Stephen John Levi Hooker was born to a pioneer family in Alachua County in 1837. Among his other siblings he was especially close to older brother William Pearch Hooker. It was a hard life on the Florida frontier, especially growing up without a father. James Tarpley Hooker was killed serving in the Second Seminole War in 1836, just months before Stephen’s birth.
Though their line of the Hooker clan wasn’t especially wealthy, their uncle William Brinton Hooker was once dubbed the “cattle king” of Florida. He had extensive cattle holdings in the open range of Central Florida ranging from Arcadia and Sebring to Bradenton and Tampa. In addition Captain Hooker had a hotel in Tampa (among other holdings) and was a famous leader of brigades in the Seminole Wars.
Compelled by the desire to force further retreat of the Seminole Tribe, the federal government began to encourage settlement further into the interior of Florida in 1854. Stephen and his brother William were among those to heed the call, settling near what would later become Casselberry.
Soon after relocating the third Seminole War broke out. The Hooker brothers mustered at Fort Gatlin (south of Orlando) for service in the skirmish on March 10, 1856. They served under the leadership of Aaron Jernigan, who was the patriarch of perhaps the earliest pioneer family to homestead in Orlando proper.
After the war the brothers wasted no time starting families, both marrying into other local pioneer families. Stephen wedded Nancy Hodges; William married Sarah “Annie” Simmons; even their other brother James (who stayed in Alachua) married an Orlando girl, Sarah’s sister Emily Jane Simmons.
But there was little time to settle down. Just over a year after the shots were fired at Fort Sumter in 1861, the William and Stephen reported for duty. They fought together for the Confederacy in Company G of the Florida 8th Infantry, commanded by General Joseph Finnegan — a famous commander, who owned extensive land long the southwestern shore of Lake Monroe.
The regiment participated in the Seven Days Battles around Richmond (June 25 to July 1, 1862). Later the group fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run, although Stephen was furloughed home sick at the time. It is unclear if he ever returned to service.
In April of 1863 the Stephen and William received dreadful news. Their brother James had been killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Then two months later William was captured at Gettysburg. He was held as a prisoner of war at Delaware Prison for two years, until he was finally released after the war ended in 1865.
Timeline
- 1834 – William Pearch Hooker born in Alachua, Florida
- 1835 – Fort Comfort was constructed during Second Seminole War by local settlers
- 1836 – James Tarpley Hooker (father of Stephen, William and James W) killed by Seminoles
- 1837 – Stephen John Levi Hooker born in Alachua, Florida
- 1849 – Fort Comfort renamed to Fort Concord
- 1855? – Stephen moves Orange County near Concord
- 1856
- March 2 – William P married Sarah Ann Simmons in Ocala (March 2)
- March 10 – William and Stephen serve in Third Seminole War under Aaron Jernigan
- September – James W marries Emily Jane Simmons
- 1857 – Nancy Hodges moves to Orlando from Georgia
- 1858 – Stephen JL Hooker and Nancy marry in Orlando
- 1860
- Stephen and Nancy in Census, living in Concord area (now Casselberry)
- William and Sarah “Annie” with Enoch, William and Margaret in Census, living in Concord area (now Casselberry)
- 1862
- May: Stephen JL and William P report for duty in Civil War for CSA in Company G of the Florida 8th Infantry, commanded at one point by General Joseph Finnegan who owned the Lake Monroe frontage
- Fought at Seven Days Battles around Richmond in late June and early July
- Stephen JL was furloughed and sent home from sickness
- August: Battle of Bull Run
- 1863
- April 29 – James W Hooker died at Battle of Fredericksburg
- July – William P captured at Gettysburg as POW, held at Delaware Prison
- 1865 – Civil War ends, William P released
- 1870
- Stephen and Nancy with Henry and Sarah in Census, living in Concord area (now Casselberry)
- William and Sarah with Martin, William, Margaret, Matilda, and George in Census, living in Concord area (now Casselberry)
- Emily Hooker with Martha, Thomas, Matilda, and ? living in Hawkinsville, Florida (now northeast Lake County along St. Johns River)
- 1875 – Concord Baptist Church founded with John Henry Hayman pastor
- 1880
- Stephen and Nancy with Henry and Sarah in Census, living in Concord area (now Casselberry)
- 1882? – Hooker House built
- 1883
- Concord Baptist Church burned down, closed
- R.A. Jinkins paid $200 for 160 acres around Lake Ellen, including old church and fort property
- John W. and Annie Griffin purchase land
- Silas B. Carter, who used to own homestead in Concord, murders John Griffin
- 1885
- William P and Sarah in Census, now living in Plant City area. Have 312 acres of land.
- Daniel H Hooker living with Simmons family in Orange County
- 1889 – Annie Griffin plats subdivisions
- 1900
- Nancy and Stephen in Census, living in Concord area (now Casselberry)
- Daniel H and Mary A Hooker in Census in Concord area (now Casselberry), living with with Stephen, Francis, Nancy, and Annie
- 1902 – William P Hooker dies at Plant City
- 1904 – Stephen JL dies at Longwood
- 1922 – Death of Emily Jane Simmons Hooker
- 1923 – Death of Nancy Hodges Hooker
- 1944 – Julles Colle buys Hooker Homestead at auction
- 1985 – Nancy Stevens Hooker dies (granddaughter of JL Hooker), who was born in the homestead
- 1998 – Colle family sells property to developers
- 2000 – Hooker homestead relocated within estate, renovated for modern use
- 2015 – Fern Whitehead, daughter of Nancy Stevens, dies at 101 years old in Longwood (lifelong resident of Maine Street estate)
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