George Franklin Drew

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George Franklin Drew

George Franklin Drew (born  August 6, 1827 in Alton , Belknap County , New Hampshire , †  September 26, 1900 in Jacksonville , Florida ) was an American politician and from 1877 to 1881 the 12th  governor of the state of Florida.

Early years and political advancement

At the age of twelve, George Drew was withdrawn from school by his parents for financial reasons. Then he had to work on his parents' farm. In 1847 he moved to Columbus , Georgia . There he ran a machine shop. He soon started a career in the wood business. After the Civil War , he founded one of the largest sawmills in the state in Ellaville , Florida. He constantly expanded his timber business and eventually grew to eleven sawmills. From 1870 he was politically active in Florida. As a member of the Democratic Party , he was commissioner in Madison County . In 1872 he applied unsuccessfully for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives . For the gubernatorial elections of 1876 he was nominated as a candidate by his party.

Florida governor

After the successful election, Drew took up his new office on January 2, 1877. Reconstruction ended around the same time . After the withdrawal of the military, Florida was a regular state again. Governor Drew drove a tough austerity policy while cutting taxes. The education system and prisons, whose budgets were cut, suffered in particular. In 1877, the system of lending convicts for money to private entrepreneurs in Florida was introduced. The income was added to the state budget. At the same time, the governor tried to encourage immigration to Florida.

After his tenure ended on January 4, 1881, Drew returned to his lumber business. He later became President of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. George Drew died in September 1900. He was married to Amelia Dickens, with whom he had four children.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport Conn. 1978. 4 volumes.

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