Samuel Johnson Hilburn

American politician

Samuel Johnson Hilburn

Samuel Johnson Hilburn (circa 1912)

Florida House of Representatives
In office
1909–1910
Florida State Senate
In office
1911–1912
Florida State Senate
In office
1933–1934
Personal details
Born| May 30, 1869
Gainesville, Arkansas, US
Died| September 27, 1943(1943-09-27) (aged 74)
Palatka, Florida, US
Political party| Democratic

Samuel Johnson Hilburn (May 30, 1869 - September 27, 1943) was a lawyer and state legislator in Florida. He served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate.[1]

## Life and education

[edit]

He was born May 30, 1869, in Gainesville, Arkansas, and spent his early life on a farm.[2][3] Hilburn's brother was Rev. J. P. Hilburn.[4]

After high school he went on to obtain a teaching certificate and taught for three years before enrolling at Centenary College.[2] He obtained his law degree from Cumberland University in 1894 and was admitted to the bar in Wilson County, Tennessee.[2]

Hilburn married Jessie Moncrief from Lake City two years after moving to Palatka.[5]

He was a member of the Royal Arch Masonry and also served as a grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.[2]

## Career

[edit]

Marcus Loeb / Samuel J. Hilburn House in Palatka[2]

After obtaining the bar he moved to Palatka, Florida, and became the city attorney, a position he served for eleven years.[2] He was also chairman of the Putnam County school board for seven years.[2] In 1900 he was a Democratic Presidential Elector.[5]

He bought the home built and owned by Marcus Loeb who relocated to Atlanta, it is extant.[2]

He shared a partnership in a law firm with congressman Robert Wyche Davis until they dissolved the company for business reason in 1904.[6]

Hilbert was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in early 1909 and took his seat when the session started on April 5, 1909, representing Putnam County.[7] While in the house he was noted for his support for state wide prohibition.[8] He had not been serving long before he was being urged to run for congress and challenge the sitting congressman Frank Clark,[9] and the rumours persisted for months with Hilburn refusing to commit.[10] In October he finally declared that he would not run due to his law firm partner falling seriously sick and Hilburn having to "do the work of two men".[11]

After serving one term in the house he then was elected to serve in the state senate in 1911.[12][13] He resigned from his seat in the senate to run for congress but lost by 384 votes of around 25,000 cast.[14][2] In 1933 he was elected back to the senate and served the 26th district.[15] He served until 1934 when he lost to H. S. McKenzie.[16]

In 1915 he was appointed by Governor Holland to be a judge in the new circuit court.[2] In June 2015 he presided over the procedural open and adjourn session to comply with the law of fixed terms but the docket was clear of cases.[17] However the Florida Supreme Court took a case about his circuit judgeship and whether it was constitutional and invalidated the act before he heard any cases.[18][19]

He was involved in a tax dispute.[20] He was appointed to be a member of the Florida racing commission by Governor Fred P. Cone and re-appointed by his successor Spessard Holland.[14]

He was dean of the Palatka bar association.[21] He donated 80 acres to Southern College in Sutherland, Florida, predecessor of Florida Southern College.[22] He was attacked by a wild turkey as he prepared to butcher a turkey hen outside his home.[23] He owned substantial property.[24]

## Death

[edit]

He died aged 74 in Palatka, Florida, on September 27, 1843, from a heart attack.[14][25] He is buried in the West View Cemetery in Palatkas.[2] The Putnam County Bar Association had a resolution to honor him for his many years service to the association as president as well as for his service to the community.[26]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Search results for "Hilburn, Samuel Johnson, 1869-1943."". Florida Memory. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Loeb-Hilburn House | Abandoned Florida". 16 June 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
3. ^ The American Bar. J.C. Fifield Company. 1921.
4. ^ Chatuphale, Dr. Gajanan Diliprao (20 December 1898). "S. J. Hilburn county commissioner". The Ocala Evening Star. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
5. ^ a b "The newspapers of the second district are with Hilburn and opposed to Clark". The Palatka News and Advertiser. 8 March 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
6. ^ ""Our Bob" remains in Palatka". The Miami News. 3 September 1904. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
7. ^ "The Florida Legislature Convenes next Week". Fort Pierce News. 2 April 1909. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
8. ^ "Honor to Whom Honor is Due". The Weekly True Democrat. 30 April 1909. p. 11. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
9. ^ "Hon. S. J. Hilburn urged to run for congress". The Florida Star. 23 July 1909. p. 4. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
10. ^ "A man of the people". The Weekly True Democrat. 6 August 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
11. ^ "Hilburn will not run". The Miami News. 14 October 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
12. ^ State, Florida Office of Secretary of (1911). Report.
13. ^ Journal of the State Senate of Florida of the Session of. The State. 1911.
14. ^ a b c "S. J. Hilburn Sate Racing Solon, Dies". The Miami News. 28 September 1943. p. 13. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
15. ^ "State Legislature Lineup for Session To Start Tuesday". The Tampa Tribune. 2 April 1933. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
16. ^ "District 26 - S. J. Hilburn looses to H. S. McKenzie". The Tampa Tribune. 28 June 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
17. ^ "Judge Hilburn on Opening of Court & New Circuit Count Act will be Tested". The Palatka News and Advertiser. 18 June 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
18. ^ Cases Adjudicated. 1916.
19. ^ "Supreme Court Holds Circuit Court Act". The Palatka News and Advertiser. 16 July 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
20. ^ Cases Adjudicated. 1918.
21. ^ Florida Law Journal. Florida State Bar Association. 1944.
22. ^ Christian Advocate. J.B. M'Ferrin for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 1911.
23. ^ Christmas in Florida. Rowman & Littlefield. December 2016. ISBN 9781561647453.
24. ^ Florida East Coast Homeseeker. Record Company. 1913.
25. ^ "Colonel Hilburn Dies in Palatka". Tallahassee Democrat. 28 September 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
26. ^ "Florida Law Journal 1944-01: Vol 18 Iss 1". Florida Bar Journal. January 1944: 23–24. Retrieved 13 November 2022. `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)