The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-01-17
FLORlDA'S GOVERNORS.

IL Is cllOuCouS 10 say lndt w llllam ~.
MoSley was the first Governor of Flori.
da. He was her first Governor after she
was admitted into the Union, which
event occurred March 3, 1915.
Andrew Jackson was the first terrific
rial Governor. He served from July,
1921, to June, 1922. The seat of gov.
eminent was al Pensacola. Because
sold Hickory" was its first Governor
and had The seat of government in West
Florida with the whole State to select
from, some of the State divisionisis if
successful want 10 call the new State in
honor of that sterling old Democrat.
Governor Jackson as territorial Gov
ernor was succeeded by William P Du.
val, who held the office from 1882 TO
1891. John w. Eaton was Governor
from 1891 TO 1885. Richard X. Call
from 1885 to 1889. Robert Raymond
Reid from 1910 10 1914, and John Branch
from 1914 10 1915.
The territorial Governors were ap.
pointed more for their fitness and per
sonal preferences than for their political
activity.
William D. MoSlcy, the first Governor.
after the State was admitted TO statehood,
was Democrat. -,
Governor MoSeley was. succeeded by
Thomas Brown, who was a Wing, so il
will be seen thai the State was very
nearly evenly balanced between the two
parties.
David l.. Yulee and James D. West
colt were the first United States Sena
tors and both were Democrats. The
latter never returned to Florida after he
was elected and died in Canada soon
after the Civil War. His remains were
brought back 10 Florida by his son,
Chief Justice James D. WeStcot, and
lies buried in the family burial ground
at the capital.
L. c. Cabell OF West Florida was our
first Congressman. lie was a Demo
cra'. His seat was contested by w. ii.
BroCkenbrough, Wing, but Cabell re-
tanned his seat. In 1918 Cabell was
again elected TO Congress over ex Gov
eTnor DuVal and again in 1850 over John
Beard, grandfather of the present John
S. Beard. In the same year Jackson
Morton was elected to the Senate, the
Legislature being Democrat by bare
margin.
In 1852 JudgeA. f. Maxwell, a citizen
OF Pensacola, was elected to Congress
as Democrat. He was reelected in
1854, and again in 1856 In 1858 George
S. Hawkins was elected to Congress
and was succeeded by Robert B. Hilton
Hilton'S name was originally Smith but
he had it changed TO Hilton by act of
the Legislature, the same as Mr.. Yulee
had his changed from Levy. Mr.. Hill
ton was an editor for long time aftt n
the Civil War and did valiant service
ior the State.
In 1852 James E. Broome, father OF
the James f. Broome so long State
Senator from Gadsden county, whose
death was but recently announced, be-
came Governor.
Madison S. Perry of Alachua comfy
was the next Governor. He opposed
Mr.. Yuee'S railroad scheme and hung
it up in the courts until the breaking out
of the Civil War.
John Milton, grandfather of William
H. Milton, who was candidate for
Governor in the late primaries, was
Florida'S war Governor. The sur
render prcycd upon him TO such an ex
tent that it fastened his death, the same
as the act of secession is said 10 have Sc
preyed upon Governor Call that he &C
tually died OF broken heart.
Abraham X. Allison, who was preS
dent of the Senate, succeeded Governor
Milton in the executive office. He
held the office until the military sur
render. He was the father of c. f. L. |
Allison, editor of the Quincy Republic,
TO whom the editor of this paper was
bound as printers apprentice.
President Johnson appointed William
Marvin OF SkancatelcS, New York, pro
viSional Governor of Florida. Marvin |
had been a Federal Judge in Key West |
before the Civil War and was regarded |
as an upright ard patriotic citizen. |
Wishing TO intrust the people with their
own government as quickly as possible
he issued a call for a convention under |
the old constitution Of the State, and |
David S. Walker was elected Governor.
He served from 1866 to 1868 Congress
reversed the policy of paCification OF
President Johnson, and with it abro.
gated the new constitution of Florida
that was adopted under the call of Gov
ernor Marvin. A new convention was
called which framed the constitution OF
1868, which in turn was abolished and
the present constitution adopted
Harrison Reid, Republican, was elect
ed Governor under the new regime
He was succeeded by Oscar B. Hart and
MarcelluS l.. StearnS.
In 1876 the Democrats again assumed
control of the State government and
have been in undiSputed possession
ever since.
William D. Bloxham succeeded Drew;
Edward A. Perry followed Bloxham;
then came Francis P. Fleming, who
was afterwards succeeded by Henry L.
Mitchell. BIoxham was given another
term and was succeeded by William
Sherman Jennings, who was succeeded
by Napoleon BOnaparte Broward. He
was succeeded by Albert w. Gilchrist,
who last week vacated the office in
favor of Park TrammeII.