Theodore Hartridge Willard Explained

Theodore Hartridge Willard was a sheriff, mayor, state legislator,^[1] and merchant in Florida. He lived in High Springs, Florida. He served as a Captain with a volunteer company of Confederates in Florida during the American Civil War.^[2] He was involved in a contested election in 1881 for a Florida Senate seat.^[3] He prevailed and served in the Florida Senate representing Madison County, Florida.^[4]

He testified that "colored" women and daughters threatened to hurt their husbands and fathers if they did not vote for Republicans.^[5]

The Florida Archives have photos of him with an African American child he "raised".^[6] and an 1898 wedding photo with Roberta Brown in High Springs, Florida.^[7] The archives also include a photograph of his 3 year-old son Theodore Hartridge Willard Jr. dressed up for a Confederate soldier reunion event.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Book: Grenier, Bob. Central Florida's Civil War Veterans. February 16, 2014. Arcadia Publishing. 9781467112024. Google Books.
2. Web site: Florida Historical Quarterly. February 15, 1965. Florida Historical Society. Google Books.
3. Web site: Miscellaneous Documents: 30th Congress, 1st Session - 49th Congress, 1st Session. United States Congress. House. February 15, 1882. Google Books.
4. Web site: General Acts and Resolutions Adopted by the Legislature of Florida. February 15, 1881. Office of the Floridian and Journal. Google Books.
5. Web site: Congressional Serial Set. February 15, 1882. U.S. Government Printing Office. Google Books.
6. Web site: President of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc., Joe Dan Osceola with Maynard Abrams and Horst Grabs.. Florida Memory. February 15, 2021.
7. Web site: Wedding picture of Theodore H. Willard and Alice Roberta Brown - High Springs, Florida.. Florida Memory. February 15, 2021.
8. Web site: Theodore Hartridge Willard, Jr. at the age of three.. Florida Memory. February 16, 2021.