David Sholtz (1891 - 1953)

Born 6 Oct 1891 in Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, USA

Husband of Alice Mae (Agee) Sholtz — married 28 Dec 1925 in Volusia, Florida, USA

Died 21 Mar 1953 at age 61 in Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida, USA

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Preceded by
Doyle E. Carlton

26th Governor of Florida
1933 - 1937

Succeeded by
Fred P. Cone

Biography

David Sholtz is Notable.

David Sholtz was the 26th Governor of Florida. Prior to serving as Governor he would be a state attorney serving Florida's 7th Judicial Circuit Court and previously as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

He was elected during the Great Depression; the son of Jewish immigrates from New York, and for these reasons, considered to be Florida’s darkest dark horse candidate to run for the office of Florida Governor. He graduated with honors from Yale University the class of 1915 and the next year, earned his law degree from Stetson University in Deland, Florida. His parents had relocated from New York to Daytona Beach, Florida in the early 1900’s. Sholtz started his law practice there. He was of the Episcopalian by faith. He entered politics as a one-term member of the Florida House of Representatives. He left the practice during World War I to serve as an ensign in the Navy. In 1921, he resumed his Daytona Beach practice and married Alice Mae Agee in 1925. They had one son of their own and three adopted children. He was very active in local politics and affairs. In 1927, he became the President of the Florida State Chamber of Commerce, which gave him the opportunity to network and be known throughout the state. At the time of this election, the state did not have a balanced budget, which was against the state law; 151 towns were bankrupted; a third of the citizens of Tampa were unemployed; and the present governor had refused any Federal aid. Eight men were running for the office of Governor in the Democratic primary election and two of those were former governors. He came in second in the primary, while former Governor John W. Martin placed first. Martin began a smear campaign by bringing out Sholtz’ Jewish ancestry, but in the end that backfired. Sholtz did not campaign dirty but continue to talk with the people and sincerely listen to them. No one thought he had a chance, yet the darkest of dark horse candidate won the nomination by the greatest majority ever garnered in the history of the state to that time: Sholtz had 173,540 votes to Martin's 102,805. Sholtz easily swamped his Republican opponent, W. J. Howey, in the November election. He took the oath of office on January 4, 1933. He had the strong support of President F. D. Roosevelt and Florida received the much needed federal aid. He accomplished a great deal while governor: Increased teacher’s paychecks, free books in public schools, started the Florida High Patrol, cut unemployment by 75%, reformed prisons, started unemployment benefits, and balanced the Florida budget in three years. Others achievements were establishing the state park and conservation commission, the citrus commission, welfare system, and pensions for the aged and blind. When he had finished his constitutionally-restricted one term in 1936, Florida had become one of the few states in the country moving rapidly toward economic recovery. After leaving the Governor's Mansion on January 5, 1937, he unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 1938, losing the Democratic primary to Claude Pepper, who won serving the State of Florida in U. S. Senate and Congress for a total of 53 years. While maintaining a legal residence in Florida, Sholtz spent much of his time in New York after leaving the governor's office. He died while visiting the Florida Keys. The single runway airport at Daytona Beach, Sholtz Field, was named as a tribute to the governor; today it is Daytona Beach International Airport. Bio by: Linda Davis

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sholtz earned a law degree from Stetson and started a practice in Daytona Beach. After serving in the Navy during WWI, he was a State's Attorney from 1919 to 1921, and he became a city judge in 1921. Elected to the governorship in 1932, he is remembered for establishing the Florida Park Service and Florida Citrus Commission. He made an unsuccessful bid for the US Senate in 1937.

Marriage

Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982 Name: David Sholtz Gender: Male Marriage Date: 28 Dec 1925 Marriage Place: Volusia, Florida, USA Spouse: Alice Mae Agee Film Number: 000969115

Census

New York, U.S., State Census, 1892 Name: David Schultz [David Sholtz] Birth Year: abt 1891 Birth Place: United States Age: 1 Gender: Male Citizenship: Citizen Residence Place: Brooklyn, Kings Ward: Ward 22 Election District: 25

1900 United States Federal Census Name: David Sholtz Age: 8 Birth Date: Oct 1891 Birthplace: New York, USA Home in 1900: Brooklyn Ward 21, Kings, New York Ward of City: 21st Street: DeKalb Avenue House Number: 751 Sheet Number: 14 Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 193 Family Number: 295 Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Son Marital Status: Single Father's Name: Michael Sholtz Father's Birthplace: Russia Mother's Name: Annie Sholtz Mother's Birthplace: Russia Occupation: At School Months Not Employed: 0 Attended School: 9 Household Members Age Relationship Michael Sholtz 33 Head Annie Sholtz 26 Wife David Sholtz 8 Son Mitchael Sholtz 5 Son Etta Sholtz 2 Daughter Carl Sholtz 5/12 Son

1910 United States Federal Census Name: David Sholtz Age in 1910: 18 [11] Birth Date: 1892 [1892] Birthplace: New York Home in 1910: Brooklyn Ward 29, Kings, New York, USA Street: Rutland Road Race: White [Mulatto] Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Son Marital Status: Single Father's Name: Michael Sholtz Father's Birthplace: Russia Mother's Name: Annie Sholtz Mother's Birthplace: Russia Native Tongue: English Attended School: Yes Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members Age Relationship Michael Sholtz 40 Head Annie Sholtz 37 Wife David Sholtz 18 Son Carl Sholtz 10 Son Ethel Sholtz 12 Daughter Rosalia Sholtz 6 Daughter Elizabeth Heffel 22 Servant

