1st and 52nd
Congresses. His last public office was that of Recorder of Deeds of
the District of Columbia.--_Biographical Congressional Directory_, p.
450.

[16] George Washington Murray was born of slave parents, September 22,
1853, near Rembert, Sumter County, South Carolina. At the age of
eleven years, he found himself free, bereft of parents, completely
dependent upon his own resources. His early life, therefore, was one
of great trials and sacrifices. Possessed, however, of a determination
to live and learn, young Murray availed himself of every opportunity
to improve his meagre stock of knowledge. So well did he succeed that
his first day in school was spent as teacher rather than student. In
later life, he acquired a good education, entered into the service of
the public schools of his county and was finally elected to the 53rd
Congress. Mr. Murray was elected also to the 54th, but secured his
seat only after a successful contest with a leading Democrat of his
State.--_Biographical Congressional Directory_, pp. 711-712.

[17] John Mercer Langston was born in Louisa County, Virginia,
December 14, 1829. He distinguished himself as an educator and won
many honors in his field. Mr. Langston served also in many civic and
political offices prior to his election to the 51st Congress. Due to
the contest he was forced to make for his seat, Mr. Langston served
actually a very short time in Congress. He died in Washington, D. C.,
November 15, 1897.--_Biographical Congressional Directory_, p. 643.

[18] Robert Brown Elliott was born in Boston, Massachusetts, August
11, 1842. He was educated in England, and upon his return to the
United States entered into the politics of the State of South
Carolina. Mr. Elliott was elected to the 42nd Congress and resigned
before the term had expired; he was re-elected to the 43rd
Congress and again resigned, this time to accept the office of
sheriff.--_Biographical Congressional Directory_, p. 517.

[19] James T. Rapier was born at Florence, Alabama, in 1840. He was
sent to Canada to be educated, and while there was given the
opportunity to recite before the late King Edward VII, then Prince of
Wales, who was at that time visiting the United States and Canada.
Prior to his election to Congress, Mr. Rapier held several local
offices in Alabama and also aspired to become Secretary-of-State. In
this contest he was defeated by one Nicholas Davis, a white man. Mr.
Rapier was a partisan in t