By Spessard Stone
Introduction: Tommy Underwood related to me that his grandfather, Alton H. Carlton, had told him that Troublesome Creek was named after an Indian left behind by his tribe to die, but didn't, and stayed to "trouble" white settlers, hence his name and the name of the creek by which he lived. He further stated he'd also heard another version that it was so called because of the difficulty in constructing a bridge across it.
An inquiry to historian Dr. Canter Brown, Jr. of Tallahassee resulted in the following explanatory report, dated Fort Meade, April 29, 1857 from Leroy G. Lesley to George W. Hazzard, which is from Microcopy No. M-1084, Roll No. 8, RG393, Letters Sent, Register of Letters Received, and Letters Received by Headquarters, Troops in Florida, and Headquarters, Dept. of Florida, 1850- 1858.
Leroy G. Lesley (1808-1882) of Tampa was a Methodist minister and cattleman, who commanded a militia company during the Third Seminole War.
The report, including spelling and punctuation, is reproduced as written, except for re-paragraphing for easier reading. Comments are enclosed in brackets.
April 22d. Started at 9 A.M. and made very near the Fort Hamer [founded Oct. 12, 1849 on the Manatee River] road until all hammock on the Creek gave out. Then making a detour westward, returned to the camp in the afternoon. Lands are pine & saw palmetto entirely -- without discovering the enemy.
April 23d. Started from Platts [John and Alice Platt had settled near now Lily in late 1855] due east and reached P. Creek (Peace River) at the point left off 2 day previous. Again taken the swamp, traversing in almost all directions for 10 hours, making I believe not more than 6 or 8 miles on a line direct, found on the East side of P. Creek an old Indian Cow Pen, made a year or two before & near the mouth of Charly Ahapopka Creek [Charlie Apopka Creek].
Camped on a Small creek called “Troublesome” on account of its bad crossing &c, it leading into Peas Creek [Peace River], near the settlement of “Parker.”
April 24th. This morning tried the Swamp & prairie with horses. Found after a few hours to be impracticable--turned out with them and took it on foot until a few miles of Fort Hartsuff [established 1856, the forerunner of Wauchula], where we camped near the Swamp.
The lands of the West Side of P. Creek are here of the best quality and in large bodies, well adapted to agricultural purposes, heavily timbered, &c.
April 25th. Continued up the river and arrived at Fort Hartsuff at 11 A.M. & hearing from Mr. W. Whidden [Willoughby Whidden who homesteaded north of what is now Wauchula about 1854] that there was a large unexplored hammock on the east side of the Creek some 3 or 4 miles below this, I at once made for that place, & on arriving, dismounting and explored for some miles finding some 2 Jugs & much sign of Indians though nothing less than a year old. Returned at night to Fort Hartsuff & encamped.
April 26th. Leaving here at 8 A.M. again took the swamp on foot, crossing over many times during the day, find the largest body of swamp on the East side and much more dense than formerly, literally compelling us to cut through with our Knives.
Arived at night at the camp near Choka Nikla very tired and sore.
April 27th. Did not move camp to day owing to the running off of a few of our horses, but with some 15 men remained most of the day on the Creek.
April 28th. Horses caught & all right continued up the swamp for a few miles, crossing over occasionally until 12 M. when finding that the guard had allowed another stampede of Horses which prevented our moving further to day.
April 29th. At 10 A.M. our horses were brought back, and again taking the Swamp until we reached within 2 miles of this place where we arrived at 3 P.M. being absent 20 days, and travelled not less than 250 miles on horseback & 40 miles on foot without discovering any recent sign of Indians & I have no hesitation in making the assertion that there are no Indians within the district assigned me.
Links = October 16, 2001