1920 United States Federal Census Name: David Shaltz [David Sholtz] [Sholtz] Age: 28 Birth Year: abt 1892 Birthplace: New York Home in 1920: Daytona, Volusia, Florida Street: Ivy Land House Number: 15 Residence Date: 1920 Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Head Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Agatha Shaltz Father's Name: Michael Shaltz Father's Birthplace: Russia Mother's Name: Annie Shaltz Mother's Birthplace: Russia Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Lawyer Employment Field: Own Account Home Owned or Rented: Rented Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Household Members Age Relationship David Shaltz 28 Head Agatha Shaltz 22 Wife Michael Shaltz 52 Father Annie Shaltz 49 Mother Ethel Shaltz 22 Sister Rosilee Shaltz 16 Sister Carl Shaltz 20 Brother Alfred Green 23 Lodger

1930 United States Federal Census Name: David Sholtz Birth Year: abt 1892 Gender: Male Race: White Age in 1930: 38 Birthplace: New York Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1930: Daytona Beach, Volusia, Florida, USA Map of Home: Daytona Beach, Volusia, Florida Street Address: Anita Ave Ward of City: Precinct 8a House Number: 240 Dwelling Number: 497 Family Number: 528 Home Owned or Rented: Owned Home Value: 45000 Radio Set: Yes Lives on Farm: No Age at First Marriage: 28 Attended School: No Able to Read and Write: Yes Father's Birthplace: Germany Mother's Birthplace: Germany Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Attorney Industry: General Practice Class of Worker: Working on own account Employment: Yes Veteran: Yes War: WW Household Members Age Relationship David Sholtz 38 Head Alice M Sholtz 37 Wife Mitchell Sholtz 3 Son Carolyn Sholtz 3 Adopted Daughter Mamie Hunt 34 Niece Mary Ann Hunt 6 Niece

Florida, U.S., State Census, 1867-1945

Name: Gor. David Sholtz [Gov. David Sholtz] Age: 42 Gender: Male Race: White Birth Place: New York Est. Birth Year: abt 1893 Relationship to Head: Head Spouse Name: Alice M. Sholtz Census Year: 1935 Locality: Precinct 12 County: Leon Page: 22 Line: 18 Archive Series #: S5, Roll 18 Household Members: Name Age Gor. David Sholtz 42 Alice M. Sholtz 42 Michell D. Sholtz 8 Caroline Sholtz 8 Lois Sholtz 6 Eugena Hampton 8

1940 United States Federal Census Name: David Sholtz Respondent: Yes Age: 48 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1892 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: New York Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1940: Miami Beach, Dade, Florida Map of Home in 1940: Miami Beach, Dade, Florida Street: Palm Island House Number: N Farm: No Inferred Residence in 1935: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida Residence in 1935: Tallahassee, Leon, Florida Resident on farm in 1935: No Sheet Number: 2A Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 37 Occupation: Lawyer House Owned or Rented: Owned Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 50 Attended School or College: No Highest Grade Completed: College, 5th or subsequent year Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 44 Class of Worker: Employer Weeks Worked in 1939: 52 Income Other Sources: Yes Household Members Age Relationship David Sholtz 48 Head Alice Mae Sholtz 47 Wife Mitchell Sholtz 13 Son Eugene Sholtz 13 Foster Son Caroline Sholtz 13 Daughter Lois Sholtz 12 Daughter Bessie Kemp 44 Servant Willie Pudwill 25 Servant

Military

U.S., World War I Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 Name: Sholtz, David Birth Date: 6 Oct 1891 Birth Place: Brooklyn NY City/County: Volusia State: FL Ethnicity: W

U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Name: David Sholtz [David Shaltz] Race: Caucasian (White) Marital status: Single Birth Date: 6 Oct 1891 Birth Place: New York, USA Residence Date: 1917-1918 Residence Place: Volusia County, Florida, USA Physical Build: Stout Height: Short Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Gray

U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985 Name: David Sholtz Birth Date: 6 Oct 1891 Birth Place: New York Military Date: 8 Jun 1918 Publication Date: 1 Jan 1921 Title: Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Naval and Reserve Force

Florida, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1898-1963

Name: David Sholtz Gender: Male Age: 42 Birth Date: 6 Oct 1891 Birth Place: Brooklyn NY Arrival Date: 8 Jan 1934 Arrival Place: Miami, Florida, USA Ship: Prince David

New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957

Name: David Sholtz Gender: Male Marital status: Married Age: 43 Birth Date: abt 1892 Birth Place: New York Other Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York Departure Port: Le Havre, France Arrival Date: 27 Aug 1935 Arrival Port: New York, New York, USA Ship Name: Ile De France

Death

Florida, U.S., Death Index, 1877-1998 Name: David Sholtz Gender: Male Race: White Death Date: 1953 Death Place: Dade, Florida, United States Other Death Place Information: Miami

Obit

U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current Name: Dave Sholtz Gender: Male Death Age: 62 Birth Date: 6 Oct 1891 Birth Place: Brooklyn Residence Place: Florida Death Date: 21 Mar 1953 Death Place: Miami Obituary Date: 22 Mar 1953 Obituary Place: Tampa, Florida, USA Mother: Sholtz Spouse: Allie Child: Mitchell Sholtz Carolyn Lois

Burial

BURIAL Daytona Memorial Park Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida, USA ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (findagrave.com/memorial/6814821/david-sholtz: accessed March 12, 2024), memorial page for David Sholtz (6 Oct 1891–21 Mar 1953), Find A Grave: Memorial #6814821, citing Daytona Memorial Park, Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.

See also:

• David Sholtz on Wikipedia