107-590: The Island Hotel (also known as Parsons and Hale's General Store ) is a historic building in Cedar Key , Florida , located at 224 2nd Street. On November 23, 1984, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places . The building was erected between 1859 and 1861 by Major John Parsons and Francis E. Hale for use as a general store. It has tabby walls that are 10 inches (250 mm) thick and oak beams that are 12 inches (300 mm) wide. The Cedar Key Post Office and customs house were also located in
214-542: A cartographer from Spain labeled it "Las Islas Sabines" (which means "The Cedar Keys" in Spanish ). An archaeological dig at Shell Mound, 9 miles (14 km) north of Cedar Key, found artifacts dating back to 500 BC in the top 10 feet (3.0 m) of the 28-foot-tall (8.5 m) mound . The only ancient burial found in Cedar Key was a 2,000-year-old skeleton found in 1999. Arrow heads and spear points dating from
321-473: A K–12 school, Cedar Key School . Levy County provides Cedar Key with a local library branch. The Cedar Key Public Library is in the renovated, historic Schlemmer Rooming House. Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military officer and politician who was the 12th president of the United States , serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor
428-512: A battleground of the American Indian Wars , later claiming that he had seen Native Americans abduct and scalp his classmates while they were walking down the road together. Louisville's rapid growth was a boon for Taylor's father, who by the start of the 19th century had acquired 10,000 acres (40 km ) throughout Kentucky , as well as 26 slaves to cultivate the most developed portion of his holdings. Taylor's formal education
535-407: A brevet promotion to major general and a formal commendation from Congress. In June, he was promoted to the full rank of major general. The national press compared him to George Washington and Andrew Jackson, both generals who had ascended to the presidency, but Taylor denied any interest in running for office. "Such an idea never entered my head," he remarked in a letter, "nor is it likely to enter
642-407: A contender for the vice-presidential nominee in the 1844 election . Fillmore's selection was largely an attempt at reconciliation with northern Whigs, who were furious at the nomination of a slave-owning southerner; no faction of the party was satisfied with the final ticket. It was initially unclear whether Taylor would accept the nomination because he did not respond to the letters notifying him of
749-787: A cost of over 1,500 Mexican casualties. Outmatched, the Mexican forces retreated, ensuring a "far-reaching" victory for the Americans. In recognition of his victory at Buena Vista, on July 4, 1847, Taylor was elected an honorary member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati , the Virginia branch of which included his father as a charter member. Taylor also was made a member of the Aztec Club of 1847 , Military Society of
856-424: A direct hit on the city, the storm brought heavy rains, winds, and storm surge levels that reached a record 6.8 feet (2.1 m) above high tide. On the night of September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene caused significant to major damage to Cedar Key as it headed towards Florida's Big Bend . It hit close enough to Cedar Key, to bring major floods, major wind gusts, heavy rain, and storm surge levels that reached
963-450: A few words, that is, Taylor pronounced an epitaph for the entire Whig economic program. As president-elect, Taylor kept his distance from Washington, not resigning his Western Division command until late January 1849. He spent the months following the election formulating his cabinet selections. He was deliberate and quiet about his decisions, to the frustration of his fellow Whigs. While he despised patronage and political games, he endured
1070-399: A flurry of advances from office-seekers looking to play a role in his administration. While he would appoint no Democrats, Taylor wanted his cabinet to reflect the nation's diverse interests, and so apportioned the seats geographically. He also avoided choosing prominent Whigs, sidestepping such obvious selections as Clay. He saw Crittenden as a cornerstone of his administration, offering him
1177-559: A hero's welcome in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, setting the stage for the 1848 presidential election. Ulysses S. Grant served under Taylor in this war and said of his style of leadership: "A better army, man for man, probably never faced an enemy than the one commanded by General Taylor in the earliest two engagements of the Mexican War." General Taylor was not an officer to trouble the administration much with his demands but
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#17327877016441284-569: A letter from Scott about Taylor's smaller force, and he moved north, intent on destroying Taylor's force before confronting Scott's army. Learning of Santa Anna's approach, and refusing to retreat despite the Mexican army's greater numbers, Taylor established a strong defensive position near the town of Saltillo . Santa Anna attacked Taylor with 20,000 men at the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847, leaving around 700 Americans dead or wounded at
1391-454: A new record 9.2 feet (2.8 m) above high tide, completely destroying Hurricane Idalia 's 6.8 feet (2.1 m) storm surge. Cedar Key's importance in Florida's history, which began as far back as 1000 BC with pre-Columbian habitation of the region, was recognized on October 3, 1989, by the federal government . At that time, 8,000 acres (32 km ) in and around the town were added to
