George French Ecton (c. 1846 – September 19, 1929) was a civil rights activist and the second African American state legislator in Illinois. He was born a slave in Winchester, Kentucky, in about 1846 to Antonio Ecton and Martha George. In June 1865, after the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery, George and a friend received free papers in the mail and set off to escape slavery, as they were still being held in bondage. When they arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, they were hired as deck hands on the steam packet Sherman, working a route between Cincinnati and Wheeling, West Virginia. Later, in Cincinnati, George worked at hotels, including the Broadway House, Walnut Street House, Burnett House, and Spencer House. He became ill with smallpox while at the Walnut Street House, but recovered. He also began to attend night school taught by Luella Brown.[1] He was reported to be a college graduate.[2]
On October 28, 1873, he moved to Chicago and took charge of the dining room at the Hotel Woodruff.[1] In 1877 he married Patti R. Allen, also from Winchester.[3] In Chicago, Ecton became active in Republican politics.[3] He held his job as a waitor until being elected to the Illinois General Assembly,[1] serving from 1887 to 1889.[4] Ecton was elected from the third district to the Illinois House of Representatives, and replaced John W. E. Thomas, Illinois' first black state representative.[5] He introduced legislation that protected former slaves. After his term, he became owner of a baseball league.[4] He continued to be a leader in Chicago Republican politics into the 1910s.[6]
In Chicago, he was a member of Bethesda Baptist Church and was a freemason.[1] He died on September 19, 1929, in Chicago.[3][7]
Referencesedit
^ abcdSimmons, William J.; Turner, Henry McNeal (1887), , GM Rewell & Company, pp. 358–360, archived from the original on July 8, 2018
^"The Candidates". Chicago Inter Ocean. October 31, 1886. p. 6. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
^ abcSmith, Gerald L., Karen Cotton McDaniel, and John A. Hardin, eds. The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky, 2015. p161
^ abWilliams, Erma Brooks. Political Empowerment of Illinois' African-American State Lawmakers from 1877 to 2005. University Press of America, 2008. p3
^Jones, David A. (2012), From Slave to State Legislator: John WE Thomas, Illinois' First African American Lawmaker, SIU Press, pp. 158–163
^"University of Kentucky Libraries-Notable Kentucky African-Americans Database".
April 12, 2024
george, french, ecton, 1846, september, 1929, civil, rights, activist, second, african, american, state, legislator, illinois, born, slave, winchester, kentucky, about, 1846, antonio, ecton, martha, george, june, 1865, after, american, civil, abolition, slaver. George French Ecton c 1846 September 19 1929 was a civil rights activist and the second African American state legislator in Illinois He was born a slave in Winchester Kentucky in about 1846 to Antonio Ecton and Martha George In June 1865 after the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery George and a friend received free papers in the mail and set off to escape slavery as they were still being held in bondage When they arrived in Cincinnati Ohio they were hired as deck hands on the steam packet Sherman working a route between Cincinnati and Wheeling West Virginia Later in Cincinnati George worked at hotels including the Broadway House Walnut Street House Burnett House and Spencer House He became ill with smallpox while at the Walnut Street House but recovered He also began to attend night school taught by Luella Brown 1 He was reported to be a college graduate 2 George French EctonEcton in 1887Member of the Illinois House of RepresentativesIn office 1888 1890Personal detailsBornc 1846Winchester Kentucky U S DiedSeptember 19 1929 1929 09 19 aged 82 83 Chicago IllinoisPolitical partyRepublicanSpousePatti R Allen m 1877 wbr OccupationWaiter politicianOn October 28 1873 he moved to Chicago and took charge of the dining room at the Hotel Woodruff 1 In 1877 he married Patti R Allen also from Winchester 3 In Chicago Ecton became active in Republican politics 3 He held his job as a waitor until being elected to the Illinois General Assembly 1 serving from 1887 to 1889 4 Ecton was elected from the third district to the Illinois House of Representatives and replaced John W E Thomas Illinois first black state representative 5 He introduced legislation that protected former slaves After his term he became owner of a baseball league 4 He continued to be a leader in Chicago Republican politics into the 1910s 6 In Chicago he was a member of Bethesda Baptist Church and was a freemason 1 He died on September 19 1929 in Chicago 3 7 References edit a b c d Simmons William J Turner Henry McNeal 1887 Men of Mark Eminent Progressive and Rising GM Rewell amp Company pp 358 360 archived from the original on July 8 2018 The Candidates Chicago Inter Ocean October 31 1886 p 6 Retrieved October 3 2016 a b c Smith Gerald L Karen Cotton McDaniel and John A Hardin eds The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia University Press of Kentucky 2015 p161 a b Williams Erma Brooks Political Empowerment of Illinois African American State Lawmakers from 1877 to 2005 University Press of America 2008 p3 Jones David A 2012 From Slave to State Legislator John WE Thomas Illinois First African American Lawmaker SIU Press pp 158 163 Special Announcement Broad Ax Chicago Illinois Saturday August 3 1918 Page 3 University of Kentucky Libraries Notable Kentucky African Americans Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George French Ecton amp oldid 1184362662, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
