The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-02
FROM POVERTY TO WEALTH.
yshn Knisht, '0nce . slave, Now I
(, Man Of wealth.

FROM POVERTY TO WEALTH.
yshn Knight. 'oAce . slave, Now I
i: Man Of wsaith.
The richest and most powerful man
socially and politically In the Republic
Of Guatemala IL John knight, negro,
who was born slave In Alabama and
who was sold from the public slave
block as late as March, 1860.
knight was an exceptionally bright
boy. He never saw his father, who
was sold into a distant State before he
was born. The family to whom knight
belonged gave him an education, and
at the age Of sixteen the boy was sold
for $500, high price, considering
that the sale occurred In November,
1860. the very time Of Lincoln's cleo
ton.
knight remained with the family Of
his new master until the close Of the
war. In common with thousands Of
other slaves, he then declared his free
dom. He walked to New Orleans, and
for the first time in his life went away
from his masters properties. In New
Orleans he worked as wharf laborer
for a firm which handled fruits from
Central America. He saved his money.
Every one about the wharves knew
John knight, the most capable and in
dustrious colored man there. One day
in June, 1866, he was sent by his en-
ployer down to Yucatan, In Central
America, to live there as the boss Of
the packing and shipping Of fruits to
New Orleans. He had $40 week
salary.
That was practically the beginning
Of John Knights millions He lived
In Yucatan year, worked hard, saved
his every cent, and dreamed of the day
when he could be an orange. banana
and pineapple shipper on his own &C.
count. Having heard Of the great
tracts Of free and fertile fruit lands
south of San Christoval in Guatemala,
he went and located there. A live,
wide-awake person was something
unique in those days In that region Of
siestas and tropical sunshine. A revo-
luton, in which Ramon Sanchez had
been deposed, was Just at its close.
John knight saw what hard work
and an opportunity to gain the favor
of the new administration would do
for himself. He proposed that for
concession of some $4,000 acres Of land
suitable for pineapple and banana
growing he would 60 to New Orleans
and get the Wholesale fruit dealers,
who ruled the American market thirty
years ago, to agree to buy $4,000. 900 .
year Of Guatemala fruits. The Guate-
mala Government gladly accepted the
In less than three months
the deal was contaminated at New Or.
leans. 1t was the beginning Of the
trade of millions of dollars annually.
To make q long story short, John
Knight got other concessions, as he
the profit there was in
growing fruits for the United States
The shipping business to
New York and San Francisco was
started and enormously enlarged.
He married native young woman
In Stapa in 1872, and the union has
been a great help to his fortunes.
About twenty years ago he induced
New England capital to embark ex-
In coffee growing in Guate-
nala, and he invested over $4,000 Of
his own capital in the industry. The
gave him very adya4.
ageous shipping concession for his ef-
orts in bringing capital to the coun-
ny. Coffee growing proved wonder-
ully remunerative for dozen years.
1t one time the annual shipments Of
ofiee from the knight fincas were the
argest from any private estate In all
central America.
The negro planter branched out ia
ther directions. He went to Phila-
elphia and contracted to furnish many
of feet Of mahogany yearly
or ten years. Then he bought up tracts
I mahogany trees in Nicaragua and
Guatemala. At one time he was the
econd largest dealer in mahogany logs
a the world. Everything he touched he
1ade success.
He lives in royal style in the suburbs
f Guatemala City. No one in that
egion except the Barrios ever enter
ain so lavishly as Don Knight and his
rife. Their home is large modern
ouse of plate glass windows, polished
'oods, costly kangings-all furnished
ON New York and New Orleans. A
mall army Of servants attends the
ants of the family.