Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Dr. Jeptha Vining Harris
1839-1914
| | Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden | |
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023
1. Dr. Jeptha Vining Harris Marker
The Jeptha V. Harris family moved from South Carolina to Mississippi, where he attended high school and graduated from the University of Mississippi. Jeptha studied medicine at the University of New York and South Carolina Medical College before graduating with an M.D. from the University of Louisiana. During the Civil War he served in the Confederate Army as a scout and sharpshooter and with the Navy as a doctor. He fought in a number of battles including Shiloh. Mary Perkins Harris, his wife, was a college graduate and provided medical care for wounded soldiers in her home during the Civil War. In 1870, Dr. Harris came to Florida and purchased land, which would later be a large section of Miami. He provided medical service to the Seminole Tribe during a Typhoid epidemic. Later he moved to Key West and opened a medical practice. He was active in Democratic Party politics and was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in 1876. He served as Collector of Customs from 1885 to 1889. He was a member of the Florida House of Representatives and also served as Superintendent of Schools from 1877 to 1887. Under Dr. Harris guidance and because of his persistence, the quality of education in Monroe County was greatly improved. The Harris School, dedicated on July 4, 1909, on Southard Street was named in his honor. He was also very
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Erected by Hilario Ramos Family & The District I Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 24° 33.587′ N, 81° 48.418′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from the intersection of Wall Street and Tifts Aly. The marker stands within the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Wall Street, Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Keys. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Charley P. Toppino (here, next to this marker); William R. Kerr (here, next to this marker); Bernie C. Papy (here, next to this marker); Norberg Thompson (here, next to this marker); Eduardo H. Gato (here, next to this marker); John Bartlum (here, next to this marker); Ernest Hemingway (here, next to this marker); Lena Johnson (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.
Regarding Dr. Jeptha Vining Harris. The Southernmost House was owned
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023
2. Dr. Jeptha Vining Harris Marker
Also see . . .
1. Jeptha Vining Harris' House (Southernmost House in US). (Submitted on May 16, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. The Key West Sculpture Garden Where History Meets Art. (Submitted on May 16, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2023. This page has been viewed 465 times since then and 54 times this year. Last updated on April 24, 2026. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 16, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
