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Richard R. Samuels

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard R. Samuels (c. 1844–1878)[1] was a farmer, blacksmith and state legislator in Arkansas.[2] He was a delegate to the 1868 Arkansas Constitutional Convention from Hempstead County, Arkansas.[1][3] He was one of 8 African American delegates at the convention. He represented Hempstead County, Arkansas in the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1868 and 1869. He was a Republican.[1][4] He was one of the first six African Americans to serve in the Arkansas Legislature.[5] At The Brindle Convention in 1872 he was nominated for the position of superintendent of the penitentiary.[6] He also served on the grand jury for a fraud and corruption trial in Hempstead.[7]

Later in 1872 he was elected clerk for Hempstead to serve with James W. Vance who was re-elected as Sheriff.[8] A few months later judge T. G. T. Steele put a restraining order on Samuels and Thomas M. Higgs commanding them not to exercise their duties of clerk and deputy sheriff.[9] T. G. T. Steele then later issued writs for the arrest of Samuels, Mitchell and Higgs for contempt of these order but was then himself investigate by the Senate for his conduct and exceeding his jurisdiction.[10]

He came from Washington County, Arkansas where he had been a respected blacksmith.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
  2. ^ Foner, Eric (August 1, 1996). Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction. LSU Press. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-8071-2082-8. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "Delegates duly elected to the constitutional convention". Daily Arkansas Gazette. January 1, 1868. p. 2. Retrieved May 8, 2022.Open access icon
  4. ^ Debates and Proceedings of the Convention which Assembled at Little Rock, January 7th, 1868 ...: To Form a Constitution for the State of Arkansas. J. G. Price, printer to the convention. 1868.
  5. ^ Branam, Christopher Warren. ""The Africans Have Taken Arkansas": Political Activities of African-American Members of the Arkansas Legislature, 1868-73". University of Arkansas. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  6. ^ "The Brindle Convention (section) - Richard Samuels". Daily Arkansas Gazette. May 25, 1872. p. 2. Retrieved May 8, 2022.Open access icon
  7. ^ "Fraud and Corruption in Hempstead Co., AR". Daily Arkansas Gazette. June 16, 1872. p. 1. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "New County Officials". Daily Arkansas Gazette. November 15, 1872. p. 4. Retrieved May 8, 2022.Open access icon
  9. ^ "Restraining order for Richard Samuels and Thomas M. Higgs". Daily Arkansas Gazette. March 21, 1873. p. 4. Retrieved May 8, 2022.Open access icon
  10. ^ "Senate - Friday, April 11 (section) - conduct of T. G. T. Steele". Daily Arkansas Gazette. April 12, 1873. p. 4. Retrieved May 8, 2022.Open access icon
  11. ^ "About the Capitol". Weekly Arkansas Gazette. April 7, 1868. p. 2. Retrieved May 8, 2022.Open access icon