Sampson W. Keeble

Sampson W. Keeble (1833-1887) was an African-American businessman and politician in Tennessee in the Reconstruction era. In 1872, he was the first African American elected to the Tennessee Legislature, serving from 1873 in the Tennessee House of Representatives as a Republican member from Nashville and Davidson County.[1]

Born into slavery in Rutherford County, Keeble became a barber, which was a valued skill. It was considered a good profession, as it enabled practitioners to build networks in the business community. At some time, Keeble moved to Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee, where he built his business. After freedmen were granted the franchise, he joined the Republican Party and became politically active.

A bronze bust of Keeble was dedicated in the Tennessee State Capitol in 2010.[2]

References

"Sampson W. Keeble," This Honorable Body: African American Legislators in 19th Century Tennessee. Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Johnson, Lucas L., III (April 4, 2010). "Bust honors Sampson Keeble, state's first elected black lawmaker". The Jackson Sun. p. 16. Retrieved April 12, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "Sampson W. Keeble," This Honorable Body: African American Legislators in 19th Century Tennessee. Tennessee State Library and Archives.

[jacksonsunbusthonors-2] Johnson, Lucas L., III (April 4, 2010). "Bust honors Sampson Keeble, state's first elected black lawmaker". The Jackson Sun. p. 16. Retrieved April 12, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.