CHAPTER XV.
NASHVILLE, TENN.
Under this heading I shall call attention to the advance made by the colored people of this great city. Nashville certainly has all the essentials of a great city; it has a rich tributary country, a healthful climate, river and rail transportation, proximity of abundant raw material, and a sturdy, healthy industrious population.
Having all of these then, Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, situated in the centre of a realm unequalled in variety and amount of production on the American continent, with 100,000 people largely native to the soil through long generations, is assuredly a great city.
It has been just thirty-one years since the war closed. Nashville then contained a scant 25,000 people. Ten years later her population was 40,000. In 1885 it was 60,000, and to-day within her borders there are more than 100,000 souls. No better evidence of the advance and the prosperity of the city than that could be given.
And through this entire history, the colored people have figured conspicuously during every step of her progress.
During the many years I have spent in the South among the colored people, I have made a special study of the development of many of the towns and cities. I have done this to ascertain what part the colored man is playing in this development. In view of the fact that Nashville has three large colleges for advanced studies and a number of well-equipped day-schools, I devoted special attention to this city.
It is a well-known fact that a very small percentage of all the educated people, white or colored, put their education to any practical use. I claim that there are as many, if not more, of the colored people who make good use of their education as any other class in this country. I found in this city (Nashville) men of culture and refinement, who possessed all the energy, enterprise and push that characterize any thoroughly civilized people.
I think I can safely say that Nashville, for its size, can boast of a larger number of colored business and professional men than any other Southern city. Among those I met in person was Dr. D. L. Martin, who has the honor of being the first colored druggist in the State. He has succeeded in building up a fine drug trade, and has purchased some very good property. Speaking of colored Doctors, I am told that there are not less than six in the city. And they each have a good practice. One of this number is Dr. L. W. Crostwait, who is of the School of Homœopathy; but few colored men have gone into that branch of medicine.
DR. R. F. BOYD.
DR. R. F. BOYD.
Those who have attended my illustrated lectures will doubtless remember Dr. Boyd, one of the most progressive colored physicians in the South. I have never met a man with whom I became more favorably impressed than I was with Dr. Boyd. He is a man of deep thought, lofty aspirations and untiring zeal. His work at Meharry Medical and Pharmaceutical College marks him as one of the most useful men of the race. He is a graduate from this institution; and I feel that if it had never turned out but one such man, it would have accomplished wonders. He came out of this school after a hard struggle for an education, and cast his lot among the people he had come in contact with from day to day in that community. You have only to go into his office any day and see the number of patients waiting for him; then see the splendid horses and carriages used in his practice, to form an idea of his success. Still, one of the best evidences of his prosperity to me was the fact that all over the city he owns houses which are rented.
BOYD BUILDING.
The new Boyd Building has twenty-eight rooms which are rented to Colored business and professional men.
J. C. NAPIER.
Another interesting character in Nashville is Mr. J. C. Napier, attorney-at-law, who has a large practice, and has also accumulated quite a bit of valuable property. Mr. Napier owns one building that was of special interest to me. He calls it "Napier Court." The building is divided into offices. Every room is occupied by a colored professional man. I think there are nine offices in the upper part of the building. I have never found in any other city buildings owned by colored men where each room was rented to colored men. I am pleased to note that Mr. Napier has been selected as the head of the colored people's exhibit for the Centennial to be held in Nashville in 1897, but has since resigned.
After Mr. Napier came out of school he was for several years active in politics, and has held several government positions. His home is without doubt one of the most attractive it has ever been my pleasure to visit. Mrs. Napier, who is a daughter of the Hon. John Mercer Langston, is indeed a most charming lady.
While I am referring to lawyers, I must not forget to mention the firm of Crostwait & Young, who also have a good practice.
In 1884 I met, for the first time, Mr. S. A. McElwee, who was then keeping a small grocery store at Brownsville, Tenn. Since that time I have watched his progress with much pleasure. He has served two terms in the Legislature and finished his course in law at Fisk University. He, like Dr. Boyd, began his practice where he received his education. His success has been almost phenomenal.
I have visited his office a great many times and each time I found quite a number of white and colored people waiting to consult him in regard to legal matters.
