Junius J. Harris (January 11, 1834 – December 24, 1906) was a medical doctor, Confederate soldier, orange grower, state legislator, and postmaster who served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.[1]
Early life
editHarris was born January 11, 1834, in Washington County, Georgia, to Daniel and Vashti (Franklin) Harris.[1] His father was a planter from North Carolina who died in 1863; his mother was from Georgia, and he had an elder brother Rev. Thomas M. Harris.[1]
Harris was educated at Emory College in Oxford, Georgia, graduating in 1853, then read medicine with doctors Henry and Robert Campbell in Augusta, Georgia; he graduated in 1855.[1] He started practising medicine in Washington, Georgia, for a year before moving to Rome, Georgia, but was forced to give up his growing practice due to health issues.[1]
He married Miss R. R. Mitchell, daughter of David R. Mitchell, November 1, 1855, and together they had seven children.[1]
Shortly after moving to Americus, Georgia, in 1861 Harris enlisted in the Confederate Army under Colonel A. S. Cutt and served in the American Civil War for four years as a private until forced to stop again due to health issues.[1] He returned to Smithville, Georgia, and practised medicine until 1869, when he moved to Brunswick, Georgia, and was elected to be mayor twice.[1][2]
Harris moved to Orange County, Florida, in 1874 and started orange growing.[1]
Politics
editHarris was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1879, then again in 1881 when he became speaker of the house and finally again just as a representative the 1883-84 session.[3][4] He lived in Tuscawilla and represented Orange County, Florida.[5]
On January 4, the 1881 session was assembled and 1881 Harris motioned for Charles Dougherty to be elected Speaker pro tem.[6] Mr. Cottrell of Levy County, Florida later nominated Harris for Speaker who won with 53 votes for and 12 abstaining.[6]
Later life
editHarris moved to Sanford, Florida, in 1882 where he purchased the Sanford Journal.[1] He was its editor for several years and later edited a newspaper at West Palm Beach.[7]
In 1887 Harris was appointed to the position of Sanford Postmaster.[1] He was Mayor of Sanford on more than one occasion.[7]
Death
editHarris died December 24, 1906, from paralysis at his home in Sanford, Florida and was survived by his wife and five daughters.[8]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Biographical Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida: Biographical Sketches of the Representative Public and Many Early Settled Families in These States. F.A. Battey & Company. 1889. pp. 374–376.
- ^ "Brunswick municipal elections". Georgia Weekly Telegraph, Journal and Messenger. 19 March 1872. p. 8. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b Oliva, Jose R. (February 2019). The People of Lawmaking in Florida (1822-2019) (PDF). p. 82. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Sessions Of The Florida Senate - From Statehood, 1845 - 2022" (PDF). p. 4. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ Journal. Vol. 11. Florida. Legislature. House. 1881. p. 893.
- ^ a b Journal. Vol. 11. Florida. Legislature. House. 1881. p. 4.
- ^ a b "Obituary for J. HARRIS". The Weekly Tribune. 27 December 1906. p. 1. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Dr J. J. Harris Dead". The Miami Evening Record. 27 December 1906. p. 1. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
