William K. Cessna was an Union Army officer, state legislator,[1] and judge in the United States. He served as an officer with a colored regiment from Pennsylvania during the American Civil War.[2] He served in Florida during the Civil War and settled there afterwards. He employed Josiah T. Walls in a lumber business.[3][4] A Republican,[5] he lived in Gainesville and served in the Florida House of Representatives for Alachua County in 1871 and 1872.[6]

He was a signatory to the 1868 Florida Constitution.[7][8] He made a motion to adopt a report that would have removed Liberty Billings, Charles H. Pearce and William Saunders from the convention. It failed to pass.[9]

The governor appointed him a judge. He gave testimony in a hearing about an election.[10] In 1874 he reported on agricultural conditions in Alachua County.[11]

He chaired the committee preparing articles of impeachment against Harrison Reed.[12] 1873 appointed Major and assistant quartermaster.[13] He was accused of corruption by Democrats disparaging of "Carpetbag Rule".[12] One account identified him as politically "rabid".[14] He served as Alachua County Schools superintendent.[15] Democrats filed accusations of corruption against him when he was in the legislature.[16]

In 1878 U. S. President Rutherford B. Hayes nominated him to bepostmaster at Gainesville in Alachua County.[17]

He was the editor and publisher of the Social Visitor in Jacksonville.[18]

Cessna was also a farmer growing a variety of crops such as beans, tomatoes and strawberries that he sold not just to Florida but also much further north.[19][20] He grew strawberries on several acres of land and was accused of selling them without paying tax on the sales.[20] He was the first vice-president of the Fruit Growers' Association.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Journal. 1872.
  2. ↑ History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5. B. Singerly, state printer. 1871.
  3. ↑ Florida's Black Public Officials, 1867-1924. University of Alabama Press. 1998. ISBN 9780817309152.
  4. ↑ Southern Black Leaders of the Reconstruction Era. University of Illinois Press. 1982. ISBN 9780252009297.
  5. ↑ Reports of Committees: 30th Congress, 1st Session - 48th Congress, 2nd Session. 1877.
  6. ↑ https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/HouseContent/Approved/Public%20Guide/Uploads/Documents/historical_records.pdf
  7. ↑ Florida: Message from the President of the United States : Transmitting Papers Relating to Proceedings in the State of Florida. 1868.
  8. ↑ https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/189095?id=36
  9. ↑ Blacks, Carpetbaggers, and Scalawags: The Constitutional Conventions of Radical Reconstruction. LSU Press. October 2008. ISBN 9780807134702.
  10. ↑ Testimony Taken Before the Special Committee on Investigation of the Election in Florida: Proceedings. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1877.
  11. ↑ Florida: Its Climate, Soil, and Productions: With a Sketch of Its History, Natural Features and Social Condition: A Manual of Reliable Information Concerning the Resources of the State and the Inducements to Immigrants. E. M. Cheney. 1869.
  12. 1 2 Carpet Bag Rule in Florida: The Inside Workings of the Reconstruction of Civil Government in Florida After the Close of the Civil War. Da Costa printing and publishing house. 1888.
  13. ↑ A Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of Florida at the ... Session of the Legislature. The State. 1873.
  14. ↑ Biennial Report, Superintendant of Public Instruction, State of Florida. The Department. 1892.
  15. ↑ Report of the Commissioner of Education: For the year ended June 30, ... 1873 (1874). U.S. Government Printing Office. 1874.
  16. ↑ The American Annual Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events of the Year. D. Appleton. 1884.
  17. ↑ Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States. 1901.
  18. ↑ N. W. Ayer & Son's American Newspaper Annual. N.W. Ayer and Son. 1892.
  19. ↑ "Judge W. K. Cessna selling beans and tomatoes". Pensacola Commercial. 21 May 1888. p. 1. Retrieved 14 November 2022.Open access icon
  20. 1 2 "Judge W. K. Cessna". Pensacola Commercial. 25 March 1882. p. 1. Retrieved 14 November 2022.Open access icon
  21. ↑ "Fruit Growers' Association". The Florida Agriculturist. 26 February 1879. p. 4. Retrieved 14 November 2022.Open access icon
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