Eric Musgrove
Contributor
A couple of weeks ago, we began discussing the Reconstruction Era (1865-1877) as it related to Suwannee County. Several religious organizations were founded by and for African Americans in the years after the Civil War. Today, we continue a discussion of African American history during this trying time in American history.
Despite the widespread corruption and trouble between former enemies, there were several progressive actions that helped the plight of African Americans. Among other things, Reconstruction allowed African Americans to assume leadership positions in Suwannee County for the first time. This time was difficult for all involved, and the surviving lists of politicians, especially county commissioners, show a high turnover rate of not only African Americans but white men as well (women of any race were not allowed into elected positions until some 40 years later). The following men were all African Americans who served the public in Suwannee County during the Reconstruction Era. I will not swear that this is a complete list, but it is the best known at this time.
The first known African American to hold public office in Suwannee County was George Manker. Not much is known about him, but he is listed in some books as a Voter Registrar (sort of like the modern Supervisor of Elections) from 1867 to 1868. He was also found in the minutes of the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners as a County Commissioner from April 1869 through September 1870.
Nathaniel T. (sometimes listed as M.) Kerby was born in 1832 in South Carolina and was a laborer by trade. He was on the county commission during its first permanently recorded meeting in October 1868 (meeting minutes did not have to be kept prior to that time). By early 1869, Kerby was no longer a county commissioner, according to the minutes; he is last listed as attending a meeting in November 1868. Some Suwannee County history books suggest that he served on the county commission through 1870, although the official minutes do not reflect that. Either way, Kerby is listed on the 1900 census as living in Lake City.
Nathaniel Goodman was yet another African American leader in Suwannee County after the Civil War. He was born in May 1830 in North Carolina and was a farmer by trade. According to descendants, Goodman served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was posted in or near Suwannee County during its aftermath. He liked the County enough to make it his home after his time in the Army. Nat, as he was often called, briefly served as a county commissioner starting in October 1870, but then there was a five-month gap in the minutes. When writing the minutes resumed in March 1871, Goodman was no longer on the county commission. He was, however, appointed to the Suwannee County School Board on Feb. 2, 1873, and he was still there in 1875. Between his stints as an elected official, Goodman was sometimes a jail guard and also helped to establish a school for African American students in December 1867 (along with future African American politicians Lewis Fields and George Manker, among others). The 1910 census shows Goodman as still living in Suwannee County.
Lewis (sometimes spelled Louis) Fields was yet another African American politician during this time, serving as a county commissioner between June 1870 and February 1873. Fields was also a part-time court bailiff.
Another African American, Frank Stockton, joined Fields on the county commission by March 1871 (he was there when the five-month gap in the minutes ended) and served through June 1873.
Samuel McIver was born in 1843 in Georgia and was a farmer. He served on the county commission from April 1873 through May 1875. He was still living in Live Oak in 1900.
Berry M. Gardner was a county commissioner between April 1873 and January 1877, one of the few who appeared to have served a full term during those tumultuous years.
Caleb Simpkins was born in July 1833 in South Carolina and was a carpenter by trade. He was a county commissioner between February 1876 and January 1877. The 1900 census shows him as still living in Live Oak.
Tulley Denham served on the Suwannee County School Board beginning on Jan. 11, 1875. He was also a county commissioner, serving from November 1875 through December 1876, and was an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) minister.
Thomas S. Harris was appointed to the school board in 1875. He held other offices and positions during his lifetime that will be briefly discussed in a later article in this series.
Robert Allen was born in 1820 in Virginia and was a minister by trade. He served as a Justice of the Peace in Suwannee County in 1876-1877 and was still living in Suwannee County in 1885.
Robert Allen was born in 1820 in Virginia and was a minister by trade. He served as a Justice of the Peace in Suwannee County in 1876-1877 and was still living in Suwannee County in 1885.
The end of Reconstruction in 1877 signaled the end of any real political power for African Americans for many decades. Despite that drastic change, Thomas T. Thompson served as a Live Oak Town Councilman (also called an alderman) between 1878 and 1879, just after the end of Reconstruction.
We will continue our discussion of Black history next week.
Eric Musgrove can be reached at ericm@suwgov.org or 386-362-0564.