William Allan McRae

Last updated October 8, 2026

William Allan McRae, who is serving with ability and distinction as commissioner of agriculture of the state of Florida, is a man to whom success has come by reason of his own indefatigable and well directed efforts. He is a native of Florida, born in Wakulla county, July 22, 1870, and is a son of William and Rebecca (Allan) McRae, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of South Carolina. The father engaged in farming all during his life and was prominent also in public affairs, serving from 1871 to 1873 in the state legislature. He died in 1874 and was survived by his wife one year. To their union were born four children: Sarah Rebecca, the wife of J. T. Kelly, of Marianna, Florida; Christian Ellen, who married Neil J. McLeod, and now resides at Chipley, Florida; William Allan, of this review; and Leroy D., of Chipley, Florida.

William A. McRae was sixteen years of age when he became connected with sawmilling, an occupation which he followed for two years, during four months of which time he also attended school. When he was eighteen he secured a position as a farm laborer and in the following year saved one hundred and nineteen dollars out of the one hundred and thirty which he earned. He then became bridge watchman on the Escambia Bay bridge and while he held that position saved the greater portion of his earnings. He afterward took advantage of such summer school courses as he was able to attend and prepared himself to enter the State Normal School at De Funiak Springs, in which he was a student for three years, teaching during the summer months to earn money to pay his tuition. After completing the prescribed course of study he again turned his attention to sawmilling but after one year began teaching, an occupation in which he engaged for seven years, becoming one of the leaders in educational circles of the state. In November, 1900, he was elected superintendent of schools of Jackson county, assuming the duties of the office on January 5, 1901, and holding it for four years, after which he was elected clerk of the circuit court. This position he held until the 12th of February, 1912, when he was appointed by Governor Gilchrist state commissioner of agriculture and he was afterward elected to the position, which he has since filled in an efficient and creditable way. In taking charge of the department Mr. McRae was actuated by an ambition to enlarge the scope and usefulness of its activities and is trying to bring together all the forces in the state bearing on agriculture and also endeavors to maintain a well organized and well directed immigration bureau. He was the advocate of the immigration bill introduced in the session of 1913. With thirty-seven million acres of land, most of which can be brought to a state of cultivation, Florida offers splendid inducements to the settler, and it is Mr. McRae’s ambition to bring about this development.

On the 5th of August, 1908, Mr. McRae married Miss Mary Virginia Parker, a native of Georgia, and they are the parents of three children: William Allan, Jr.; and Roy and Ralph, twins. Mr. McRae is a devout member of the Methodist church and an active worker in religious circles, being at present superintendent of the Sunday school. He is connected fraternally with the Masonic order, the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World, and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. Aside from the public offices before mentioned he was a member of the city council of Sneads for three years and of Marianna for four years, and his work in the public service has been at all times honorable in its purposes and beneficial in its results.