Miles Connor

Miles Connor (born c. 1830s, died June 28, 1893) was an African-American politician, farmer, minister, and former slave.[1][2] He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1875 to 1877.[3][4][5][6]

Miles Connor
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
1875–1877
Personal details
Born1830s
Norfolk County, Virginia, U.S.
DiedJune 28, 1893
Political partyRepublican

Early life and family

Connor was born into slavery in the 1830s in Norfolk County.[1] He became free after emancipation.[4]

He was married twice and had fourteen children. One of his sons, Miles Washington Connor, became the first president of Coppin State University.[7][8]

Career

Connor was an active community member in the Western Branch section of Norfolk County (now the city of Chesapeake). He quickly became involved in civil affairs, becoming elected as justice of the peace in 1870 and as a county supervisor in 1874. During this period, Connor also began farming oysters.[4]

From 1875 to 1877, Connor was an elected member of the Virginia House of Delegates.[3][6][9] He did not seek re-election in 1877.[4]

Connor was one of the founders of the Churchland Grove Baptist Church in Norfolk County, and also served as a minister of the congregation.[1][4]

After serving in the House of Delegates, Connor again served as the justice of the peace for the Western Branch area of Norfolk County.[4]

Death

Connor died on June 28, 1893, due to complications associated with asthma.[1][4]

See also

References
  1. Jackson, Luther Porter (1945). Negro Office-holders in Virginia, 1865-1895. Guide Quality Press. ISBN 978-0-598-58026-9.
  2. "Virginia's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission". mlkcommission.dls.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  3. "African American Legislators in Virginia (1867–1899)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  4. Persinger, Silver. "Miles Connor (d. 1893)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  5. Parramore, Thomas C.; Stewart, Peter C.; Bogger, Tommy (2000-01-29). Norfolk: The First Four Centuries. University of Virginia Press. ISBN 978-0-8139-1988-1.
  6. "House History". history.house.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  7. Gavins, Raymond (1977). The Perils and Prospects of Southern Black Leadership: Gordon Blaine Hancock, 1884-1970. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-0381-7.
  8. Who's Who in Colored America. Who's Who in Colored America Corporation. 1942.
  9. Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Commonwealth of Virginia. 1876.
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