The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-07-29
RICH SOUTHERN NEGROES.
N ALABAMA They ARE SAID TO
Be WORTH $4,000. 900.

and Financial Future-He Does Bet
ter IN the south Than In the North.
Few people, North or South, realize
what strides the negro is making towards
financial equality with the white man.
The coiored farmers, many Of them we'll
TODD men, have formed an Alliance with
q single tax platform, and the workmen
are forming societies and trade unions
everywhere.
In Charleston, where Eve years ago the
negro youths were generally addressed
and insolent, many may be seen to-day
on the Battery rs well dressed 90 the best
white people and as quiet in their be.
havior. These are the young men who
have been educated In tho public schools.
In Opelikn, Ala, the editor OF the COL
ored Workman's Journal mr.. !. IA.
Fitzpatrick, il q negro and ono Of the
most worthy citizens Of the town. Here
IL a colored man who has accumulated
weaath by his own unaided industry, and
Ia to- day worth great many thousand
dollars. He owns two hundred acres Of
land just outside Of opeiika for which he
has refused $4,000; nor IL he BY any
means the wealthiest colorsd man In his
town. Mr.. Fitzpatrick Is Q bishop Of the
A. ii. z. Church and has seventeen con-
gregations and their pastors under his
direction.
The colored people OF Alabama are
worth S1S, OO0, O0O,n he said. This Is an
increase OF y ,0OO, 900 over last year. The
best friend the negro has ID the white
man, and am opposed to any one who
tries to make strife between u.s."
Mr.. C. Menafee is one Of the wealthiest
colored men in the State and about sixty
years OF age. At the close Of the war he
was penniless, but the first day he started
work he saved twenty Ave cents in silver
and at the end OF the year his savings
amounted to ea6 in gold. During the
next year he saved 200, and on this he
married. His wife could read and write
and when Menafee came home from his
cobbler's shop at night he would study
his letters until at last he learned TO read.
Years rolled on, and by judicious invest
ment Of his earnings he has acquired
about fifty acres Of land within the city
limits Of Opelika and some three hundred
acres just outside. He has built . house
on this property and owns his little shoe
shop on the main street Of the town.
"I believe the South Ma. Menafee
said, ito be the best place for the colored
man. Even in the Ku-Klux days was
never interfered with, although ] be-
Ionged to the black cavalry that almost
exterminated one of thsir bands.
I" Most Of the colored men in this sec-
ton are educated. have two boys, both
attending the Tuskegee school. ! can
remember when this school started with
one colored teacher and fifteen scholars.
Now there are $50 pupils and the school
owns $4,000 worth Of property besides
an annual endowment from the govern.
ment of 1000. Gus Patrick, neighbor
OF mine, owns 1850 acres OF land and
raises fifty bales of cotton year.
Another colored neighbor Of mine,
George Fulwell, owns 1900 acres, has Q
handsome home, plenty OF money, and II
doing well. Many others own land, and
| those who do are all good citizens and .
| credit to their race"
I In Atlanta, Ga, ono OF the wealthiest
colored citizens Ii Mr.. 8. H. Robinson,
| elder in the Methodist church and capi-
talist.
al was boy brought up in slavery on
a Mississippi plantation" he began.
"When was quite little chap saw the
overseer read the masters orders from a
book. Every one on the plantation looked
| up to him because he could read, 50
made up my mind would learn to read,
| too. It was against the law In those days
to teach a colored person to read, but the
overseer's son was great friend Of mine.
used to go out with him to collect the
game he shot, SO one day persuaded him
| to tear several leaves out OF his spelling
book and give them to me. After that
we used to go out into the woods every
| day and study until the overseer caught
us. He whipped his son and sent me
back to the quarters, but ! kept the piece
of spelling book, and hid 1t under my
shirt, and whenever / could hide in q
kquiet corner l would take 1t out At last
could read and spell, but ! could moi
write.
AZ wanted something to copy from, sc
asked the master for pass-each Negro
could get two a year. After waiting
several months for my turn got my pass
permitting me to be away from the
plantation for twelve hours. Every night
would take out my pass in the cabin and
copy the writing on a piece OF paper
until at last could write out every
word.
81 went all through the war with my
master as his body servant and never
tried to escape. I knew freedom was
coming. After the war was over l came
to Atlanta. Here l earned twenty five
cents day twice week picking cotton
Soon l began to make fifty cents a day
every day; then $50, and at the end o
two years ! had 81 500 saved up. Thi!
was the beginning OF my fortune"
The Rev. w. A. Byrd, OF Mount Zior
Church, Madison, Fla, is rich man anC
has travelled through the North and Soutl
extensively. Speaking of the presen
condition of the negro he said: eth,
South is the place for the black man. Ii
thS North too many people are crowded
together In one house, and you cannot ex
pect TO find pure men living In itnpar,
air. In the South the negro is NATURAL,
a carpenter or farmer; and, although
II minister, own l20 acres OF land and rails,
my crop every year. My family live ii
one house. My white hands each have
house to themselves, as have my coloreC
, laborers. find that the races are gettin.
on we'll together. know several coloret