John Milton (Florida politician)
Encyclopedia
John Milton was an American politician
who was the fifth Governor of Florida.
John Milton was the son of Homer Virgil Milton (1781–1822) and the grandson of Revolutionary War hero and former Georgia Secretary of State, John Milton
(1756–1804).
John was born near Louisville, Georgia
. He married Susan Cobb in Georgia about 1830, and they had 4 children. John and Susan lived in Georgia and later in Alabama. Susan Cobb Milton died in 1842; John later got re-married to a Caroline Howze from Alabama in 1844, and they had 10 children. John and Caroline lived in Alabama, in New Orleans, and eventually settled in northern Florida, in Marianna. One of his sons was Old West
lawman Jeff Milton
. One of John's grandsons, William Hall Milton
(1864–1942), served as a United States Senator from Florida (1908–1909).
During his career, John became a lawyer
, practicing in a number of communities in Georgia
and Alabama
, before settling in New Orleans
. He came to Florida in 1846, and quickly entered the Florida political scene. In 1848, he served as a presidential elector
for the state, then in 1850 was elected to the Florida House of Representatives
. As a strong supporter of states' rights
, he was an early advocate for secession
of Florida from the Union
. He was a delegate
to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
from Florida and in the same year ran for the office of governor. A convention was called for to take up the issue of secession and on January 10, 1861, the measure passed. He took the oath of office on October 7, 1861. During the Civil War
, Milton stressed the importance of Florida as a supplier of goods, rather than men, with Florida being a large provider of food and salt
for the Confederate Army
. As the war drew to a close and the Confederacy
was close to defeat, he became worn down by the stress of his office. Governor Milton left Tallahassee
for this plantation, "Sylvania," in Marianna, Florida
. In his final message to the state legislature, he said that Yankees "have developed a character so odious that death would be preferable to reunion with them." On April 1, 1865, he committed suicide
, in his home, by a gunshot to the head. The president of the Florida Senate
, Abraham K. Allison
, was sworn in as governor of Florida later that day.
He is buried at Saint Luke's Episcopal Cemetery in Marianna.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
who was the fifth Governor of Florida.
John Milton was the son of Homer Virgil Milton (1781–1822) and the grandson of Revolutionary War hero and former Georgia Secretary of State, John Milton
John Milton (Georgia politician)
John Milton was the Secretary of State of Georgia from 1777 to 1799. Milton is chiefly known as the grandfather of Florida governor John Milton and as the recipient of the votes of two Georgia electors in the first presidential election. Milton was one of Georgia's five Presidential electors in...
(1756–1804).
John was born near Louisville, Georgia
Louisville, Georgia
Louisville is a city in Jefferson County, Georgia, United States. It is the former capital of Georgia and is the county seat of Jefferson County. It is located southwest of Augusta on the Ogeechee River, and its population was 2,712 at the 2000 census. The local pronunciation is the Americanized...
. He married Susan Cobb in Georgia about 1830, and they had 4 children. John and Susan lived in Georgia and later in Alabama. Susan Cobb Milton died in 1842; John later got re-married to a Caroline Howze from Alabama in 1844, and they had 10 children. John and Caroline lived in Alabama, in New Orleans, and eventually settled in northern Florida, in Marianna. One of his sons was Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
lawman Jeff Milton
Jeff Milton
Jeff Milton , born Jeff Davis Milton, was an Old West lawman, and the son of Confederate Florida governor John Milton.-Early life:...
. One of John's grandsons, William Hall Milton
William Hall Milton
William Hall Milton was a US Senator from Florida who served as a Democrat.Born near Marianna, Jackson County, Florida; attended the public schools of Jackson County, Marianna Academy, and the Agricultural and Mechanical College, Auburn, Alabama; city clerk and treasurer of Marianna 1885-1893;...
(1864–1942), served as a United States Senator from Florida (1908–1909).
During his career, John became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, practicing in a number of communities in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, before settling in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He came to Florida in 1846, and quickly entered the Florida political scene. In 1848, he served as a presidential elector
United States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
for the state, then in 1850 was elected to the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
. As a strong supporter of states' rights
States' rights
States' rights in U.S. politics refers to political powers reserved for the U.S. state governments rather than the federal government. It is often considered a loaded term because of its use in opposition to federally mandated racial desegregation...
, he was an early advocate for secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of Florida from the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
. He was a delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
1860 Democratic National Convention
The 1860 Democratic National Convention was one of the crucial events in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Following a fragmented official Democratic National Convention that was adjourned in deadlock, two more presidential nominating conventions took place: a resumed official convention,...
from Florida and in the same year ran for the office of governor. A convention was called for to take up the issue of secession and on January 10, 1861, the measure passed. He took the oath of office on October 7, 1861. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Milton stressed the importance of Florida as a supplier of goods, rather than men, with Florida being a large provider of food and salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
for the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
. As the war drew to a close and the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
was close to defeat, he became worn down by the stress of his office. Governor Milton left Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
for this plantation, "Sylvania," in Marianna, Florida
Marianna, Florida
Marianna is a city in Jackson County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,230 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,200 . It is the county seat of Jackson County and is home to Chipola College...
. In his final message to the state legislature, he said that Yankees "have developed a character so odious that death would be preferable to reunion with them." On April 1, 1865, he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, in his home, by a gunshot to the head. The president of the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
, Abraham K. Allison
Abraham K. Allison
Abraham Kurkindolle Allison was a Florida businessman and politician. He served in the Florida Territorial Legislature and the Florida State House of Representatives...
, was sworn in as governor of Florida later that day.
He is buried at Saint Luke's Episcopal Cemetery in Marianna.