Ion Farris

Ion Lowndes Farris
Member of the Florida Senate from the 18th district
In office 1913–1917
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
In office 1909; 1913
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 18th district
In office 1907–1909; 1913
Preceded by	Henry Holland Buckman
Succeeded by	J. Turner Butler; Frank L. Dancy
Personal details
Born	September 14, 1878 Savannah, Georgia
Died	November 10, 1934(1934-11-10) (aged 56) Neptune Beach, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Methodist

Ion Lowndes Farris (September 14, 1878 – November 10, 1934) was an American politician and 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 led 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.

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 whom he had a close friendship. His nephew, C. Farris Bryant, became the 34th Governor of Florida.

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