1498-486: A patient and quick learner, but his early letters showed a weak grasp of spelling and grammar, as well as poor handwriting. All improved over time, but his handwriting remained difficult to read. In June 1810, Taylor married Margaret Mackall Smith , whom he had met the previous autumn in Louisville. "Peggy" Smith came from a prominent family of Maryland planters—her father was Major Walter Smith, who had served in
1605-544: A presidential run had weakened, and it became clear that his principles resembled Whig orthodoxy. Taylor despised both Polk and his policies, while the Whigs were considering nominating another war hero for the presidency after the success of its previous winning nominee, William Henry Harrison , in 1840. As support for Taylor's candidacy grew, he continued to keep his distance from both parties, but made clear that he would have voted for Whig Henry Clay in 1844 had he voted. In
1712-835: A retreat to a reservation in the Everglades . After the hurricane, the Seminoles refused to return to the area. Colonel William J. Worth had declared the war to be over in August 1842, and Depot Key was abandoned by the Army after the hurricane. In 1842, the United States Congress had enacted the Armed Occupation Act , a precursor of the Homestead Act , to increase white settlement in Florida as
1819-439: A section of the seawall collapsed. After a statewide ban on large-scale net fishing went into effect July 1, 1995, a government retraining program helped many local fishermen begin farming clams in the muddy waters. Today, Cedar Key's clam-based aquaculture is a multimillion-dollar industry. A local museum exhibit displays a reproduction of one of the first air conditioning installations. The system, with compressor and fans,
1926-544: A strong and sound banking system for the country, and thought that President Andrew Jackson should not have allowed the Second Bank of the United States to collapse in 1836. He believed it was impractical to expand slavery into the Western United States , as neither cotton nor sugar (both produced in great quantities as a result of slavery) could be easily grown there through a plantation economy . He
2033-466: A war hero who could replicate the success of the party's only other successful presidential candidate, William Henry Harrison. At the 1848 Whig National Convention , Taylor defeated Clay and Winfield Scott for the presidential nomination. For its vice-presidential nominee the convention chose Millard Fillmore , a prominent New York Whig who had chaired the House Ways and Means Committee and been
2140-524: A way to force the Seminoles to leave the territory. With the abandonment of the Army base on Depot Key, the Cedar Keys became available for settlement under the act. Under the terms of the act, several people received permits for settlement on Depot Key, Way Key, and Scale Key. Augustus Steele , US Customs House Officer for Hillsborough County, Florida , and postmaster for the Tampa Bay area , received
2247-419: A widely publicized September 1847 letter, Taylor stated his positions on several issues. He did not favor chartering another national bank, favored a low tariff , and believed that the president should play no role in making laws. Taylor did believe that the president could veto laws, but only when they were clearly unconstitutional. Many southerners believed that Taylor supported slavery and its expansion into
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#17327877016442354-614: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Cedar Key, Florida Cedar Key is a city in Levy County , Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census , its population was 687, down from 702 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The Cedar Keys are a cluster of islands near the mainland. Most of the developed area for the City of Cedar Key has been on Way Key since
2461-511: Is land and 1.2 square miles (3.0 km ), or 54.28%, is water. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification , the City of Cedar Key has a humid subtropical climate zone ( Cfa ). As of the 2020 United States census , there were 687 people, 316 households, and 218 families residing in the city. As of
2568-404: The 2010 United States census , there were 702 people, 253 households, and 150 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2000, there were 790 people, 411 households, and 244 families residing in the city. The population density was 864.7 inhabitants per square mile (333.9/km ). There were 686 housing units at an average density of 750.9 per square mile (289.9/km ). The racial makeup of
2675-612: The American Revolution . Taylor was a descendant of Elder William Brewster , a Pilgrim leader of the Plymouth Colony , a Mayflower immigrant, and a signer of the Mayflower Compact ; and Isaac Allerton Jr. , a colonial merchant, colonel, and son of Mayflower Pilgrim Isaac Allerton and Fear Brewster . Taylor's second cousin through that line was James Madison , the fourth president. He
2782-429: The Battle of Buena Vista . Taylor's troops were transferred to the command of Major General Winfield Scott , but Taylor retained his popularity. The Whig Party convinced a reluctant Taylor to lead its ticket in the 1848 presidential election , despite his unclear political tenets and lack of interest in politics. At the 1848 Whig National Convention , Taylor defeated Winfield Scott and former senator Henry Clay for
2889-668: The British subjects Alexander Arbuthnot and Robert Ambrister used the Cedar Keys to deliver supplies to the Seminoles . The Cedar Keys may have been a refuge for escaped slaves in the early 1820s, and an entry point for the illegal slave trade later that decade. During the Second Seminole War , the United States Army established Fort No. 4 on the mainland adjacent to the Cedar Keys. (The name "No. 4"
