WALTER P. HALL.
I met Mr. Walter P. Hall for the first time in 1892, when giving my
first course of Illustrated Lectures on "Race Progress" in Philadelphia.
It seems that our subject never spent more than one year in school, on
account of his father's death. He had to help support his mother, and
other members of the family. From the age of seven years to sixteen
he worked very hard, and was his mother's main support. When he had
arrived at the age of sixteen, our country was then engaged in the
great civil war. Mr. Hall's love for his race, his patriotism and love
for our country prompted him to enlist as a soldier in the 24th United
States Regiment. At the close of the war he returned to Philadelphia,
where he secured work and assumed the responsibility of supporting
his mother, sister and younger brother. In 1871 he was employed by
Mr. Oscar Robbins in the old Fifth Street Market. His employer was
the largest poultry and game dealer in Philadelphia. Mr. Hall held
his position for over ten years. In a short while after leaving Mr.
Robbins, he started in business for himself. Having but little money,
and a great deal of opposition to contend with, it was for a while an
awful struggle, so much so, that he frankly admits, that had it not
been for his noble and loving wife he would on several occasions have
given up. True merit will always win in the end, and this proved true
in his case; for to-day, Mr. Hall has one of the largest wholesale and
retail poultry and game stalls in the 12th Street Market. He employs
four men, paying each of them the same salary he received when on a
salary himself.
[Illustration: WALTER P. HALL, PHILADELPHIA.]
One need only see how well his home is managed and kept, to fully
realize that it is a happy home. You also behold the power and
usefulness of a true and loving wife. In addition to his regular
business he finds time to do great good in church-work as a class
leader. He has filled that position for seventeen years, and has been a
trustee for fifteen years, and a Sunday-school teacher for five years,
having a large class of young men in whom he feels great interest. His
class he had to give up on account of being elected as Sunday-school
Superintendent. Then to add to his church-work he has been made
president of the Southeast Branch of the Y. M. C. A. For seven years
Mr. Hall has been the president of the Pioneer Building and Loan
Association of Philadelphia, which stands second to none of its kind in
the country. Many poor people have this association to thank for the
homes they live in to-day.
I think our readers need not be told that Mr. Hall is a busy man.
Rev. John M. Palmer, his pastor, says, "Few men so prosperous in
business, so comfortable in possession of this world's goods, show such
ardent devotion for church-work and active participation in all its
varied forms, as does Mr. Walter Hall, at the same time meeting the
requirements of the several positions which he holds. As class leader,
trustee, steward, and Sunday-school superintendent, he is always on
hand. Among the members of his class none are so poor but that he will
hunt them up when sick, to offer with them a word of prayer, and very
often giving them financial aid. One old member said, before passing
away, 'How he has helped me! God will bless him!'"
S. L. PARKER.
[Illustration: S. L. PARKER, LAUREL, DEL.]
Mr. S. L. Parker, whose picture I give here, belongs to that class of
men who are able to not only do what they have seen others do, but able
to create something out of almost nothing. Mr. Parker, when a mere
boy, began business for himself in the town of Laurel, Delaware, in
the month of May, 1885, with a stock of $19.50 worth of goods, bought
on credit of a friend. At that time for a colored man to attempt to
sell anything in Laurel, except gingerbread on the street corners, or
fish on the street, was looked upon with no little curiosity, for,
while Delaware is practically a Northern State, I was surprised to see
what a great amount of race prejudice existed in it. At first, Mr.
Parker was regarded as a lazy fellow, trying to get his living without
hard work. But we are glad to note that he was fairly well patronized
from the beginning of his business career. On account of his lack of
business knowledge he met with several reverses during his first three
years' experience; but, by constant efforts on his part, he gradually
gained a footing that is regarded by even his opposers as firm and
secure. So great has been his progress that last year his business
amounted to over $10,000. He now conducts a general grocery store,
manufactures ice cream for both wholesale and retail, having over
$1,300 worth of machinery for that use. He has two ice cream parlors,
which are well patronized by the very best people in the town, without
any discrimination whatever. He also handles the ice business of the
place, running two delivery wagons. He has packed this year 1,000 tons
of ice for his next season's trade. In addition to his business already
mentioned, Mr. Parker, during the season, ships large amounts of fruit
and produce. I am glad to add to what has been said of our subject, I
found, while in the town, that he had the respect and esteem of the
very best people.
