Part 11

To be awarded first prize at the Paris Exposition in 1900 and the Jamestown Exposition in 1907 and to be awarded a contract by the United States Government to supply its army during the World War, is what A. C. Howard’s shoe polish has accomplished for him. And today the products of A. C. Howard Shoe Polish Manufacturing Co., New York have become known on both sides of the oceans.

Because of their unusual business success the writer quotes below from Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919, pages 360-361, sketches telling about the accomplishments of three among America’s foremost Colored business men.

“Boyd, Dr. R. H. Prominent minister in the Baptist denomination. He established in 1896, the National Baptist Publishing House at Nashville, Tenn. The printing plant occupies a half block in the business portion of the city. It pays its employees over $200,000 a year for labor. According to inventory made by Bradstreet’s Agency, the value of stock, equipment and property of the concern is about $350,000. Here all the books and pamphlets needed in the Sunday School and church work of the Negro Baptists are published. Dr. Boyd is the president of the National Negro Doll Company, which manufacturers high class Negro dolls.”

“Merrick, John. One of the most successful Negro business men in the United States. He was born in Clinton, North Carolina, September 7, 1859; died August 6, 1919; was a bricklayer by trade, and later, became a barber. In 1898 he founded the North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association, which is one of the strongest Negro insurance companies in the world. He was one of the wealthiest Negroes in North Carolina. He owned a large amount of real estate. His monthly rent income was over $500.”

“Smith, Robert L. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, 1861. Founder of the Farmer’s Improvement Society of Texas. He graduated from Atlanta University, and for a time was editor of a paper in Charleston. He then went to Texas and became a teacher. In 1895 he was elected a member of the Texas Legislature. Wishing to help the people, he organized in 1890, the Farmers’ Improvement Society. The members of the Association now own over 75,000 acres of land worth considerably over $1,000,000. In 1906 the Society founded an agricultural college at Ladonia, Texas, and in 1911, they organized a bank at Waco, Texas. The Society also operates an overall factory at Waco. Under the Auspices of the Society Farmers’ Institutes and fairs are held.”

On account of having detailed knowledge of their enterprises unshaken determination to succeed, unusual energetic efforts, strict attention to business, courteous manners to customers, integrity of word, prompt payment of debts, frugal methods of saving and living within their means, the late Messrs. McKee, Minton, Smith, Stevens and Trower of Philadelphia, Pa., in accumulating wealth amounting to millions of dollars, proved themselves among the most prominent and successful Colored business men the United States have produced.

IN BANKING

EVERY DOLLAR SAVED SHOWS A LITTLE MORE (SENSE) CENTS

In good strong banks all youths should seek One dollar at least to save per week; So when old age on them does creep They’ll not in poorness have to weep. --_Harrison._

As off-springs of people who three hundred years ago were savages in Africa, and as decendents of people who were in the United States as slaves for two hundred forty-four years; the American Colored people of today, less than sixty years from slavery, own and operate seventy-two Banks. These Banks carry a capital of about two million five hundred thousand dollars and do an annual business of about thirty-five million dollars. (Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, page 367).

This marvelous and successful commercial plunge is the most dazzling banking achievement, as far as history records, ever made in the world in the same length of time, by a like group of people placed under the same kind of circumstances. In fact, this most heavily handicapped business broad-jump has been made with such sudden rapidity, length of leap and sure-footed landing that financial judges and onlookers of all races are still dizzy from trying to measure the distance and solve how it was covered.

Banking critics throughout the country seem to agree in estimating E. C. Brown, President of Brown and Stevens Bank, Phila., Pa., and Brown Savings & Banking Co., Norfolk, Va., as the foremost Colored banking financier of today in America. Aside from having many heavy real estate holdings in numerous Southern and Northern cities, he is founder and president of the Quality Amusement Corporation that owns and operates the Lafayette Theater in New York, the Dunbar Theater, in Phila., Pa., and theaters either under construction or contemplation in several other large cities.

