Jennings, William Sherman, 1863-1920

Lawyer, state legislator, and governor of Florida.

Born in Ilinois; attended Southern Illinois Normal University. Read law with his uncle and attended Union Law School in Illinois. Moved to Brooksville, Florida, in 1885 to establish his law practice. Served in the Florida House of Representatives, 1892-1895, as governor, 1901-1905, and as general counsel for the Trustees of Internal Improvement Fund, 1905-1909, the agency administering public lands in Florida.

From the description of Papers, 1887-1920. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 27719193

William Sherman Jennings was born March 24, 1863 at Walnut Hill, Illinois. He attended Southern Illinois Normal and Union Law School in Chicago. He moved to Brooksville, Florida in 1885 to complete his legal studies, and began practicing law there in May, 1886. He was appointed Circuit Court Commissioner in 1887. The following year he became County Judge of Hernando County. He resigned as Judge in 1893 to serve in the House of Representatives from Hernando County and was Speaker of the House in 1895. Jennings received the Democratic nomination for Governor at the State Party Convention (the last one to be held) in Jacksonville, 1900.

As governor, Jennings advocated the primary election system to displace the convention method of selecting candidates. The first statewide primary was held in 1902. He saved 3,000,000 acres of public land, and laid the groundwork for other reclamation projects, including the Everglades. After leaving office, he was appointed by Governor Broward as General Counsel of the state's Internal Improvement Fund, which oversaw the reclamation of the Everglades. He was Chairman of the federal Reclamation and Drainage Commission. He died on February 28, 1920 in St. Augustine, Florida.

From the description of Papers, ca.1900-1916. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413134

William Sherman Jennings was born March 24, 1863, in Illinois. His cousin was William Jennings Bryan. He graduated from Southern Illinois Normal University and Union Law School in Chicago. He moved to Brooksville, Florida, in 1885 in order to open his open law practice. His second wife, May Mann Jennings, was a leading member of the women's club movement and was an influential advocate for social reform and civic causes.

Jennings had an extensive career in elected and appointed positions. He served as County Judge of Hernando County in 1888. He was a member of the Florida legislature from 1893-1895, serving as Speaker of the House in 1895. He served one term as Governor from 1901-1905. He was the last Florida Governor nominated at a state party convention; after 1900 Florida implemented primary elections.

By the end of his term as Governor, Jennings was credited with leading the effort to drain and reclaim over 3 million acres of Florida land, primarily in the Everglades. In 1905 he was appointed by Governor Napoleon B. Broward as General Counsel for the Internal Improvement Fund, the state agency responsible for administering public lands. In this position, which he held until 1909, he was able to continue leading drainage activities in the Everglades. Jennings continued to practice law in Brooksville and Jacksonville until his death on February 28, 1920.

From the guide to the William Sherman Jennings Papers, 1877-1928, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)