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]
Harris 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]
Harris 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]
Harris 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]
Harris died December 24, 1906, from paralysis at his home in Sanford, Florida and was survived by his wife and five daughters. [8]