John Adams Hyman
Encyclopedia
John Adams Hyman was a Republican U.S. Congressman
from North Carolina
from 1875 to 1877.
Born a slave
near Warrenton, North Carolina
, Hyman was sold to a new master in Alabama
in 1861 after it was discovered that he was attempting to educate himself. In twenty-five years as a slave, Hyman was sold at least eight times.
After the American Civil War
and the emancipation of southern slaves, Hyman returned to North Carolina
in 1865 and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
He pursued elementary studies and was a delegate to the State equal rights convention in 1865 and to the State constitutional convention in 1868. Hyman was elected to the North Carolina Senate
, where he served from 1868 to 1874. In 1874, he was elected as a Republican to the 44th United States Congress
and served for one term (March 4, 1875–March 3, 1877).
After unsuccessfully running for renomination to Congress in 1876, Hyman returned to agricultural pursuits. He was special deputy collector of internal revenue for the fourth district of North Carolina from July 1, 1877 to June 30, 1878. Hyman moved to Washington, D.C.
after he was accused of misappropriating church funds and faced the disapproval of fellow church members over his operation of a liquor store. He worked for the United States Postal Service
and for the United States Department of Agriculture
in Washington, where he died on September 14, 1891. Hyman, who left a wife and four children, is buried in Harmony Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1875 to 1877.
Born a slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
near Warrenton, North Carolina
Warrenton, North Carolina
Warrenton is a town in Warren County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 811 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1779, it is the county seat of Warren County. It is home to one of the campuses of Vance-Granville Community College....
, Hyman was sold to a new master in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
in 1861 after it was discovered that he was attempting to educate himself. In twenty-five years as a slave, Hyman was sold at least eight times.
After the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and the emancipation of southern slaves, Hyman returned to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in 1865 and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
He pursued elementary studies and was a delegate to the State equal rights convention in 1865 and to the State constitutional convention in 1868. Hyman was elected to the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
, where he served from 1868 to 1874. In 1874, he was elected as a Republican to the 44th United States Congress
44th United States Congress
The Forty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1875 to March 4, 1877, during the seventh and...
and served for one term (March 4, 1875–March 3, 1877).
After unsuccessfully running for renomination to Congress in 1876, Hyman returned to agricultural pursuits. He was special deputy collector of internal revenue for the fourth district of North Carolina from July 1, 1877 to June 30, 1878. Hyman moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
after he was accused of misappropriating church funds and faced the disapproval of fellow church members over his operation of a liquor store. He worked for the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
and for the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
in Washington, where he died on September 14, 1891. Hyman, who left a wife and four children, is buried in Harmony Cemetery.