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Life and Death on the Loxahatchee by Snyder, James D. (2002) Paperback
Excellent Book
160 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2002
16 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
James D. Snyder
21 books35 followers James D. Snyder, author of the newly-released The Music Makers, has won numerous awards for historical fiction novels ranging from the genesis of Christianity to the Spanish discovery of Florida to the story of a young woman caught up in high-stakes blockade-running during the Civil War. “The common thread among them,” he says, “is an effort to help the reader grasp the essence of a dramatic historical period through the lives of individuals who lived through it.”
In addition to his novels, author Snyder writes and speaks about the colorful history surrounding his home on the Loxahatchee River in South Florida. Five Thousand Years on the Loxahatchee is a pictorial history of Jupiter-Tequesta, FL while Black Gold and Silver Sands describes the hard-scrabble beginnings of Palm Beach county. A Trip Down the Loxahatchee shows the river’s beauty through the eyes of 52 painters and photographers. Life and Death on the Loxahatchee tells the story of a larger-than-life “Tarzan” who fascinated locals until his mysterious death. A Light in the Wilderness shows how a lone lighthouse in forlorn Jupiter became the magnet that drew a throng of early settlers.
Jim Snyder has been a writer and editor since graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and The George Washington University graduate school of political science. Beginning in the 1970s he founded what would become the largest independent Washington news bureau for business and medical magazines. In 1984 it became Enterprise Communications Inc., with its own magazines and trade shows.
In 1997, when the company was sold to Thomson-Reuters Corp., Snyder was able to pursue a second career as author-historian. Today he is also active in several organizations to protect the Loxahatchee River and its rich history.
In addition to his novels, author Snyder writes and speaks about the colorful history surrounding his home on the Loxahatchee River in South Florida. Five Thousand Years on the Loxahatchee is a pictorial history of Jupiter-Tequesta, FL while Black Gold and Silver Sands describes the hard-scrabble beginnings of Palm Beach county. A Trip Down the Loxahatchee shows the river’s beauty through the eyes of 52 painters and photographers. Life and Death on the Loxahatchee tells the story of a larger-than-life “Tarzan” who fascinated locals until his mysterious death. A Light in the Wilderness shows how a lone lighthouse in forlorn Jupiter became the magnet that drew a throng of early settlers.
Jim Snyder has been a writer and editor since graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and The George Washington University graduate school of political science. Beginning in the 1970s he founded what would become the largest independent Washington news bureau for business and medical magazines. In 1984 it became Enterprise Communications Inc., with its own magazines and trade shows.
In 1997, when the company was sold to Thomson-Reuters Corp., Snyder was able to pursue a second career as author-historian. Today he is also active in several organizations to protect the Loxahatchee River and its rich history.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 23, 2023
This has been on my TBR for more than a decade and I finally sat down to read this book for a book club. The mystery of Trapper Nelson's death is still a mystery but I found myself most sad at the changes to SE Florida/Florida in general between the late 1920s and post WWII boom. Knowing the area where Trapper lived and the JDSP and Jupiter areas well, I know how much was lost. It was interesting to hear about the developments of Pratt & Whitney and other big industries coming in and Trapper acknowledging them as they are all still around today.
Definitely one to read for any Floridaphile.
Definitely one to read for any Floridaphile.
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July 15, 2010this was fascinating!!!...not only did i find out trapper nelson was from my hometown of trenton, new jersey, but what a story...and it was cool to read about a place that i am so familiar with from paddling on this wild and scenic river...one of my favorite paddles!!
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March 7, 2023This is a thoughtfully researched and well-written account of the mysterious life of Vincent Nelson...aka 'Trapper Nelson.' As a fellow-author, I appreciate Mr. Snyder's investigative approach in laying out the chronology of what little is actually known of Trapper Nelson.
Snyder has pieced together -- from a variety of sources -- Vincent Nelson's seemingly idyllic life on the only jungle river in the northern hemisphere. More impressive still is Snyder's assembly of eye-witness accounts to the myth of Nelson as "Tarzan of the Loxahatchee." But the most compelling of Snyder's work is his ability to discern the many nuance's of Nelson's character that drove his decisions to remain in this Florida swamp...and the unsolved investigation of Nelson's untimely demise.
This is a quick read, and I would recommend this book to anyone with interest in real-life adventures.
Snyder has pieced together -- from a variety of sources -- Vincent Nelson's seemingly idyllic life on the only jungle river in the northern hemisphere. More impressive still is Snyder's assembly of eye-witness accounts to the myth of Nelson as "Tarzan of the Loxahatchee." But the most compelling of Snyder's work is his ability to discern the many nuance's of Nelson's character that drove his decisions to remain in this Florida swamp...and the unsolved investigation of Nelson's untimely demise.
This is a quick read, and I would recommend this book to anyone with interest in real-life adventures.
June 23, 2018
Learned about the book from Parker’s Racing in the Rain. I liked fictional Trapper Nelson more. Stories of pre-development Florida are never too bad though.
October 6, 2019
Great local book on Florida and the wild habitat of 50 years ago.
January 8, 2020
Amazing.
