New National Era clipping

HON. J. C. CESSOR, who represents Jefferson county. Mr. C. is a native of this State, of the county which he represents, and is nearly forty years of age. He was born a free man, but fared the worse for such a terrible event during the days of slavery! When a young man he removed from his native town to the city of Natchez, but the aristocratic slaveholders, who made that city their house to romp in luxury and debauchery, enforced what was called the contravential law - forbidding freemen to mingle or associate with slaves - upon Mr. Cessor, and compelled him to return to his native town. When a boy, he was apprenticed to the saddler's trade, which trade he thoroughly mastered, and is to-day one of the finest workmen in the State. After the close of the war, he figured conspicuously in politics, braving many dangers for his rights and the Republican party. In 1869 he was appointed marshal and member of the Board of Aldermen for the town of Rodney, in his county, by Gen. Ames. He held those positions for a year or more, when he resigned, and in 1870 was appointed on the Board of Supervisors by Gov. Alcorn. He held that position until 1871, when he was elected to the Legislature. Mr. Cessor is a man of very pleasant countenance, and, were it not for protracted sickness, to which he was lately subject, he would be a fine looking man. He has fully a three-fourths mixture of Anglo-Saxon blood running through his veins. He does not aim to be "one of the finest orators on the floor," but is a good worker in the committee rooms. He wields a healthy influence in his county, and is noted for his firmness and integrity.