United States Law Reporter

Ion Lowndes Farris

(September 14, 1878 – November 10, 1934)

Mr Ferris was an American politician and criminal defense attorney from the state of Florida.  He served as both a member of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. He served twice as the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives at a time when the legislature meet only once every two years, in both 1909 and 1913 and President of the Florida Senate in 1913. He was an ardent supporter of former Governor of Florida Napoleon Broward, and lead the effort to get Broward County, Florida named after him. He also led efforts to reduce the amount of Committees in the Senate. In 1916, he made a run for Governor, but lost the Democrat primary. However, he led efforts to drain the Everglades, and forced the other candidates to take a position on the issue. He was seen as a member of the Progressive wing of the Democrat Party.

LIFE

Farris was born in 1878 in Savannah, Georgia. While he was still a child, he moved to Marion County, Florida with his family. Farris dropped out of high school to enter the workplace he first went to work with his father as a boilermaker. He studied stenography and later began an apprenticeship with a law firm.

He moved to Jacksonville, Florida at 21, and lived there the rest of his life. He married Allie Liddell in January 1901, and had three children with her his youngest child was named for William Jennings Bryan, with which he had a close friendship. His nephew, C. Farris Bryant, became the 34th Governor of Florida.

LEGAL CAREER

Farris began his legal education studying at the law offices of Herbert Anderson and W.K. Zewadski. After his studies, he passed the bar exam and became an attorney.  He specialized as a criminal defense lawyer.