Slave And Freeman by George Knox

Author:George Knox [Knox, George]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, Cultural; Ethnic & Regional, General, Social Science, Ethnic Studies, American, African American & Black Studies, Slavery, History, United States, Civil War Period (1850-1877)
ISBN: 9780813194165
Google: N-UzEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Published: 2021-12-14T05:20:48+00:00

PART THREE

Foremost Black Citizen of Indiana:

INDIANAPOLIS, 1884-1894

IN 1884 IN A CONVERSATION WITH MR. MESSICK, A MEMBER of the firm of Messick, Cones & Co., Indianapolis, Ind., I expressed a desire to open a business in that city, and requested him that if he saw an opening at any time to apprise me. He shortly afterwards apprised me of an opening on Meridian Street, between Washington and Pearl streets. This was in the month of February, 1884.

On the day of the unveiling of Governor Morton’s monument,1 I suggested to my wife that I go to Indianapolis as I had received information of a good location there and was anxious to investigate the matter. She readily endorsed the proposition. Once in Indianapolis, I was present at the unveiling of the monument, dedicated to the great war Governor, Oliver P. Morton, and after those ceremonies were over, I made some inquiries in regard to the room and location suggested to me by Mr. Messick. I was informed by the parties in charge that the room would not be rented for a barber shop and that Mr. Conduitt,2 then, as now, one of the leading wholesale merchants of the city and property owner[s], did not want to rent it for such a purpose. I was, however, not deterred by this first set-back, as it is somewhat of a characteristic of mine not to take anything for granted but to see for myself. I made it my business to call upon him and was met by a Mr. [John N.] Scott, his legal council [sic], who informed Mr. Conduitt that there was a colored man who desired to see him about renting the room for a barber shop. He said he did not want to see me, as he did not want to rent his room for such a purpose.

Mr. Scott rather insisted “that he had better see him as he is a pretty good-looking fellow.” He said alright, let him come in, and asking me to take a seat, I told him my business, and that I had come for the purpose of renting his room for a barber shop. He reiterated that he did not want to rent his room for a barber shop. I said: “Suppose I should run a barber shop and conduct it with the same business precision and care that you would a dry goods or grocery store, you would not object to me having it then, would you?” He told me that would be a difficult thing to do and I replied I could do it and could give references as to my manner of doing business, and named a number of businessmen in Greenfield that he could communicate with as to the creditability of my word and my manner of conducting business.

I felt somewhat flattered at his reply, which was to the effect that he did not desire any references as my face was a sufficient recommend[ation] to him. The room, he said, would rent for $150 a month as it was, but he would cut it about half in two and that would make the rent about $66.

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