2996-830: The Mississippi River and entering the Black Hawk War as a colonel in 1832. His success in the Second Seminole War attracted national attention and earned him the nickname "Old Rough and Ready". In 1845, during the annexation of Texas , President James K. Polk dispatched Taylor to the Rio Grande in anticipation of a battle with Mexico over the disputed Texas–Mexico border . The Mexican–American War broke out in April 1846, and Taylor defeated Mexican troops commanded by General Mariano Arista at
3103-537: The National Register of Historic Places under the title of the Cedar Keys Historic and Archaeological District . The Cedar Key Museum State Park depicts the town's 19th century history and displays sea shells and Indian artifacts from the collection of Saint Clair Whitman. Tours of Whitman's restored 1920s house are available during museum hours. As the museum photo indicates, the building
3210-484: The Second Seminole War was underway when Taylor was directed to Florida. He built Fort Gardiner and Fort Basinger as supply depots and communication centers in support of Major General Thomas S. Jesup 's campaign to penetrate deep into Seminole territory with large forces and trap the Seminoles and their allies in order to force them to fight or surrender. He engaged in battle with the Seminole Indians in
3317-762: The University of Florida in Gainesville . The old-fashioned fishing village is now a tourist center with several regionally famous seafood restaurants. The village holds two festivals a year, the Spring Sidewalk Art Festival and the Fall Seafood Festival, that each attract thousands of visitors to the area. In 1950, Hurricane Easy , a category-3 storm with 125-mile-per-hour (201 km/h) winds, looped around Cedar Key three times before finally making landfall, dumping 38 inches (970 mm) of rain and destroying two-thirds of
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3424-452: The 290 electoral votes . In the popular vote, he took 47.3%, to Cass's 42.5% and Van Buren's 10.1%. Taylor ignored the Whig platform, as historian Michael F. Holt explains: Taylor was equally indifferent to programs Whigs had long considered vital. Publicly, he was artfully ambiguous, refusing to answer questions about his views on banking, the tariff, and internal improvements. Privately, he
3531-411: The Cedar Key town limits being expanded in 1881 and again in 1884. But with the decline in the local economy, the town limits were contracted in 1890. Also in 1890, the island town was affected by the reign of terror of Cedar Keys mayor William Cottrell, who took advantage of his Florida state legislature connections and the restricted one-way road access to impose his will and conduct acts of violence. He
3638-562: The Christmas Day Battle of Lake Okeechobee , among the largest U.S.–Indian battles of the 19th century; as a result, he was promoted to brigadier general. In May 1838, Jesup stepped down and placed Taylor in command of all American troops in Florida, a position he held for two years—his reputation as a military leader was growing and he became known as "Old Rough and Ready." Taylor was criticized for using bloodhounds in order to track Seminole. After his long-requested relief
3745-591: The Confederacy during the early part of the war. In October 1862, a Union raid destroyed sixty kettles on Salt Key capable of producing 150 bushels of salt a day. The Union occupied the Cedar Keys in early 1864, staying for the remainder of the war. In 1865, the Eberhard Faber mill was built on Atsena Otie Key. The Eagle Pencil Company mill was built on Way Key, and Way Key, with its railroad terminal, surpassed Atsena Otie Key in population. Repairs to
3852-507: The Florida Railroad were completed in 1868, and freight and passenger traffic again flowed into Cedar Key. The " Town of Cedar Keys " was incorporated in 1869, and had a population of 400 in 1870. Early in his career as a naturalist, John Muir walked 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Louisville, Kentucky , to Cedar Key in just two months in 1867. Muir contracted malaria while working in a sawmill in Cedar Key, and recovered in
3959-579: The Interior , so Taylor would be appointing that department's inaugural secretary. Thomas Ewing , who had previously served as a senator from Ohio and as Secretary of the Treasury under William Henry Harrison, accepted the patronage-rich position of Secretary of the Interior . For the position of Postmaster General , also a center of patronage, Taylor chose Congressman Jacob Collamer of Vermont. After Horace Binney refused appointment as Secretary of
4066-489: The Mexican War. He received three Congressional Gold Medals for his service in the Mexican-American War and remains the only person to have received the medal three times. Taylor remained at Monterrey until late November 1847, when he set sail for home. While he spent the following year in command of the Army's entire western division, his active military career was effectively over. In December he received
4173-529: The Mexicans to sell Alta California and New Mexico , but the Mexicans remained unwilling to part with so much territory. Polk sent an army under the command of Winfield Scott to besiege Veracruz , an important Mexican port city, while Taylor was ordered to remain near Monterrey. Many of Taylor's experienced soldiers were placed under Scott's command, leaving Taylor with a smaller and less effective force. Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna intercepted
4280-668: The Paleo period (12,000 years old) were collected by Cedar Key historian St. Clair Whitman, and are displayed at the Cedar Key Museum State Park . Followers of William Augustus Bowles , self-declared "Director General of the State of Muskogee ", built a watchtower in the vicinity of Cedar Key in 1801. The tower was destroyed by a Spanish force in 1802. In the period leading up to the First Seminole War ,
