Abram Colby facts for kids

Abram Colby was an African-American man. He was born into slavery. His own father owned him. After slavery ended, he became a minister. Colby later served in the Georgia House of Representatives. This was during the Reconstruction era.

Abram Colby's Early Life

Abram Colby was born in Greene County, Georgia. His mother was enslaved. His father was a white planter. Colby became free 15 years before slavery ended. This was called emancipation. He helped organize other formerly enslaved people. Colby and a minister named Henry McNeal Turner started a local group. It was part of the American Equal Rights Association. This group worked for equal rights for all.

Serving in the Government

Colby was a great speaker. He represented Greene County in 1865. This was at a meeting for freedmen. He was a Radical Republican. This group wanted big changes after the Civil War. Colby was first elected in 1866. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives. Colby could not read. So, his son stayed with him. His son helped him with all official papers.

In the 1868 election, many Black voters turned out. About 1,200 of 1,500 Black voters in Greene County voted. They helped elect two Republicans. One was Colby. The other was Robert McWhorter. He later became the Speaker of the House. In the same election, Ulysses S. Grant won Greene County.

Some people tried to stop Colby. They tried to scare Black voters. When that did not work, they offered Colby money. Greene County Democrats offered him $5,000. They wanted him to join their party. Or, they offered him $2,500 to quit his seat. Colby said he would not do it. He said not for all the money in Greene County. Two nights later, he was attacked and beaten.

Attacked by the Ku Klux Klan

On October 29, 1869, Colby was attacked. Men from the Ku Klux Klan took him from his bed. They beat him in front of his family. During the beating, they asked him a question. They asked if he would ever vote for the Radical party again. Colby bravely said yes. He said he would vote for them tomorrow. After he said this, they continued to beat him.

The governor, Bullock, offered a reward. It was $5,000 for finding the attackers. Colby was badly hurt. He could not work. He did not run for re-election. In 1872, he spoke to a U.S. committee. This committee was looking into violence in the South. Colby's injuries were very serious. He told the committee: "They broke something inside of me. The doctor has been helping me for over a year. Sometimes I cannot get up from my bed. My left hand is not much use to me."