Near Monaville in Waller County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Norris Wright Cuney
(May 12, 1946 - March 3, 1898)
Photographed By James Hulse, September 19, 2020
1. Norris Wright Cuney Marker
Born in the slave quarters of Sunnyside Plantation (3.2 mi.SE), Cuney displayed such intelligence as a boy that in 1859 he was sent to Wiley Street School for Negroes in Pittsburgh, PA. On returning to Texas after the Civil War, he studied law and began operating a wharf contracting company in Galveston.
Cuney soon became an active member of the Texas Union League, which urged black political activity and Republican Party loyalty. In 1870 he organized the Negro Longshoremen's Association. In later years he served Galveston as a City Alderman, School Board member, and U.S. Customs collector, and ran twice without success for the state legislature. On July 5, 1871, he married Adelina Dowdie; they had two children.
After 1872 he emerged as leader of the Republican Party in Texas, attending national party conventions as chairman of the Texas Delegation. He served on the Republican National Executive Committee in 1891-92. The party broke his power in Texas in 1896 by refusing to seat his delegation--an action which deprived blacks of a voice in Texas politics until the 1960s.
Cuney, one of the most prominent
this page online
Erected 1973 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9378.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Labor Unions. A significant historical date for this entry is July 5, 1871.
Location. 29° 54.753′ N, 96° 4.619′ W. Marker is near Monaville, Texas, in Waller County. Marker is on Crump Ferry Road (State Highway 529) 0.4 miles west of Stefka Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hempstead TX 77445, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Monaville Independent School District (approx. 3.4 miles away); Grant School (approx. 5 miles away); Judge Edwin Waller (approx. 6 miles away); Isaac Best (approx. 7.1 miles away); Stacye Ann Marlin Morgan (approx. 7.4 miles away); John Bricker (approx. 7.4 miles away); Stephen Fuller Austin (approx. 7.4 miles away); The Burning of San Felipe (approx. 7.4 miles away).
Also see . . . Norris Wright Cuney. Wikipedia (Submitted on October 9, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed By James Hulse, September 19, 2020
2. Norris Wright Cuney Marker
TSHA Texas State Historical Association
3. Portrait of Norris Wright Cuney
Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 245 times since then and 112 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 9, 2020, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
