Evidences of Progress Among Colored People

by G. F. Richings

MR. G. W. HIGGINS.

G. W. Higgins was born in South Carolina, and lived for some time at Newberry, S. C. He began at an early age to acquire an education in order that he might be of some help to himself and race. Mr. Higgins attended Biddle University at Charlotte, N. C., where he took a course in theology. He was at one time principal of the public school at Old Fort, N. C., and while teaching there he established a Presbyterian Church, which is still in existence. After leaving the Presbyterian work he joined the A. M. E. Zion Connection, and was appointed pastor at Abington, Va., and afterwards at Johnson City, Tenn. There he became interested in the industrial advancement of the colored people, and set about to learn some trade, and secured work in a first-class steam laundry, and learned the business thoroughly, and afterwards operated a laundry of his own. Mr. Higgins came to Cincinnati, O., in 1893 and secured employment with the Oil and Grease Company of Chas. H. Moore & Co. After five years of faithful work for that firm he became an expert in the compounding of the oils and greases made by the firm, and was offered a larger salary by Burchard & Co., of Cincinnati, who are refiners of lard oil. For this firm, Mr. Higgins has charge as foreman of the oil and grease department. He is much thought of by his employers.

MR. A. MEANS.

A. Means, of Memphis, Tenn., is a practical hatter, and is the only colored man I know of engaged in that line of work. He has a large trade and keeps on hand a select assortment of the latest styles in hats and caps. Mr. Means does a large business in cleaning and repairing hats.

MR. J. E. HENDERSON.

J. E. Henderson, of Little Rock, Ark., is engaged in the jewelry business. Mr. Henderson is regarded as a good workman in his line, and for some years before he began business for himself he did the repair work for one of the leading jewelry houses of Little Rock. He gets a great deal of his work now from the white people. I hope before many years to see a larger number of colored men engaged in the jewelry trade.

SOUTHERN MERCANTILE COMPANY.

The Southern Mercantile Company, Pine Bluff, Ark., is a company of excellent business men, who are demonstrating that colored men can manage a successful business enterprise. They handle a large stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes and plantation supplies. They do both a wholesale and retail business. The firm has in it such men as Wiley Jones, Fred. Havis, who is president of the company, and Mr. M. R. Perry, as secretary and treasurer. Mr. Perry is a graduate from one of the best schools in the country and regarded as a splendid business man.

MR. L. CARTER.

L. Carter, of Greenville, Miss., was born of slave parents at Carthage, Tenn. He has been in Mississippi since 1866. Mr. Carter owns and operates the only large book store in the country owned by a colored man. He keeps a splendid stock of school books, blank books, stationery, periodicals and a good assortment of story books and toys. In speaking of where he got the greater part of his support, he said that at least two-thirds of his patronage came from the white people, and among the best class of them. Mr. Carter owns good property in Greenville as a residence, and is regarded as one of the prominent citizens.