George Franklin Drew
George Franklin Drew was the 12th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida.
Born in Alton, New Hampshire, he moved to the south, opening a machine shop in Columbus, Georgia in 1847. In 1865, he opened the largest sawmill in Florida in Ellaville. Elected at the end of Reconstruction on January 2, 1877, he set about to increase the economy of Florida while cutting expenses and reducing taxes. Another notable action during his governorship was the establishment of a convict lease system in the state.
He left office on January 4, 1881, returning to the lumber business. Later in life, he would settle in Jacksonville serving as the president of the city's trade board. Drew died on September 26, 1900 in Jacksonville.
