While it is erroneous to state that faithful public service always meets with due appreciation and reward, there are some cases in which those who give to their constituents and their interests the care and attention they would bestow upon private affairs, receive appropriate honors. It is well for a community when a man has proven his worth and reliability to show material appreciation of such service and to continue such a man in office, for in this way it discharges a debt and secures for its people the continued services of one who will violate a trust or fail to carry out the will of those who placed their faith in him. In this connection mention is due Hon. William W. Flournoy of DeFuniak Springs, a leading member of the Walton County bar, who has filled several important offices with capability, and who at this writing is a candidate for Congress from the Third Congressional District.
Senator Flournoy was born on his father’s farm in the Euchee Valley of Walton County, December 5, 1874, a son of John and Mary Elizabeth (Knowles) Flournoy. His father, a native of North Carolina, went to Georgia in young manhood, and later to Alabama, where he was married. While residing there. the War between the States came on and he enlisted under Captain Lee, at Elba, in an Alabama cavalry regiment, in the Confederate service. He was wounded in the leg during his service, but recovered from his injury and rejoined his regiment, with which he served until the close of hostilities. He then returned to Alabama, but in 1867 came to Florida and settled in the Euchee Valley, near Euchee Valley Church. In his later years he was a merchant and farmer at Summerville, Walton County. where his death occurred in 1893. Mrs. Flournoy, who was born in Alabama, survived her husband until 1916. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom William W. was the youngest.
William W. Flournoy remained under the parental roof until lie was eighteen years of age, and attended the public schools at Euchee Valley Church, Freeport and Summerville. In addition to assisting in the management of his father’s merchandise enterprise, he engaged in the sawmill business and learned all the details thereof. In 1892 he enrolled as a student at the Southern University, at Greensboro, Alabama, where he was engaged in study at the time of his father’s death. This threatened to put a stop to his acquirement of an advanced education, but through the efforts and self-sacrifice of his devoted mother, and his own exertions, he was enabled to continue his studies. Entering the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Lake City, he secured employment as janitor and librarian, and later became an assistant instructor in mathematics. These employments, together with a small loan from friends, enabled him to finish the full course, and in 1896 he was graduated and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. For several years he served as professor of military science and tactics and as commandant of cadets, of the college, but in 1899 resigned from these positions and spent a year (making up a two-year course) at the Law Lebanon School, the law department of the Cumberland University, Lebanon. Tennessee, from which he was graduated with high honors and the degree of Bachelor of Laws, in 1900. He began his professional career at Pensacola, where he made rapid progress, but after a year acquiesced to the request of friends and sought enlarged opportunities at DeFuniak Springs, which has since been his home. He soon was in the possession of a valuable law library, a large law practice and desirable properties, and June 28, 1900, founded a home of his own when he was united in marriage with Miss Marie Alice King, daughter of Thomas M. and Martha L. (Sawyer) King, natives of Alabama, the former of whom is deceased after a career of merchandising at DeFuniak Springs. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flournoy: Marie Alice; Louise Elizabeth, who is deceased; Gracie Claude, William Walton, John Thomas, Willie Louise, Mary Elizabeth and Eleanor Beatrice. The family belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Flournoy is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a man of strict morality and probity, making use of neither alcohol or tobacco in any form, and conducting all his relations with his fellow-men on principles of the strictest integrity.
Not long after his arrival at DeFuniak Springs, Mr. Flournoy began to interest himself in public issues, and in 1908 was elected mayor of the city, an office in which he served until 1910. During his administration he secured for the city the construction of a number of desirable public utilities, including a sewerage system, water works, electric light and power plant, and the erection of a splendid complete brick public school building. His military record is one of which he can be justly proud. Beginning with his command of the Cadet Corps and his professorship of military science and tactics at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College, where he prepared and published the Cadet Regulations, and his serving with the rank of colonel on the staff of the late Gov. William D. Bloxham, he has retained a profound interest in the military establishment of his native state. During his brief residence at Pensacola he was chosen to the command of one of that city’s finest military companies, the Escambia Rifles, and on his removal to DeFuniak Springs was the first captain of Company K, First Infantry, Florida State Troops, which later became Florida National Guard. The official report of the adjutant-general in 1905 very highly commended the efficiency of Company K., remarking that if “the other companies of the state’s military would manifest the same degree of enthusiasm in attaining perfection, Florida could soon boast of a modern brigade.” While serving as state senator he was ever alive to the value and needs of the state militia, taking the lead in the sessions of 1909 and 1911 in all legislation in its interest and being largely instrumental in securing adequate appropriations for the improvement of the state camp site, and for the expenses of the annual encampments. During the World war he took a leading and prominent part in all war movements, held several prominent positions and was a generous contributor to the various drives.
In 1908 Senator Flournoy was elected without opposition as state senator for the Third District, comprising the counties of Walton and Holmes, and completed the four-year term by service in the Legislatures of 1909 and 1911. In addition to being frequently and prominently regarded as a candidate for election as president of the Senate, he was appointed on many of the most important committees of that body, notably the chairmanship of Finance and Taxation and Judiciary committees and was in 1909 chairman of the Senate caucus for the nomination of its officers and employes. In 1912 Senator Flournoy first became a candidate for Congress from the Third District, but met with defeat by a narrow margin. He continues as one of the leaders of the democratic party in Florida, and the confidence in which he is held by the people is such that still greater honors undoubtedly await him in the future.
Cutler, H. G., ed. History of Florida: Past and Present, Volume III. Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1923, pp. 6-7.
Burial: Magnolia Cemetery, DeFuniak Springs