Minorities in the Arkansas State Senate Before 1900

Senator George W. Bell

– Arkansas Senate: 1891-1894, represented District 17 (Desha and Chicot counties)

Bell was the only Black man serving in the 1891 and 1893 Arkansas Senate. He was also the last Black man to serve in the Arkansas Senate until 1973, when Senator Jerry D. Jewell was elected. Many historians believe that Senator Bell was a formerly enslaved person.

Senator W. H. Logan

– Arkansas Senate: 1889-1890, represented District 15 (included parts of Chicot and Desha counties)

Logan was born in Ohio between 1850 and 1855. He served only one term in the senate during the 27th General Assembly from 1889 to 1890. He introduced three bills, but only one was signed into law.

Senator Anthony Stanford

– Arkansas Senate: 1877-1880, representing District 14 (parts of Lee and Phillips counties)

Stanford was born in New Jersey in 1830. Since he was born in the northern states, he was a free man and remained that way to his death. Stanford served in the 21st General Assembly in 1877 and the 22nd General Assembly in 1879.

Senator William H. Grey