Representative Jere A. Brown portrait   Save
Ohio History Connection
Description: Photograph of Jere A. Brown (1841-1913), a Republican representative from Cuyahoga County who served in the Ohio House of Representatives during the 67th session (1886-1887) and 68th session (1888-1889) of the General Assembly. Born in Pennsylvania, Brown settled in Cleveland around 1870, and became the county's first African American political appointee when he was made bailiff. He later moved through the ranks of deputy sheriff, clerk for the County Board of Equalization and Assessment, and letter carrier before he ran for state representative, which he was elected in 1885. As a legislator, he worked in support of racial equality and civil rights, and against Ohio's "Black Laws." First enacted in 1803, these laws limited the freedom and rights of the state's African American residents. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P206_B04_Brown
Subjects: African American Ohioans; Ohio House of Representatives; Ohio--Politics and government; Elected officials; Civil rights
Places: Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)