William Washington Harrison

Term of Office, 1845 - 1849

William Washington Harrison was born in Virginia in 1813. In 1837, Harrison settled in Floridatown, which was part of Escambia County, Territory of Florida. The area later became part of Santa Rosa County in 1842. Harrison married Ann Mariah Cotton and together they raised ten children. In 1845, shortly after Florida joined the Union and became the twenty-seventh state, Governor John Branch announced the first official Florida election. This election was held to elect the first state and county officials. Harrison was elected sheriff of Santa Rosa County, Florida and was elected as a Republican candidate when Democrats held the majority. During his time in office, Harrison worked out of the newly constructed wooden county courthouse. It was constructed, in Milton, on the site where the old Berryhill Elementary School was located. Following his term as sheriff, Harrison served two terms in the Florida Legislature and also worked in the lumber industry. He was instrumental in the political, social, and economic development of the county. He helped organize the Masonic Lodge #16 in Milton and remained a lifetime member of the lodge. He also served as captain of the Santa Rosa Guards, in March 1861. With the onset of the Civil War, two of his sons became Confederate soldiers. Both were wounded in battle. One son was captured at Gettysburg and then was later released when the war ended. The other son was taken prisoner. Seven days before the fall of Richmond, he perished in prison. Harrison died in Milton, Florida in 1886 and is buried in the Milton Cemetery.