Historic Political Profiles

2004 promises to be an interesting political year for Levy County. For historic political interest, each month for eight months, we will present a brief profile of one of Levy County`s political officers who held office during the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s.

COUNTY COURT JUDGE BENJAMIN FRIEDMAN

Ben Friedman was one of Levy County`s longest seated county court judges serving from 1888 until his death in 1911. Born in the Empire of German on 07 April 1843, Friedman enlisted in Company "A", 3rd South Carolina Battalion at the beginning of the Civil War. He served in Kershaw`s Brigade, McLaw`s Division, and Longstreet`s Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Friedman was shot in the right ankle at the battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia and also received a bayonet wound in the left breast. He was honorably discharged at Greensboro, North Carolina on or about 26 April 1865.

Friedman`s name first appears in Levy County records on 20 August 1871.

On 05 July 1877, Friedman and Miss Mary E.Swails were married in Levy County and the couple had one child, Lizzie. Ben and Mary were divorced on 05 February 1894 and Mary and Lizzie moved to Tampa, where Mary worked for Charles E. Fifield making Havana cigars.

The Levy County Probate record shows that Friedman became ill in October of 1910 and was attended by Dr. C.F. Sayles and nursed by Mrs. F.B. Strickland, both of Bronson.

Friedman died on the 11 day of April 1911. His probate record indicates that he is buried in the Old Bronson cemetery behind the Levy County Courthouse in Bronson; however, his grave is not marked.