The Old Country
1845
Florida Statehood
On Feb. 13, 1845, the Florida-Iowa bill passed the House by 154-46 and passed the Senate by 36-9 on March 1. Florida became the 27th state to join the union, owing much to David Levy’s efforts. Though he made speeches on the floor, it was his private persuasion, his patrolling the corridors to corner Congress members and what he called his own "manner of accomplishing things” that made the difference. On May 26, 1845, David Levy was elected to the House with a majority of 1100 votes out of 5,000 cast. When the legislature voted on June 23, David Levy was elected Senator. It was a historic moment--the first man of Jewish descent elected to the U.S. Senate, a man who could be considered the father of Florida statehood.
During the twenty-third session, being the last session under the Florida Territorial Government, seventy-one acts and between forty and fifty resolutions were passed, the first act was to “facilitate the organization of the State of Florida.” Act number 30 was for the creation of Levy County and No. 31 was to change the name of Mosquito County to Orange County. Acts 62 through 70 authorized Ferrys across several rivers including the Suwannee and the St. John’s River at Pilatka. Act number 9 was to “secure certain rights to women,” which later was described giving “married females a right to hold separate property, not liable to debts of husband, an makes various provisions respecting their rights.”
Levy County Created
Levy County was formed from the lower portion of Alachua County and named for the most part after David Levy although one could say it was named after his father Moses Levy who was one of the first settlers in the area.