CHAPTER XXII.
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.
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.
J. H. DICKINSON.
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.