According to an article that appeared on August 13, 1920 in the Dayton Forum, a Negro paper published by J. H. Rives, Dayton, Ohio, the first Colored bank in the United States to report resources of over one million dollars is the Solvent Savings Bank & Trust Co. of Memphis, Tenn. Its cashier, B. M. Roddy stated that the bank does business with twenty-five thousand people. These facts together with a fuller and more detailed notification were sent to the State Commission on June 30th of that year. Other Colored banks that separately had resources of over nine hundred thousand dollars and were expected to reach the million dollar mark by the end of that year were the Brown Savings & Banking Co., Norfolk, Va., and the Wage Earners Savings Bank in Savannah, Ga. The St. Lukes Bank, Richmond, Va., the only institution of its kind founded and presided over by a Colored woman, Mrs. Maggie L. Walker, has resources of over five hundred thousand dollars. Other banks that have gone over the half million dollar mark in resources are, The Mechanics Bank, Richmond, Va., The Mutual Savings Bank, Portsmouth, Va., and the Tide Water Bank, Norfolk, Va. Twenty-five Colored banks throughout the country each have over two hundred fifty thousand dollars in resources. Colored people have one national bank, not so long established in Chicago, Ill., The Doughlass National Bank of which P. W. Chavers is president. The Brown & Stevens Bank, Phila., Pa., and the Binga State Bank, Chicago, Ill., have both reached the million dollar mark in resources. The last named bank, of which Jesse Binga is founder and president, has a capital and surplus of one hundred twenty thousand dollars.

The names in the following list have been handed to the writer as being just a few from among many such Colored banks in the United States that are laid on sound foundations, efficiently conducted and fully recognized for their business integrity, steady financial growth and broadening moral influences.

Banks Presidents

C. H. Anderson Co., Bankers, Jacksonville, Fla. C. H. Anderson Atlanta State Savings Bank, Atlanta, Ga., J. A. Ross Auburn Savings Corporation, Atlanta, Ga., B. J. Davis Central State Bank, Gary, Ind., W. C. Hueston Citizens State Banking Co., New Orleans, La., J. H. Lowery Citizens & Southern Banking Co., Phila., Pa., R. R. Smith, Sr. Charleston Mutual Savings Bank, (not informed) Crawford Bank, Boston, Mass., David Crawford Crown Savings Bank, Newport News, Va., (not informed) Farmers & Merchants Bank, Boley, Okla., D. J. Turner Farmers Improvement Bank, Waco, Texas, R. L. Smith Fraternal Bank & Trust Co., Forth Worth, Texas, Thomas Mason Mechanics Savings Bank, Richmond, Va., John Mitchell, Jr. Mechanics & Farmers Bank, Durham, N. C., W. G. Pearson Mound Bayou State Bank, Mound Bayou, Miss., D. A. Carr. Peoples Federation Bank, Charleston, S. C., W. H. Johnson One Cent Savings Bank, Nashville, Tenn., R. H. Boyd Penny Savings & Loan and Investment Co., Augusta, Ga., R. S. Williams. Northcross & Curtis Bank, Detroit, Mich., Dr. Northcross. Savannah Savings & R. E. Corp’n, Savannah, Ga., W. S. Scott. Industrial Savings Bank, Washington, D.C., J. W. Lewis. Fraternal Savings Bank, Memphis, Tenn., J. J. Scott. Tide Water Bank & Trust Co., Norfolk, Va., P. B. Young Steel City Bank, Pittsburgh, Pa., (not informed) Tuskegee Institute Savings Bank, Tuskegee, Ala., Warren Logan. Modern Savings & Trust Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., J. H. Phillips

“The Allied Bankers’ Corporation will serve as a clearing house for banks, life and fire insurances companies, manufacturing companies and for business generally. The enterprise is to be owned by and operated wholly in the interest of and for the economic development of the Race.” This quotation is extracted from an article that appeared in the December 11, 1920 issue of the Chicago Defender. In speaking of this movement, the article further stated that a group of Colored bankers and business men were combining in forming and having incorporated a one million dollar concern to be known as the Allied Bankers and Industrial Corporation.

