Cleveland (Oh.) Gazette, 19 July 1884.
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See here for more about Daniel C. Suggs‘ nomination to West Point. Though he did not pass his entrance examination, his long, successful career bore witness to his exceptional talent.
West Point
Nominated to West Point.
In 1883, Congressman James E. O’Hara of North Carolina’s Second District nominated Daniel Cato Sugg of Wilson to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point in June 1884. However, Suggs, a student at Lincoln University, failed the entrance examinations in arithmetic, geography and history. In fact, the only African-American to gain entry to West Point that year was Charles Young.
U.S. Military and Naval Academies, Cadet Records and Applications, 1800-1908 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com; Brian Shellum, Black Cadet in a White Bastion: Charles Young at West Point (2006), page 36.
Candidates for cadetship.
Charlotte Home-Democrat, 13 June 1884.
Daniel C. Sugg?!?!
Daniel Cato Sugg (or Suggs) (1866-1936) was the son of George Washington Suggs and Esther Suggs. His sister Serena Suggs Moore was featured here.
Here’s the family in the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Washington Suggs, 42, brickmason, with children Sarena, 8, Mary, 2, Decatur [Daniel Cato], 6, plus farm laborer Richard Harper, 17. Wife Esther was apparently overlooked.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: brickmason Washington Sugg, 51, wife Esther, 38, and children Nicy, 21, Sarena, 17, Cator, 16, Molly, 12, Edmonia, 10, Juda, 5, and James, 3.
According to Krewasky A. Salter’s The Story of Black Military Officers 1861-1948, Daniel was not admitted. Federal records promise to reveal more, and I’m hunting them down. Stay tuned.
