Alfred Richardson (politician) dating history

Details

Alfred Richardson (1837?–1872) was a member of the Georgia Assembly in the U.S. State of Georgia and was the first Black representative of Clarke County, alongside Madison Davis. Richardson was born enslaved but was emancipated in 1865. He worked as a skilled carpenter and likely owned a grocery store with his brother. He entered government service after the U.S. Civil War during the Reconstruction era. Richardson faced hostility, intimidation, and physical attacks representing Clarke County. Richardson survived two shooting attacks by the Ku Klux Klan. In 1872 Richardson testified to a congressional committee that it was not safe for him to go home so he was staying in Athens, Georgia, and that many other "Colored" people had been forced to flee their farms in fear. He also spoke about being attacked and shot at at his house by men in disguise and said that he had been threatened, told of many instances of whippings, and that fellow "Colored" people were told that they should vote for Democrats or not vote at all.