Isaac H. Anderson

Isaac H. Anderson
Born1834
Fort Valley, Georgia
Died1906
Occupation(s)Businessman, grocer, politician, publisher, and religious leader

Isaac Harold Anderson (1834 – 1906) was a slave owned by his father who became a wealthy businessman, grocer,[1] politician, publisher, and religious leader in the African American community in the U.S. state of Georgia.[2] He was born in Fort Valley, Georgia. He was married twice. His second wife was Louise Byrd Anderson.[3]

Anderson was elected to the state senate, but as a registrar he was deemed ineligible. Other legislators with African American heritage were kicked out of the Georgia Assembly after the 1868 election (Original 33) before a court ruling reversed the decision in 1870. Anderson was also a founding member and leader in the CME church and helped support the establishment of Lane College where he served as Vice President.[citation needed]

He published the Christian Index for the C.M.E. out of his Anderson Building.[4] In 1960, the Anderson Building was used to organize sit ins by Lane College students at segregated Woolworths and McLellans lunch counters.[citation needed] Anderson Chapel in Holly Springs, Mississippi is named for him.

  1. ^ "The West Tennessee Historical Society Papers". West Tennessee Historical Society. September 11, 1981 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Reidy, Joseph P. (November 9, 2000). From Slavery to Agrarian Capitalism in the Cotton Plantation South: Central Georgia, 1800-1880. Univ of North Carolina Press. ISBN 9780807864067 – via page 204.
  3. ^ Harvard College Class of 1911 (September 11, 2018). "Harvard College Class of 1911 Decennial Report". Four Seas Company – via Google Books.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ McBride, Calvin (August 1, 2007). Walking Into a New Spirituality: Chronicling the Life, Ministry and Contributions of Elder Robert E. Hart. iUniverse. ISBN 9780595462575 – via Google Books.