Indian Spring Cemetery

This self-guided walking tour is offered FREE of charge to people who are interested in visiting the graves and learning more about the people buried under those headstones.

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Indian Spring Cemetery

Punta Gorda, Florida 33950, United States

Created By: SW Florida Walking Tours

Tour Information

Indian Spring Cemetery in Punta Gorda was established in 1886 thanks to the donation of land along Alligator Creek by James Sandlin, a prominent civic leader. Many famous, and some infamous, Punta Gordans are buried here. This walking tour is offered FREE of charge to people who are interested in visiting the graves and learning more about the people buried under those headstones.

Buy the book, Ghost Stories of Punta Gorda for stories about many of the people buried at Indian Spring Cemetery: available locally at Punta Gorda Deli and Mercantile, Becky's Garden Shoppe, Copperfish Books and online at Amazon.com

Learn more about the people of Punta Gorda at our website: https://southwestfloridawalkingtours.com/

We also offer walking tours in town during season (October - April). You can learn more about the tours offered and book online at: https://swfloridawalkingtours.com/


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What You'll See on the Tour

1
We recommend parking under the shady oak tree on the right side of the road after passing the little building where wash rooms are located. If the ground is wet, leave your car on the dirt driveway.
George and Virginia McGraw arrived in Punta Gorda from Lakeland, FL sometime after 1928. They opened a small filling station and convenience store with a soda fountain called McGraw's Place, at the corner of Tamiami Trail and Acline Road. I... Read more
Charlotte County's first sheriff was James H. Lipscomb, a school teacher, former town marshal and long-time member of the local Masonic Lodge. The first sheriff resided on the second floor of the County Courthouse which was also the jail. G... Read more
15-year-old Gladys Kirby married 50-year-old rancher Willie Wells in 1955. How did a school girl meet and marry a cowboy who lived outside of town? Some who remember the story say her own mother sold Gladys and her younger siblings in order... Read more
45-year-old John Bowman was just starting his 4th term as a popular city marshal. It's said that years earlier John had a premonition about his death and for this reason he always wore a helmet on the job. He was known for his handlebar mus... Read more
The clever and enterprising Hewitt brothers, Clarence and Norman, came to Punta Gorda from Salem, Ohio in 1900 when they were in their mid-twenties. Norman owned a hardware store until automobiles came to Punta Gorda, when he quickly learne... Read more
The most famous prostitute of Punta Gorda was Miss Ollie Brackett. Ollie ran a “disorderly, bawdy house of ill repute” at the west end of Marion Avenue, in the bad part of town. Miss Ollie served a few very select customers herself and ... Read more
Punta Gorda was founded in 1883 by Colonel Isaac and Virginia Taylor Trabue. The town originally was called Trabue and the streets were named after family members. The intersection of Virginia Avenue and Taylor Street honors the kind and be... Read more
One of those deaths which occurred during Sheriff Lipscomb's term was that of beautiful Thelma Johnson. Thelma was the daughter of Captain and Bertha Johnson, a highly regarded family of Punta Gorda, and Thelma was the town sweetheart. The ... Read more
Now you'll come upon the Morgan and Sandlin family plots. There is a lot to say about these founding families of Punta Gorda, but we're focused on Mary Leah. The 14-year-old daugther of Jim and Lula Sandlin has left the greatest impression ... Read more
Originally from Greenwood, South Carolina, Albert Gilchrist arrived in Punta Gorda in 1885 as a surveyor for the Florida Southern Railway. He lived in Punta Gorda many years and was involved in real estate, ice factories, cigar manufacturin... Read more
Kate “Sissie” Dick was an early resident of the new town of Punta Gorda. She came to Punta Gorda along with her parents, John and Amanda Dick, and her many siblings. The family traveled from Texas to Punta Gorda in a covered wagon. Kati... Read more

 

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