H. A. TANDY.
H. A. Tandy is a successful contractor and builder of brick buildings.
Some of the largest brick structures in Lexington, Ky., where he
resides, have been built by him. Mr. Tandy has a partner whose name is
Bird. These very successful contractors have in addition to many other
large buildings been awarded the brick-work on the new court house that
is now in progress of building in the fall of 1898. The court house
is to be one of the finest and largest in the United States. Several
million bricks will be used to complete their part of the work. There
were many other bids put in for this work by contractors from all over
the State, and some from other States. The fact that the firm of Tandy
& Bird got the contract shows in what high esteem they are held by the
public in a business way. In order that my readers may fully appreciate
the importance of Mr. Tandy's work there are a few things that must
be considered. First, one must take into account the extreme and
uncalled-for prejudice against the colored man in a business way, both
North and South. Then all of the labor unions have refused to admit
colored members. That in itself would have much to do in discouraging
any colored man to try to compete with white men as contractors and
builders. Then, too, a colored man would find it harder to secure
skilled mechanics to help him complete the work after he had obtained
the contract. But all of the things referred to that would hinder a
colored man has been overcome by Mr. Tandy. He is a first-class workman
in his line, and by doing business in a straightforward manner he has
made men recognize his true worth as a man, regardless of color.
[Illustration: H. A. TANDY.]
Mr. Tandy has made himself both helpful and useful to his race, not
only by giving employment to many of them, but he has taken an active
part in church and Sunday-school work in the A. M. E. Church. He has
also been active in the Masonic Order, and is serving his second term
as State Grand Master of the Order known as U. B. F. and S. M. T. Mr.
Tandy is also connected with the Colored Fair Association of Lexington,
which is the largest thing of its kind in the world carried on by
colored people.
DANIEL PURDY.
[Illustration: DANIEL PURDY, CHESTER, PA.]
Mr. Daniel Purdy, of Chester, Pa., is another of the men I regard as
being worthy of special mention. He was born a slave, left Virginia
when a small boy in 1864, was brought to Washington, D. C., and was
bound out until he was eighteen years of age, with the understanding
that he was to have three months of schooling each year, and when he
arrived at his eighteenth year, was to have $100. But none of these
conditions were fulfilled by those who had taken the boy to raise.
So that at eighteen he found himself without education and without
money. From the time Mr. Purdy was eighteen years of age until he was
twenty, he worked at whatever he could find in the State of Maryland.
He then came to Chester, his present home. His first wages in Chester
were about $1.00 per day, but by close application to his work, he so
gained the confidence of his employers that they advanced his salary
from time to time until he received $18 per week, which was regarded
as very large pay for a colored man. In 1886, Mr. Purdy, after working
in the iron mills for several years, had saved quite a sum of money,
and decided to go into business for himself. He has built up a large
grocery trade and owns the building in which his store is situated,
also his residence. It is a fine brick structure on the corner of
two prominent streets. In addition to his grocery store he does a
general contracting business, employing during the summer months about
twenty-five men, owns six horses, and keeps two clerks employed in the
store. He tells me that the principal part of his trade is among the
white people. I did not press him as to what he is really worth, but
he said I could safely say $15,000, and that he does a business of from
$20,000 to $25,000 per year. Who will say that Mr. Purdy should not be
classed among the successful business men, both white and colored, and
especially when we take into consideration the fact that all of his
success has been accomplished without education or business experience.
I only wish some of our white college graduates would do as well.
DR. W. T. DINWIDDIE.
[Illustration: DR. W. T. DINWIDDIE.]
Dr. W. T. Dinwiddie, a young man who is engaged in the practice of
dentistry at Lexington, Ky., is a credit to the race. He is a native
of Danville, Ky., where he attended the public schools of that city,
afterwards taking a two years' course in the Knoxville College at
Knoxville, Tenn. Dr. Dinwiddie first learned the carpenter's trade,
and was regarded as a very fine workman; but, having a natural desire
to practice dentistry, he decided to enter Meharry Medical and Dental
College at Nashville, Tenn., and fit himself for the practice of
that profession. After a three years' course he graduated with high
honors, and was called by the President and Faculty of Meharry Dental
College to accept a professorship; and he took the chair of Prosthetic
Dentistry, which position he held with both success and honor, until
he resigned to enter into the practice of his profession at Lexington,
Ky., where he has by his most excellent workmanship and genial manners
built up a very large practice.
JAMES E. DIXON.
[Illustration: J. E. DIXON.]
Mr. James E. Dixon, of Providence, R. I., belongs to that class of
men who are helpful to my book in enabling me to demonstrate that the
colored people are entering all the professions and business walks of
life in which white men enter and succeed.
Mr. Dixon went to the North from Richmond, Va. Having lost both his
parents at a very early age, it left him to look after himself, just
at the time when a loving mother is most needed. What he has in the
way of an education was obtained at New Bedford, Mass. But having a
desire to travel, he accepted an offer to go to sea, which vocation
he followed for a number of years, rounding the globe at least seven
times, visiting one or more parts of every continent, inclusive of
Australia, New Zealand and a number of Islands in both the Pacific
and Atlantic Oceans. Finding it to his advantage, he hailed from an
English port, and stuck to the English Merchant Service. He secured
a mate's certificate, and worked himself up to a position as chief
officer of one of the finest sailing ships under the English flag. But
by an unfortunate accident in Calcutta, July 4, 1884, he lost his right
arm. He then returned to New Bedford, Mass., and after a hard struggle
against big odds, mastered telegraphy. The Western Union Telegraph Co.,
in recognition of his services in their main office, appointed him on
June 11, 1889, as manager of their branch office at the Parker House,
New Bedford, which place he held until he resigned June 3, 1893, to
take charge of his present position at Signal Tower on the main line of
the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail Road, at Providence, R. I.
