Alfred Rush (died May 13, 1876) was a state representative in South Carolina during the Reconstruction era, serving two non-consecutive terms between 1868 and 1876.
Rush was one of four men who represented Darlington County, South Carolina, three of whom were African Americans and one was white.
Alfred Rush was born a slave of mixed-race heritage near Ebenezer, South Carolina to the Gee family.
Rush learned how to read and was often in Edmund's presence as he carried out the responsibilities of a lawyer and politician.
[2][3] That year, land was donated by George W. Pettigrew for the Savannah Grove Baptist Church, where he became a deacon.
[2][4] Rush was emancipated after the Civil War, but angry former Confederate soldiers and Democrats, led "a campaign of terror" in the post-war years.
During Reconstruction, voting was made legal for blacks, which gave them a numerical advantage.
He was shot in the heart with a gun and died instantly near Effingham in Florence County, South Carolina.
[1] A letter was written by Benjamin Franklin Whittemore and sent to South Carolina governor Daniel Henry Chamberlain calling on him to offer a reward and send investigators.
[4][5] The officials from Darlington County also said "this was a cold blooded murder and our people are very much excited over it."