William Nesbit (activist)

In this capacity, he successfully lobbied US Congress with congressional allies Charles Sumner, William Kelley and Thaddeus Stevens into passing the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868.

[1] He organized a number of National Colored Conventions in Washington, D.C. to rally against "partial or total exclusion of colored citizens of the elective franchise and other citizen rights, in so many States of the Union.

[4] Nesbit's grandson, Sergeant William C. Nesbit of the 24th Infantry Regiment (United States), participated in the Houston riot of 1917 precipitated by Jim Crow laws and clashes between the Houston, Texas police and the all-black regiment.

William Nesbit, one of the most prominent colored men of the county, died at his home in Altoona Saturday morning.

He was a man of strong character and the influence of his good judgment extended beyond the ranks of his own people.

"The National Colored Convention in Session at Washington, DC." Harper's Weekly (February 6, 1869)
William Nesbit's son, Charles H. Nesbit of Altoona, Pennsylvania, and his family. Grandson William C. Nesbit is on the top right.