Alexander R. François

Alexander R. François
Louisiana State Senate
In office 1868–1869
Personal details
Born	c. 1820
Died	May 21, 1869(1869-05-21) (aged 48–49)

Alexander R. François (c. 1820 - May 21, 1869) was a state legislator who served in the Louisiana State Senate during the Reconstruction era from 1868 until his murder in 1869.[1]

Career

François was born in about 1820 in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana.[1] He worked as a planter, butcher and merchant and worked for the New Orleans Tribune.[1]

He was elected to serve in the Louisiana State Senate in 1868 as a Radical,[2][3] and he served until his death in 1869.[1]

He was murdered by two white men who remained unpunished for the crime.[1] He was beaten for a long time with clubs in his own store in St. Marin and left to die.[4] He was taken to New Orleans where he sued the sheriff of St. Martin and his brothers and a nephew for assault and battery.[5] He died of lockjaw in immense pain on May 21, 1869.[4]

He funeral was attended by Governor Henry C. Warmoth as well as many other office holders including members of the senate and house.[6] He had a catholic service performed at the Augustine Church in New Orleans by Father Joubert and was buried in the St. Louis cemetery.[6]

He was one of two senators from the 1868-1870 legislative session to die in 1869, the other being John Randall.[7]

François had a son Alexander R. François Jr. born 1842/3 who was a justice of the peace in Saint Martin Parish until he fled following his father's murder.[1]

See also

• African American officeholders from the end of the Civil War until before 1900

References

1. Foner, Eric (1 August 1996). Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction. LSU Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-8071-2082-8. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
2. "Radical Senators". The Weekly Iberville South. 9 May 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
3. "William Henderson was Republican representative from Madison Parish". New Orleans Republican. 27 June 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
4. "Death of Senator Francois". New Orleans Republican. 23 May 1869. p. 4. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
5. "Alex. R. Francois legal action". The Times-Picayune. 8 May 1869. p. 4. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
6. "Funeral of Senator Francois". New Orleans Republican. 23 May 1869. p. 1. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
7. Jones, Howard J. (1978). "Biographical Sketches of Members of the 1868 Louisiana State Senate". Louisiana History: The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association. 19 (1): 75. ISSN 0024-6816. JSTOR 4231757. Retrieved 30 October 2022.