Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-11
PROMINENT NEGROES.
Sons of Ham Who Rank rs
ut the Capital of the
United States.

From the Odd Fellows Journal.
IL IN each city a roll should be made
of eminent colored men who nave attained
10 national prominence. Washington would
present a larger list than any other city
IN the Union. All of these distinguished cit
izens formerly resided in various states.
and with but few exceptions began their
residence here in the capacity of govern
ment officials. Some have abandoned their
former abodes and have become d part
OF the capitais permanent population: 9TH
ers sun retain a residence in the states,
and when their terms of office expire will
return to their homes again to take up the
labor they left in the cities or towns
whence they came. If you want to meet
some of the men that are known through
out the nation. we can readily find them in
a morning 5 stroll.
Let us stop in this building and so TO
the front room on the second floor. This
Is the law office of John NJ. Langston.
There he sits bending over a law book.
He Is at present actively engaged in the
practice of his profession. He bears with
becoming dignity the many honors which
nave come to him during his eventful life.
lie does not look GS years of age. does he?
For several years he WAS law lecturer and
dean of the Howard university law depart
ment. In 1877 President Hayes sent him as
minister to Hayti. He Is the only colored
man Virginia ever sent to congress. AS Il
scholar he ranks among the leaders, as an
If we step down the street two squares
We will be at the city hall. Right this way
and in here. The gentleman writing at that
large desk is H. p. Chatham. He is af-
fixing his signature to the recorded deeds.
Twice member of congress-. he is now re-
corder of deeds by President McKinley's
appointment. Now We will go one square
south of here on Four-and-a-half street.
This is the Colored American building.
This first door leads to the press and
composing rooms. this next one to the
office. The man at that farthest desk is
r.. Il. Cooper, the first negro in the his
tory of the race to publish an illustrative
10lFnal For fnprr NaarS u "a u-ac ,,-n,~,at1-
OF the indianapolis Freeman, and at the
head of that sheet commanded national at
tention. He organized and has for more
than four years controlled and edited the
Colored American. With this paper, which
reaches the race all over the country, he
mas demonstrated the possibilities of negro
Journalism, and has risen in the rank of
editors until he stands among the leaders
of the foremost few.
Let us walk around on F street. This
large yellow brick building is the Capital
Savings bank. Come upstairs in the front
room on the second floor. This is the office
of Lynch & Terrell, attorneys at law. The
man seated at the desk with mustache and
hair two-thirds gray is John R. Lynch.
For many years he has been before the
public eye, attracting attention by his sue
speaker of the house of representatives
In Mississippi; a member of congress-.
vention in ISIS. and fourth appditor of e tbe
treasury under President Harrison's adj
ministration. He is now a practicing at
oIIes anu pTtSlutHl Oh the capital Savings
bank. the wealthiest banking institution of
the race.
Out We go and up the street three
squares. Now. a portion of this building
is an annex to the government postofice.
Look in the rooms as we go by-all are
white faces, eh? Well, step in here and
notice that colored man debating letters
to that white stenographer; that is John
p. Green: Of Cleveland, O.. He was state
senator for three terms in Ohio. He is
now chief of the stamp agency and the
head of this office. Every stamp issued
and distributed by the government passes
through his bureau.
Three squares and a half and we shall be
at the office Of another prominent man.
This large stone building Is the Ohio Ma
tional bank. Wen take the elevator. stop
at this floor; this WI step in here. This IS
the office Of B. K. Bruce, ex-senator. ex-
register of the treasury and ex-recorder
of deeds. There he sits making out a
check. He is now a real estate agent and
broker. He is said to be prospecting. Last
month he loaned to the Nineteenth Street
Baptist church 81 1000 at 5 per cent inter
est.
Let us walk to the west. That is the
White House, and the man leaving is
George H. White, the only colored repre-
sentative in the Fifty-ffth congress. He
has probably been to the president urging
the appointment of a constituent.