Some Negro Members of the Tennessee Legislature during Reconstruction Period and After[29]
By Honorable J. C. Napier, of Nashville, Tenn., register of United States Treasury, May, 1917
| Year | Name | County |
| 1871-73 | Sampson W. Keeble | Davidson |
| 1877-79 | Thos. A. Sykes? | Davidson |
| 1879-81 | S.A. McElwee? | Haywood |
| 1881-83 | T. Frank Cassells | Shelby |
| J.F. Norris | Shelby | |
| Thos. A. Sykes? | Davidson | |
| S.A. McElwee? | Haywood | |
| 1883-85 | J.W. Boyd | Weakley |
| S.A. McElwee | Haywood | |
| D.F. Rivers | Fayette | |
| 1885-87 | G.E. Evans | Shelby |
| W.A. Fields | Shelby | |
| W.C. Hodge | Shelby | |
| S.A. McElwee | Haywood | |
| D.F. Rivers[30] | Fayette | |
| 1887-89 | ||
| 1889-91 | —— Goodman | Fayette |
| 1891-93 | ||
| 1893-95 | ||
| 1895-97 | J. M. H. Graham | Montgomery |
Davidson county, Tennessee, sent two colored men to the Legislature. The first colored member of the Legislature was Sampson W. Keeble from 71-73. From 77-79 the colored member was Thomas A. Sykes. Both of these were representatives. Tennessee never had any colored senators. Sampson W. Keeble was a native of Tennessee. Thomas A. Sykes was a native of North Carolina and had been a member of the North Carolina legislature.[31]
Captain James H. Sumner, of Davidson County, was elected a door-keeper of the House of Representatives for 1867-69. He was afterwards appointed captain of a Militia Company which rendered the State valuable service in putting down the Ku-Klux. Later by act of the Legislature a committee was authorized for Nashville consisting of three persons to audit claims against the State for destruction of property by soldiers of the Confederates and Federal armies during the war. Governor Brownlow appointed on this commission James H. Sumner, a white man named Lassiter, and J.C. Napier. They examined claims amounting to millions of dollars, some of which were afterwards paid and others rejected. There were other colored men on such commissions in other parts of the state whose names I do not now recall.
Haywood county first sent Samuel A. McElwee. He served from 79-83. The same county afterwards sent Rev. D.F. Rivers who is now pastor of the Berean Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Rev. Rivers defeated the father of a very popular white girl and she met him in the street and spat in his face. McElwee made a very active member and was highly respected by all. He was a graduate of Fisk University and the law department of Walden University.
Weakley County sent John W. Boyd who served two or three terms in the legislature. He ran for the senate but was defeated.
Perhaps there was one from Hamilton county or Knox county.
Shelby county sent quite a delegation of colored men from time to time. Among them were T.F. Cassells and I.F. Norris, who is still living in North Dakota. Cassells was a lawyer, educated at Oberlin.