Ion Farris
Encyclopedia
Ion Lowndes Farris was an American
politician and attorney from the state of Florida
. He served as both a member of the Florida House of Representatives
and the Florida Senate
. He served twice as the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
at a time when the legislature meet only once every two years, in both 1909 and 1913 and President of the Florida Senate in 1913. He was an ardent supporter of former Governor of Florida Napoleon Broward, and lead the effort to get Broward County, Florida
named after him. He also led efforts to reduce the amount of Committees in the Senate. In 1916, he made a run for Governor, but lost the Democrat primary. However, he led efforts to drain the Everglades
, and forced the other candidates to take a position on the issue. He was seen as a member of the Progressive
wing of the Democrat Party.
. While he was still a child, he moved to Marion County, Florida
with his family. Farris dropped out of high school to enter the workplace; he first went to work with his father as a boilermaker
. He studied stenography and later began an apprenticeship with a law firm.
He moved to Jacksonville, Florida
at 21, and lived there the rest of his life. He married Allie Liddell in January 1901, and had three children with her; his youngest child was named for William Jennings Bryan
, with which he had a close friendship. His nephew, C. Farris Bryant
, became the 34th Governor of Florida.
and became an attorney. He specialized as a criminal defense lawyer
.
in 1907, taking over the sear previously held by Henry Holland Buckman
. He served until 1909, when Frank E. Butler took over for the 1911 term. He returned to the House in 1913. He served as the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
twice, in both 1909 and 1913, at a time when the Florida legislature
meet only once every two years. At the time, he was the youngest person to ever hold the position. In the 1913 bid for the position, he ran with no opposition. As Speaker, he amended the bill that formed Broward County, Florida
to honor former Governor Broward, changing it from its original intended name of Everglades County.
that same year. Once there, he sponsored efforts to remove a number of committees and re-organize the law making process into what he saw as a more streamlined effort. He sat on multiple committees, including the Judiciary B, Temperance, and Municipality Committees.
so that the land could be commercially developed. Farris lost the Democratic primary, but forced the other candidates in the race to address the drainage, successfully making it an election issue.
. He advocated for home rule
and sponsored legislation that gave local governments' greater control over their own organization.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and attorney from the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He served as both a member of 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...
and 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....
. He served twice as the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
The Speaker is the presiding member of the Florida House of Representatives...
at a time when the legislature meet only once every two years, in both 1909 and 1913 and President of the Florida Senate in 1913. He was an ardent supporter of former Governor of Florida Napoleon Broward, and lead the effort to get Broward County, Florida
Broward County, Florida
-2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile...
named after him. He also led efforts to reduce the amount of Committees in the Senate. In 1916, he made a run for Governor, but lost the Democrat primary. However, he led efforts to drain the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
, and forced the other candidates to take a position on the issue. He was seen as a member of the Progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
wing of the Democrat Party.
Life
Farris was born in 1878 in Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. While he was still a child, he moved to Marion County, Florida
Marion County, Florida
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala....
with his family. Farris dropped out of high school to enter the workplace; he first went to work with his father as a boilermaker
Boilermaker
A boilermaker is a trained craftsman who produces steel fabrications from plates and sections. The name originated from craftsmen who would fabricate boilers, but they may work on projects as diverse as bridges to blast furnaces to the construction of mining equipment.-Boilermaking:Many...
. He studied stenography and later began an apprenticeship with a law firm.
He moved to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
at 21, and lived there the rest of his life. He married Allie Liddell in January 1901, and had three children with her; his youngest child was named for William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
, with which he had a close friendship. His nephew, C. Farris Bryant
C. Farris Bryant
Cecil Farris Bryant was the 34th Governor of Florida. He also served on the United States National Security Council and in the Office of Emergency Planning during the administration of President Lyndon B...
, became the 34th Governor of Florida.
Legal career
Farris began his legal education studying at the law offices of Herbert Anderson and W.K. Zewadski. After his studies, he passed the bar examAdmission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
and became an attorney. He specialized as a criminal defense lawyer
Criminal defense lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer is a lawyer specializing in the defense of individuals and companies charged with criminal conduct. Criminal defense lawyers can be permanently employed by the various jurisdictions with criminal courts. Such lawyers are often called public defenders. For a much more...
.
Florida House
Farris was first elected to the Florida House of RepresentativesFlorida 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...
in 1907, taking over the sear previously held by Henry Holland Buckman
Henry Holland Buckman
Henry Holland Buckman was an attorney from Duval County, Florida, who became a legislator in the Florida Legislature and served on the Judiciary Committee...
. He served until 1909, when Frank E. Butler took over for the 1911 term. He returned to the House in 1913. He served as the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
The Speaker is the presiding member of the Florida House of Representatives...
twice, in both 1909 and 1913, at a time when the Florida legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
meet only once every two years. At the time, he was the youngest person to ever hold the position. In the 1913 bid for the position, he ran with no opposition. As Speaker, he amended the bill that formed Broward County, Florida
Broward County, Florida
-2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile...
to honor former Governor Broward, changing it from its original intended name of Everglades County.
Florida Senate
After leaving the House in 1913, Farris successfully ran for the Florida SenateFlorida 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....
that same year. Once there, he sponsored efforts to remove a number of committees and re-organize the law making process into what he saw as a more streamlined effort. He sat on multiple committees, including the Judiciary B, Temperance, and Municipality Committees.
Gubernatorial run
Farris ran for Governor of Florida in 1916. His campaign slogan was "Back to Broward", referring to the policies of former Governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, and his platform included draining the EvergladesDraining and development of the Everglades
The history of draining and development of the Everglades dates back to the 19th century. During the Second Seminole War beginning in 1836, the United States military's mission was to seek out Seminole people in the Everglades and capture or kill them. Those missions gave the military the...
so that the land could be commercially developed. Farris lost the Democratic primary, but forced the other candidates in the race to address the drainage, successfully making it an election issue.
Political views
Farris identified as a progressiveProgressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
. He advocated for home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
and sponsored legislation that gave local governments' greater control over their own organization.