Some idea of his work and responsibilities is given in this statement.
In 1894, 34,284 trains passed this point, and the number is never under
this. The operator has to know and report the exact condition of every
train. In addition he has to give a signal to each train whether or not
it is all right to go ahead. The position held by Mr. Dixon is indeed
one of great responsibility, and should he fail to discharge his whole
duty in giving each train the proper signal, great loss of life and
property would result. So well has the company been pleased with his
work, that they offer employment to other members of the race when they
can show that they are properly fitted for duty.
PHILIP J. ALLSTON.
Mr. Philip J. Allston, of Boston, Mass., is holding what I consider
a very unique position. After leaving the public school of Boston he
accepted a position in the firm of Weeks & Potter, wholesale and retail
druggists and chemists of that city. He was first employed as a bottle
washer in 1878, but had not been in the establishment very long when he
had learned the business of manufacturing the famous articles sold by
that firm.
[Illustration: PHILIP J. ALLSTON.]
Mr. Warren B. Potter, of the firm, took great interest in Mr. Allston,
and when a vacancy occurred in the laboratory he asked him if he
would like to enter the laboratory. He said he would. After a year
the chemist went on a vacation, leaving Mr. Allston in full charge of
the laboratory. Mr. Potter being impressed with his work, asked him
if he could take charge of the new laboratory erected at 135 and 137
Columbus avenue. He said: "Give me a trial." In 1882 he took charge of
the laboratory with one man assistant. During this time he attended the
Star School for drawing, and the English Evening High School, receiving
instructions in the advanced branches. In 1889 Mr. Potter allowed him
to take a course in Analytical, General and Qualitative Chemistry,
as well as Practical Pharmacy, which he followed until Mr. Potter's
death, in 1892. The laboratory is, without dispute, the finest in New
England, ($10,000) ten thousand dollars being laid out in the summer of
1895 for repairs. Many appliances and improvements at Mr. Allston's
suggestion has been added, and many new devices for facilitating the
work. He has now five men under him, all members of his race, and all
receiving twice the amount in wages he received when he began work for
the company. He is well known among the pharmacists of Boston. In 1895,
a personal letter from Prof. Capen, of Tufts College, presented him
to every druggist in the city, he being a member of the committee on
finance which raised over ($23,000) twenty-three thousand dollars for
the Christian Endeavor fund.
In 1892 he married Miss Maggie A. Whiting, formerly of Virginia.
He has always been an active member of the A. M. E. Zion Church,
having held the following positions: Teacher in the Sunday school;
president of Clinton Literary Association; conductor of choir;
assistant superintendent; superintendent, and now a member of the Board
of Trustees. He is a member of the Suffolk Investment Association,
secretary of the Wendell Phillips Club and secretary of the Crispus
Attucks Club.
He has had many offers to fill other laboratories, but declined them,
as well as inducements to fill positions in the South.
DR. JARED CAREY.
Dr. Jared Carey, Chiropodist and Manicure, is a very interesting
character. My attention was called to him while lecturing in
Cincinnati. He is a native of North Carolina, but left his native State
before the war, coming to Ohio with some Quakers and free colored
people. In his early life he worked on a farm and engaged in all kinds
of hard work, and many a month got as pay only $6.00, which in those
days was considered large wages for a farm hand.
[Illustration: DR. JARED CAREY.]
Dr. Carey had a great desire to travel and took up the profession of
Chiropody in order that he might better his own condition and in his
profession visit some of the larger cities, which he did in both
the United States and Canada. I do not find many colored men engaged
as Chiropodists, and none that I have met are as well prepared to do
the work as Dr. Carey. He has several rooms handsomely fitted up for
his work at 43 Arcade, up-stairs, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Carey gives
employment to at least six people all the time. His patrons are among
the best people in Cincinnati. In addition to his regular work he
has written a book on Chiropody and Manicure. For quite a number of
years he has, in connection with his profession, conducted a school
of Chiropody, and quite a number of his pupils are engaged in their
profession in other large cities. Dr. Carey is assisted in his work by
his wife, who is quite an expert at both Chiropody and Manicure. She
is a very refined and pleasant lady, who is much thought of by their
patrons. Dr. Carey has by good management been able to purchase some
valuable property. He has been an active and useful member of the M. E.
Church. Any young person, either lady or gentleman, desiring to learn
Chiropody or Manicure would do well to write Dr. J. Carey at 43 Arcade,
Cincinnati, for full particulars as to terms. I am confident that in
most any large town a good Chiropodist could do well, and I should like
to see more of the colored people thus engaged.