Jeremiah Haralson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeremiah Haralson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st district
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877
Preceded by	Frederick George Bromberg
Succeeded by	James T. Jones
Member of the Alabama Senate from the 21st district
In office 1872–1875
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from Dallas County
In office 1870–1872
Personal details
Born	April 1, 1846 near Columbus, Georgia
Died	1916 (aged 69–70) ? near Denver, Colorado?
Political party	Republican

Jeremiah Haralson (born April 1, 1846 – died around 1916?) was an important politician from Alabama. He was one of the first ten African-American people to serve in the United States Congress.

Haralson was born into slavery in Columbus, Georgia. He taught himself to read and write while still enslaved in Selma, Alabama. After slavery ended, he became a strong leader for formerly enslaved people. He was elected as a Republican to the Alabama State House and then the State Senate. Later, he served in the United States House of Representatives, representing Alabama's 1st congressional district.

After his time in Congress, political changes made it harder for him to win elections. He still worked in government jobs in Washington, D.C. His later life is a bit of a mystery, with no clear records of what happened to him.

Early Life and Learning

Jeremiah Haralson was born into slavery on a farm near Columbus, Georgia. He was sold to different owners. Eventually, he was sold to Judge Jonathan Haralson in Selma, Alabama. Selma was the main town in Dallas County, which had many black residents.

Jeremiah remained enslaved until 1865, when the American Civil War ended and slavery was abolished. Even while enslaved, he became a preacher. He also taught himself how to read and write.

Starting His Political Journey

After gaining his freedom, Haralson worked as a farmer. He quickly became interested in politics. In 1868, he supported Democrat Horatio Seymour for president. This was unusual because most formerly enslaved people supported the Republican Party, which had helped them gain freedom.

In 1870, Haralson joined the Republican Party. However, he also kept connections with some Democratic leaders. Some Republicans were unsure about him because he was friends with important Democrats, including Jefferson Davis, who had been president of the Confederacy.

Members of the Alabama Senate in 1872 on the capitol steps. Jeremiah Haralson was a powerful voice in the Senate.

In 1870, Haralson was elected as a Republican to the Alabama House of Representatives. He was the first black person to serve in that house. In 1872, he was elected to the State Senate from the Twenty-First District. During his time there, he helped pass a civil rights bill. People saw him as a powerful politician.

He supported Republican Ulysses S. Grant for president in 1872. This led to some disagreements with P. B. S. Pinchback, an African-American governor from Louisiana.

Serving in Congress

In 1874, Haralson was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives. He represented Alabama's 1st congressional district. This district included both Selma and Mobile. His election was challenged by another candidate, Frederick G. Bromberg. Haralson asked his former owner, Judge Jonathan Haralson, to help him. The judge spoke to his friends in Congress, who were former Confederates and Democrats. With the judge's help, Haralson was accepted into the House of Representatives in March 1875.

As a member of Congress, Haralson worked to bring people together. He supported giving official pardons to former Confederates. This was meant to help create peace between black and white people.

Haralson was known for his amazing speaking skills. Frederick Douglass, a famous civil rights leader, praised Haralson's speeches. Douglass said Haralson spoke "with humor enough in him to supply a half dozen circus clowns."

Later Political Challenges

In 1876, Haralson ran for reelection. However, the state legislature had changed the district boundaries. This practice, called "gerrymandering," was done to make it harder for certain groups to win elections. Haralson now had to run in Alabama's 4th congressional district. This was the only district in Alabama where black people were still the majority.

Another African-American politician, James T. Rapier, also ran in this district. Rapier won the Republican primary election. But Haralson decided to run as an independent candidate. Their competition split the votes among black Republican supporters. Haralson received 33.93% of the votes, and Rapier received 28%. This split allowed the Democratic candidate, Charles M. Shelley, to win the seat with 38% of the votes.

Haralson ran against Shelley again in 1878 but was defeated. He received fewer votes than before. This showed how Democrats were working to stop black Republicans from voting.

Life After Congress

In 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes gave Haralson a government job in the customs office in Baltimore, Maryland. Later, he worked as a clerk for the Department of the Interior. He also worked for the Pension Bureau in Washington, D.C. from 1882 to 1884.

After 1884, Haralson moved to Louisiana and then to Arkansas. He worked in farming and briefly as a pension agent. His historical records become unclear after 1895.

Family Life

In 1870, Jeremiah Haralson married Ellen Norwood. They had a son named Henry, who was born in 1871. In 1885, Booker T. Washington, a famous educator, announced that Henry was a student at Tuskegee Institute.

Later Years and Mystery

Some stories say that Jeremiah Haralson moved to Texas, Oklahoma, and then Colorado. It is said he worked as a coal miner and was killed while hunting near Denver around 1916. However, there is no strong proof for these stories. His exact fate remains a mystery.

See also

• List of African-American United States representatives
• List of people who disappeared