John Cornelius Asbury (April 9, 1862 – September 8, 1941) was an American lawyer and state legislator in Pennsylvania.[1][2][3] A Republican, he served two terms in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in the 1920s and sponsored civil rights bills.
John Cornelius Asbury | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |
| In office 1921–1925 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 9, 1862 West Middletown, Washington County, Pennsylvania |
| Died | September 8, 1941 (aged 79) |
| Resting place | Eden Cemetery, Collingdale, Pennsylvania |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Washington & Jefferson College Howard University School of Law |
Formative years and family
editA brother of Isaac E. Asbury, John C. Asbury studied at Washington and Jefferson College[4] and received a law degree from Howard University in 1885.[1]
He married Kate E. Allen in 1886. After she died in 1898, he married Ida Elizabeth Bowser in 1901. Their son was David Bowser Asbury.[4][5]
Career
editEarly in his career, he served as a Commonwealth's Attorney (similar to District Attorney) in Norfolk County, Virginia from 1887 to 1891.[6] He later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he practiced law.
He was appointed to serve as assistant city solicitor in Philadelphia from 1916 to 1920. He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1921 to 1924.[6] He authored civil rights bills in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and founded Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania for African Americans.[1][7]
He did not run for a third term in 1924. From 1928 to 1932, he served as the assistant district attorney of Philadelphia. Then, he served as the deputy auditor general in the office of the Pennsylvania Auditor General from 1932 to 1937.[6]
He supported Downingtown Industrial School and Mercy Hospital.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Smucker, Janneken; Hardy, Charles (2014). "Political Capital". Goin' North. West Chester University.
- ^ "Negro Yearbook". Department of Records and Research, Tuskegee Institute. February 18, 1925 – via Google Books.
- ^ Smith, Eric Ledell. ""Asking for Justice and Fair Play": African American State Legislators and Civil Rights in Early Twentieth-Century Pennsylvania". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: 169–203 – via Pennsylvania State University.
- ^ a b c "John Cornelius Asbury". The Journal of Negro History. 26 (4): 550–551. October 1, 1941. doi:10.1086/JNHv26n4p550. S2CID 224842187 – via journals.uchicago.edu (Atypon).
- ^ "Ida Elizabeth (Bowser) Asbury". University Archives and Records Center. Penn Libraries, University of Pennsylvania.
- ^ a b c "John Cornelius Asbury". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "*John Cornelius Asbury - Asbury Equal Rights Bill". The Pittsburgh Courier. April 4, 1931. p. 10 – via newspapers.com.