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Lives remembered

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 26, 2007

Updated: 12/26/2007 12:11 am

Clay Sink's pioneers loom as larger-than-life role models in this enclave tucked away in the Withlacoochee State Forest. For generations, residents have handed down their stories.

The stories stretch back as far as a boy named Sylvester, to the 1850s.

"And he came to live with the Sumners, and they took him in like he was their child," Vera Boyett said. "And in this community at that time, the Indians were really bad. But the white settlers thought that everything was fine.

"Everybody had cattle for the taking here. If you roped a cow, put your brand and mark on it, it was your cow.

"So, they had a rope that they called a community rope. And they sent him to carry the rope to Linden, to somebody, or else go to Linden and bring it back. I don't know which.

"His horse come home with his suspenders platted in the horse's mane. They knew immediately that something was wrong."

Keyword: Clay Sink, to listen to stories and see a photo gallery.

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