Josiah T. Walls
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| Josiah Thomas Walls | |
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| In office March 4, 1871 - January 29, 1873 and March 4, 1873 - April 19, 1876 |
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| Preceded by | Charles M. Hamilton |
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| Succeeded by | Jesse Finley |
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| Born | December 30, 1842 Winchester, Virginia |
| Died | May 15, 1905 (aged 62) Tallahassee, Florida |
| Political party | Republican |
Josiah Thomas Walls (1842-1905) was a United States Congressman from 1871 until 1876.
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[edit] Early life
Josiah Walls was born a slave near Winchester, Virginia. He was forced to join the Confederate Army and was captured by the Union Army in 1862 at Yorktown. He voluntarily joined the United States Colored Troops in 1863 and rose to the rank of corporal. He was discharged in Florida and settled in Alachua County.
[edit] Political career
He was elected as the sole representative from Florida to the Forty-second United States Congress in 1871, but the vote was contested by Silas L. Niblack. The U.S. Committee on Elections eventually unseated Walls. Walls ran and was elected again in 1873. After serving one term in the house he ran for re-election in 1874. He apparently won the election but Jesse Finley contested this and was eventually declared the winner by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives. This unseating was the end of Walls political career. He returned to Florida and farmed until his death on May 15, 1905.
In office, Walls introduced bills to establish a national education fund and aid pensioners and Seminole War Veterans.
[edit] References
- Klingman, Peter D. Josiah Walls: Florida's Black Congressman of Reconstruction. Gainesville: University Presses of Florida, 1976. ISBN 0813003997
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Charles M. Hamilton |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida 1871-1873 |
Succeeded by Silas L. Niblack |
| Preceded by none |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 2nd congressional district 1873-1876 |
Succeeded by Jesse Finley |
