Rev. Stephen Smith (1797–1873) was an African American businessman, philanthropist, preacher, real estate developer, and abolitionist.[1][2] He had lived in Pennsylvania in the 19th-century and contributed large amounts of his wealth in the effort to abolish slavery.[3] Smith had been an agent of the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia.[4] He co-founded and owned "Smith, Whipper & Co." a lumber business in Columbia, Pennsylvania; and later helped found the "Stephen Smith Home for the Aged".
Stephan Smith
Born
1797
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died
1873
U.S.
Occupation(s)
Businessman, philanthropist, preacher, real estate developer, abolitionist
Stephen Smith was born in 1797 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania to an enslaved black woman named Nancy Smith.[5][2] At the age of 5, he became the indentured servant to the Pennsylvanian politician, Thomas Boude. At the age of 21, Smith had gathered enough money to purchase his freedom. In 1818, Smith purchased his freedom for US $50 (~$956.00 in 2022).
Business careeredit
Men of Color Civil War Recruitment Broadside (1863), written by Frederick Douglass and signed by Smith
After purchasing his freedom Smith had big plans ahead of him and in the same year of 1816 Smith opened up his own lumber business in Columbia, Pennsylvania. Smith would be very successful in the lumber business and looked for partners to grow his business even bigger. In the early 1830s Smith formed a partnership with William Whipper. Smith and Whipper would go and have huge success in the Lumber, coal, Philadelphia real estate, railroad cars, and investments in the stock market. Smith would make a big fortune with all that money Smith put it to good use and became a true leader of the black community in their efforts to fight slavery.
In 1830 Smith was a chairman of the African American Abolitionist Organization in the town of Colombia, Pennsylvania.[6] Smith attended national colored conventions of the free black people held in New York State in 1834 and in Philadelphia in 1835.[2]
Word go out of Smith's success and many people grew jealous and felt the need to send Smith a message. In 1835 a group of unknown people vandalized the office of Smith and destroyed all his papers and records.[6] This incident motivated Smith to abolish slavery more and more in the area. Smith would acquire a small hall in the area where African Americans would hold meetings. Smith would also help the local underground railroad that would run through Maryland and provide help all the way to Canada.[5] After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 Whipper and Smith persuaded 15,000 African Americans to make their way to a new start in Canada.[6]
In 1864, Smith worked with the white Quakers in establishing the House for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons, which was later renamed the Stephen Smith Home for the Aged.[2][7]
Smith eventually died in 1873 of unknown reason.[3]
^ abArkles, Janine Black (2015). "Philadelphia Periwigs, Perfumes, and Purpose: Black Barber and Social Activist Joseph Cassey, 1789–1848". Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies. 82 (2).
^ abDe Vera, Samantha. "Mobility, Migration, And The 1855 Philadelphia National Convention". Colored Conventions.
^"Smith, Stephen, William Still: An African-American Abolitionist". Temple University Libraries, Temple University. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
^ abRipley, C. Peter (1991). The Black Abolitionist Papers. The university of North Carolina. pp. 316. ISBN9780807864395.
^ abc"Stephen Smith (1795–1873)". BlackPast. 18 January 2007.
^Consumer problems of the minority elderly: hearing before the Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer Interests of the Select Committee on Aging, House of Representatives, Ninety-fourth Congress, second session ... May 14, 1976. United States Congress House Select Committee on Aging Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer Interests. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1976. pp. 3–4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
External linksedit
Colored Conventions
December 15, 2023
stephen, smith, abolitionist, stephen, smith, 1797, 1873, african, american, businessman, philanthropist, preacher, real, estate, developer, abolitionist, lived, pennsylvania, 19th, century, contributed, large, amounts, wealth, effort, abolish, slavery, smith,. Rev Stephen Smith 1797 1873 was an African American businessman philanthropist preacher real estate developer and abolitionist 1 2 He had lived in Pennsylvania in the 19th century and contributed large amounts of his wealth in the effort to abolish slavery 3 Smith had been an agent of the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia 4 He co founded and owned Smith Whipper amp Co a lumber business in Columbia Pennsylvania and later helped found the Stephen Smith Home for the Aged Stephan SmithBorn1797Dauphin County Pennsylvania U S Died1873U S Occupation s Businessman philanthropist preacher real estate developer abolitionist Contents 1 Early life 2 Business career 3 Abolitionist and philanthropist 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editStephen Smith was born in 1797 in Dauphin County Pennsylvania to an enslaved black woman named Nancy Smith 5 2 At the age of 5 he became the indentured servant to the Pennsylvanian politician Thomas Boude At the age of 21 Smith had gathered enough money to purchase his freedom In 1818 Smith purchased his freedom for US 50 956 00 in 2022 Business career edit nbsp Men of Color Civil War Recruitment Broadside 1863 written by Frederick Douglass and signed by SmithAfter purchasing his freedom Smith had big plans ahead of him and in the same year of 1816 Smith opened up his own lumber business in Columbia Pennsylvania Smith would be very successful in the lumber business and looked for partners to grow his business even bigger In the early 1830s Smith formed a partnership with William Whipper Smith and Whipper would go and have huge success in the Lumber coal Philadelphia real estate railroad cars and investments in the stock market Smith would make a big fortune with all that money Smith put it to good use and became a true leader of the black community in their efforts to fight slavery Smith was one of the wealthiest 19th century black Philadelphians holding this title alongside Frederick Douglass James Forten Robert Purvis Rev Richard Allen Rev Peter Williams Jr Absalom Jones William Whipper and Joseph Cassey 1 Abolitionist and philanthropist editIn 1830 Smith was a chairman of the African American Abolitionist Organization in the town of Colombia Pennsylvania 6 Smith attended national colored conventions of the free black people held in New York State in 1834 and in Philadelphia in 1835 2 Word go out of Smith s success and many people grew jealous and felt the need to send Smith a message In 1835 a group of unknown people vandalized the office of Smith and destroyed all his papers and records 6 This incident motivated Smith to abolish slavery more and more in the area Smith would acquire a small hall in the area where African Americans would hold meetings Smith would also help the local underground railroad that would run through Maryland and provide help all the way to Canada 5 After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 Whipper and Smith persuaded 15 000 African Americans to make their way to a new start in Canada 6 In 1864 Smith worked with the white Quakers in establishing the House for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons which was later renamed the Stephen Smith Home for the Aged 2 7 Smith eventually died in 1873 of unknown reason 3 See also editHistory of African Americans in PhiladelphiaReferences edit a b Arkles Janine Black 2015 Philadelphia Periwigs Perfumes and Purpose Black Barber and Social Activist Joseph Cassey 1789 1848 Pennsylvania History A Journal of Mid Atlantic Studies 82 2 a b c d Smith Stephen Encyclopedia com Retrieved 2023 01 17 a b De Vera Samantha Mobility Migration And The 1855 Philadelphia National Convention Colored Conventions Smith Stephen William Still An African American Abolitionist Temple University Libraries Temple University Retrieved 2023 01 17 a b Ripley C Peter 1991 The Black Abolitionist Papers The university of North Carolina pp 316 ISBN 9780807864395 a b c Stephen Smith 1795 1873 BlackPast 18 January 2007 Consumer problems of the minority elderly hearing before the Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer Interests of the Select Committee on Aging House of Representatives Ninety fourth Congress second session May 14 1976 United States Congress House Select Committee on Aging Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer Interests U S Government Printing Office 1976 pp 3 4 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link External links editColored Conventions Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephen Smith abolitionist amp oldid 1175857945, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
