Moses Hepburn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moses Garrison Hepburn
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| Born | 1832 |
| Died | December 1, 1897 (aged 64–65) |
| Occupation | Politician, innkeeper, businessperson |
| Known for | First African American town councillor of West Chester |
| Political party | Republican Party |
Moses Garrison Hepburn Jr. (born 1832, died 1897) was an important American politician and businessman. He made history in 1882 by becoming the first African American town councilor in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He also owned the Magnolia House, a special inn for African Americans, where famous people like Frederick Douglass stayed.
Moses Hepburn's Early Life
Moses Hepburn Jr. was born in 1832 in Alexandria, Virginia. His father, also named Moses Hepburn, was the son of a wealthy white slaveholder and an enslaved woman. His father's owner freed Moses Hepburn Sr. and his mother, and even left them money in his will.
This made Moses Hepburn Sr. one of the wealthiest African Americans in Northern Virginia. He built the historic Moses Hepburn Rowhouses in Alexandria in 1856. When Moses Jr. was born, his father sent him to Pennsylvania to get an education. The family later moved to West Chester in 1853. They moved because Virginia had strict laws against educating Black people, and they wanted Moses Jr. to continue his schooling.
Business Success
In 1866, Moses Hepburn Jr. opened the Magnolia House. This was a three-story brick inn with nineteen rooms. It was located in the Georgetown area of West Chester, which was mostly African American. The Magnolia House was very important because it was the only place in town that welcomed African Americans. At that time, many places practiced segregation, meaning they kept Black people out.
Famous Black leaders and thinkers, like Frederick Douglass and William H. Day, stayed at the Magnolia House when they visited West Chester.
Besides the inn, Hepburn Jr. had other businesses. He ran a bus service and owned a stable for horses and carriages. He also owned a large 56-acre farm and eleven other properties. He was a well-known person in the African American community. He was a member of his church, a band, and important groups like the Knights Templar and the Free and Accepted Masons. Because of his many businesses and community work, he became known as the "wealthiest and best known colored man in Chester county."
Political Career
In the 1870s, the Republican Party in West Chester wanted Black votes. However, they did not want Black people to run for office. The African American community warned that they would not vote or would vote for the Democratic candidates.
Because of this, the Republicans agreed to a new system. This system divided the town into different voting areas, called wards. This made it possible for Black people to be elected in certain areas. In 1882, Moses Hepburn Jr. won the election for the borough council by just one vote! He became the first African American to serve on the West Chester town council.
He served for two years and worked on committees dealing with gas and police. After him, four other African American councilors were elected over the next ten years.
However, in 1892, the Republican Party changed the voting system again. They switched to an "at-large" system. This meant people voted for all council members at once, not just for their local area. This change made it harder for Black voters to elect their own representatives. As a result, there were no African American council members in West Chester for nearly 75 years.
Later Life
Moses Hepburn Jr. died at his tavern in West Chester on December 1, 1897. After his death, his son-in-law, John W. Smothers, took over the Magnolia House. He continued to run the inn until 1922.
