CAPTIVA'S HISTORIC CEMETERY
Adjacent to our Chapel, trimmed with white lattice fencing, is Captiva's Historic Cemetery.
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Within its perimeters you will find grave markers and headstones, some of which are those of homesteaders and settlers who came to Captiva Island in the late 19th century.
Austrian-born William Herbert Binder was Captiva's first documented resident. Binder had been on a freighter bound to New Orleans when he became victim of shipwreck and floated to the safety of Captiva on a piece of wood. When he was rescued, William Binder made a promise to himself to return to Captiva, which he did in 1888. Mr. BInder was awarded Captiva's first homestead patent in 1896.
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In 1895, a four year old named Ann Brainerd, along with her family, moved from Canada to Buck Key, the small island just east of Captiva. Six years later after their arrival the youngster told Mr. Binder how this one particular part of Captiva Island was the prettiest place she'd ever seen. Binder was charmed by little Ann's observation and proposed to sell her that plot, less than an acre, for the price of a small gold coin Ann had received from her grandparents prior to her family leaving Canada. She did indeed purchase this land from Binder but tragically, shortly after their transaction was made, Ann stepped on a rusty nail and subsequently died as a result of tetanus. Her family laid Ann to rest here on "her land", which today is known as Captiva's Historic Cemetery. Quite often visitors places shells on the lamb-topped tomstone to honor the memory of this special girl. In the cemetery Ann's family surrounds her and the headstone of her friend Mr. Binder is close by.
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Over the years, Hervert and Hattie Brainerd lost an additional10 infants, six of which are buried close to sister Ann. In 1912, the Brainerd's adopted a son, Gordon, was killed during a mishap on Buck Key. His monument. reads, "Gone to a better home". Mr. Herbert Brainerd died two years later. His headstone bears the Masonic emblem.​
The grave of Hattie E. Gore, Captiva's postmistress from 1903 to 1940, lay equidistant between that of her first husband, Herbert Brainerd, and her second, Alvin M. Gore. With no known living family, when William Binder died in 1932 Hattie Gore arranged to have him buried in the Brainerd family plot.
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In our historic cemetery also appear the graves of confederate soliders. George Washington Carter, a civil war veteran from Trader's Hill, George, was homesteader of the property now known as South Seas Resort. The Carter family with their 8 children, arrived in 1900 and primarily farmed for a living; harvesting sugar cane, citrus, and avocados. The storm of 1923 convinced the Carters to sell their property to Clarence Chadwick, the resort's first developer.
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Another confederate solider is Henry P. Knowles. Records show Henry Knowles had been present at the South's surrender to Union forces and he applied for a solider's pension in Lee County in 1902. While Mr. Knowles is burried in nearby Fort Myers, his wife Julia F. Knowles, is buried in Captiva's Historic Cemetery. Julia Knowles' headstone reads, "She lived to bless others".
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Here also is the headstone for Lewis Austin Doane and his wife Jennie Upton Doane. Jennie Upton is a descendent of the pilgrim Mr. John Upton.
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Along the cemetery's west perimeter, a brass sundial marks the remains of Anita Belle Croft, an avid butterfly collector.
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Alison Hagerup, a dedicated administrator for the Captiva Erosion Prevention District for 20 years, championed the need for refurbishing our coastline. Friends and family regularly replenish Alison's marker with seashells collected from those very shores. The public beach access at the north end of Captiva has been named for this remarkable public servant.
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Words etched on the cemetery memorial wall read, "In Memory Of Those Who Have Gone Before". Names are added once a year, prior to Captiva Chapel By The Sea's season opening in November.
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Captiva's Historic Cemetery is approximately 2 acres in size. Today all markers within this cemetery are plotted to two feet square and only cremains may be interred. To purchase a plot, entomb cremains, or to have a name engraved on the memorial stone, one must have a Captiva or Sanibel connection.
In 1954, the Chapel By The Sea was purchased from the Methodist Church and thus the historic cemetery was deeded to the Chapel with an agreement emphasizing its diligent maintenance.
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The first chairperson of the Chapel by the Sea Cemetery Committee was Beulah Brainerd Wiles, whose family generously donated the land.
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In 1966, a Cemetery Fund was established to provide for continuing maintenance and careful preservation of this sacred space.
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In 2013 the "Captiva School" and "Chapel By The Sea Historic District" was recognized by and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
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MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION TO SUPPORT CAPTIVA'S HISTORIC CEMETERY
With thanks to vistors, maintenance of the cemetery continues through donations placed in the little white box located just within its front gate or you may contribute by using the online form below.
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