African-American Frank Thompson Appointed a Special Policeman of the Stewart Springs Neighborhood of West Florence in March of 1896.

Title

Subject

The Law, Crime and Punishment

Description

A Thursday, March 5, 1896 Florence Herald and Saturday, March 7, Florence Times report that African-American Frank Thompson had recently been appointed by the Florence City Council as a "special policeman" of the African-American Stewart Springs neighborhood, albeit without a salary, "except on convictions."

Nothing is known of Frank Thompson. Attempts to locate him have been problematic. In the 1880 Lauderdale County census a 13 year-old Frank Thompson was enumerated, one of 6 children, in the house of 30 year-old Charity Thompson, who was listed as "single."

This is the only Frank Thompson we have found whose age matches the probable age of the Frank Thompson above.

By 1900, a 27 year-old widowed Ellen Thompson was enumerated at Stewart Springs with a 5 year-old son named Frank. If this is Frank Thompson's widow and son it means the Frank Thompson who was appointed special policeman in 1896 died sometime between March of 1896 and June 16, 1900, the day that census was taken. No death or burial records have been located as of yet.

Stewart Springs was the name of the old Dr. James Stewart plantation, near Wildwood Park in West Florence, which after the Civil War became a predominantly black residential neighborhood.

Source

1. Florence Herald

2. Florence Times

Publisher

1. Newspapers.com

2. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division

Date

1. 1896-03-05

2. 1896-03-07

Rights

Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

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Jpeg

Language

English

Type

Still Image

Files

Collection

The Law, Crime and Punishment

Citation

“African-American Frank Thompson Appointed a Special Policeman of the Stewart Springs Neighborhood of West Florence in March of 1896.,” Shoals Black History, accessed May 3, 2024, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1229.

African-American Frank Thompson Appointed a Special Policeman of the Stewart Springs Neighborhood of West Florence in March of 1896.

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