Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-08


John +. Lynch, perhaps the most celebrated
negro now living who has sat in the House, was
born in slavery in Louisiana in 1s47. His
mother and himself were sold to a man living
at Natchez and he moved there while yet q lad
After the Union troops took NatcheZ he at
tended an evening school and acquired the
crude rudiments of an education that in more
mature years by private study he has made pol
lshed one He became a photographer and fol-
lowed that business for several years. He was a
member Of the Mississippi legislature in 1870
and 1871, serving the last year as speaker of
the house, being then but twenty-four years
old. He was elected to the Forty third Con-
gress in 1872 and took his seat in March, 1873,
being not yet twenty-six years old and the
youngest negro ever elected to Congress. He
was reelected to the Forty-fourth Congress
| and has since been five times an unsuccessful
candidate; He was president pro tempore of
the republican national convention of 1884 and
| Is now fifth auditor Of the treasury.
Jefferson ID. Long of Georgia is noted for
having served the shortest term of any of the
colored Representatives. He was sworn in as
member of the Forty-first Congress January
16. 1871, and served until March of the same
year. He was the second negro to SIT IN the
House. He was paid $500 in salary for his
six weeks service and put the money to such
good use that he has been comfortable ever
since. Long made one notable speech during
his short term in which he said: II was raised
my ancestry slaves as far back as can trace
them. Yet hold no animosity to the law
abiding people OF my state and would vote to
remove their disabilities"
Alonzo j. Ransier was born at Charleston, s.
c.. in January, 1884 He was free born. but
experienced many difficulties in acquiring an
education. In 1850 he was employed by a lead
ing merchant OF Charleston as "a shipping clerk
The merchant was tried under the old South
Carolina law for hiring a colored clerk, con-
ma nv.A
entered the legislature lust after the war and
was chairman of South Cardinals first republic
can state central committee. He was a Grant
| eiector In 1868 and was elected lieutenant gov
ernor Oh south Carolina IN 1870. In 1872 he
was elected to the Forty-third Congress He
was not reelected and soon afterward dropped
out of public life. Gov Ransier was unculti-
waited, but is remembered as a man of decided
force. He afterward became very poor and
! earned his living as common laborer. He
died in abject poverty.
James 7. Rapier was born in slavery in Ala
| bama in 1910, but while young reached Canada,
where he received a good education. He re-
turned to Alabama after the war and was re-
publican candidate for secretary of state in
1870. Grant made him an internal revenue
commissioner and the governor Of his state
sent him rs Alabama's commissioner to the
Vienna exposition in 1873. He first ran for
Congress in 1872 and buried Col w. c. Oates,
the well-known member of the present House.
under black majority of more than 5000
votes. He was afterward several times q cam
didate, but never again victorious.
Richard H. Cain. like Revels, the first negro
senator, was a minister Of the gospel He was
born In Virginia in 1926, but reached the free
states before the war He had no education
until he was married, but had attended sunday
school and. being religious enthusiast, early
became preacher. He studied at Xenia after
ne was married. During the war he had pas
torase IN Brooklyn. In 1865 he was sent ~ .