“Application for charter has already been made by the following bankers and business men: L. E. Williams, president Wage Earners’ Savings Bank, Savannah, Ga.; Harry E. Pace, formerly secretary-treasurer Standard Life Insurance Company, now president of Pace Phonograph company, New York City; E. C. Brown, president of Brown & Stevens, bankers, Philadelphia, Pa., and president Quality Amusement Corporation; John E. Nail, of Nail & Parker, real estate dealers, New York City; J. S. Jones, secretary-treasurer Tidewater Bank and Trust Company, Norfolk, Va.; Charles Banks, Mound Bayou, Miss., and Emmett J. Scott, formerly assistant to Secretary of War Baker and now secretary-treasurer of Howard University.”

IN REAL ESTATE.

Within the past twenty years Colored real estate owners and brokers throughout the country have made real estate deals running up into millions of dollars. Some of the heaviest transactions have been made by Nail & Parker, New York City, Watt Terry, Brocton, Mass., and New York City, the late P. A. Payton, New York City, A. F. Herndon, Atlanta, Ga., R. L. Smith, Waco, Texas, Brown & Stevens, Phila., Pa., Jesse Binga, Chicago, Ill., M. L. Harris, Washington, D.C., H. M. Burkett, Baltimore, Md., W. Lewis, C. Tolson, Baltimore, Md., R. H. Watterford, Gary, Ind., J. T. Jackson, Germantown, Pa., S. J. Jones, Phila., Pa., H. Rudduth, Cincinnati, Ohio, Isadore Martin, Phila., Pa., J. L. Slaughter & Co., Faulkner & Cook Co., Anderson & Terrell Co., Harvey Watkins Co., Chicago, Ill., McKinley, Walker and DeVeille, Washington, D.C., P. H. Sykes, Phila., Pa.

According to an article that appeared on page 53 in the May 1920 issue of The Crisis, Nail & Parker, New York real estate brokers, handle over a million dollars yearly in rentals and commissions. During the year 1919 Colored people purchased over four million dollars worth of property in the Harlem section of New York City. But what is said to have been the largest real estate transaction ever made in the United States at one time by Colored people was when six large modern De Luxe Elevator Apartments, that had been constructed on West 141st and 142nd Street, New York City at a cost of one million five hundred thousand dollars, were purchased by an organized group of Negro business men. (Ref. Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, page 3).

Through his personal research work in the following cities, the writer has been able to uncover from among the many thousands of Colored business people throughout America, the following unusually successful business Colored men and women each reputed able to write his or her personal check for twenty-five thousand dollars; nearly all of them have saved a fortune of fifty thousand dollars; a large number of them have reached the one hundred thousand dollar mark; numbers of them have two hundred fifty thousand dollars to their credits; many of them count their wealth up to five hundred thousand dollars and quite a few of them own over a million dollars in cash and property. But in reading this list let the readers say, as the Queen of Sheba said when she paid a visit to King Solomon and viewed his wealthy kingdom, “The half has not been told.” Because the author would remind the reader that all over the United States there are just as successful and wealthy Colored business men and women whose names do not appear in this list simply because he was unable to locate such names during his much handicapped research work.

Atlanta, Ga. A. F. Herndon, Barber & Real Estate. J. O. Ross, Merchant & Banker.

Atlantic City, N. J. B. G. Fitzgerald, Cafe & Hotel. J. B. Ford, Real Estate.

Baltimore, Md. J. C. Burton, Merchant. E. B. Taylor, Caterer, Banker. H. O. Wilson, Banker.

Bethlehem, Pa. J. L. Ray, Restaurant Manager.

Birmingham, Ala. N. B. Smith, Real Estate.

Boley, Okla. L. L. Dolphin, Merchant. T. L. Woods, Merchant.

Boston, Mass. D. Crawford, Banker.

