Frank Settle Hargrave (1874–1942) was an American physician and

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

politician who served nine terms in the New Jersey General Assembly representing

Essex County, New Jersey Essex County is located in the northeastern part of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was 863,728, making it the state's second-most populous county, behind Bergen and Middlesex Counties.

. He was among the first African Americans to serve in the

New Jersey Legislature The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the ...

Early life

He was born in

Lexington, North Carolina Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 18,931. It is located in central North Carolina, south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, I-85B, U ...

, in 1874 and attended public schools there. He was a graduate of

Shaw University Shaw University is a private Baptist historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. Founded on December 1, 1865, Shaw University is the oldest HBCU to begin offering courses in ...

and Leonard School of Medicine. He moved to Orange, New Jersey in 1924 and established a medical and surgical practice there. He served as president of the

National Medical Association The National Medical Association (NMA) is the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the United States. The NMA is a 501(c)(3) national professional and scientific organization repr ...

, the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the United States.

Political career

Hargrave was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1929 and was re-elected in 1930. He was defeated for re-election in 1931. He was again elected in 1933, but lost re-election in 1934. He won his seat back in 1935, but lost again in 1936. He was elected to a fourth tenure in the State Assembly in 1937, and was re-elected in 1938, 1939, 1940 and 1941. He died in office on March 11, 1942 at age 60.

Family

In 1907, he married Bessie Parker of

Wilson, South Carolina Wilson, formerly Wilson's Mill, is an unincorporated community in Clarendon County, South Carolina United States. The community is located along U.S. Route 521 between Manning and Greeleyville, South Carolina. Wilson formerly had its own post of ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hargrave, Frank People from Lexington, North Carolina Politicians from Orange, New Jersey Shaw University alumni Republican Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly 1874 births 1942 deaths African-American men in politics 20th-century African-American physicians 20th-century American physicians 20th-century African-American politicians 20th-century American legislators 20th-century New Jersey politicians