January 22, 2021
Fun book about a mysterious backwoods man from my hometown. Written as kind of historical fiction, good mix of story and archival info
January 22, 2021
Wonderfully written story of a colorful character Loved it!
August 10, 2022
Easy to read, nicely written biography of Trapper Nelson. A look into an outdoor lifestyle that probably is extinct.
March 24, 2024
great book
Really enjoyed reading this book. Highly recommend. A lot of interesting information. Great reading and items you didn’t know about
Really enjoyed reading this book. Highly recommend. A lot of interesting information. Great reading and items you didn’t know about
June 26, 2025
Quick and informative read about the wild man of the loxahatchee. We currently camped at Johnathan Dickinson state park and I always enjoy know more about the people and places we visit.
January 4, 2013
I thought I'd read this book not long after it was originally published, but I can't find any record. After the book's subject came up in conversation recently, I decieded to read it (again?).
This short and easy read is the story of Vince "Trapper" Nelson. An interesting character who lived a semi-rural life, ran a local tourist attraction, and become something of a living legend in the Jupiter, Florida area before becoming reclusive and dying under mysterious circumstances. Trapper's old home/zoo is now part of Jonathan Dickinson State Park and very much worth visiting.
Snyder combed newspaper archives and interviewed people who knew Trapper. Given Trapper's somewhat solitary nature this book may be about the best that can be written about his life. Some of the organization becomes a little awkward as the author received some last minute information before publication that ends up in an epilogue; the revised edition published in 2004 adds some further information in a second epilogue.
Trapper Nelson died under circumstances ruled suicide, but there are some who believe he was murdered. This book addresses those issues and has an opinion on them, but doesn't really break new ground on the issue. Ultimately, this is a biography not a crime study.
Something I thought interesting were two names that come up in the book: William Snyder and Richard Procyk. Snyder reviewed case of Trapper's death while a police officer in Martin County; at the time of this review he is Sheriff-Elect. Procyk is relevant to Trapper's story due to his time as a Miami police officer; he is better known around the Jupiter area for his work with the Loxahatchee Battlefield (which he has published a book about).
This short and easy read is the story of Vince "Trapper" Nelson. An interesting character who lived a semi-rural life, ran a local tourist attraction, and become something of a living legend in the Jupiter, Florida area before becoming reclusive and dying under mysterious circumstances. Trapper's old home/zoo is now part of Jonathan Dickinson State Park and very much worth visiting.
Snyder combed newspaper archives and interviewed people who knew Trapper. Given Trapper's somewhat solitary nature this book may be about the best that can be written about his life. Some of the organization becomes a little awkward as the author received some last minute information before publication that ends up in an epilogue; the revised edition published in 2004 adds some further information in a second epilogue.
Trapper Nelson died under circumstances ruled suicide, but there are some who believe he was murdered. This book addresses those issues and has an opinion on them, but doesn't really break new ground on the issue. Ultimately, this is a biography not a crime study.
Something I thought interesting were two names that come up in the book: William Snyder and Richard Procyk. Snyder reviewed case of Trapper's death while a police officer in Martin County; at the time of this review he is Sheriff-Elect. Procyk is relevant to Trapper's story due to his time as a Miami police officer; he is better known around the Jupiter area for his work with the Loxahatchee Battlefield (which he has published a book about).
January 11, 2009
I read this bio in FL about a Tarzan-type guy who choose to live alone way up the Loxahatchee River near Jupiter, FL. He was known as Trapper Nelson and he lived off the land and the animals he trapped. He started a Zoo which he allowed people to tour for a small fee.Over time he owned over 1000 acres on the river. His life came to a tragic end. Very interesting read about a very interesting man. The day afte reading this we took the Trapper Nelson tour, riding a pontoo boat up the Loxahatchee to Trapper Nelson's camp, saw the cages of his "zoo", and all the cabins he built by hand by himself. A quick, interesting read!
July 30, 2008
Interesting and informative read about a man who 'lived off the land' in Jupiter, Florida for more than 30 years.
If you're from the area, it's even more interesting to imagine life as it was in the early days of the town. Not only that, but the man himself, Vince Nelson, is a Tarzan-like type who hunts and traps animals and eventually comes to own a large amount of land on prime northern Palm Beach County riverfront. His death, in 1968, was classified as a suicide, but the details are somewhat murky.
All in all, a quirky book that'll take you back in time.
If you're from the area, it's even more interesting to imagine life as it was in the early days of the town. Not only that, but the man himself, Vince Nelson, is a Tarzan-like type who hunts and traps animals and eventually comes to own a large amount of land on prime northern Palm Beach County riverfront. His death, in 1968, was classified as a suicide, but the details are somewhat murky.
All in all, a quirky book that'll take you back in time.
July 14, 2016
I have been fascinated with the story of Trapper Nelson since I started vacationing in Jupiter over ten years ago. I enjoy learning the history of the area that I am traveling to and this novel was a perfect fit. Not only was this a great biography but a historical account of the Jupiter/Tequesta area as well.
Nelson must have been quite a character. I look forward to visiting his restored camp.
Nelson must have been quite a character. I look forward to visiting his restored camp.
April 1, 2008
An interesting story of trapper Nelson for those of us familiar with Hobe Sound, Florida.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews