Photo by TuffyDog.com
Lorenzo Dow "Papy" Ross was born in 1836 across the bay in Fort Brooke, which is now the city of Tampa, and was one of only 452 people living in the Tampa Bay area at the time. Lorenzo grew up to be both a soldier and a farmer. In 1856 he joined the U.S. Army and fought in the aftermath of the second Seminole war. Although the war was officially over, Seminole "insurrection" still existed down in the Everglades. Lorenzo was part of the Army infantry that fought the last skirmishes with the Everglades Seminoles. In 1862, Lorenzo took up arms again, this time for the Confederacy. He was part of Company B of the 7th Florida Infantry. He was eventually promoted to sergeant. He was captured and taken prisoner by the Union forces in November 1863. The Union released him after the war in June 1865. Lorenzo's capture may have saved his life. He was one of only a few of the 500 men who left Florida in the 7th Infantry to come home alive.
After his release, Lorenzo returned to the Pinellas peninsula and bought more
than 300 acres on what is now called Weedon Island. The going price is believed
to have been $1 an acre. The portion he owned and maintained is in the
southeast corner of the preserve and is still called Ross Island. Papy's Point
and Papy's Bayou, other portions of the preserve, are also named after him.
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