George Washington Gayles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George W. Gayles
|
|
|---|---|
Gayles in 1887
|
|
| Born | June 29, 1844 |
| Died | March 5, 1924 (aged 79) Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States
|
| Occupation | Minister |
| Political party | Republican |
| Religion | Baptist |
George Washington Gayles (born June 29, 1844 – died March 5, 1924) was an important Baptist minister and a politician in Mississippi. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1872 to 1875. Later, he was a member of the Mississippi Senate from 1878 to 1886. In 1892, he tried to become a member of the United States House of Representatives. However, he only received a small number of votes because of laws that made it very hard for many people, especially African Americans, to vote during that time. Gayles was also a well-known Baptist minister. People called him the "Father of the Convention" for African American Baptists in Mississippi.
Contents
Early Life and Freedom
George Washington Gayles was born into slavery in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, on June 29, 1844. His parents were Perry and Rebecca Gayles. He was owned by Emily Haile. When he was a child, a woman named Elizabeth Powell taught him how to read. She was hired to teach other girls, and Gayles learned alongside them. He especially loved reading the Bible and hymn books. In 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865), he joined the Union Army. He served there until December 1864.
Becoming a Minister
After the war, Gayles decided to become a minister. On November 21, 1867, he was officially ordained at Mount Horeb Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi. He then started his own church, called Kindling Altar Church, in Bolivar County.
In 1872, he became a missionary for Bolivar and Sunflower County. A missionary helps spread religious teachings and support churches. Later, he also became a missionary for Coahoma County. In 1874, he was chosen as the corresponding secretary for the Baptist State Missionary Convention of Mississippi. This group worked to support Baptist churches across the state.
In July 1876, Gayles was elected president of the Baptist Missionary State Convention. He held this important position for many years, even into the 1890s. In 1885, he was also the chairman of the Colored Baptist Convention, which included Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. In 1878, he became the main pastor of Mount Horeb Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi.
A Career in Politics
Gayles also had a successful career in politics after the Civil War. First, he was appointed to government jobs. Then, from 1872 to 1887, he was elected to public office.
On September 17, 1869, he was appointed to the Board of Police for District Number Three in Bolivar County. This was like a local governing board. On August 2, 1870, he became a Justice of the Peace for the Fifth District of Bolivar County. This role involved handling local legal matters. He was also appointed supervisor of the Fifth District in August 1870, but he held that job only for a few months.
Gayles was elected as a delegate to many Republican State Conventions starting in 1869. He also attended the 1880 Republican National Convention. At this big meeting, Republicans chose their candidate for president. Gayles supported Ulysses S. Grant, a former president. However, the party eventually chose James A. Garfield, who later became president.
In 1872, Gayles was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. He served until 1873 and was re-elected in 1874, serving until 1875. Then, he was elected to the Mississippi Senate in 1878. He was re-elected in 1880 (serving until 1882) and again in 1884 and 1886.
In the House, he represented the 28th district, which included Bolivar, Coahoma, and Quitman County. In the Senate, he represented the ninth district, which included Bolivar, Calhoun, and Sunflower counties. He was the only African American state senator in Mississippi during his time. He was also the last African American state senator in Mississippi until the 1960s.
Later Life and Work
In 1880, the Baptist State Missionary Convention, led by Gayles, started a newspaper called the Baptist Signal. Gayles became its editor. Under his leadership, the convention also opened Natchez College in Natchez in 1884. This was an important step for education in the African American community.
Gayles played a big role in the National Baptist Convention meetings in 1886 and 1888. These meetings aimed to unite different African American Baptist groups.
In 1892, Gayles was again a delegate at the 1892 Republican National Convention. In the same year, he ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, he received very few votes. This was because of laws and practices in Mississippi and other states that made it difficult for African Americans and Republicans to vote. He tried again for a congressional nomination in 1900.
In 1902, Gayles was a delegate to the National Afro-American Press Association meeting. He was known as a strong leader and speaker. In 1904, he was called the "Father of the Convention" for black Baptists in Mississippi. He was even chosen to represent Mississippi at an international meeting of Colored Baptists in London, England.
Besides his work in the ministry and politics, Gayles was also a successful farmer. Later in his life, he faced some disagreements within his church, Mount Horeb. He and some other leaders left to form a new church called New Hope First Baptist Church. He also left the black Baptist State Convention of Mississippi to start a new group, the General Missionary Progressive Baptist State Convention of Mississippi, in the mid-1910s.
George W. Gayles passed away on March 5, 1924.
Images for kids
-
Gayles in 1887
-
Photograph of Gayles as a state representative in 1874 by E. von Seutter
-
Gayles in 1892
