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.
CHAPTER XVI.
ATLANTA, GA., AND INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
Atlanta, Ga., is another educational centre. I found over fifty colored men in this city engaged in business, professional and other pursuits.
I can only mention a few of these. I met in Atlanta a very successful colored undertaker in the person of David T. Howard, who was prompted to go into that business because of the way white undertakers treated the colored people when they had their funerals in charge. Mr. Howard has succeeded in building up a very large business. Atlanta can boast of one of the largest contractors among colored people in the country. I refer to Alexander Hamilton, an ex-slave. Mr. Hamilton showed me a number of very fine residences owned by the leading white people in the city, which he had the contract to build. He also drew his own plans and specifications to work from.
There were two men in Atlanta who should have special mention, namely, Mr. Joseph Rivers, and Mr. Jacob McKinley. The latter, I am sorry to say, is numbered among the dead. Both of these men were born slaves and they were uneducated. Mr. Rivers was, by trade, a blacksmith, and began life for himself without one penny. He owns quite a deal of property, among which is what is known as "Rivers Block," and the business rooms are rented to white business men. Jacob McKinley made quite a large fortune in the manufacture of brick and dealing in real estate. I am glad to note that several of those connected with school work in Atlanta report that Mr. McKinley was always willing to contribute of his means for the education of his race. He was very much loved by both white and colored.
Atlanta has several colored doctors. Among them are Drs. Butler and Slater. They came out of school together, and for some years carried on their practice in partnership. Dr. Slater now owns an interest in a drug store, while Dr. H. R. Butler devotes all of his time to a very extensive practice. He is also Grand Master of Georgia of the Free and Accepted Masons. Dr. Butler's wife is a graduate of Spelman Seminary, and I want no better evidence of the very excellent work done at that school than the doctor's very neatly-kept home.