Jeremiah Haralson

Jeremiah Haralson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st district
In office March 4, 1875 - March 3, 1877
Preceded by	Frederick George Bromberg
Succeeded by	James T. Jones
Member of the Alabama Senate
In office 1872-1875
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office 1870-1872
Personal details
Born	April 1, 1846 near Columbus, Georgia
Died	1916 (aged 69–70) near Denver, Colorado
Political party	Republican

Jeremiah Haralson (April 1, 1846 – 1916), was among the first ten African-American Congressmen in the United States. Born in slavery in Columbus, Georgia, Haralson eventually rose to serve in the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st congressional district in the 44th United States Congress. He had previously been elected to the state house and state senate. He also received appointments to Republican patronage positions.

Born into slavery on the plantation of John Walker near Columbus, Georgia, Haralson became self-educated. He was sold on the auction block in Columbus (1225 Broad St.) to J.W. Thompson. When Thompson died, Jeremiah was sold to Judge Jonathan Haralson of Selma, Alabama. He remained Haralson's slave until 1865. While a slave, he became recognized as a preacher.

In 1868 Haralson campaigned for Democrat Horatio Seymour to defeat Republican Ulysses S. Grant for president. Some ex-Confederates questioned his sincerity. According to Christopher in America's Black Congressmen, Haralson was a candidate for U.S. Congress in 1868. But the official results do not list him as a candidate in the 1868 elections. He would have been running in the Alabama First District, which reported 100% of votes for one candidate, so they may have conducted a primary in which he was defeated.

In 1870 Haralson allied with the Republican party, but maintained a network with some Democrat leaders. Republicans were suspicious of Haralson because of his friendships with Democrats such as Jefferson Davis, former president of the Confederacy; Rep. Lucius Q. C. Lamar of Mississippi, and Georgia Senator and later governor John B. Gordon.

In 1870 Haralson was elected as the first black member of the Alabama House of Representatives; he was elected to the State Senate in 1872. He backed Republican Ulysses S. Grant for president in 1872. His pro-Grant stance had caused him to have disputes with P. B. S. Pinchback, the African-American governor of Louisiana, who served for thirty days.

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