4387-675: The Revolutionary War. The couple had six children: After serving briefly in the Kentucky militia in 1806, Taylor joined the U.S. Army on May 3, 1808; receiving a commission from President Thomas Jefferson as a first lieutenant of the Kentuckian Seventh Infantry Regiment . He was among the new officers Congress commissioned in response to the Chesapeake–Leopard affair , in which
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4494-580: The Rio Grande. Taylor was later praised for his humane treatment of the wounded Mexican soldiers before the prisoner exchange with Arista, giving them the same care as was given to American wounded. After tending to the wounded, he performed the last rites for the dead of both the American and Mexican soldiers killed during the battle. These victories made him a popular hero, and in May 1846 Taylor received
4601-632: The Sabine River frontier. By March 1822, Taylor had established Fort Jesup at the Shield's Spring site southwest of Natchitoches. That November (1822), Taylor was transferred to Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River in Louisiana , where he remained until February 1824. He spent the next few years on recruiting duty. In late 1826, he was called to Washington, D.C., for work on an Army committee to consolidate and improve military organization. In
4708-472: The Treasury, Taylor chose another prominent Philadelphian, William M. Meredith . George W. Crawford , a former governor of Georgia, accepted the position of Secretary of War , while Congressman William B. Preston of Virginia became Secretary of the Navy . Senator Reverdy Johnson of Maryland accepted appointment as Attorney General , and became one of the most influential members of Taylor's cabinet. Fillmore
4815-584: The Union. Debate over the status of slavery in the Mexican Cession dominated the national political agenda and led to threats of secession from Southerners. Despite being a Southerner and a slaveholder himself, Taylor did not push for the expansion of slavery, and sought sectional harmony above all other concerns. To avoid the issue of slavery, he urged settlers in New Mexico and California to bypass
4922-501: The United States William Selden , and manned by nineteen sailors. Col. Smith led his two rifle companies along with one six-pounder cannon twenty miles offshore on the steamer Madison and captured the schooners after firing two warning shots . With the recovery, Col. Smith and his men liberated fifteen Confederate sailors, recovered the vessels' valuable cargo of railroad iron and turpentine and effected
5029-463: The Whigs, as former Democratic President Martin Van Buren broke from the party and led the anti-slavery Free Soil Party 's ticket. Van Buren won the support of many Democrats and Whigs who opposed the extension of slavery into the territories, but he took more votes from Democratic nominee Lewis Cass in the crucial state of New York. Nationally, Taylor defeated Cass and Van Buren, taking 163 of
5136-651: The annexation of the Republic of Texas , which had established independence in 1836, Taylor was sent in April 1844 to Fort Jesup in Louisiana, and ordered to guard against attempts by Mexico to reclaim the territory. More senior generals in the army might have taken this important command, such as Winfield Scott and Edmund P. Gaines . But both were known members of the Whig Party , and Taylor's apolitical reputation and friendly relations with Andrew Jackson made him
5243-409: The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma , driving Arista's troops out of Texas . Taylor then led his troops into Mexico, where they defeated Mexican troops commanded by Pedro de Ampudia at the Battle of Monterrey . Defying orders, Taylor led his troops further south and, despite being severely outnumbered, dealt a crushing blow to Mexican forces under General Antonio López de Santa Anna at
5350-608: The building in the 1860s. The building may have housed both Union and Confederate troops at various times during the Civil War , as the town changed hands more than once. Part of the building was used as a boarding house by the end of the 1880s. The store closed in 1910. The building became a hotel in 1946. This article about a property in Levy County, Florida on the National Register of Historic Places
5457-707: The choice of President James K. Polk . Polk directed him to deploy into disputed territory in Texas, "on or near the Rio Grande " near Mexico. Taylor chose a spot at Corpus Christi , and his Army of Occupation encamped there until the following spring in anticipation of a Mexican attack. When Polk's attempts to negotiate with Mexico failed, Taylor's men advanced to the Rio Grande in March 1846, and war appeared imminent. Violence broke out several weeks later, when Mexican forces attacked some of Captain Seth B. Thornton's men north of
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#17327877016445564-547: The city was 97.47% White , 0.13% African American , 0.63% Native American , 0.25% Asian , 0.51% from other races , and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population. In 2000, there were 411 households, out of which 14.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who
5671-564: The commander was. Cantonment Morgan was established on nearby Seahorse Key by 1841 and used as a troop deployment station and as a holding station for Seminoles who had been captured or who had surrendered until they could be sent to the West. A hurricane with a 27-foot (8.2 m) storm surge struck the Cedar Keys on October 4, 1842, destroying Cantonment Morgan and causing much damage on Depot Key. Some Seminole leaders had been meeting with Army officers at Depot Key to negotiate their surrender or
5778-496: The convention's outcome, because he had instructed his local post office not to deliver his mail to avoid postage fees. Taylor continued to minimize his role in the campaign, preferring not to directly meet with voters or correspond about his political views. He did little active campaigning, and may not have voted. His campaign was skillfully directed by Crittenden and bolstered by a late endorsement from Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts. Democrats were even less unified than
