 11, 1835: Marine Intelligence. Port of Key West. Arrived. April 9, Schr John Dennison, Cole, Charleston, via Indian Key. - - July 25, 1835: The Spanish Brig Fanny, Joaquin Costa, master, bound from Havana to Charleston, in ballast, struck on Carysfort Reef on the night of the 15th inst., unshipped her rudder, and was relieved by the wrecking schooners Olive Branch, Pizarro and Amelia. She had several passengers on board, who left the vessel and proceeded to Indian Key, all of whom we have since learned, have gone to Charleston in the schr. John Dennison which left the 20th. The brig proceeded on her voyage. - - August 1, 1835: NOTICE. Whereas my wife Henrietta has quitted my bed and board, I hereby forwarn all persons from harboring or trusting her on my account, for I will not pay any debts of her contracting. LEMUEL OTIS. Indian Key, 25 July 1835. - - October 3, 1835: Since our last, we learn that the British brig Thomas from Laguna, for London, with a cargo of Logwood, stated to be lying at Indian Key waiting for a pilot to bring her to Key West, having sprung a leak, has been run ashore and abandoned by the Captain to the Wreckers. - Marine Intelligence. Port of Key West. Arrived. Oct. 2 - Schr Fair American, Coombs, Logwood, &c from wreck Br brig Thomas, at Indian Key, to F. A. Browne. Sailed. Sept. 30 - Schr John Dennison, Cold, Ind. Key. - - November 7 , 1835:(unreadable) is being (unreadable) at Indian Key for the accommodation of borders and transient persons. This is what we have long wanted to see - a place where persons who are afflicted can repair from a northern climate. The establishment will be conducted by the proprietor, Mr. Spencer, a gentleman in every way qualified to please the public. He has very commodious buildings, sufficient to accommodate any number of persons who may favor him with a call, with separate rooms for families. Indian Key is a beautiful island, within a few hours sail of Key West. It is surrounded with bays and inlets which abound with game and fish of all kinds, and we (cut off) - - November ____:A Resort for Invalids. The subscriber having settled himself on Indian Key, have determined to open a HOUSE for boarding and lodging, and believing it to be one of the most favorable situations in the United States for persons who are suffering from pulmonary, dispeptic and numerous chronic diseases, and obliged to seek a refuge from the chill blasts of a northern winter, he feels safe in saying that Indian Key cannot be surpassed for beauty, health and climate. Frost has never been known here - the thermometer seldom below 55 or 56 in winter, nor up to 90 in summer. It is entirely exposed to the sea from every point of the compass. The fare of his table and bar shall be as good as the market will afford, and attended by experienced servants. Private room for lodging gentlemen, ladies, and families neatly arranged. The undersigned hopes by diligent attention and industry to merit the custom of his friends and the public generally. S. A. SPENCER. Indian Key, Monroe County, Territory of Florida, November 7, 1835. tf. The St. Augustine Herald, Charleston Courier, Philadelphia Saturday Courier and New York Advocate and Journal will give the above five insertions and forward their accounts to this office for payment. - - December__, 1835 . PASSENGERS Per Brig Somerset, from Charleston Mrs. Cold and family, of Indian Key - - January 23, 1836: THE INDIANS. We have the gratification of informing our friends at a distance that no further advance has been made by the Indians since our last. It has been satisfactorily ascertained that they had not a few days back yet visited Cape Florida, although their fires had been observed at no great distance in the interior. Four canoes of friendly Indians or those accustomed to trading at Indian Key were in that vicinity a few days since, but it is said they received warning not to land and soon after disappeared again. It is to be regretted that they were not taken and examined. Considerable alarm still prevails at Indian Key, and we think not without reason, as the force they can muster for its defence does not amount of more than 15 men - and as parties of Indians have been in the habit of visiting it for the purpose of traffic, they are consequently acquainted with the resources of the Island, the value of the property there &c. - Election Notice. Notice is hereby given, that an election for Clerk of Monroe County Court, Sheriff and Coroner will be held on Monday the 1st day of February 1836, at the following places under the superintendence of the following Inspectors. In Key West at the Engine House. Inspectors. ROBERT R. FLETCHER. ALEXANDER PATTERSON. ASA F. TIFT. At Indian Key at the store of J. Housman. Inspectors CHARLES HOWE. JACOB HOUSMAN. LEMUEL OTIS. At Key Vacas at the store of Wm. Whitehead. Inspectors. WM. WHITEHEAD. JOSEPH BETHELL. WM. BETHELL. Given under my hand and seal this 26th day of December A. D. 1835. By the Judge: W. R. HACKLEY. JOS. A. THOURON, Clerk, M. C. C. - - June 18, 1836: The U. S. Mail Schooner Hope, Capt. Walker, arrived from Charleston via Indian Key on Tuesday evening 14th inst., having met with a succession of calm weather, the greater part of her voyage. - The End Use BACK ARROW to return to homepage.

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