Christian County's First Elected Negro Officials

The large African American population in Christian County, KY, along with the strength of the Republican Party in the county, made it possible for African American candidates to win some of the state's early political elections in Hopkinsville, KY. Edward Glass was elected to the City Council in 1885 and re-elected continuously until 1907.

By 1898, the following were also elected to office: James L. Allensworth, County Coroner; Kinney Tyler, Deputy Jailer; John W. Knight, Constable; and J. C. Lyte, Pension Examiner. In 1916, T. H. Moore was re-elected for the third time as Magistrate of the 1st District of Christian County.

The elections of African Americans was not always welcomed,  and there were beatings and objections. One such case is the election of William Leveritt for County Physician in 1898: his appointment was approved by the county judge, enraging many whites because Leveritt would be examining white family members, in particular white women.

For more see Violence in the Black Patch of Kentucky and Tennessee, by S. Marshall; p. 35 of the Negro Year Book, by M. N. Work [full-text at Google Books]; and "The people of Christian County...," p. 95 of American Medico-surgical Bulletin, vol. 12, 1898 [full-text at Google Books].