James Hill (Mississippi)

James Hill (died 1903) was a politician and public office holder in Mississippi. He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives, including as Sergeant at Arms and as Speaker, and was Secretary of State of Mississippi during the Reconstruction era.[1] He served as secretary of state from 1874 until 1878.[2] He was the last African American to hold statewide office in Mississippi.[3]

Hill was a former slave and was described as being a light mulatto.[1] After his time as Secretary of State he served as postmaster and collector of internal revenues; he also campaigned for a congressional seat.[1] He never married.[1]

A statue of him is at Mount Olive Cemetery in Jackson, Mississippi. An elementary school was named for him[4] and later became Jim Hill High School.

References
  1. Sewell, George A.; Dwight, Margaret L. (November 19, 1984). "Mississippi Black History Makers". Univ. Press of Mississippi – via Google Books.
  2. "History of the MS Secretary of State". www.sos.ms.gov.
  3. "Gone But Not Forgotten in Mt. Olive Cemetery | JFP Mobile | Jackson, Mississippi". m.jacksonfreepress.com.
  4. "Statues – Mt. Olive Cemetery".
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