5885-642: The courtship of his 17-year-old daughter Sarah Knox Taylor with Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, the future President of the Confederate States of America . He respected Davis but did not wish his daughter to become a military wife, as he knew it was a hard life for families. Davis and Sarah Taylor married in June 1835 (when she was 21), but she died three months later of malaria contracted on a visit to Davis's sister's home in St. Francisville, Louisiana . By 1837,
5992-504: The crew of a British Royal Navy warship had boarded a United States Navy frigate, sparking calls for war. Taylor spent much of 1809 in the dilapidated camps of New Orleans and nearby Terre aux Boeufs , in the Territory of Orleans . Under James Wilkinson 's command, the soldiers at Terre aux Boeufs suffered greatly from disease and lack of supplies, and Taylor was given an extended leave, returning to Louisville to recover. Taylor
6099-458: The crucial seat of Secretary of State , but Crittenden insisted on serving out the governorship of Kentucky to which he had just been elected. Taylor settled on Senator John M. Clayton of Delaware, a close associate of Crittenden's. With Clayton's aid, Taylor chose the six remaining members of his cabinet. One of the incoming Congress's first actions would be to establish the Department of
6206-423: The end of the 19th century. The Cedar Keys are named for the eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana , once abundant in the area. The city was destroyed by Hurricane Helene on September 26, 2024, largely due to a 10-foot storm surge that broke the record set during Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. While evidence suggests human occupation as far back as 500 BC, the first maps of the area date to 1542, when
6313-531: The first capture of a U. S. Naval officer at sea during the war. The USS Hatteras raided Cedar Key in January 1862, burning several ships loaded with cotton and turpentine and destroying the railroad's rolling stock and buildings on Way Key. Most of the Confederate troops guarding Cedar Key had been sent to Fernandina in anticipation of a Federal attack there. Cedar Key was an important source of salt for
6420-594: The forces of Tecumseh , a Shawnee chief . During the War of 1812 , in which U.S. forces battled the British Empire and its Indian allies, Taylor defended Fort Harrison in Indiana Territory from an Indian attack commanded by Tecumseh. The September 1812 battle was the American forces' first land victory of the war, for which Taylor received wide praise, as well as a brevet (temporary) promotion to
6527-401: The head of any sane person." After crossing the Rio Grande, in September Taylor inflicted heavy casualties upon the Mexicans at the Battle of Monterrey , and captured that city in three days, despite its impregnable repute. Taylor was criticized for signing a "liberal" truce rather than pressing for a large-scale surrender. Polk had hoped that the occupation of Northern Mexico would induce
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#17327877016446634-410: The home of his maternal grandfather William Strother, but this is uncertain. Another possibility, one recognized by a historical marker, is Montebello, another Orange County estate. He was the third of five surviving sons in his family (a sixth died in infancy) and had three younger sisters. His mother was Sarah Dabney (née Strother) Taylor. His father, Richard Taylor , served as a lieutenant colonel in
6741-411: The homes. The storm came ashore at low tide, so the surge was only 5 feet (1.5 m). Hurricane Elena followed a similar path in 1985, but did not make landfall. Packing 115-mile-per-hour (185 km/h) winds, the storm churned for two days in the Gulf, 50 miles (80 km) to the west, battering the waterfront. All the businesses and restaurants on Dock Street were either damaged or destroyed, and
6848-428: The house of the mill's superintendent. Muir recovered enough to sail from Cedar Key to Cuba in January 1868. He recorded his impressions of Cedar Key in his memoir A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf , published in 1916, after his death. When Henry Plant 's railroad to Tampa began service in 1886, Tampa took shipping away from Cedar Key, causing an economic decline in the area. Earlier, growth in population had led to
6955-493: The last toehold of the U.S. Army in the upper Mississippi River Valley. Upon Howard's death a few weeks later, Taylor was ordered to abandon the fort and retreat to St. Louis. Reduced to the rank of captain when the war ended in 1815, he resigned from the army. He reentered it a year later after gaining a commission as a major. Taylor commanded Fort Howard at the Green Bay , Michigan Territory settlement for two years, then returned to Louisville and his family. In April 1819 he
7062-444: The light 75 feet (23 m) above sea level. The light was visible for 16 miles (26 km). Wood-frame residences were added to each side of the lighthouse several years later. In 1860, Cedar Key became the western terminus of the Florida Railroad , connecting it to Fernandina Beach, Florida on the east coast of Florida. David Levy Yulee , U.S. senator and president of the Florida Railroad, had acquired most of Way Key to house
7169-407: The mainland. By 1860, two mills on Atsena Otie Key were producing " cedar " slats for shipment to northern pencil factories. As a result of the growth, the US Congress appropriated funds for a lighthouse on Seahorse Key in 1850. The Cedar Key Light was completed in 1854. The lighthouse lantern is 28 feet (8.5 m) above the ground, but the lighthouse sits on a 47-foot-high (14 m) hill, putting
