CHAPTER XX.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
J. E. DIXON.
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.
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.
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.