Prairie View in Waller County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Jacob E. Freeman
Photographed By Larry D. Moore, July 17, 2019
1. Jacob E. Freeman Marker
Inscription.
Jacob E. Freeman. . In response to the political, social and economic turmoil in Texas and the South after the Civil War, the federal government enacted the Reconstruction Act on March 2, 1867. Many local and state officials were removed from office and a constitutional convention convened in 1868 with ten African Americans elected to serve. The 12th Legislature met in 1870-1871 and was composed of 14 elected African-American members. Amid struggles and violence, African-American legislators continued to serve Texas. Among them was Jacob E. Freeman who served as a representative from Waller, Fort Bend and Wharton counties. , Freeman was born a slave in Alabama around 1841 and came to Texas when he was eleven. He assisted his master in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and, by 1873, was a mechanic in the Hempstead area and had served on a Waller County grand jury. In July 1873, Freeman served on the Colored Men’s Convention where attendees discussed political, civic and economic rights of minorities. As a member of the Republican Party, Freeman won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives in 1874 for the 14th Legislature where he served on the penitentiary committee. He was again elected to the 16th Legislature in 1879. In 1878, Freeman campaigned for the Greenback Party candidate for Governor, unsuccessfully ran for the legislature as a People’s Party candidate in 1886 and campaigned for a gubernatorial candidate in 1892. Jacob E. Freeman and other 19th century African-American legislators helped safeguard the rights of Texas and its black citizens against tremendous odds and a sometimes hostile political climate.
In response to the political, social and economic turmoil in Texas and the South after the Civil War, the federal government enacted the Reconstruction Act on March 2, 1867. Many local and state officials were removed from office and a constitutional convention convened in 1868 with ten African Americans elected to serve. The 12th Legislature met in 1870-1871 and was composed of 14 elected African-American members. Amid struggles and violence, African-American legislators continued to serve Texas. Among them was Jacob E. Freeman who served as a representative from Waller, Fort Bend and Wharton counties.
Freeman was born a slave in Alabama around 1841 and came to Texas when he was eleven. He assisted his master in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and, by 1873, was a mechanic in the Hempstead area and had served on a Waller County grand jury. In July 1873, Freeman served on the Colored Men’s Convention where attendees discussed political, civic and economic rights of minorities. As a member of the Republican Party, Freeman won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives in 1874 for the 14th Legislature where he served on the penitentiary committee. He was again elected to the 16th Legislature in 1879. In 1878, Freeman campaigned for the Greenback Party candidate for Governor, unsuccessfully ran for the legislature as
Click or scan to see this page online
a People’s Party candidate in 1886 and campaigned for a gubernatorial candidate in 1892. Jacob E. Freeman and other 19th century African-American legislators helped safeguard the rights of Texas and its black citizens against tremendous odds and a sometimes hostile political climate.
Erected 2011 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17072.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is March 2, 1867.
Location. 30° 4.916′ N, 95° 59.423′ W. Marker is in Prairie View, Texas, in Waller County. Marker is at the intersection of University Drive and U.S. 290, on the right when traveling north on University Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hempstead TX 77445, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2019, by Larry D. Moore of Del Valle, Texas. This page has been viewed 392 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 19, 2019, by Larry D. Moore of Del Valle, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.