[FHStoday] TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY FOR DECEMBER 3-5

[Nick Wynne]

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY
DECEMBER 3
1825            President John Quincy Adams confirmed the selection of 
Pensacola as the site for the construction of a United States Navy Yard.

1838            Florida's first constitutional convention opened today at 
St. Joseph [near present-day Port St. Joe].  Fifty-six representatives from 
Florida's 20 counties gathered to write a constitution in anticipation of 
statehood.  The convention lasted until January 11, 1839.  Interestingly, 
the document drafted by these men prohibited bank officers, clergymen, and 
duelists from being elected to the Legislature, governor's office, or 
United States Senator.  The convention's efforts were for naught, since 
statehood would be delayed for another six years.  When Florida became a 
state on March 3, 1845, the document drafted at St. Joseph served as the 
basis for the first state constitution.

1863            Governor John Milton signed the legislative bill today 
incorporating the Monticello and Thomasville Railroad Company.

1864            A Federal task force, using men from the U.S.S. Nita, Stars 
and Stripes, Hendrick Hudson, Ariel, and Two Sisters destroyed a large salt 
works at Rocky point, near Tampa Bay today.  Seven boilers and other 
equipment were destroyed.  There were no casualties.

1963            The St. Lucie County Historical Commission was created at 
Fort Pierce today.

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY
DECEMBER 4
1765            Zephaniah Kingsley, pioneer land owner at Fort George 
Island, was born today in Scotland.  Kingsley Pantation, near Jacksonville, 
is open to visitors each day.

1862            Colonel Caraway Smith of the 2nd Florida cavalry was 
assigned to command the coastal defenses of Florida from Dead Man's Bay 
west to Dickerson Bay.  Smith's headquarters were at Camp Leon near 
Tallahassee.

1864            Brigadier General Robert Bullock of the 7th Florida 
infantry regiment was severely wounded today in fighting near Murfeesboro, 
Tennessee.  Jacob A. Lash, major, took over command until a replacement 
arrived.
                 The blockade runner Peep O'Day was captured today by boats 
from the U.S.S. Pursuit near the Indian River.  The Peep O'Day was carrying 
a cargo of cotton.

1925            Newspapers reported today that more than 600,000 persons 
were living in tents as migration outstrips the ability of builders to 
construct new homes during the "Florida Boom."
                 Gilchrist County, Florida's 67th county, was established 
today by the Florida Legislature.  Named for Albert Waller Gilchrist, the 
20th governor of Florida (January 5, 1909-January 7, 1913).  The county 
seat is Trenton.  Gilchrist was a descendant of both George Washington and 
James Madison.  A bachelor, he left his estate of $500,000 to charity.

1925            J. B. Johnson assumed office as the Attorney General of 
Florida today.  He served until June 4, 1927, when he was replaced by Fred 
H. Davis.

1925            Justice Rivers H. Buford assumed a position on the Florida 
Supreme Court.  By the end of his tenure on March 1, 1948, he had written 
more opinions (by name) than any other justice.  The 2,657 opinions he 
wrote under this own name was supplemented by an additional 300-400 written 
anonymously on behalf of the entire court.

1959            "Sam," a NASA test monkey, survived a trip into outer space 
and returned to Earth, paving the way for humans to travel in space.

1964            Nova University was incorporated today.  Privately operated 
and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Nova University is one of the fastest 
growing higher education institutions in Florida.

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY
DECEMBER 5
1862            The Florida Treasurer announced today that the State of 
Florida has issued $1,886,640.15 in treasury notes as of this date.  Of 
these notes, $1,486,601.28 were in circulation.

1863            Federal General Alexander Asboth reported that Confederate 
forces were fortifying a position at Fifteen-Mile Station.  Asboth also 
reported that large numbers of deserters were coming through his lines to 
take the oath of allegiance to the Union.

1864            Governor John Milton signed into law a bill that createed 
special courts for trying slaves, free Negroes, and mulattos accused of 
capital offenses.  Milton also signed a bill that placed all white male 
inhabitants of Florida between the ages of 16 and 55 into militia service.

1883            Citizens of Tallahassee held a public meeting today to 
develop a plan for financing the city's first public library.

1886            Citizens of Pensacola woke up this morning to a blanket of 
snow on the ground.  More than one-half inch of the "white rain" fell on 
Florida's second city.

1918            The Florida House of representatives rejected statewide 
suffrage for women by a vote of 31-37.