Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Note	Counties in District
H	37	Feb 19, 1879 - Jan 11, 1881	16th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾	Republican	Hempstead / Waller		Fort Bend, Waller, Wharton
H	13	Jan 13, 1874 - Apr 18, 1876	14th ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾	Republican	Hempstead / Waller		Austin, Fort Bend, Wharton

(1) Jacob E. Freeman, in election contest 2/19/1879, sworn the same day, unseated Isaac N. Dennis. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(2) Republican. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80, 1879.
(3) Hempstead, Waller County. Directory of the Members and Officers of the Fourteenth Legislature of the State of Texas . . ., 1874.
(4) Republican. Directory of the Members and Officers of the Fourteenth Legislature of the State of Texas . . ., 1874.

Biographical Notes and Resources top

Resolutions and Journal entries

79th Legislature, R.S., HR 589, paying tribute to African American legislators and constitutional convention delegates of 1868-1900. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
81st Legislature, R.S., HCR 81, paying tribute to African American legislators and constitutional convention delegates. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
85th Legislature, R.S., HR 452, celebrating Black History Month and honoring the leadership and vision of African American lawmakers. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
88th Legislature, R.S., SCR 13, Recognizing the Texas Black Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act. SB 667, Texas Black Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary. SB 667 SCR 13
88th Legislature, R.S., SCR 13, Recognizing the Texas Black Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act. SB 667, Texas Black Reconstruction Legislators Recognition Act. Resolutions - Legislative Policy. SB 667 SCR 13

Biographical Sketches

Portrait and biographical sketch, Jacob E. (J.E.) Freeman (Freman). Born Alabama, ca. 1841, died date, place unknown. Forever Free: Nineteenth Century African-American Legislators and Constitutional Convention Delegates of Texas, 2002.
FREEMAN, JACOB E. (ca.1841-unknown). Handbook of Texas Online.
Biographical sketch, p. 262. Born in 1831. Roster lists age as 43. Texas Legislative Manual, 1879-80, 1879.
Biographical sketch, p. 43. Birth year 1841, death year 1900, Appendix D. Through Many Dangers, Toils, and Snares: Black Leadership in Texas, 1868-1898, 2016.

Other Resources

Mentioned in Chapter VI, "Black Belt Politics." The Negro in Texas, 1874-1900, 1971.
Discussion of contest for the seat of the member from Wharton, "Afternoon Session," The Galveston Daily News, 2/19/1879, p. 1, crediting the Abilene Library Consortium. "Mr. Freeman, whose name is Jacob Esan Freeman . . . J.N. Dennis received more votes than were cast for any one of the several Freemans voted for, and the certificate was issued to him." Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
Biographical sketch, historical marker. Jacob E. Freeman. Texas Historic Sites Atlas (Texas Historical Commission).

Photographs

Photograph. Jacob Freeman, 14th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Jacob E. (J.E.) Freeman, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

14th session composite photo of Senate and House members (Ground floor elevator vestibule, east wall. GW.V3). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

14th R.S. - 1874
Military Affairs
Penitentiary

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