7276-428: The major industries, but around 1909, the oyster beds were exhausted. President Herbert Hoover established the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge in 1929 by naming three of the islands as a breeding ground for colonial birds. The lighthouse was abandoned in 1952, just as the tourism industry began to grow as a result of interest in the historic community, but it remains in use as a marine biology research center by
7383-570: The many tasks facing the nation, but presented a governing style of deference to Congress and sectional compromise instead of assertive executive action. His speech also emphasized the importance of following President Washington's precedent in avoiding entangling alliances . During the period after his inauguration, Taylor made time to meet with numerous office-seekers and other ordinary citizens who desired his attention. He also attended an unusual number of funerals, including services for Polk and Dolley Madison . According to Eisenhower, Taylor coined
7490-406: The means at hand without parading his grievance before the public. No soldier could face either danger or responsibility more calmly than he. These are qualities more rarely found than genius or physical courage. General Taylor never made any great show or parade, either of uniform or retinue. In dress he was possibly too plain, rarely wearing anything in the field to indicate his rank, or even that he
7597-402: The meantime he acquired his first Louisiana plantation and decided to move with his family to a new home in Baton Rouge . In May 1828, Taylor was called back to action, commanding Fort Snelling in Michigan Territory (now Minnesota ) on the Upper Mississippi River for a year, and then nearby Fort Crawford for a year. After some time on furlough, spent expanding his landholdings, Taylor
7704-416: The median income for a household in the city was $ 32,232, and the median income for a family was $ 41,190. Males had a median income of $ 27,375 versus $ 31,806 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 22,568. About 6.6% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over. School Board of Levy County operates
7811-648: The new territory absorbed from Mexico, and some were angered when Taylor suggested that if elected president he would not veto the Wilmot Proviso , which proposed against such an expansion. This position did not enhance his support from activist antislavery elements in the Northern United States , as they wanted Taylor to speak out strongly in support of the Proviso, not simply fail to veto it. Most abolitionists did not support Taylor, since he
7918-595: The party's nomination. He won the general election alongside New York politician Millard Fillmore , defeating Democratic Party nominees Lewis Cass and William Orlando Butler , as well as a third-party effort led by former president Martin Van Buren and Charles Francis Adams Sr. of the Free Soil Party . Taylor became the first president to be elected without having previously held political office. As president, he kept his distance from Congress and his Cabinet , even though partisan tensions threatened to divide
8025-546: The permit for Depot Key, which he renamed Atsena Otie Key . In 1843, he bought the buildings on the island, and built some cottages for wealthy guests. In 1844, he became the Collector of Customs for the port of Cedar Key, as well as for Tampa, Florida . A post office named "Cedar Key" was established on Atsena Otie Key in 1845. The Florida legislature chartered the " City of Atsena Otie " in 1859. Cedar Key became an important port, shipping lumber and naval stores harvested on
8132-546: The presidency and served the remainder of his term. Historians and scholars have ranked Taylor in the bottom quartile of U.S. presidents, owing in part to his short term of office (16 months), though he has been described as "more a forgettable president than a failed one". Zachary Taylor was born on November 24, 1784, on a plantation in Orange County, Virginia , to a prominent family of planters of English ancestry. His birthplace may have been Hare Forest Farm ,
8239-645: The railroad's terminal facilities. A town was platted on Way Key in 1859, and Parsons and Hale's General Store, which is now the Island Hotel , was built there in the same year. On March 1, 1861, the first train arrived in Cedar Key, just weeks before the Civil War began. With the advent of the American Civil War in 1861, Confederate agents extinguished the light at Seahorse Key and removed its supply of sperm whale oil . The defense of Cedar Key
8346-542: The rank of major. According to historian John Eisenhower , this was the first brevet awarded in U.S. history. Later that year, Taylor joined General Samuel Hopkins as an aide on two expeditions—one into the Illinois Territory and one to the Tippecanoe battle site, where they were forced to retreat in the Battle of Wild Cat Creek . Taylor moved his family to Fort Knox after the violence subsided. In
8453-516: The river. Learning of the Thornton Affair , Polk told Congress in May that a war between Mexico and the U.S. had begun. That same month, Taylor commanded American forces at the Battle of Palo Alto and the nearby Battle of Resaca de la Palma . Though greatly outnumbered, he defeated the Mexican " Army of the North " commanded by General Mariano Arista , and forced the troops back across
8560-611: The spring of 1814, Taylor was called back into action under Brigadier General Benjamin Howard , and after Howard fell sick, Taylor led a 430-man expedition from St. Louis , up the Mississippi River. In the Battle of Credit Island , Taylor defeated Indian forces, but retreated after the Indians were joined by their British allies. That October he supervised the construction of Fort Johnson near present-day Warsaw, Illinois ,
