COLUMBUS — A Texas Historical Marker dedication ceremony, honoring Benjamin Franklin Williams, will be held on Thursday, April 23 at 3:30 p.m. at the Colorado County Courthouse at 400 Spring St. in Columbus, on the north lawn (side of flagpole).
Following the American Civil War and Emancipation of Slaves in 1865, it was not until 1871 that African Americans in Texas were able to uniformly register to vote, following the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
While African Americans served as delegates to State Constitutional Conventions prior to 1870, the first African Americans elected to serve in the Texas Legislature were elected to the 12th Legislature, which convened in provisional session on Feb. 8, 1870.
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