About Our Heritage
Our family heritage begins with William Henry "Bill" Brown. As some would call him, an explorer, an entrepreneur and a pioneer of his time. He lived a life of building relationships both friendly and professionally with the Seminole Indians in what is now the Big Cypress Reservation in the Everglades of South Florida. Bill traded alligator hides, otter pelts, bird plumes and buckskins for groceries and dried goods to the Seminoles. His trade route took him from the swamps of the Everglades to the west coast Fort Myers and back, a journey which sometimes was a 3 week round trip. With his 4 yolk of oxen Bill hid not have a seat on the wagon and walked beside the teams through the then rough natural terrain. It was once reported in the Fort Myers Press " Mr. Wm H Brown came in from the Everglades Tuesday binging his wife and four children, two wagons, 4 yolk of cattle, 3 dogs, 513 gator hides, seven otter hides, 10 Seminole chickens, 3 pigs, thirty pounds of buckskins and 4 pounds of alligator teeth." Bill spoke fluent Mikisuki, which he began learning as a cattle drover in his early years and perfected in the swamps. His wife and a number of his children were also fluent in the language or very well versed. Brown's Boat Landing was a vital part of the Seminole trade in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There is now a historic land marker on the south side of Josie Billie Hwy that marks the original spot of Brown's Boat Landing. As Bill grew older he moved closer to the town of Immokalee and opened a store there. It is said that many of his Seminole friends would come and see him in town. This relationship still exist today with those that know the history and heritage of both. There is much more Seminole history available at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum located on the Big Cypress Indian Reservations. Some of Bill and Sarahs's children(10) kept the store running for many, many years and also began trade routes of their own driving fattened steers to Fort Myers and bringing goods back. Bill and his wife instilled a love for people and trade as well as a love for the land in their children which has been passed down through the generations.
William Henry "Bill" Brown
As the family tree continues to grow, Bill Brown's second eldest son Edwin, had 3 children of his own, Lloyd, Bill and Ilda. For many years Edwin worked for Lykes Brothers in Fort Myers butchering cattle. During this time Edwin began to grow his own herd of cattle. While his boys were fighting in World War II, Edwin with the help of two of his cousins Neal Brown and Bunny Tiner built his own slaughter house. Located 40 miles west of Fort Myers in between Immokalee and the Big Cypress Reservation Edwin raised, butchered and sold beef locally and in Fort Myers.
Edwin's slaughter house in 1940
Edwin was not only a butcher and rancher he was a excellent horseman.
When Lloyd returned from the war, he worked closely with his father to continue to build the herd and also added his love for vegetable farming to the business. Lloyd and his wife Dorothy "Dot" Simmons had two children later on in life Gail and Edwin. Edwin "Rooster" Brown as his grandfather affectionately named him before he was born worked on the ranch helping his father and grandfather. In addition to helping the family Rooster also day worked as a cowboy on many south Florida ranches until he married Jeanette Wilson of Fort Myers and began their own family. Rooster took a job living and working on R. A. "Bobby" Roberts ranch south west of Immokalee. There he as able to also grow his own herd. As farmland value prices soared in south Florida, Rooster began looking for more affordable options to continue to grow his own cattle herd on his own land.
Edwin "Rooster", Lloyd and Edwin Brown
Unloading the herd from South Florida at there new home in South Alabama and the Florida panhandle in 1992.
Currently all of Rooster and Jeanette's children and grandchildren either work, live and help on the ranch as needed. Mitchell, the second child, along with his wife Jacklyn run their own farm. They have 4 children, Aubrie, Clayton, Gracie and Tyler. Jennifer, the youngest lives on the ranch in addition to running her own business and raising her 3 daughters, Lilly, Avee and Harmony. They all play an active part in the ranch operation. Amy, the oldest, runs the ranch along side her parents heading the way to the future but being true our past, like her great grandfather Edwin, selling our beef directly to the consumer.
Check out our about us now page to learn more of what is happening now.
A short video overview of William Henry "Bill" Brown is available for viewing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N2ZW9EBMJY
And if you are interested in more to the Seminole Indian history this book by Julian Dimocks is a great collection of their heritage.