"MIAMI'S YESTER’YEARS, Its Forgotten Founder Locke Tiffin Highleyman, written by Patricia Daly-Lipe of her grandfather, is an extraordinary account of the earliest beginnings of Miami. Her research of the man, Locke Tiffin Highleyman, highlights his linage from Europe to his place in the development of Miami, is superlative.
Patricia takes the reader through time and highlights many accounts of the people and the area. The Seminole Indians, their wars, the swamp thief and, of course, Flagler and his contribution to Florida’s expansion with the railroad and his land development. Patricia also highlighted many reginal geographical accounts and stories of various area, the Keys, the Everglades, It’s sawgrass and the Okeechobee Lake and how, thankfully, it was preserved by the women of the Florida Federation of Women’s Club.
For anyone who has ever visited or lived in Florida, it is hard to imagine a journey before the 95 interstate freeway. Patricia paints and details her great grandfather's trip form Jacksonville to Miami, a three week journey through swamp and jungle by car, no roads just ruts, with an amazing photo, one hard to fathom.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have learned so much since now we are living here, a far more intimate and detailed account then other books of the area. This is one book that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn firsthand, the will and tenacity of the men and women who forged their way south to create a fruit / vacation paradise for future generations."
