Shandy W. Jones

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Shandy Wesley Jones (December 20, 1816 - February 4, 1886) was an American clergyman, photographer, barber, state legislator, and customs inspector in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.[1]

Born into slavery December 20, 1816 he was freed as a child, became a barber and prosperous real estate investor.[1] He married Evalina Love in 1837 and together they had 14 children although two died as infants and one as a young man.[1][2]

He helped establish in Tuscaloosa after the American Civil War in May 1866. It was the first Methodist church for African Americans in Tuscaloosa and its original rented locations was Bryant-Denny Stadium is now located.[1]

He was elected to serve in the Alabama House of Representatives as a Republican in 1868 during the Reconstruction era and served until 1870.[2] The other representative for Tuscaloosa was Ryland Randolph, who was a KKK supporter and newspaper owner.[2] In his paper Randolph ran a cartoons mocking Jones and publishing a cartoon on KKK lynchings saying there "was room on the branch for Jones".[2][3]

Although no longer a representative he was still involved in politics and represented Tuscaloosa county at the 1874 Radical State Convention.[4]

He was documented as being "mulatto".[2] In 1869, he fled KKK threats to Moundville, Alabama, and eventually settled in Mobile. He was followed by most of family.[2]

Jones was involved in the American Colonization Society and supported efforts to colonize Liberia with African Americans.[5]

He died February 4, 1886, from a heart condition.[2] He is buried in Mobile's Magnolia Cemetery. Family members published Descendants of Shandy Wesley Jones and Evalina Love Jones -- The Story of An African American Family of Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1993.[2]

A history marker plaque was unveiled on the State Capitol lawn in Montgomery honoring the 80 Reconstruction era black legislators including Jones.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Cobb, Mark Hughes. "The little-known story of Tuscaloosa's first black lawmaker". www.tuscaloosanews.com. (EU readers blocked)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Writer, Mark Hughes Cobb Staff. "A FREEDMAN'S LIFE AFTER LIBERTY: Shandy Jones Timeline". Tuscaloosa News. (EU readers blocked)
  3. ^ "A Scalawag Come to Judgement!". The Independent Monitor. 1870-11-29. p. 2. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Radical State Convention". The Tuskaloosa Gazette. 1874-08-27. p. 2. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  5. ^ "The First African-American Elected Official From Tuscaloosa Was Shandy Wesley Jones". 92.9 WTUG.
  6. ^ "Black lawmakers who served during Reconstruction honored". The Montgomery Advertiser. 2011-06-10. p. 9. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
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