Styles Hutchins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Styles Hutchins
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Tennessee House of Representatives | |
| In office 1887–1888 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1, 1852 Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | September 7, 1950 (aged 97) Mattoon, Illinois, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of South Carolina School of Law |
| Occupation | Attorney, Politician, Activist |
| Known for | First African American admitted to legal practice in Georgia, member of Tennessee General Assembly (1887-1888), participant in legal defense of Ed Johnson |
Styles Linton Hutchins (born November 1, 1852 – died September 7, 1950) was an important lawyer, politician, and activist. He worked in South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. He lived during a time when African Americans faced many challenges.
Hutchins was one of the last African American students to graduate from the University of South Carolina School of Law during a special time after the Civil War. He was also the very first Black lawyer allowed to practice law in Georgia. He worked as a lawyer and was involved in local politics. He served one term in the Tennessee General Assembly from 1887 to 1888. He worked hard to support the rights of African Americans. He even suggested ideas for how Black people could have a better future.
One of his most famous cases was in 1906. He was part of the legal team for Ed Johnson. This case went all the way to the Supreme Court.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Styles Linton Hutchins was born on November 1, 1852. His birthplace was Lawrenceville, Georgia. His father, William Dougherty Hutchins, was once enslaved. He bought his freedom around the time Styles was born.
Dougherty Hutchins became a barber. He owned barbershops in Stone Mountain and Atlanta. He was one of the few Black barbers who owned their own businesses before the Civil War. He even worked with Alonzo Herndon for a few years. Herndon later became a very successful insurance executive.
Styles Hutchins traveled a lot when he was a teenager and young adult. He visited many states in the Southern United States. In 1874, he married Clara Harris. He taught school in Laurens County, South Carolina in 1875. In December 1876, he earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina. He was then allowed to practice law in South Carolina.
A Career in Law and Politics
After finishing law school, Hutchins practiced law in Columbia and Newberry, South Carolina. He also worked in Atlanta before moving to Darien, Georgia.
In 1878, after a long effort, he became the first African American member of Georgia's bar association. This meant he could officially work as a lawyer there. He was also the first African American to argue a case in a Georgia court.
In 1883, Hutchins started a law practice in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He and his law partner, Noah W. Parden, became very important. They handled many legal cases for Black people in southern Tennessee. They were respected leaders in Chattanooga's Black community.
In 1886, Hutchins was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives. He was a Republican and represented Hamilton County. He served from 1887 to 1888. He was the first Black person from Chattanooga to hold a state elected office. While in office, he helped change a rule in Chattanooga. This rule had limited who could vote in city elections. He also tried to change unfair labor practices that affected many people.
Fighting for Justice
Styles Hutchins and Noah W. Parden were involved in a very important case in 1909. They went to the United States Supreme Court to help Ed Johnson. Johnson had been found guilty of a crime and sentenced to death. Hutchins and Parden convinced the Supreme Court to stop Johnson's execution.
However, the night the court made its decision, a group of people attacked Johnson. They murdered him in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This was a terrible act of injustice. Hutchins and Parden bravely urged officials to find and punish those responsible. The Supreme Court later found the local Sheriff and some others guilty of disrespecting the court's order. They received short prison sentences.
Because of their courageous work defending Ed Johnson, Hutchins and Parden faced many challenges. They had to leave Chattanooga for a time.
Later Life
The Hutchins family moved from Tennessee to Illinois around 1906 or 1907. By 1910, they were living in Peoria, Illinois. Later, they moved to Kewanee, Illinois. Styles Hutchins stopped practicing law and worked as a barber from his home.
By 1927, the Hutchins family moved one last time to Mattoon, Illinois. Styles Hutchins continued to work as a barber until 1943. He retired when he was 91 years old.
Styles Hutchins passed away on September 7, 1950, in Mattoon, Illinois. He was 97 years old. He is buried at Dodge Grove Cemetery in Mattoon.
See also