Buffalo, N. Y. C. H. Patrick, Druggist. E. D. MacAden, Hotel Manager.

Brooklyn, N. Y. L. Williams, Tailor (retired).

Camden, N. J. C. W. Moore, Contractor.

Charleston, W. Va. C. H. James, Wholesale Merchant.

Charleston, S. C. J. W. Frazer, Contractor. T. T. Edwards, Contractor.

Charlotte, N. C. T. L. Tate, Barber. C. B. Bailey, Insurance.

Chattanooga, Tenn. C. Marshall, Merchant.

Bristol, Tenn. R. E. Clay, Barber, Real Estate.

Chester, Pa. Geo. Nugent, Hotel Proprietor. E. F. Wright, Hotel Proprietor.

Chicago, Ill. E. H. Morris, Capitalist. Jesse Binga, Banker.

Cincinnati, Ohio. J. L. Jones, Regalia Manfgr.

Cleveland, Ohio. J. E. Reed, Real Estate.

Columbia, S. C. I. S. Levy, Merchant Tailor. J. C. Sawyer, Cotton Dealer.

Columbus, Ohio. C. W. Bryant, House Mover.

Danville, Va. J. R. Wilson, Real Estate.

Darby, Pa. J. M. Drew, Expressman.

Dayton, Ohio. J. H. Finley, Carpet Factory.

Denver, Col. A. A. Waller, Real Estate. L. H. Lighterner, Real Estate.

Des Moines, Iowa. Chas. Cousins, Merchant.

Detroit, Mich. Dr. Northcross, Banker. H. S. Ferguson, Caterer.

Durham, N. C. W. G. Pearson, Capitalist.

Fort Smith, Ark. G. S. Winston, Real Estate.

Fort Worth, Texas. W. M. McDonald, Financier.

Gary, Ind. J. Smith, Real Estate.

Greenville, S. C. J. P. Chappell, Real Estate.

Hampton, Va. W. T. Anderson, Merchant.

Harrisburg, Pa. W. M. Felton, Airplanes & Autos.

Hartford, Conn. C. Grant, Wood Yard.

Helena, Ark. Scott Bond, Merchant. Dr. N. B. Hauser, Druggist.

Houston, Texas. R. L. Andrews, Real Estate.

Indianapolis, Ind. Mrs. Lelia Walker Wilson, Manfgr.

Jackson, Miss. S. D. Redmond, Real Estate.

Jacksonville, Fla. A. L. Lewis, Insurance. W. J. Geter, Real Estate.

Jersey City, N. J. W. C. Lee, Merchant.

Kansas City, Kan. W. Price, Real Estate.

Kansas City, Mo. H. L. Kinsler, Real Estate. W. S. Wood Druggist.

Knoxville, Tenn. Calvin Johnson, Capitalist, retired.

Leavenworth, Kan. S. T. Jones, Coal & Feed Dealer.

Little Rock, Ark. C. E. Bush, Manufacturer.

Los Angeles, Cal. R. C. Owens, Real Estate. A. J. Roberts, Undertaker.

Louisville, Ky. W. S. Lovett, Banker. R. I. Smith, Moving & Packing.

Lynchburg, Va. A. Humbles, Merchant, (retired).

Memphis, Tenn. R. R. Church, Real Estate, Capitalist. T. H. Hayes, Undertaker.

Milwaukee, Wis. John Malone, Hotel Manager.

Mobile, Ala. J. T. Paterson, Real Estate.

Montgomery, Ala. V. H. Tulane, Real Estate.

Mound Bayou, Miss. Chas. Banks, Real Estate.

Knoxville, Tenn. Calvin Johnson, Capitalist (retired).

Morrisville, Pa. J. W. Lewis, Real Estate.

Muskogee, Okla. Miss Sarah Rector, Oil Wells. B. J. Elliott, Real Estate.

Nashville, Tenn. R. H. Boyd, Publisher. P. Taylor, Real Estate.

