PATENTS AND OTHER BUSINESS INTERESTS.
Among the colored people we find a few inventors whose patents are
being used throughout this country. Mr. E. McCoy, of Detroit, Mich.
invented the "Lubricator," and it is being used on nearly all the
railroad engines in the United States. A large factory has been built
in Detroit for the manufacture of the Lubricator. The late Mr. D. F.
Black, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., had invented several patents, and was
before his death engaged in manufacturing a cocoanut food, and, I
understand, met with fair success. Rev. J. B. Randolph, of Trenton, N.
J., has taken out a patent on an apparatus for heating and cooking,
claiming that at least one-half of the fuel now used in heating a house
can be saved by the use of his patent.
Mr. H. Creamer, of Brooklyn, N. Y., has invented an automatic steam
pump that seems to have made a good impression among those who have
tested it, for it is very highly spoken of.
I shall mention in this chapter a few colored men I have met who are
engaged in various lines of business. Mr. W. A. Hazel, of St. Paul,
Minn., is a decorator and designer. Some of the handsomest window glass
used for churches is designed by Mr. Hazel.
Mr. Jas. H. Matthews, of New York City, has built up a very large
business as an undertaker. His patrons are among all classes of people.
He has been an active member of the Undertakers' Association of the
State. In fact, he has held responsible positions in the association.
It is quite a common thing to find colored men engaged in large
business enterprises in the South, where the colored population is
large. There are, however, a few North who are engaged in business to
a greater or lesser degree. In Trenton, N. J., I met Mr. J. W. Rodman,
who has built a splendid brick building, in which he conducts a very
successful grocery business, and I am sure the largest trade he has is
among the white people.
At Evansville, Ind., I found Mr. John Neville and Mr. McWhorter. These
gentlemen were conducting a fine barber shop and a magnificent Turkish
bath-house. It is the only place of its kind I ever found operated by
colored men. That was in 1893, and I suppose they are still engaged in
the same work.
Providence, R. I., has a colored man by the name of Richard Grant
who was in his younger days a slave in North Carolina. He began life
in Providence as a common day-laborer. He now owns and controls the
street-sprinkling business of that city, having five wagons made for
that special work.
Hopkinsville, Ky., can boast of one, at least, very successful colored
merchant in Mr. Peter Postel, who was once a slave. He owns a very
large brick building where his business is conducted, besides houses he
has to rent. I am unable to say what his wealth is, but I am told that
he is quite a wealthy man. While he has been deprived of an education,
he has given his children every advantage along that line.
Mr. E. Watts, of South Chester, Pa., has by hard work and close
attention to his business built up a good trade in the grocery
business. His brother, Mr. John A. Watts, who has passed away, began in
Chester at hard work, and when he died owned a fine grocery store and
several houses.
At Boston, Mass., one of the most successful wig-makers is a colored
man who conducts what is known as Gilbert & Co.'s Wig Manufactory. He
owns the establishment he learned his trade in. His name is Gilbert
Harris.
The late Thomas H. Boling, of Philadelphia, Pa., operated quite a
wholesale and retail store where choice flour, soaps, starch, and a
general line of groceries were sold. In speaking of his success he
said: "When I started this business I did not have as many hundred
dollars as I can muster thousands now." And yet he did not try to
impress me with the fact that he was wealthy. But it is generally known
that Mr. Boling has been a very successful man.
JOSEPH H. DICKINSON.
[Illustration: J. H. DICKINSON.]
Joseph H. Dickinson was born June 22, 1855. He attended school in
Detroit, Mich. At the age of fifteen he enlisted in the United States
Revenue Service. At seventeen years he entered the employ of the
Clough & Warren Organ Co., where he now is, and in whose service some
of his best work has been accomplished. In 1880, he married Miss Eva
Gould, of Lexington, Mich., and two years after formed a partnership
with his father-in-law, known as the Dickinson-Gould Organ Co., for
the manufacture of parlor and chapel organs. This firm sent to the
New Orleans exhibition a large chapel organ as an exhibit showing the
progress of the colored people in manufacturing. Prior to this, for
the Centennial Exposition in 1876, Mr. Dickinson helped to construct
a large combination organ for the Clough & Warren Organ Co., which
received a diploma and medal. In 1886, Mr. Dickinson returned to the
employ of Clough & Warren and his chief work lies in superintending the
building of the higher grade of organs.
Mr. Dickinson is a practical workman of an inventive turn of mind,
a good draughtsman and designer, and an expert in all kinds of
organ-building. A few years ago he built and finished two organs for
the royal family of Portugal. A pipe organ built on new methods is one
of the products of the Clough & Warren Co., and is pushing its way
into many places. The Christian Church, St. Matthews P. E. Church,
and the Church of the Sacred Heart, all of Detroit, have organs
built on this method, that were designed by and constructed under
his superintendency. Last year, against the competition of Eastern
manufacturers, this company secured the contract for putting in a large
pipe organ for the Tabernacle Methodist Church, at Camden, N. J. The
case for the same was also subject to competition, and the design of
Mr. Dickinson was chosen in preference to that of Eastern designers and
architects.
The reed organs of Clough & Warren are celebrated and are largely made
so through the ideas and supervision of the subject of this sketch. He
is now engaged in perfecting a reed organ that possesses some of the
qualities and tones of a pipe organ--a tubular pneumatic action--that
bids fair to be very successful. An organ on this plan is being used
at the Sunday evening services at the Detroit Opera House.
Mr. Dickinson possesses good, strong, sterling characteristics.
TRADE UNION CORPORATION OF WINSTON-SALEM, N. C.
On May 3, 1897, a few persons, led by Rev. John T. Martin, joined
themselves together for the purpose of buying and selling groceries,
etc. About sixty dollars was collected and paid over to Rev. Martin,
who was made business manager.
A room belonging to the business manager was rented and the money
invested in goods. Thus was formed the foundation of the successful
organization known as the Trade Union.
In the fall a lot was purchased on the corner of Eighth and Lendon
streets, and a building 20 × 40 feet was erected thereon. The following
summer a great addition was made to this structure, and now the Trade
Union building contains an area of 3,200 square feet of floor space,
and is now the largest store building owned by colored people in the
city of Winston-Salem.
On January 9, 1899, a charter was granted by the Secretary of State,
and the Trade Union became a corporate body, with a capital privilege
of ten thousand ($10,000) dollars; also rights and powers which enable
the Directors to deal in all manner of real and personal property. On
the second anniversary of this company the assets amounted to more
than $3,000.
It is the purpose of the Union to open a savings bank in connection
with their business. Mr. J. S. Hill, a most excellent man, is now
president of the company.
THREE PROMINENT ARTISTS.
While in Boston, Mass., in 1895, I met Mr. Nelson A. Primus, who
painted that wonderful picture (18 × 24 feet), "Christ Before Pilate."
This gentleman is certainly a remarkable artist and his portrait work
is received in Boston alongside of the productions of the very finest
artists of the city.
Mr. M. E. Bannister, of Providence, R. I., painted the picture called
"Under the Oaks," that was awarded the first gold medal at the great
Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1876. His painting was
sold for $1,500.
Prof. H. O. Tanner has painted a picture called "The Banjo Lesson,"
that sold for $800.
The colored race has produced a great many exceptionally fine artists,
and it is in the realm of art that the highest possibilities of any
race are indicated.
Prof. Tanner has recently sold to the French Government for the
Luxembourg Gallery a large picture representing "The Raising of
Lazarus." Mr. Tanner is the second American artist who has sold one of
his paintings to the French Art Gallery.