Josiah T. Walls

Josiah T. Walls
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida
In office March 4, 1871 – January 29, 1873
Preceded by	Charles M. Hamilton
Succeeded by	Silas L. Niblack
Constituency	at-large
In office March 4, 1873 – April 19, 1876
Preceded by	Silas L. Niblack
Succeeded by	Jesse J. Finley
Constituency	at-large (1873–1875) 2nd district (1875–1876)
Member of the Florida Senate from the 13th district
In office January 5, 1869 – January 3, 1871
Preceded by	Horatio Jenkins
Succeeded by	Leonard G. Dennis
In office January 2, 1877 – January 4, 1881
Preceded by	Leonard G. Dennis
Succeeded by	John B. Dell
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from Alachua County
In office June 8, 1868 – January 1, 1869
Succeeded by	Richard H. Black
Personal details
Born	Josiah Thomas Walls December 30, 1842 Winchester, Virginia
Died	May 15, 1905(1905-05-15) (aged 62) Tallahassee, Florida
Political party	Republican
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	Union Army
Years of service	1863
Rank	Corporal
Unit	U.S. Colored Troops
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Josiah Thomas Walls (December 30, 1842 – May 15, 1905) was a farmer, lawyer and politician who served all or some of three terms in the United States House of Representatives between 1871 and 1876. He was one of the first African Americans in the United States Congress elected during the Reconstruction Era, and the first black person to be elected to Congress from Florida. He also served four terms in the Florida Senate.^[1]

Twice his election to U.S. Congress was overturned.