Richard Williams

Richard Williams

Full Name: Richard Williams
Date of birth: 1822
Date of death: Deceased, date unknown

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
H 15 Jan 14, 1873 - Jan 13, 1874 13th (1) (2) (3)   Republican Huntsville / Walker   Grimes, Madison, Walker
H 15 Feb 8, 1870 - Jan 14, 1873 12th (4) (5) (6) (7)   Radical Republican Huntsville / Walker   Grimes, Madison, Walker

(1) Republican. Directory of the Members of the Thirteenth Legislature of the State of Texas, 1873.
(2) Richard Williams absent for oath of office on first day, 1/14/1873; listed in floor votes 1/15/1873, 1/22/1873 forward; appointed on committees, 1/16/1873, p. 16; granted leave of absence for 3 days, 2/1/1873, p. 135. House Journal. February 1, 1873 January 14, 1873 January 15, 1873 January 16, 1873 January 22, 1873
(3) Richard Williams and James Washington won seats in contested election and did not take seats until February 1873 (along with Henry Phelps, late because of illness), p. 41. Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares: Black Leadership in Texas, 1868-1898, 2016.
(4) Term and oath information, p. 56, and footnote 28, p. 76. "Richard Williams and David Medlock are generally omitted from published lists, but both were elected and seated, although Medlock appears not to have served his full term." Black Leaders: Texans for Their Times, 1981.
(5) 12th Legislature, Provisional Session - Qualified and took the oath of office on 2/8/1870. House Journal.
(6) Party affiliation, Radical. Texas Almanac for . . . and Emigrant's Guide to Texas.
(7) Radical Republican Association, established 6/4/1870, p. 26. Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares: Black Leadership in Texas, 1868-1898, 2016.

Terms of Service top

House District 15
Jan 14, 1873 - Jan 13, 1874
Legislatures: 13th (1) (2) (3)  
Party: Republican
Home City/County: Huntsville / Walker
Counties in district: Grimes, Madison, Walker
House District 15
Feb 8, 1870 - Jan 14, 1873
Legislatures: 12th (4) (5) (6) (7)  
Party: Radical Republican
Home City/County: Huntsville / Walker
Counties in district: Grimes, Madison, Walker

(1) Republican. Directory of the Members of the Thirteenth Legislature of the State of Texas, 1873.
(2) Richard Williams absent for oath of office on first day, 1/14/1873; listed in floor votes 1/15/1873, 1/22/1873 forward; appointed on committees, 1/16/1873, p. 16; granted leave of absence for 3 days, 2/1/1873, p. 135. House Journal. February 1, 1873 January 14, 1873 January 15, 1873 January 16, 1873 January 22, 1873
(3) Richard Williams and James Washington won seats in contested election and did not take seats until February 1873 (along with Henry Phelps, late because of illness), p. 41. Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares: Black Leadership in Texas, 1868-1898, 2016.
(4) Term and oath information, p. 56, and footnote 28, p. 76. "Richard Williams and David Medlock are generally omitted from published lists, but both were elected and seated, although Medlock appears not to have served his full term." Black Leaders: Texans for Their Times, 1981.
(5) 12th Legislature, Provisional Session - Qualified and took the oath of office on 2/8/1870. House Journal.
(6) Party affiliation, Radical. Texas Almanac for . . . and Emigrant's Guide to Texas.
(7) Radical Republican Association, established 6/4/1870, p. 26. Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares: Black Leadership in Texas, 1868-1898, 2016.

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

  • 79th Legislature, R.S., HR 589, paying tribute to African American legislators and constitutional convention delegates of 1868-1900. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
  • 81st Legislature, R.S., HCR 81, paying tribute to African American legislators and constitutional convention delegates. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
  • 85th Legislature, R.S., HR 452, celebrating Black History Month and honoring the leadership and vision of African American lawmakers. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
  • 88th Legislature, R.S., SCR 13, Recognizing the Texas Black Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act. SB 667, Texas Black Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary. SB 667 SCR 13
  • 88th Legislature, R.S., SCR 13, Recognizing the Texas Black Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act. SB 667, Texas Black Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act. Resolutions - Legislative Policy. SB 667 SCR 13

Biographical Sketches

Other Resources

  • Listed in "Men who have represented Grimes County in the House of Representatives/State Senate, 1846-1931," pp. 205-209. Includes Date, Legislatures, District, and Source of Data. Early History of Grimes County, 1930.
  • Mentioned pp. 147-154. From Slave to Statesman, 1993.
  • Portrait, biographical information, and discussion of the Republican legislative agenda, pp. 134-137. From Slave to Statesman, 1993.
  • Mentioned in Negro Legislators of Texas and Their Descendants, 1970.

Photographs

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

Committee Information top

13th R.S. - 1873
Indian Affairs  
Public Lands and Land Office  
Redistricting  
12th Adjourned - 1871
Private Land Claims  
12th R.S. - 1871
Counties and County Boundaries  
Private Land Claims  
Public Lands and Land Office  
12th 1st C.S. - 1870
Commerce and Manufactures  
Division of the State, Select  

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