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Madison S. Perry




Born in Lancaster, South Carolina , he came to Florida in the late 1830s, settled and founded the village of Rochelle, Florida in Alachua County . He became a leader among the plantation owners in Alachua County and was elected to represent the county in the Florida Senate in 1850 . He ran for and was elected governor in 1856 , assuming office on October 5 1857 . As governor, Perry helped bring about the settlement of a long-standing boundary dispute with Georgia and encouraged the building of railways. During the years before the Civil War , Governor Perry foresaw the possibility that Florida might secede from the Union , and in 1858 urged the reestablishment of the state’s militia. Florida did secede three years later, on January 11 1861 . After his term as governor ended on October 7 1861 , Perry served as Colonel of the 7th Florida Regiment until illness forced his retirement. He died at his plantation in Rochelle in March 1865 .


FACTS

The city of Perry, Florida is named for him.
The city of Starke, Florida is named in honor of him.


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