He owns a very neat little home that is furnished in a most exquisite manner, and is just opposite Central Tennessee College.
Among the business men of the city, I wish to mention the firm of Harris & Barbour, furniture dealers. These men make a specialty of dealing in antique furniture. Many an old piece of household furniture has been bought by these enterprising men, fixed up, advertised, and often sold in New York and Boston at high prices.
REV. PRESTON TAYLOR.
Mr. Taylor is a man who will impress you when you meet him as thoroughly in earnest. He is never idle, always with new plans, warm-hearted, generous, sympathetic and a true brother to all men who deserve the recognition of earnest, faithful workers for Christ.
In the spring of 1888, he embarked in the undertaker's business, and has met with unbounded success. He stands at the head of his profession, not only as a funeral director, but as a safe and wise business man. It is said by men competent to know, that he does the largest business of any man of his race engaged in the same business in the country. He owns and occupies the large two-story brick at 449 North Cherry street; the building is 42 × 180 feet and it is divided and furnished in the most convenient style, with reception hall, office, chapel, show rooms, supply rooms, trimming rooms, dry rooms, carpenter shop, paint shop and a morgue. In the rear stands a large stable occupied by eighteen horses, seven carriages, hearses and all kinds of vehicles used in the undertaker's business. The entire building is lighted by electricity and fitted up with electric bells. He is the only man in the city who manufactures his own goods. He works sixteen men in his establishment and often is compelled to call in extra help. He has the honor of managing the largest funeral that ever passed through the streets of Nashville. It was the three colored firemen who were killed on January 2, 1892, in a great conflagration. He built a large catafalque with his own men, which held all three of the caskets, which were drawn by six beautiful black horses, followed by sixty carriages two abreast, accompanied by all the officials of the city, the police and fire departments, the schools, the lodges and citizens by the thousands. In all his business enterprises he ascribes his marvelous success to his Heavenly Father, and he never neglects his chosen calling, the preaching of the word of God. In the last few years he has bought and built one of the handsomest and most convenient churches in the city, the Lee Avenue Christian Church, of which he is now the pastor.
Mr. W. T. Hightower started in business as a dealer in old rags and iron with a capital of 25 cents. He now owns a large brick building and a beautiful home.
Mr. Joseph Brown, who lives just outside of the city limits, operates a large nursery and hot-house. He does a very successful business among the best people of Nashville.
Mr. H. C. Gibson, a blacksmith, who started in business on a capital of $2.00, has made wonderful progress and employs quite a number of men in his shop. His bills for stock used in his shop amount to upwards of $150 per month.
Mr. Geo. W. Frazher holds a position that, for the South, is indeed unique. He is the cutter and fitter for E. Fuller & Co.'s shoeshop, where he is the only colored man employed.
Dr. Hadley has been a cripple the greater part of his life, but notwithstanding that fact, he has had great success. He owns valuable property in Nashville, and is at the head of the Immaculate Society, a society organized for the purpose of caring for the sick and burying the dead. His daughter Willa has the honor of being the first graduate in music from Fisk University.
Mr. J. C. Crawley, a successful teacher of Nashville, is another gentleman worthy of special mention. He, like many others, has, by hard work and strict economy, accumulated property and is living well.
I have left until the last to be mentioned, a man who ought to be known throughout this entire country. I refer to Lewis Winters, who is the largest egg and poultry dealer south of the Ohio River. Mr. Winters was born a slave, and has never had any educational advantages whatever. But while that is true, he has a knowledge of all the essential qualities of a successful business man. Mr. Winters has shipped goods to New York by the train load. I found him a very active worker in the A. M. E. Church.
While I have mentioned quite a number I have not called your attention to all, and among those not named are Lowery & McGavock, shoe dealers and makers. There are also two colored men in Nashville who manufacture brooms, and have quite a large trade.
Mention at least should be made of Dr. F. A. Stewart, A. M., who is one of the leading colored physicians of Nashville. He, like Dr. Boyd, has a very large practice. In addition to his very extensive practice he is engaged as teacher of Pathology at Meharry Medical College. Dr. Stewart is a graduate of Howard University, Washington, D. C., and stands very high in his profession. He also owns very valuable property.