Henry Wilkins Chandler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Wilkins Chandler
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| Florida Senate | |
| In office 1881–1887 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | September 22, 1852 Bath, Maine |
| Died | 1938 (aged 85–86) Polk County, Florida |
| Resting place | Tiger Flowers Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Annie M. Onley |
| Children | 6 |
| Parents | Julia Ann (Fry) and Henry Augustus Chandler |
| Education | Bates College (1874) Howard University(1876) |
Henry Wilkins Chandler (born September 22, 1852 – died 1938) was an American lawyer, newspaper editor, and politician. He was born a freeman, meaning he was not enslaved. He was also the first African American student to graduate from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Later, he served two terms in the Florida Senate, which is part of Florida's state government.
Early Life and Schooling
Henry Wilkins Chandler was born on September 22, 1852, in Bath, Maine. His parents were Julia Ann (Fry) and Henry Augustus Chandler. His father was a barber and a deacon in their Baptist church.
Henry went to public schools in Bath. In 1870, he started attending Bates College. While there, he became an editor for the college's student newspaper, The Bates Student. He also helped lead the Eurosophian Literary Society, a student group focused on reading and writing. He made history by being the first African American student to graduate from Bates College in 1874.
After Bates, he went to Howard University to study law. He earned his law degree three years later. While studying at Howard from 1874 to 1876, he also taught classes there.
His Career and Public Service
After finishing law school, Henry Chandler moved to Florida. He passed the Florida Bar exam and began working as a lawyer in Ocala, Florida, in 1878. He was also very involved in his church and became a deacon at the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Ocala. He even worked as an editor for local newspapers like The Ocala Republican and The Plain Dealer.
After working with newspapers, he was elected to the Florida Senate in 1880. He represented the nineteenth district, which included Marion County, Florida. He served as a state senator for two terms.
Mr. Chandler also held several other important jobs in Ocala. He was a clerk and an alderman, which are roles in local city government. He also served as the city clerk for Jacksonville. He was chosen many times to be a state delegate for the Republican National Convention. This is a big meeting where the Republican Party chooses its candidate for president.
As a state senator, he was photographed with his fellow lawmakers. Later in his career, he worked as an Inspector of Customs in Tampa from 1908 to 1913. This job involved checking goods coming into the country. In 1913, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson removed all African American federal officials in Florida from their jobs. Because of this, Henry Chandler lost his position as inspector of customs in Port Tampa. He is buried in Tiger Flowers Cemetery.
Family Life
On October 2, 1884, Henry Chandler married Annie M. Onley. Annie was a teacher from New York who worked in Jacksonville. Her brother, Douglas Watson Onley, was a well-known dentist. Henry and Annie had at least six children. Their oldest son was Edward Marion Augustus Chandler (1887–1973). Edward became the second African American in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry. He also helped start Roosevelt University in Chicago.
After Annie Chandler passed away, Henry Chandler married Maggie J. Adams in 1914. Maggie was a dressmaker from Tampa and was very active in her church. Henry Chandler was also an active member of the Freemasons, a fraternal organization.