Newark, N. J. H. J. Brown, Undertaker. G. Bowles, Mover & Storage.

New Orleans, La. R. H. V. DeJoie, Insurance. Wm. Robinson, Merchant.

Newport News, Va. Miss Lelia Brown, Theatre. S. A. Howell, Banker.

New York City, N. Y. J. E. Nail, Real Estate. J. C. Thomas, Undertaker.

Norfolk, Va. P. B. Young, Financier.

Oakland, Cal. Wiley Hines, Real Estate.

Nebraska, Omaha. J. H. Broomfield, Real Estate.

Phila., Pa. E. C. Brown, Banker. W. W. H. Casselle, Undertaker. Beresford Gale, Financier. Augustine and Baptiste, Caterers. W. A. Davis, Druggist. J. T. Gibson, Theater Owner.

Phoebus, Va. J. I. Fountain, Barber.

Phoenix, Ariz. M. H. Shelton, Real Estate.

Pine Bluff, Ark. R. Y. Longly, Barber.

Pittsburgh, Pa. C. W. Posey, Coal Operator. J. H. Phillips, Banker.

Portland, Oregon. Rutherford Bros., Merchants.

Portland, Maine. M. S. Green, Real Estate.

Portsmouth, Va. L. C. Brown, Banker.

Princeton, N. J. Mrs. Wm. Moore, Real Estate. E. S. Johnson, (Rtd.) Merchant.

Raleigh, N. C. B. O. Kelly, Merchant. C. W. Matthews, Real Estate.

Richmond, Va. John Mitchell, Banker-Editor. A. D. Price, Undertaker.

Roanoke, Va. A. F. Brooks, Real Estate.

Sacramento, Cal. T. D. Walker, Barber.

San Antonio, Texas. J. A. Grumbles, Real Estate.

San Francisco, Cal. W. A. Butler, Real Estate.

Savannah, Ga. L. E. Williams, Banker. F. F. Jones, Butcher.

Seattle, Wash. E. R. James, Real Estate.

Shreveport, La. C. Jackson, Real Estate. I. S. Stokes, Planter. J. S. Williams, Undertaker.

St. Louis, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Malone, Mfgs. W. C. Gordon, Undertaker.

St. Paul, Minn. W. T. Frances, Lawyer.

Terre Haute, Ind. R. C. Simpson, Real Estate.

Washington, D.C. J. W. Lewis, Banker. R. H. Rutherford, Insurance.

Wichita, Kan. Mrs. H. G. Bradford, Cafe Owner.

Wilmington, Del. Dr. S. G. Elbert, Real Estate.

Wilmington, N. C. J. H. Shaw, Undertaker.

IN INSURANCE

POVERTY IN OLD AGE

While now you have both youth and health, Endow your life for old aged wealth, Or loved ones, (if death first you claim), So WANT will not bow them in shame. --_Harrison._

One of the chief living conditions surrounding the American Colored people that always stood as a puzzled question to the masses of American white people was; how did Negroes (considering the low cheating wages, until the World War, they had always received for their work and the usually double prices they were made to pay in buying clothes, furniture, homes, etc.) manage to keep up decent living expenses, save money and at the same time nourishingly care for their sick and properly bury their dead? It has never been understood why so few Colored people have been seen as beggars, and paupers holding up every other street corner or silently filling the potter fields; while these same places have always been over-crowded with dependent white people, who in their prosperous life times had received the highest paid wages and given the lowest bargain sales. When it is remembered that there is over ninety million Caucasians in the United States against twelve million Negroes, even then the percentage of whites in such places is much larger than that of the blacks. And from the fact that in nearly every large city in America there are to be found white men and women who own homes and thousands of dollars and still beg on street corners proves that begging is easier and comes more natural to white than to Colored people, because no instance has ever been heard of a Negro street begging when owning a home or money in a bank.

