2023 24 Black Pages FINAL 2 - Flipbook - Page 102
Excerpt From MACON-MIDDLE GEORGIA BLACK PAGES 1991 MBP First Printed Edi琀椀on:
BLACK BUSINESS A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
During the era of slavery very few blacks
were involved in business adventures. The system
did not create an incen琀椀ve in their struggle for
educa琀椀on, health, poli琀椀cal or economic prosperity.
Some were able to peddle their goods within the
community while others established li琀琀le store
fronts within their homes.
However, there were a few excep琀椀ons throughout
the Middle Georgia area. For example, Solomon
Humphries, a free black who came to Macon
during the early 1800’s, was a successful merchant
and co琀琀on dealer. He owned a thriving business
on the lower end of Cherry Street in which he
employed white clerks and entertained many
prominent whites in his two-story house on Broadway. Although he gained the respect of whites and the
wealthy, he had no legal rights and had to register each year with the clerk of the superior court. He
purchased his freedom and that of his wife Patsy and his father Cyrus during the 1820’s. In theory Humphries
had his loved ones in his possession as “slaves” for several years. The state laws required that an act of
Georgia legislature was required to legi琀椀mize their freedom. He applied to the legislature for an act to
emancipate Patsy and Cyrus in 1830, but the state lawmakers denied his request un琀椀l 1834. In August 1855,
the editor of The Macon Georgia Journal and Messenger pointed out about Humphries that “he was a
resident of this place at it’s earliest se琀琀lement, and since that 琀椀me has been well known -----昀椀rst, as a small
trader, and a昀琀erward, for many years, as a merchant and co琀琀on dealer.” By the 1830’s, “Free Sol”, as he was
called, operated a general store. He ran the following ad in Macon Telegraph in May and June 1832:
“Just received from New York and Charleston, a large handsome assortment of dry goods, groceries, hardware
and cutlery, crockery, hats, shoes, bridles, saddles, linseed and lamp oil, iron, window glass, pu琀琀y, salt,
blacksmith’s tools, etc.”
Humphries was also one of the early landholders in Macon. In August 1831, he purchased part of a
lot in East Macon from John T. Lamar. As required by state law, land that he purchased a昀琀er 1831 was through
his guardian, Charles J. McDonald. In 1835, his property for tax purposes was valued at $7,900. In 1852, he
purchased 昀椀昀琀een acres through McDonald on the west side of the Ocmulgee River.
Between the 1830’s and 1880’s Edward Woodli昀昀, a free black, was recognized as one of Macon’s bestknown barbers. He came to Macon in 1832 and “opened a 昀椀rst-class barber shop.” An adver琀椀sement which
appeared in The Macon Telegraph on August 6,1850 is both informa琀椀ve and sugges琀椀ve: Edward Woodli昀昀
respec琀昀ully informs his old customers and the Public that he has removed his Barber Shop from the Floyd
House to the Lanier House, where he has 昀椀琀琀ed up his room to very superior style and will be happy to wait
upon all who desire his services. Hair Dressing, Shampooing, etc., a琀琀ended to in a manner that cannot fail to
please.
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