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decedent's estate consisted of two parcels of land named Fort
Basinger (Basinger) and Fishbranch, the improvements on the two
parcels, and the cattle and other assets of a cattle ranch
located and operated primarily at Fishbranch. All the estate's
real property is located in south central Florida, in Highlands
County.
During most of her life, decedent lived on Basinger, a
parcel of land located along the Kissimmee River near U.S.
Highway 98. Basinger takes its name from an encampment that was
used by General Zachary Taylor as his base of operations in the
Seminole Indian wars during the early 19th century. The parcel
consists of approximately 1,160 acres and includes the decedent's
120-year-old residence, a family cemetery, a one-room school
house, an Indian burial mound, and other structures and sites.
Decedent regarded the structures at Basinger as imbued with rich
historical significance.
For decades decedent had operated a cattle ranch on
Fishbranch, a parcel of approximately 7,741 acres, located south
of Lake Istokpoga, approximately 20 miles from Basinger. The
cattle ranch was a breeding operation that produced calves for
sale to feed lot operators. Decedent was a strong-minded woman,
who rode the range with the cowhands, and was accustomed to
taking charge and doing things her own way. Decedent managed and
directed the operations of the ranch until 1986 when she became
physically and mentally incapacitated.
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