Francis W. Eppes - Career

Career

He established the Francis Eppes Plantation in Florida, raising cotton as a commodity crop by the use of extensive slave labor.

Eppes had spent his formative years at Monticello, where he learned about his grandfather's view that a liberally educated citizenry is of critical importance in a democracy. He took an active interest in educational issues in Florida. In Tallahassee, he began 35 years of distinguished service to his community. In 1833, Eppes was appointed one of fourteen justices of the peace in Leon County.

Eppes first served as intendant (mayor) of Tallahassee from 1841–1844 and then again from 1856-1857. His first election was largely due to a rise in sentiment against lawlessness in territorial Florida, which had recently culminated in the murder of Florida Militia Brigadier General Leigh Read by Willis Alston. One of Eppes achievements was the appointment of six officers, which was the beginning of the Tallahassee police department.

In 1851, the Florida Legislature authorized two seminaries of higher learning in Florida. One seminary was to be located west of the Suwannee River and one to the east of the river. In 1854, Eppes tried to gain approval for the western seminary to be located in Tallahassee, but was rejected.

In 1856, Eppes initiated the proposal again, and offered to fund an initial endowment of $10,000, with a $2,000 per year stipend and a new building. The legislature accepted the proposal, and that year the Florida Institute in Tallahassee became the State Seminary West of the Suwannee River. Classes began in 1857. Eppes served on the Seminary's Board of Trustees for eleven years; for the last eight of those years, he served as president of the Board. The Seminary later became the Florida State University.

Eppes died on May 10, 1881 and was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Orange County, Florida. Three of his children had died earlier in Virginia and were buried at the Jefferson family cemetery at Monticello. Also buried there were Francis' Jefferson grandparents and mother. Later at least three of his grandchildren were also buried there. Today the cemetery is owned and operated by the Monticello Association, a private lineage society of descendants of Jefferson. (This is separate from the Monticello plantation, owned and operated by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation.)