Blog
Harrison Reed; Florida Ninth Governor and first Republican
One of eight children, Harrison was born to Seth Reed and Rhoda (Finney) Reed in Littleton, Massachusetts on August 26, 1813. In 1836, the family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he and his siblings contributed to the newly developing area and two of his brothers...
David S. Walker, Florida Eighth Governor, work to minimize changes during Reconstruction
David Shelby Walker was born on May 2, 1815, in Logan County, Kentucky. Born into a prominent Kentucky family, he attended private schools in Kentucky and studied law in Tennessee. Politics was in his blood. His father, David Walker served in the US House of...
William Marvin, Florida’s Seventh Governor, but first he was a US District Court Judge
The son of Selden Marvin and Charlotte (Pratt) Marvin, William was born on April 14, 1808, in Fairfield, New York. Raised on his family’s farm, he attended the Homer Academy and after graduating at the age of 15, began teaching school. After studying with a local...
Abraham K. Allison, Florida Sixth Governor captured by the Union
Abraham Kurkindolle Allison was born in Jones County, Georgia on December 10, 1814, to Captain James and Sarah Fannin Allison. He worked as a merchant in both Columbus, Georgia, and in Henry County, Alabama after he graduated from school. Allison’s political career...
John Milton, Florida’s Fifth and the Civil War Governor
In October 1861, after using his skills as a lawyer, John Milton successfully advocated for the secession of Florida from the Union and became its fifth governor. Rather than sending men, the state then became the major supplier of food and salt for the Confederacy....
Florida’s Fourth Governor; Madison S. Perry he reinstated the state’s militia
Madison S. Perry was the youngest child born to Benjamin and Mary (nee Starke) Petty in 1814 in Lancaster County, South Carolina. While attending South Carolina College, now known as the University of South Carolina, he was a member of the Euphradian Society a...
Florida’s Third Governor; the Veto Governor
Governor James E. Broome Sr. James Emilius Broome was born on December 15, 1808, to John and Janet Broome in Hamburg, Aiken County, South Carolina. He moved to Florida in 1837 where he engaged in the mercantile business until 1841 when he retired. Broome was married...
Thomas Brown; Florida’s Second Governor
Thomas Brown, born October 24, 1785, in Westmoreland County, Virginia to William and Margaret Brown. Westmoreland County was also the home to both George Washington and James Monroe. During the War of 1812, Brown was an aid to General John P. Hungerford. After he...
Florida’s sixth territorial Governor; John Branch
The son of Colonel John Richard Branch and Rebecca Branch, wealthy landowners, John Branch, Jr. was born on November 4, 1782, in Halifax County, North Carolina. While attending the University of North Carolina, he was a member of the Philanthropic Society, where he...
A life marked by tragedy; the Florida Territory’s fourth governor
Robert Raymond Reid, the Florida Territory’s fourth governor, was appointed by President Martin Van Buren in December 1839. He presided over the convention that drafted Florida’s first constitution. Also, he was a strong advocate for the prosecution of the Second...
Florida Territory’s third governor was the third-largest slaveholder in the county
Richard Keith Call was appointed governor of the Florida Territory on March 16, 1836, by President Andrew Jackson. He served until President Martin Van Buren replaced him on December 2, 1839, due to a dispute with the Federal authorities over their assistance during...
Florida’s second Territorial Governor was the youngest U. S. Senator in history.
John Henry Eaton, born June 18, 1790, Florida’s second Territorial Governor, was a politician and diplomat originally from Tennessee. At 28 and 4 months and 29 days, he was elected to the United States Senate. Today he remains the youngest U. S. Senator in history. A...