8667-424: The station" of president. Taylor spent the next week meeting with political elites, some of whom were unimpressed with his appearance and demeanor. With less than two weeks until his inauguration, he met with Clayton and hastily finalized his cabinet. Taylor's term as president began on Sunday, March 4, but his inauguration was not held until the next day out of religious concerns. His inauguration speech discussed
8774-548: The strand, gazing out on the burnished, treeless plain! The John Muir historic marker was placed on the museum grounds in 1983, commemorating his visit. The City of Cedar Key's coordinates are 29°08′44″N 83°02′30″W / 29.145558°N 83.041544°W / 29.145558; -83.041544 . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 2.1 square miles (5.5 km ), of which 0.97 square miles (2.5 km )
8881-585: The territorial stage and draft constitutions for statehood , setting the stage for the Compromise of 1850 . Taylor died suddenly of a stomach disease on July 9, 1850, with his administration having accomplished little aside from the ratification of the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty and having made no progress on the most divisive issue in Congress and the nation: slavery . Vice President Fillmore assumed
8988-402: The town, killing more than 100 people. Winds north of town were estimated at 125 miles per hour (201 km/h), which would classify it as a category 3 . The hurricane wiped out the juniper trees still standing and destroyed all the mills. A fire on December 2, 1896, further damaged the town. In following years, structures were rebuilt on Way Key, a more protected island inland, but the damage
9095-412: The war, ordered construction of a hospital on what had become known as Depot Key . (The island's name may reflect the establishment of a depot there by Florida militia general Leigh Read . The primary depot for the U.S. Army in Florida at the time was at Palatka, Florida .) Depot Key was the headquarters for the Army in Florida, but Fishburne states headquarters was not in a fixed place, but wherever
9202-445: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.42. In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 13.2% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 15.6% from 25 to 44, 40.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males. In 2000,
9309-562: Was a career officer in the United States Army , rising to the rank of major general and becoming a national hero for his victories in the Mexican–American War . As a result, he won election to the White House despite his vague political beliefs. His top priority as president was to preserve the Union. He died 16 months into his term from a stomach disease . Taylor had the third-shortest presidential term in U.S. history. Taylor
9416-483: Was a slave-owner. In February 1848, Taylor again announced that he would not accept either party's presidential nomination. His reluctance to identify himself as a Whig nearly cost him the party's presidential nomination, but Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky and other supporters finally convinced Taylor to declare himself a Whig. Though Clay retained a strong following among the Whigs, Whig leaders like William H. Seward and Abraham Lincoln were eager to support
9523-543: Was also a firm American nationalist , and due to his experience of seeing many people die as a result of warfare, believed that secession was a bad way to resolve national problems. Well before the American victory at Buena Vista, political clubs formed that supported Taylor for president. His support was drawn from an unusually broad assortment of political bands, including Whigs and Democrats, Northerners and Southerners, allies and opponents of national leaders such as Polk and Henry Clay. By late 1846, Taylor's opposition to
9630-475: Was also a member of the famous Lee family of Virginia, and a third cousin once removed of Confederate General Robert E. Lee . His family forsook its exhausted Virginia land, joined the westward migration and settled near future Louisville, Kentucky , on the Ohio River . Taylor grew up in a small woodland cabin until, with increased prosperity, his family moved to a brick house. As a child, he lived in
9737-478: Was an officer; but he was known to every soldier in his army, and was respected by all. Note - Major General Taylor resigned his commission in the U.S. Army on January 31, 1849, shortly before he became president. In his capacity as a career officer, Taylor had never publicly revealed his political beliefs before 1848 nor voted before that time. He was apolitical and had a negative opinion of most politicians. He thought of himself as an independent , believing in
9844-532: Was assigned to the Columbia and New River Rifles, two companies of the 4th Florida Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lt. Colonel M. Whit Smith. On July 3, 1861, four Federal war prize schooners appeared off Cedar Key. The schooners, originally captured by the USS Massachusetts off New Orleans , were under the command of U. S. Navy Lieutenant George L. Selden, nephew of former Treasurer of
9951-460: Was born into a prominent family of plantation owners who moved westward from Virginia to Louisville, Kentucky , in his youth. He was the last president born before the adoption of the Constitution . He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army in 1808 and made a name for himself as a captain in the War of 1812 . He climbed the ranks of the military, establishing military forts along
10058-544: Was called to the Indiana Territory , where he assumed control of Fort Knox after the commandant fled. In a few weeks, he was able to restore order in the garrison, for which he was lauded by Governor William Henry Harrison . Taylor was temporarily called to Washington, D.C. , to testify for Wilkinson as a witness in a court-martial , and so did not take part in the November 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe against
10165-520: Was constructed to withstand the hurricane conditions that the town is subjected to periodically. The naturalist John Muir visited Cedar Key in 1867 on his historic walk from Kentucky to Florida. He wrote: For nineteen years my vision was bounded by forests, but today, emerging from a multitude of tropical plants , I beheld the Gulf of Mexico stretching away unbounded, except by the sky. What dreams and speculative matter for thought arose as I stood on
10272-443: Was deposed from power only after the island was invaded by a naval ( U.S. Coast Guard ) boat manned with a squad of U.S. Marshals , who were sent there after Custom House officers and other federal government workers requested federal aid due to being unable to discharge their duties on the islands. The 1896 Cedar Keys hurricane was the final blow. Around 4 am on September 29, 1896, a 10-foot (3.0 m) storm surge swept over
10379-409: Was done. Today, only a few reminders of the original town on Atsena Otie Key remain, including stone water cisterns , and a graveyard whose headstones conspicuously date prior to 1896. Also, many of the eastern red cedar trees that originally attracted the pencil company, and for which the community was named, are gone. At the start of the 20th century, fishing, sponge hooking, and oystering had become
10486-712: Was granted, Taylor spent a comfortable year touring the nation with his family and meeting with military leaders. During this period, he began to be interested in politics and corresponded with President William Henry Harrison . He was made commander of the Second Department of the Army's Western Division in May 1841. The sizable territory ran from the Mississippi River westward, south of the 37th parallel north . Stationed in Arkansas , Taylor enjoyed several uneventful years, spending as much time attending to his land speculation as to military matters. In anticipation of
10593-399: Was inclined to do the best he could with the means given to him. He felt his responsibility as going no further. If he had thought that he was sent to perform an impossibility with the means given him, he would probably have informed the authorities of his opinion and left them to determine what should be done. If the judgment was against him he would have gone on and done the best he could with
10700-427: Was later applied to a boat channel next to the fort, and then to a railroad trestle and a highway bridge over that channel.) In 1840, General Zachary Taylor requested the Cedar Keys be reserved for military use for the duration of the war, and that Seahorse Key be permanently reserved for a lighthouse. In 1840, General Walker Keith Armistead , who had succeeded Zachary Taylor as commander of United States troops in
10807-417: Was more forthright. The idea of a national bank "is dead, and will not be revived in my time." In the future the tariff "will be increased only for revenue"; in other words, Whig hopes of restoring the protective tariff of 1842 were vain. There would never again be surplus federal funds from public land sales to distribute to the states, and internal improvements "will go on in spite of presidential vetoes." In
10914-469: Was not in favor with Taylor, and was largely sidelined throughout Taylor's presidency. Taylor began his trek to Washington in late January, a journey rife with bad weather, delays, injuries, sickness—and an abduction by a family friend. Taylor finally arrived in the nation's capital on February 24 and soon met with the outgoing President Polk. Polk held a low opinion of Taylor, privately deeming him "without political information" and "wholly unqualified for
11021-589: Was promoted to captain in November 1810. His army duties were limited at this time, and he attended to his personal finances. Over the next several years, he began to purchase a good deal of bank stock in Louisville. He also bought a plantation in Louisville, as well as the Cypress Grove Plantation in Jefferson County , Mississippi Territory . These acquisitions included slaves, rising in number to more than 200. In July 1811 he
11128-400: Was promoted to colonel of the 1st Infantry Regiment in April 1832, when the Black Hawk War was beginning in the West. Taylor campaigned under General Henry Atkinson to pursue and later defend against Chief Black Hawk 's forces throughout the summer. The end of the war in August 1832 signaled the final Indian resistance to U.S. expansion in the area. During this period, Taylor opposed
11235-579: Was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and dined with President James Monroe and General Andrew Jackson . In late 1820, Taylor took the 7th Infantry to Natchitoches , Louisiana , on the Red River . He subsequently established Fort Selden at the confluence of the Sulphur River and the Red River. On the orders of General Edmund P. Gaines , he later found a new post more convenient to
11342-422: Was sporadic because Kentucky's education system was just taking shape during his formative years. Taylor's mother taught him to read and write, and he later attended a school operated by Elisha Ayer, a teacher originally from Connecticut. He also attended a Middletown, Kentucky , academy run by Kean O'Hara, a classically trained scholar from Ireland and the father of Theodore O'Hara . Ayer recalled Taylor as
11449-455: Was used in Cedar Key to ease the lot of malaria patients. Cedar Key is home to the George T. Lewis Airport (CDK). Hurricane Eta made one of its two landfalls in Florida at about 4 a.m. Thursday, November 10, 2020, near Cedar Key, as a tropical storm. On August 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia caused significant damage to Cedar Key as it headed towards Florida's Big Bend . Although not making
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