The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-20
Personnel of the Convention.

The members of This Convention, or many
of them, have had remarkable experiences.
| While talking with number yesterday as
to what they proposed doing for the eolored
people of Virginia the idea occurred to the
| DISPATCH reporter that it might not be unin-
| teresting to give brief sketch of their lives,
| in order that our people may know who
these negroes are that are coming to the State
conventions and frequently occupying seats
in the General Assembly. Here are some of
them. They are worth reading:
| j. B. SYPHAx, from Alexandria, thirty
yesrs old, Was born at Arlington. His family
was owned by the Gusts and Lee estates.
! He was one of the principal movers in CALI
ing this Convention. He represented his
| county in the last session Of the Legislature.
/ II. CLAY HARRIS, from Halifax, thirty -four
wears old. was raised by John L. Harris, of
Buckingham county. In 1855 be was sent to
Philadelphia sud entered at the institute for
colored youths, where he received his educa-
ton. In 1861 he left Philadelphia and loca.
tted in Ohiu. In 1867 he returned to Nir-
ginia. 70 1870 be was appointed United
States marshal. In 1872 he was appointed
assistant assessor for his county. He repre-
sented his county in the Legislature, session
| of 1874-'75. .ftt s. ss.'@
PETER j. CARTER, Northampton, tempo.
! rary chairman Of the Convention, is thirty
years old Was raised by Calvin 81. Read, of
the above county. At the age of seventeen
escaped through the lines aud enlisted in the
| United States army. Served as sergeant
major in the Tenth United States colored
troops. At the close of the war returned to
his old home Was elected to represen! his
county in the House of Delegates, sessions
1929 and lS74-'75. At present is a jus.
Itlce of the peace. Carter was twenty years
old before be knew his alphabet. Eutered
the Hampton Normal School in 1868 and
graduated in 1871. }@~ .s-
CHARLES j. MALoRD, from Franklin
county. Was born at the Warm Springs,
Bath county. Removed to Washington city
| when quite young. Isa graduate OF the law
| department of Howard University. as
one of the vice-presldents of the Philadel-
phIa Convention, 10 1872. which nominated
John f. Lewis for vice, president OF tne
| United States. At present is mail agent oe'
| tween DanViIle and Charlotte. - 80. a
| j. w. b. MATTHEWS, Petersburg. Thirty
fiye years old. Held the position of United
States gsuger for three years. Represented
| Petersburg in the Legislature, sessions '7l-2,
"a. oaisi 4! .Is,..z u
Us. WAsH1NGroN, King George. Twenty.
| i've years old. Raised by Roy Mason, OF
King George. Escaped through the lines
and went to Washington in 1862. Entered
the Howard University. Graduated IN the
law department in '75, and is now practlclng
law in Washington city. -, s..s.,, 3 - ;.
JOHN NJ. DAWSON, James City county,
forty.fye years old. Born and raised 10, the
! Gordon family of Alexandria. Located In
| Syracuse, n. Y. Afterwards entered the
Oberlin College, Ohio, where he was edu::
Gated. Came to Virginia after the war, and
| is at present representative of the Twenty
eighth senatorial district in the State Senate.
Is minister by profession, and has charge
of the First Baptist (colored) church in Will
liam .burg. 800 =
AMBROSE E. WHITING, Of Portsmouth, Va,
! was born in Portsmouth, and is tHenty.siX
years of age. He commenced going to school
about 1868, when the northern teachers
0pened for the freedmen there, and after Q
| few Years. training was made sn assistant
teacher. Afterwards he went to Washing.
ton, entered the Law Department OF How
ard Uoiyersity, where he graduated in 1874.
Hetis nov practicing Law in hts native city
asd vicinity, having been formally admitted
| to the bar.sl, tle.t s J. ''sl-.s5f i..!i.t :.
! j 7sEan sr.. .W1Ls3S. From Norfolk city
| Thrl,-e,gbt years old. Born in Norfolk.
jLefl home when quite young and went to
| .B ,ston, where he remained sever years:
Shjpped 90 board of q whaling vessel, and
after cruise of several years landed IN Soutn
America, where be was engaged In buhding
bridges. ON the line of she Don Pedro rait
road. Reiurued to ,this country In 1867
IJpon his, arrival in. New York he lmn1edt
aiely started for Snip leland, near New Or
Ilesns-ths headquarters Of Beast Butler