Samuel Johnson Hilburn (May 30, 1869 – September 27, 1943) was a lawyer and state legislator in Florida. He served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate.[1]
Samuel Johnson Hilburn | |
|---|---|
 Samuel Johnson Hilburn (circa 1912) | |
| Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office 1909–1910 | |
| Florida State Senate | |
| In office 1911–1912 | |
| Florida State Senate | |
| In office 1933–1934 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 30, 1869 Gainesville, Arkansas, US |
| Died | September 27, 1943 (aged 74) Palatka, Florida, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
Life and education
editHe was born May 30, 1869, in Gainesville, Arkansas, and spent his early life on a farm.[2][3] Hilburn's brother was Rev. J. P. Hilburn.[4]
After high school he went on to obtain a teaching certificate and taught for three years before enrolling at Centenary College.[2] He obtained his law degree from Cumberland University in 1894 and was admitted to the bar in Wilson County, Tennessee.[2]
Hilburn married Jessie Moncrief from Lake City two years after moving to Palatka.[5]
He was a member of the Royal Arch Masonry and also served as a grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.[2]
Career
edit
After obtaining the bar he moved to Palatka, Florida, and became the city attorney, a position he served for eleven years.[2] He was also chairman of the Putnam County school board for seven years.[2] In 1900 he was a Democratic Presidential Elector.[5]
He bought the home built and owned by Marcus Loeb who relocated to Atlanta, it is extant.[2]
He shared a partnership in a law firm with congressman Robert Wyche Davis until they dissolved the company for business reason in 1904.[6]
Hilbert was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in early 1909 and took his seat when the session started on April 5, 1909, representing Putnam County.[7] While in the house he was noted for his support for state wide prohibition.[8] He had not been serving long before he was being urged to run for congress and challenge the sitting congressman Frank Clark,[9] and the rumours persisted for months with Hilburn refusing to commit.[10] In October he finally declared that he would not run due to his law firm partner falling seriously sick and Hilburn having to "do the work of two men".[11]
After serving one term in the house he then was elected to serve in the state senate in 1911.[12][13] He resigned from his seat in the senate to run for congress but lost by 384 votes of around 25,000 cast.[14][2] In 1933 he was elected back to the senate and served the 26th district.[15] He served until 1934 when he lost to H. S. McKenzie.[16]
In 1915 he was appointed by Governor Holland to be a judge in the new circuit court.[2] In June 2015 he presided over the procedural open and adjourn session to comply with the law of fixed terms but the docket was clear of cases.[17] However the Florida Supreme Court took a case about his circuit judgeship and whether it was constitutional and invalidated the act before he heard any cases.[18][19]
He was involved in a tax dispute.[20] He was appointed to be a member of the Florida racing commission by Governor Fred P. Cone and re-appointed by his successor Spessard Holland.[14]
He was dean of the Palatka bar association.[21] He donated 80 acres to Southern College in Sutherland, Florida, predecessor of Florida Southern College.[22] He was attacked by a wild turkey as he prepared to butcher a turkey hen outside his home.[23] He owned substantial property.[24]
Death
editHe died aged 74 in Palatka, Florida, on September 27, 1843, from a heart attack.[14][25] He is buried in the West View Cemetery in Palatkas.[2] The Putnam County Bar Association had a resolution to honor him for his many years service to the association as president as well as for his service to the community.[26]
References
edit- ^ "Search results for "Hilburn, Samuel Johnson, 1869-1943."". Florida Memory. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Loeb-Hilburn House | Abandoned Florida". 16 June 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ The American Bar. J.C. Fifield Company. 1921.
- ^ Chatuphale, Dr. Gajanan Diliprao (20 December 1898). "S. J. Hilburn county commissioner". The Ocala Evening Star. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ a b "The newspapers of the second district are with Hilburn and opposed to Clark". The Palatka News and Advertiser. 8 March 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ ""Our Bob" remains in Palatka". The Miami News. 3 September 1904. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "The Florida Legislature Convenes next Week". Fort Pierce News. 2 April 1909. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "Honor to Whom Honor is Due". The Weekly True Democrat. 30 April 1909. p. 11. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "Hon. S. J. Hilburn urged to run for congress". The Florida Star. 23 July 1909. p. 4. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "A man of the people". The Weekly True Democrat. 6 August 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "Hilburn will not run". The Miami News. 14 October 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ State, Florida Office of Secretary of (1911). Report.
- ^ Journal of the State Senate of Florida of the Session of. The State. 1911.
- ^ a b c "S. J. Hilburn Sate Racing Solon, Dies". The Miami News. 28 September 1943. p. 13. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "State Legislature Lineup for Session To Start Tuesday". The Tampa Tribune. 2 April 1933. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "District 26 - S. J. Hilburn looses to H. S. McKenzie". The Tampa Tribune. 28 June 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "Judge Hilburn on Opening of Court & New Circuit Count Act will be Tested". The Palatka News and Advertiser. 18 June 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ Cases Adjudicated. 1916.
- ^ "Supreme Court Holds Circuit Court Act". The Palatka News and Advertiser. 16 July 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ Cases Adjudicated. 1918.
- ^ Florida Law Journal. Florida State Bar Association. 1944.
- ^ Christian Advocate. J.B. M'Ferrin for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 1911.
- ^ Christmas in Florida. Rowman & Littlefield. December 2016. ISBN 9781561647453.
- ^ Florida East Coast Homeseeker. Record Company. 1913.
- ^ "Colonel Hilburn Dies in Palatka". Tallahassee Democrat. 28 September 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "Florida Law Journal 1944-01: Vol 18 Iss 1". Florida Bar Journal. January 1944: 23–24. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
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