The Appeal., 1910-09-24
MINNEAPOLIS
In National, State, County and City
Circles

In National, State, County and City
Circles.
About the time THE APPEAL came
under it's present management there
came to Minneapolis the Rev. John
w. Dungee-a minister who in add
tlon to spiritual counsel gave his peo-
PIE IDEAS IN material development
which endure to this day.
He built Bethesda Baptist Church,
beautiful place in which his people
might worship. Then looking around
him in the business world, saw there
helds ripe for development.
civil service had shortly been made
the key to governmental employment
and Rev. Dungee decided that the
post office needed it's quota of Afro
Americans. He induced Will NJ.
Smith to stand for the examination,
who having: done this successfully,
and received an appointment "a way
to pleasant and remunerative work
was opened which has never closed,
but as the years pass is giving en-
trance still to worthy and capable
men. DR.. Fred G. Nelson, well known
in the Twin Cities, followed Mr..
Smith in the service.
The genial Nelson of those days
did not possess his medical degree,
but while giving efficient service to
Uncle Sam was schooling himself for
the profession which later he re-
signed from the postal sekvice to
practice.
A few years later the service was
enriched by the employment of Mr.
w. G. Jeffrey, who is still one of it's
most dependable workers. Mr. Jeffrey
is best known to the people of the
Twin Cities as capable musician
For years his work as director of the
st. Thomas Choir and later as di.
rector Of the Minneapolis Choral
Study Club has brought him favorably
before our people.
When Mr.. John S. Wright and his
charming wife came to Minneapolis
some years ago the post office looked
good to him and straightWay he an
nexed it and has ever since been
among the best of that little colony
of capable Afro-Americans. These
men were all clerks, so, for the sake
of variety, when Robr. j. Coleman
Joined the service he did so as a let
ter carrier. In all the departments
there has never been more efficient
nor more faithful carrier than Mr..
Coleman. The friends he made in the
service all still regretting that failing
health caused him at last to give up
the work. Very lately Mr. Louis
Marshall. having for more than two
years plucldly "subbed,' has been
added to the carrier service
Mr.. Willis A. Golfer and Mr.. David
S. Francis, best known among the
younger set, are connected with the
service and by faithfulness and ef-
ficiency are adding to the reputation
of Uncle Sans Afro-American postal
servants. Several of the young boys
have been given places as special
messengers and it is authoritively
stated that Jasper Gibbs. Jr., is by
long odds the most satisfactory of
any who have served in such position
white or black.
Before the establishment of civil
service when federal jobs were the
reward of political activity but few
AfrO-Americans were successful in
attaching themselves to anything
worth while. 1t is recalled that Mr..
William Grey was connected with
the railway mail service and Mr.. jeff
Fite with the postal service. 1t is
most significant that since employ
ment is given to any on the basis
of merit there has been no lack of
those willing to try, and a steady in
crease in those who have succeeded.
Mr. George TOlbert is the only Afro
American in the railway mail service
with headquarters in Minneapolis.
He is steadily climbing to the top.
For many years Afro-Americans in
Minnesota have, in recognition of
their political strength, been given
various positions in state, county and
city. Hennepin county and Mime
apolis have had a number. If these
have not been as numerous as the
growing Importance of the Afro Amer
ican vote should obtain it is at least
gratifying to note that in each in
stance the Office has been most
worthily filled. When Minneapolis
was much younger and a much small
er city, J. A. Brady patrolled her
streets and was for years her one
Afro-American officer. Before Mr..
Brady retired and since, others have