Josiah Thomas Walls (1842-1905?)
Florida's First African American Representative in Congress
Josiah Thomas Walls was a soldier in the Civil War and a successful farmer. A few years after the Civil War, he became Florida's first African American member of the House of Representatives.
In Congress, Walls tried to assist Cubans and African Americans. He thought Florida should help Cuba gain independence from Spain. He also supported a National Educational Fund, which would help African Americans become well educated. He worried that southern states would not provide good schooling to these citizens.
After his time in Congress, Walls went back to farming. He owned an orange farm near Gainesville. When a freeze ruined his crop one winter, he moved to Tallahassee and worked at a college. Walls spent the rest of his life in Florida, contributing to his community.
Critical Thinking
In what ways did Josiah Thomas Walls help Florida's citizens?