Benjamin S. Turner
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Sterling Turner (March 17, 1825, Weldon, North Carolina
– March 21, 1894, Selma, Alabama
) was a US Congress Representative from Alabama.
He was born near in Halifax County
, North Carolina
near the town of Weldon. His parents were slaves. He was taken to Alabama at age five. Turner received no early education. By clandestine study he obtained a fair education. He seems to have remained enslaved until the Emancipation Proclamation
was issued.
He engaged in mercantile pursuits. He set up a livery stable in Selma
, Alabama. He was also elected tax collector of Dallas County, Alabama
in 1867; then latter councilman of the city of Selma
in 1869.
Turner was unanimously nominated to be the Republican candidate from the Alabama First District which at that point encompassed South-west Alabama. He was elected as a Republican
to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873). He did feel that the northern Republicans living in his district had not supported him in his run for office enough. In congress he worked to restore political and legal rights to those who had fought against the United States in the American Civil War
. He also fought for the repeal of the tax on cotton on the grounds that it hurt poor African-Americans. In 1872 Turner again received the Republican nomination in the first district. However another African-American, Philip Joseph
ran as an independent. This caused a split in the Republican vote, and allowed F. G. Bromberg, a fusion candidate of the Liberal Republicans and Democrats to win. Turner was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1880.
After his political career, he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Alabama. He died in Selma, Alabama
on March 21, 1894, aged 69; interred in Live Oak Cemetery.
Weldon, North Carolina
Weldon is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,374 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Weldon is located at ....
– March 21, 1894, Selma, Alabama
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
) was a US Congress Representative from Alabama.
He was born near in Halifax County
Halifax County, North Carolina
-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:[[Image:HalifaxCountyCotton.wmg.jpg|left|thumb|A cotton field blooms in Halifax County....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
near the town of Weldon. His parents were slaves. He was taken to Alabama at age five. Turner received no early education. By clandestine study he obtained a fair education. He seems to have remained enslaved until the Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War using his war powers. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves, and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with nearly...
was issued.
He engaged in mercantile pursuits. He set up a livery stable in Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
, Alabama. He was also elected tax collector of Dallas County, Alabama
Dallas County, Alabama
Dallas County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander J. Dallas. The county seat is Selma.- History :...
in 1867; then latter councilman of the city of Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
in 1869.
Turner was unanimously nominated to be the Republican candidate from the Alabama First District which at that point encompassed South-west Alabama. He was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873). He did feel that the northern Republicans living in his district had not supported him in his run for office enough. In congress he worked to restore political and legal rights to those who had fought against the United States in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He also fought for the repeal of the tax on cotton on the grounds that it hurt poor African-Americans. In 1872 Turner again received the Republican nomination in the first district. However another African-American, Philip Joseph
Philip Joseph (politician)
Philip Joseph was an African American politician in Reconstruction-era Alabama.In 1872 he decided to oppose the reelection of Benjamin S. Turner to the United States House of Representatives. This split the Republican vote, and allowed the Liberal Republican and Democratic Party fusion candidate...
ran as an independent. This caused a split in the Republican vote, and allowed F. G. Bromberg, a fusion candidate of the Liberal Republicans and Democrats to win. Turner was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1880.
After his political career, he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Alabama. He died in Selma, Alabama
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
on March 21, 1894, aged 69; interred in Live Oak Cemetery.