Alfred T. B. Hunter facts for kids

Alfred T. B. Hunter (1850-1918) was an important African-American politician and farmer from South Carolina. He was born into slavery in Laurens County. This was before the Civil War ended slavery in the United States.

A New Start: Freedom and Politics

After the Civil War, many African Americans gained new rights. This period was called the Reconstruction era. In 1874, Alfred T. B. Hunter was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. This is a group of people who make laws for the state. He was one of four representatives from Laurens County.

What Did a Representative Do?

As a state representative, Alfred T. B. Hunter helped make decisions for South Carolina. He served on two important groups, called committees:

• The Medical Committee: This group likely worked on laws about health and doctors.
• The Committee for Roads, Bridges, and Ferries: This group helped plan and build ways for people to travel. This included roads, bridges over rivers, and ferries to cross water.

Life as a Farmer

Besides being a politician, Alfred T. B. Hunter was also a farmer. In 1896, he bought a 65-acre farm. This was a big achievement for an African American at that time. Owning land gave families a way to support themselves. His grandchildren still owned this farm many years later, in 1968. This shows how important the farm was to his family.

See also

• African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era