Page 59 - John Anderson

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turned themselves in. Finally, in August 1842, the U.S. declared the
war at an end. During seven years of war, it had committed every
regiment of the Army to the struggle, with a loss of some 1,500 men,
most of them to disease. Thirty thousand citizen soldiers were
involved, many of whom perished. In the end over 4,000 Seminoles
were forcibly removed to the Indian Territory. The war had cost the
government approximately $30 million, an astounding sum when one
considers that the proposed federal budget for 1836 was only around
$25 million.
Florida finally gained statehood on March 3, 1845, and yet for all the
money and lives expended, not all Seminoles had been removed.
Remaining in the wilds of south Florida were approximately 350
Seminoles. White encroachment continued, driving the Seminoles to
fight once more. Led by Chief Holata Micco (Billy Bowlegs) they
attacked a military camp on 20 December 1855, beginning what is
known as the Third Seminole War. This was followed by two and half
years of guerilla warfare that finally ended in May of 1858, when
Chief Bowlegs, certain that the cause was lost, accepted $8,000 to
emigrate, taking with him 165 followers. Less than 200 Seminoles
remained behind, hiding out in the Everglades, refusing to give up
their homeland and their way of life. Descendants of these remaining
Seminoles still live in Florida and claim the rights of a sovereign
nation. Against all odds, these tenacious and courageous people are
thriving on seven reservations across the state, a living testimony to
the power of the human spirit.

Back to John Anderson’s Arrival in the New Britain Colony.

Soon after his arrival in 1876, and a brief settling in period, John
Anderson was elected the Volusia County Tax Accessor. As mentioned
earlier, he held the office for terms, (1877 - 1878, and 1881 –
1882). This was an arduous task at the time because of the few, and
scattered inhabitants living in Volusia County and the fact that the
County Seat was in Enterprise, Florida just north of Lake Monroe
along the St Johns River. Just as John Andrew Bostrom had, as
County Commissioner since 1868, made many excursions across
Volusia County, John Anderson also made long expeditions across the
county visiting settlers. Day and night he "swam rivers and stream,
and contented himself, if need be, with small allotments of food or

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