Now the facts that answer the puzzled question, as to how Negroes have always been able to “get along” generally under all circumstances, are the insurance companies, fraternal orders and beneficial societies founded and operated by Colored people in America. There is nothing in the world (including death) that the average Colored people dread more than to face downright poverty, need and beggary, and to prevent such misfortunes they become full members in these organizations even from childhood. For this reason insurance enterprises have proven to be one of the most congenial occupations, quickest, surest and best paying business into which Negro business men have so far ventured. On the other hand the founders and managers of these companies have taken full advantage of their opportunities to give to the masses of people in their companies a timely, practical and material helpfulness that is surpassed by no other group of Colored business leaders.

Philadelphia, Pa., has the honor of having been the home of the first Negro insurance company, in the United States, which was the American Insurance Company founded in 1810.

The following named are a few of the many Colored insurance companies throughout the country that together have policies in force valued at about sixty million dollars and annually write up insurance amounting to about forty million dollars.

Afro-American Industrial Ins. Co., Jacksonville, Fla.; American Mutual Benefit Association, Houston, Tex.; Georgia Mutual Ins. Co., Augusta, Ga.; Keystone Aid Society, Phila., Pa.; Liberty Life Ins. Co., Ill. and Ind.; Liberty Mutual Life & Health Ins. Co., Savannah, Ga.; Mammouth Life and Accident Ins. Co., Louisville, Ky.; Mutual Relief and Benevolent Ass’n, Columbia, S. C.; National Benefit Life Ins. Co., Washington, D.C.; North Carolina Mutual and Provident Ass’n, Durham, N. C.; Fireside Mutual Ins. Co., Atlanta, Ga.; Provident Ins. Co., Chicago, Ill.; Southern Life Ins. Co., Baltimore, Md.; Standard Life Ins. Co., Atlanta, Ga.; Superior Mutual Ins. Co., The Lincoln Life Ins. Co., New Orleans, La.; Underwriters’ Mutual Ins. Co., Chicago, Ill.; Union Central Relief Ass’n, Birmingham, Ala.; Union Mutual Ins. Co., Jacksonville, Fla.; Unity Ind. and Life Ins. Co., New Orleans, La.; Unity Mutual Ins. Co., Chicago, Ill.; Union Guarantee and Ins. Co., of Miss., Jackson, Miss.; Richmond Beneficial Ins. Co., Richmond, Va.; Southern Aid Society of Virginia, Richmond, Va.; Virginia Beneficial and Ins. Co., Norfolk, Va. (Extracts from Works’ Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, pgs. 359-60).

Some of the foremost leaders who have built up in the past or are today building up Colored insurance business in America are as follows: J. C. Asbury, Philadelphia, Pa., Geo. W. Blount, Portsmouth, Va., Chas. H. Brooks, Philadelphia, Pa., Edw. Bowen, E. H. Carry, Wm. Carter, Chicago, Ill., D.C. Chandler, Columbus and C. R. Davis, Cincinnati, O., P. H. V. Dejoie, C. C. Dejoie, Chicago, Ill., T. K. Gibson, Atlanta, Ga., F. L. Gillespie, Geo. W. Green, Chicago, Ill., H. E. Hall, Louisville, Ky., B. L. Jordan, Richmond, Va., Wm. H. King, W. J. Latham, Chicago, Ill., the late John Merrick, Durham, N. C., J. E. Mitchell, A. J. Pullen, Chicago, Ill., H. E. Perry, Atlanta, Ga., H. E. Pace, A. D. Price, and J. T. Carter, Richmond, Va., J. A. Robinson, Atlanta, Ga., Wm. Roland, Chicago, Ill., R. H. Rutherford, S. W. Rutherford, Washington, D.C., Wm. Roland, H. B. Streeter, C. S. Smith, Chicago, Ill., C. C. Spaulding and F. Winslow, Durham, N. C.

SECRET AND FRATERNAL ORGANS

HELPFUL BOOSTS.

In time of need they give full aid To those whose fees are fully paid: They also loan with gleeful pride Tame goats a child could easily ride. --_Harrison._