Edwin Belcher | |
---|---|
Member of the
Georgia House of Representatives from the Wilkes County, Georgia district | |
In office 1868–? | |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1845 |
Political party | Republican |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Edwin Belcher (born c. 1845) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, a Freedmen Bureau official in Monroe County, Georgia after the war, and then a state senator in the Georgia Legislature representing Wilkes County, Georgia during the Reconstruction Era.
Edwin Belcher reportedly served in a white regiment and was twice taken prisoner during the Civil War. When his background was discovered he reportedly said he did his duty like any other soldier. [1]
Belcher was also appointed an assessor of revenue for Georgia's third district by U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant and was later appointed by Grant as postmaster in Macon, Georgia. [1] After the 1868 election the legislature refused to seat African Americans. More than two dozen were turned away but Belcher and a few others were allowed to remain because they had light complexions and it could not be proved they were 1/8 or more "Negro". [2] The others allowed to remain in their elected offices were Madison Davis of Clarke County, F. H. Fyall of Macon County and Thomas P. Beard of Richmond County. [3]
In 1872 he graduated from Howard University's law school (founded in 1869) and was admitted to the bar in Washington D.C. [1] His brother Eugene R. Belcher was also part of one of the earliest Howard University Law School classes. [4] [5]
In 1878, Belcher wrote a letter introducing himself to William Lloyd Garrison. [6] In the letter he says he was "born the slave of my father".
Drew S. Days III, former Solicitor General of the United States, is a descendant of the Belcher family. [7]
Edwin Belcher | |
---|---|
Member of the
Georgia House of Representatives from the Wilkes County, Georgia district | |
In office 1868–? | |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1845 |
Political party | Republican |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Edwin Belcher (born c. 1845) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, a Freedmen Bureau official in Monroe County, Georgia after the war, and then a state senator in the Georgia Legislature representing Wilkes County, Georgia during the Reconstruction Era.
Edwin Belcher reportedly served in a white regiment and was twice taken prisoner during the Civil War. When his background was discovered he reportedly said he did his duty like any other soldier. [1]
Belcher was also appointed an assessor of revenue for Georgia's third district by U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant and was later appointed by Grant as postmaster in Macon, Georgia. [1] After the 1868 election the legislature refused to seat African Americans. More than two dozen were turned away but Belcher and a few others were allowed to remain because they had light complexions and it could not be proved they were 1/8 or more "Negro". [2] The others allowed to remain in their elected offices were Madison Davis of Clarke County, F. H. Fyall of Macon County and Thomas P. Beard of Richmond County. [3]
In 1872 he graduated from Howard University's law school (founded in 1869) and was admitted to the bar in Washington D.C. [1] His brother Eugene R. Belcher was also part of one of the earliest Howard University Law School classes. [4] [5]
In 1878, Belcher wrote a letter introducing himself to William Lloyd Garrison. [6] In the letter he says he was "born the slave of my father".
Drew S. Days III, former Solicitor General of the United States, is a descendant of the Belcher family. [7]