John Francis Wheaton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Francis Wheaton
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Wheaton, c. 1899
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| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 42nd district |
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| In office 1899–1900 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | May 8, 1866 Hagerstown, Maryland |
| Died | January 15, 1922 (aged 55) New York City |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican (later Democrat) |
| Spouse | Ella Chambers |
| Children | Layton J., Frank P. |
| Alma mater | Howard University University of Minnesota Law School |
| Profession | Lawyer |
John Francis Wheaton (May 8, 1866 – January 15, 1922) was an American politician and lawyer. He is also known as John Frank Wheaton or J. Frank Wheaton. He made history as the first African American person elected to the Minnesota Legislature. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Wheaton was known for his lively personality and great speaking skills. He quickly became important in Minnesota politics, though he left not long after.
Early Life and Education
John Francis Wheaton was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1866. His father, Jacob, was the first African American to vote in Maryland. This happened after the Fifteenth Amendment was passed. A park in Hagerstown is named after Jacob Wheaton.
Because of racial segregation at the time, John had to attend a separate public elementary school for Black students. To finish his high school education, he went to Storer College. This was a historically black college in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. He graduated from Storer College in 1882.
To pay for his studies and living costs, Wheaton worked hard. He shined shoes, sold newspapers, and did chores for his professors. He also became very active in the Republican party. He attended state Republican meetings in 1887, 1889, and 1891. During the 1888 United States presidential election, he spoke for the Republican candidate, Benjamin Harrison. At just 22 years old, Wheaton attended the 1888 Republican National Convention in Chicago. He was an alternate delegate for Maryland.
Wheaton married Ella Chambers on June 6, 1889. They had two sons, Layton J. and Frank P. He started learning law by working with a lawyer in Hagerstown. Later, he moved to Washington, D.C., and attended Howard University. During this time, he got a job as a clerk in the United States Congress. This was thanks to his connection with U.S. Congressman Louis E. McComas.
He worked as a clerk for a few years. However, after the 1892 United States presidential election, a Democrat president, Grover Cleveland, was elected. This caused Wheaton to lose his clerk job. After this, he decided to focus seriously on becoming a lawyer. He passed the Maryland bar exam in 1892. Soon after, he moved to Minnesota.
Life in Minnesota
Wheaton arrived in Minnesota in 1893. He attended the University of Minnesota Law School. He became the first African American to graduate from this law school in 1894. He was also chosen as the class speaker. He worked as a clerk in the state legislature. Later, he became a deputy clerk for the Minneapolis municipal court system.
Eventually, he opened his own law office. He became a very important part of the local African American community. He led efforts to pass civil rights laws. These laws aimed to give equal rights to all people. He also pushed for African American soldiers to be allowed to volunteer in the Spanish–American War. Before he was elected to the Legislature, he had already successfully handled a serious court case.
On November 8, 1898, Wheaton was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 42. Newspapers at the time called this district "the most aristocratic portion of Minneapolis." It covered a large part of the metropolitan area. This included areas like Kenwood and modern Eden Prairie. Wheaton won the Republican nomination by a large amount. He then won the general election by a significant margin. This was remarkable because only about 100 of the district's over 40,000 residents were African American.
While in office, he introduced and helped pass a civil rights law in 1899. This law made existing Minnesota laws stronger. It gave equal access for all races to public places like saloons. Before this law, some places could refuse customers based on their race.
Wheaton represented Minnesota at the Republican National Convention twice. At the 1896 Republican National Convention, he was an alternate delegate. He worked to convince African American delegates from the South to support William McKinley. McKinley later became president.
At the 1900 Republican state convention, Wheaton gave a powerful speech. The Minneapolis Journal newspaper said he "hypnotized the convention with oratory." He argued for an African American to have a spot in Minnesota's national convention delegation. The Journal reported that Wheaton nominated himself and won the spot. He was chosen as the alternate to Knute Nelson.
Later Years and Legacy
| "I am not going to forswear my allegiance to Minneapolis, which I love better than any place on earth, and I will get back here every time I get a change. I got my start here and I owe a great deal to the people of this city, where everyone is accorded 'equal rights' without regard to race, color or previous condition of servitude." |
| — John Francis Wheaton comments on his departure from Minnesota to the Minneapolis Times |
Wheaton's attendance at the 1900 Republican National Convention was his last major work for Minnesota. Before that state convention, he had moved to Chicago. There, he helped start a life insurance company. Later, he moved to New York City. By 1905, he had opened his own law office in Manhattan. He partnered with James Curtis, another African American attorney who had worked in Minnesota. Their law firm was successful. Around this time, Wheaton also changed his political party and became a Democrat.
Not long after he arrived in New York, Minnesota Governor John Albert Johnson asked him for help. Johnson asked Wheaton to defend a former stenographer who was on trial for a serious crime. Governor Johnson and Wheaton knew each other from their time in the Minnesota Legislature.
Wheaton became a respected leader in the African American community in Harlem. He was an important member of the city's Black Caucus. He was also part of the Black Elks Club, becoming its national president in 1912. He advised heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson. He also worked as a community organizer with entertainer Bert Williams. He served as a lawyer for Marcus Garvey's first wife during a difficult divorce case.
In 1919, he ran for a seat in the New York State Assembly but did not win. However, he was later given a position in the city district attorney's office. He served there from January to May 1920.
Wheaton's life ended suddenly in early 1922. The previous fall, he had helped a person accused of a serious crime by paying their bail. This meant Wheaton promised $10,000 if the accused person did not show up for court. The client disappeared, which put Wheaton in a difficult financial situation. On January 15, 1922, after searching for the person with friends, Wheaton passed away at his home. His son found him.
His funeral procession was very large, with 20,000 people coming to pay their respects. He was buried in Woodland Cemetery in The Bronx.
A political book from his time called Wheaton one of "The Progressive Men of Minnesota." His rise in politics was special because it went against what was happening nationally. After the Reconstruction period, Jim Crow laws caused African American political power to decrease. Minnesota did not have another African American state legislator until 1973. News of Wheaton's death was reported in several Twin Cities newspapers. The Minneapolis Journal praised "the spectacular career of J. Frank Wheaton, Negro lawyer."
