John L. Waller facts for kids
John Lewis Waller (born January 12, 1850 – died 1907) was an amazing American who did many things. He was a lawyer, a politician, a journalist, and even a diplomat! He became the United States consul (like a country's representative) in Madagascar. John L. Waller was also the grandfather of Andy Razaf, a famous writer and musician.
Waller was born into slavery in New Madrid County, Missouri. After the American Civil War, he and his family moved to a farm in Tama County, Iowa. John started school in 1863 and finished high school in Toledo, Iowa.
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Becoming a Politician and Lawyer
John L. Waller started his journey in politics while living in Iowa. He worked as a barber in Cedar Rapids. During this time, he was allowed to use the law library of a judge named N.M. Hubbard. This helped him study law.
Starting a Law Career
Waller passed his law exam in October 1877. The next year, on May 1, he moved to Topeka, Kansas. He went there because "Pap" Singleton had asked African-Americans to move and build new communities in Kansas.
Publishing Newspapers
On March 10, 1882, Waller started his own newspaper called the Western Recorder. This newspaper was published until 1885 in Lawrence, Kansas. Later, in February 1888, Waller and his cousin Anthony Morton started another newspaper in Topeka, Kansas. It was called The American Citizen.
Making History in Elections
In 1888, John L. Waller made history. He became the first black presidential elector. This meant he helped choose the president for the Republican party. He supported Benjamin Harrison and Levi Morton for president and vice president. Waller was even trusted to carry the election results from Kansas all the way to Washington, D.C..
After this election, Waller tried to become the state auditor for Kansas, but he didn't win. However, in 1891, President Harrison chose him for an important job. Waller became the U.S. consul to the Merina Kingdom in Madagascar.
Serving as Consul in Madagascar
As the new consul, Waller traveled to Madagascar with his wife and daughter. He strongly supported Queen Ranavalona III. He also helped the British and American people living there. They were all trying to stop the French from taking over the island. After a new president, Grover Cleveland, was elected, Waller was replaced as consul.
Life After Being Consul
Even though his job as consul ended, Waller decided to stay in Madagascar. He and his family had become very close to the royal family. The queen gave him a large piece of land, about 150,000 acres (607 square kilometers). This land was full of valuable trees like mahogany, ebony, rosewood, and rubber trees.
Waller wanted to create a special place on this land. He called it "Wallerland." He encouraged African-Americans and people from Mauritius to move there. He offered them good deals to settle on his land. He dreamed of building a farming community where everyone could live free from racism.
Family and French Challenges
In 1895, Waller's teenage daughter, Jennie, married Henri Razafinkarefo. Henri was the queen's nephew. Later that year, the French were threatening to invade Madagascar. For their safety, Waller sent his wife and daughter back to the United States. His daughter was pregnant at the time with the baby who would grow up to be Andy Razaf.
After the second war between France and Madagascar, the queen was removed from power. Several members of the royal family, including Waller's son-in-law, were killed. France then made a treaty with the Malagasy government. French officials were not happy that Waller had been given land without their permission. They might have thought Waller's success with his land would make it harder for them to colonize the island.
French authorities arrested Waller. They accused him of being a spy who gave military information to the Malagasy people. They said he helped them try to keep their country independent. Even though there was an agreement between France and the United States, Waller was put on trial by a military court. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison. He was put in chains and sent to France through the Suez Canal.
Release and Return Home
Many people in America, including Congress and John Mercer Langston, pushed for Waller's freedom. American president Grover Cleveland demanded that Waller be released. After ten months in prisons in Marseille and Clairvaux, France, he was set free. However, the French did not give him back his land. They said the queen's grant was not valid and took the land for themselves.
Later Life and Legacy
After his release, Waller returned to the United States. He reunited with his family and started a law practice in Kansas City.
In August 1898, he helped organize a group of African-American soldiers. They served in the Spanish–American War. This group became Company C of the 23rd Kansas Volunteer Infantry. Waller served as a captain in this company.
After the war, Waller and his family moved to New York. He passed away in 1907 from pneumonia.
