Paige and Harris were among the princ.i.p.al leaders of the House, and certainly, few were the men in that house whether democrats or republicans, who could outrank them in oratory or public debate.
Mr. Harris introduced the measure which provided for the present state Normal school, at Petersburg, carrying with it an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars. I had the great pleasure of bearing the bill to the Speaker"s desk.
During the session of this Legislature two colored men were given clerkships at the capitol: young Bob Norton, whose father represented York, in that body, was given a place in the General Land Office, while Richard De Baptist, of Mecklenburg county, was given a desk in the 2nd Auditor"s office. A white physician, Dr.
David F. May, of Petersburg, was made Superintendent of the Central Lunatic Asylum, for colored people, his two a.s.sistants being colored physicians, Dr. J.C. Ferguson, of Richmond, and Dr.
R.F. Tancil, of Alexandria. A number of colored men were put on as guards at the State Penitentiary. Capt. R.A. Paul, of Richmond, was made private messenger to the Governor. So numerous were the places filled by colored men, that that particular period, and the one that followed, have been indicated in the phrase, having a political bearing: "When they lived, they lived in clover: but, when they died, they died all over."
Those were thrilling times. I remember, a year or two later, when I had just become of age, I was elected a delegate to the State Convention, which was held in the old Richmond Theater on Broad St. There were over thirteen hundred delegates, only about a fifth being colored. The writer was elected the first a.s.sistant secretary of that gathering. That convention marked the pa.s.sing of the "re-adjuster" party into the Republican, and, under the dominance of Senator Mahone, the slogan of the Convention was, "We are for Arthur, because Arthur is for us." I hope that what I have thus very hurriedly written may prove of some value to you in the preservation of the annals of Virginia as respects the black man.
Respectfully yours, (Signed) GEORGE FREEMAN BRAGG, JR.
P.S. I want to correct a statement. There were two of us in the Lower House. Clinton Paige, and myself, were in the lower chamber, and Moseley on the Senate side. I began my first work of the ministry in Norfolk in 1887, and about that time the Hon.
R.G.L. Paige was appointed Postmaster of Norfolk City. He really ran the office. I have spent many a pleasant moment with him in his office there. It will be interesting to state just here, that "d.i.c.k" Paige made his escape from Norfolk by way of the Under Ground Railroad, only a little fellow of nine or ten years of age, secreting himself in a vessel leaving that port. He was educated in Boston. After the civil war he returned to Norfolk.
Round about the same time that I took charge in Norfolk, John C.
Asbury, now of Philadelphia, was practising law in Norfolk Co.
and city. Norfolk county is one of the largest and richest counties in the State. Asbury was elected by the voters of that county Prosecuting Attorney, and to my own knowledge, he most acceptably filled the office during the term of four years, I think, for which he was elected. He was recognized as one of the able political leaders of that section. Captain Fields was elected and served as Commonwealth"s Attorney of Newport News and Warwick county. Rev. J. M. Dawson was the county treasurer where the ancient capital Williamsburg is situated, while a Mr.
Mitch.e.l.l, for a number of years was the Collector of Customs for the historic port of Yorktown.
(Signed) G. F. B., Jr.
Phone 4512
E.W. SHERMAN, _Vice President_ Guaranty Mutual Life & Health Insurance Co.
774 E. Waldburg St., Savannah, Ga.
Feb. 8th, 1920.
PROF. MONROE N. WORK, Tuskegee, Ala.
_My dear Mr. Work_:
I have perused with considerable interest your review of the political history of the Reconstruction period. I have gotten from the review quite a bit of useful information. In my opinion, this particular part of your research work should be in the hands of every Negro in America that every Negro child might know something of the early exploits of colored men.
As a pointer for further work I want to state that succeeding Phil. Joiner of Dougherty County, Georgia, Ishmael London represented that county. J.H. Watson of Albany could furnish detail information. Jack Horne of Pulaski County was Clerk of the Court of Pulaski County and Richard White was Clerk of Chatham County Court during the period under discussion. Mrs. Hannah Benefield or Mr. Edward Cary of Hawkinsville will give authentic information regarding the former and P.A. Denegall will furnish information regarding "d.i.c.k" White.
We are pleased to follow you in your statistical ramblings because we love to connect you with us here and to recall your presence among us. We cherish very deeply your memory and applaud your efforts for racial uplift.
The madam joins me in wishing for you a long and useful career--a happy and prosperous one.
Respectfully, (Signed) E. W. SHERMAN.
February 14, 1920.
MR. J. H. WATSON, Albany, Georgia.
_Dear Sir_:
As you may already know, I have been for a considerable time collecting information about the colored persons who were members of State Legislatures during the reconstruction period. A list of these members as far as I have been able to collect them was published in the January number of the "Journal of Negro History."
Mr. E.W. Sherman of Savannah, Georgia, after reading my article, wrote to me that Phil Joiner, Dougherty County, was succeeded by Ishmael London. He stated that you could give me further information concerning this. Will you not, as Mr. Sherman suggests, send to me the names of all of the colored men whom you know to have represented Dougherty County in the Georgia Legislature and as near as you can, the date that they were members of the Legislature.
Thanking you in advance for your courtesy and appreciating an early reply, I am
Yours very truly, M. N. WORK, _Editor Negro Year Book._
ALBANY, GEORGIA.
February 21, 1920.
PROF. MONROE WORK, Tuskegee Inst., Tuskegee, Ala.
_Dear Sir:_--
Replying to your letter of the 14th inst., I beg to state that I cannot give you the dates as I was quite a boy and do not remember, but Phil Joiner served one term, was followed by Israel London, who served two terms, and who was followed by Howard Bunts, who served one term. In Thomas County, Rev. Jack Carter was a member, but I do not remember the dates.
Yours very truly, Signed-- J.H. WATSON.
CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY P. A. Denegall, Librarian Savannah, Georgia.
February 24, 1920.
PROF. MONROE WORK, Tuskegee, Alabama.
_Dear Sir:_
I am in receipt of yours of 14th inst., seeking information relative to the occupancy of the clerkship of Chatham Superior Court, by the late Richard W. White, during reconstruction period.
In reply I beg to say, that at the period, about which you desire information, I was too young a boy to have any adequate or understanding knowledge of the political affairs or status of that period, so that I have no first hand knowledge of the matter upon which you desire information. All I know about the late Mr.
White"s clerkship is only what I gleaned in conversation with my father, and as he paid no special attention to dates, simply telling me of things taking place during reconstruction, I have only by that means, knowledge of some things without the dates of their occurance.
I am very sorry I cannot give you the information you desire, I should be glad to do so if I could.
May I add that I have read your article in the January "_Journal of Negro History_" on "Some Negro members of reconstruction conventions and legislatures." I note that the name of the late Prof. John McIntosh, late princ.i.p.al of Mape St. School of this city is omitted from the list of colored members of Georgia legislature. He was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing Liberty County in the "80"s" a few years after his graduation from Atlanta University. As far as I know he was the most thoroughly educated colored man to have had the privilege of being a member of the Georgia Legislature. I knew him intimately. We were pupils at Beach Inst.i.tute, this city at the same time, later fellow students at Atlanta University.
Again regretting that I am not able to give the desired information, I am
Very truly yours, Signed-- P. A. DENEGALL.
SAYBROOK, CONN.
February 14, 1920.
MR. MONROE N. WORK, Tuskegee Inst.i.tute Alabama.
_My dear Sir_:
I have read with keen interest the facts presented by you in the Journal of Negro History for January 1920 on "Some Negro Members of Reconstruction Conventions etc."