His father, John Floyd (Georgia politician), served in the American army in the War of 1812 as a major general and was later elected to the United States House of Representatives.
As he matured, he followed in his father's footsteps, serving as a captain of Georgia troops in the Second Seminole War and entering public service as sheriff of the county.
Floyd was promoted to brigadier general and commander-in-chief of Florida's state troops on November 29, 1861, by Governor Milton.
His troops policed illegal trade between locals and the Union blockade fleet, eventually finding it necessary to stop all outbound traffic on the Apalachicola River.
His estate and fortune devastated by the war, Floyd became an insurance agent in Clay County, Florida where he resided until his death on June 27, 1870.