James G. Patterson was a teacher and state legislator in Mississippi. He represented Yazoo County in the Mississippi House of Representatives 1874-1875. [1] On October 20, 1875, amidst a wave of political violence, he was lynched. [2] [3]
James G. Patterson was a teacher and state legislator in Mississippi. He represented Yazoo County in the Mississippi House of Representatives 1874-1875. [1] On October 20, 1875, amidst a wave of political violence, he was lynched. [2] [3]
More than 1,500 African American officeholders served during the Reconstruction era (1865–1877) after passage of the Reconstruction Acts in 1867 and 1868 as well as in the years after Reconstruction before white supremacy, disenfranchisement, and the Democratic Party fully reasserted control in Southern states. Historian Canter Brown, Jr. noted that in some states, such as Florida, the highest number of African Americans were elected or appointed to offices after 1877 and the end of Reconstruction. The following is a partial list some of the most notable of the officeholders pre–1900.
Reuben Kendrick was a constable and state representative in Mississippi. He was born into slavery in Louisiana. He was appointed constable in Amite County, Mississippi in 1869 by Governor Adelbert Ames. He was elected to a seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1871 and served from 1872 to 1875. He represented Amite County. He and other Mississippi state legislators were photographed in 1874 by E. von Seutter.
James D. Cessor was a saddle and harness maker, state legislator, and public official in Mississippi. He represented Jefferson County, Mississippi in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1871 to 1877.
Walter Boyd was a state legislator in Mississippi. He represented Yazoo County, Mississippi in the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1874 and 1875. J. G. Patterson was the other representative in the House from Yazoo County. In 1875, Julius Allen wrote about a meeting with Boyd in Yazoo City and the armed whites making threats against Republicans and potential African American voters.
W. H. Harris was a farmer and state legislator in Mississippi. He represented Washington County, Mississippi in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1874 to 1875 and from 1888 to 1889.
George G. Moseley was a state legislator in Mississippi. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from Hinds County, Mississippi in 1874 and 1875.
Alfred Peal was a farmer and state legislator in Mississippi. He was born in Mississippi and was enslaved. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from Marshall County, Mississippi in 1874 and 1875.
J. H. Johnson was a state legislator in Mississippi. He represented DeSoto County, Mississippi in the Mississippi House of Representatives 1872-1875.
Tenant Weatherly was a state legislator in Mississippi. He represented Holmes County, Mississippi from 1874 to 1875 and 1880 to 1881 in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He was a Methodist.
Joseph Smothers was a Baptist minister and state legislator in Mississippi. He represented Claiborne County in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1872 to 1875.
Henry H. Harrison was a minister, shoemaker, teacher, and state legislator in Mississippi. He represented Chickasaw County, Mississippi in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1874 to 1875.
Samuel W. Fitzhugh was an American politician. He was a state legislator representing Wilkinson County, Mississippi in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1874 to 1876.
Jefferson Cobb Walker was a minister, laborer, and state legislator in Mississippi.
James A. Shorter, Jr. was a farmer, teacher, and state legislator in Mississippi. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1874 to 1875 and in 1882. He was a Republican. In 1879 he was reportedly attacked by white Greenback Party member William Miller. His father was an A.M.E. bishop. The son graduated from Tougaloo. He served on the Hinds County Board of Registrars. He was a chosen as a delegate to the 1875 Mississippi Republican Party Convention as one of three delegates for Dry Grove, Mississippi.
Eugene Bonaparte Welborne was a constable and state legislator in Mississippi. He represented Hinds County, Mississippi from 1874 to 1875 in the Mississippi House of Representatives and lived in Clinton, Mississippi.
George F. Bowles was a lawyer, militia colonel, chief of police and state legislator in Mississippi.
James H. Piles was a teacher, school principal, lawyer, and state legislator in Mississippi.
Countelow M. Bowles was a cooper, soldier, and state legislator. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives and Mississippi Senate. He was a Republican and African American.
Edmund Scarborough was a minister, farmer and state legislator in Mississippi. He represented Holmes County, Mississippi in the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1870-1871.
Alexander E. Barber was an American soldier, newspaper editor and state legislator serving in the Louisiana State Senate from 1870 to 1874.