Josiah T. Walls
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Josiah Thomas Walls (1842-1905) was a United States Congressman from 1871 until 1873 and 1873 until 1875.
[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 Committee on Elections eventually unseated Walls. Walls ran and was elected again in 1873 and again won a narrow victory that his opponent Jesse Finley contested. He lost the recount in 1874. 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] External links
| Preceded by Charles M. Hamilton |
United States Representative (at large) from Florida 1871–1873 |
Succeeded by Silas L. Niblack |
| Preceded by none |
United States Representative (at large) from Florida 1875–1876 |
Succeeded by Jesse Finley |
