William Cullen Wilcox (August 6, 1850 – January 26, 1928) was an American missionary to South Africa.[1] With his wife, Ida Belle Clary Wilcox, he "adopted" John Dube, who was to be the first President of the African National Congress and the first black founder of a South African school. Ida Wilcox taught Nokutela Mdima who was to become Nokutela Dube. The Wilcoxes arranged for black South Africans to own land, and as a result they were driven out of South Africa in 1918. The South African government conferred the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo on the Wilcoxes for their work in 2009. They "sacrificed all that they had in solidarity with the South African people."
May 13, 1940(1940-05-13) (aged 81) Glendale, California (Ida)
Nationality
American
Occupation
missionaries
Known for
adopting John Dube and giving black people land in Natal
Spouse
Ida Belle Clary Wilcox
Children
eight
LivesEdit
William Cullen Wilcox was born in Richfield, Ohio, to Jeremiah Cullen and Julia Ann (born Wilder) Wilcox.[2] William married Ida Belle Clary Wilcox in Northfield, Minnesota, where she was born.[3] They were to have eight children together.[2]
William was asked to talk to John Dube about his poor behavior at the Adams School in Amanzimtoti. John was the son of the Reverend James Dube who was the Congregational minister at the AZM in Inanda.[6]
In 1887, they were returning to the United States, and Dube and his mother persuaded the missionary couple to take John Dube to the United States where he could further his education. The Wilcoxes agreed on the condition that the child was to maintain himself financially.[6]
In 1888, Wilcox was pastor in Keene Valley Congregational church in New York and he asked Dube to visit him where Wilcox could use Dube's printing skills to create a pamphlet called "Self Support among the Kaffirs" which argued for native South Africans to use self-help to better themselves. Wilcox went on a lecture tour and took the seventeen-year-old Dube with him.[6] Dube gave a number of lectures, which formed the basis of his pamphlet, "A Familiar Talk Upon My native Land and some things found there" (Rochester, N.Y.: R.M. Swinburne & Co. 1891?). [7]
With the Wilcox's help, Dube was able to attend Oberlin College although he also had to find time to work. Dube never graduated but he gathered a basic higher education. Dube returned to Africa to found what became the Ohlange High School in 1901. (Dube founded a newspaper and he was a founder and the first President of the organisation that became the African National Congress.)[6]
In 1909, the Wilcoxes created a company called the Zululand Industrial Improvement Company, which was owned by 300 black South Africans and themselves. The company led to acquiring land for thousands of black natives in Natal Province, which was met with disapproval by the local government.[7]
The Wilcoxes objected to the Natives Land Act of 1913, which restricted the right of people to buy land based on their race. They organised blacks to oppose this law which not only denied them new land but also denied the use of the land to those who already owned it or who were renting it. As a result of their opposition, the couple were driven to bankruptcy in 1918 by the administration and white colonial South Africans who were afraid of what might happen if the native population was allowed to own land. They returned to the United States where their situation was described as destitute.[8]
The Wilcoxes contribution to South Africa's history was recognised when the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize, visited Los Angeles to honour them in 2009. Various politicians and the grandson of the missionary couple, Reverend Jackson Wilcox, attended the ceremony. Mkhize said "William and Ida Belle Wilcox sacrificed all that they had in solidarity with the South African people."[8] Their work was awarded the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo also in 2009 - the highest South African honour available to foreigners.[3] The Wilcoxes were also honoured in a speech by the South African President Jacob Zuma in 2012.[7]
ReferencesEdit
^Oberlin Alumni Magazine. Oberlin College for the Alumni Association. 1928. p. 25. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
^ ab"William Cullen Wilcox", Ancestry.com. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
^ abCohn, Jacob (January 25, 2013). "Professor Cherif Keita's Documentary Film "Cemetery Stories" Links South Africa to Northfield". Carleton College. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
^American Zulu Mission Annual(PDF). Natal: American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 1904–1905. p. 14.
^Coan, Stephen, "It's Nokutela's Turn", The Witness, via News24, November 2, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
^ abcd"Dube Biography". Oberlin.edu. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
^ abc"Zuma: Address by the President of South Africa, at the 100 year celebration conference of the women's organisation of the United Congregational Church of Southern African KZN region". polity.org.za. March 31, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
^ ab"Premier Honours Struggle Allies". The Witness. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. November 12, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
^Nkele, Amaka (2010). "The Reverend John Langalibalele Dube". AfroStyleMag.org. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
October 15, 2023
william, cullen, wilcox, august, 1850, january, 1928, american, missionary, south, africa, with, wife, belle, clary, wilcox, adopted, john, dube, first, president, african, national, congress, first, black, founder, south, african, school, wilcox, taught, noku. William Cullen Wilcox August 6 1850 January 26 1928 was an American missionary to South Africa 1 With his wife Ida Belle Clary Wilcox he adopted John Dube who was to be the first President of the African National Congress and the first black founder of a South African school Ida Wilcox taught Nokutela Mdima who was to become Nokutela Dube The Wilcoxes arranged for black South Africans to own land and as a result they were driven out of South Africa in 1918 The South African government conferred the Order of the Companions of O R Tambo on the Wilcoxes for their work in 2009 They sacrificed all that they had in solidarity with the South African people William and Ida WilcoxIda and Rev WilcoxBorn 1850 08 06 August 6 1850Richfield Ohio William 1858 12 29 December 29 1858Northfield Minnesota Ida DiedJanuary 26 1928 1928 01 26 aged 77 Glendale California William May 13 1940 1940 05 13 aged 81 Glendale California Ida NationalityAmericanOccupationmissionariesKnown foradopting John Dube and giving black people land in NatalSpouseIda Belle Clary WilcoxChildreneightLives EditWilliam Cullen Wilcox was born in Richfield Ohio to Jeremiah Cullen and Julia Ann born Wilder Wilcox 2 William married Ida Belle Clary Wilcox in Northfield Minnesota where she was born 3 They were to have eight children together 2 They were sent to South Africa as missionaries by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and they arrived in Inanda north of Durban in 1881 This was a substantial mission known as the American Zulu Mission or AZM 4 Ida Wilcox taught girls including the future Nokutela Dube and Ida wrote a regular contribution for Rice County Journal in Northfield Minnesota to publicize their work 5 William was asked to talk to John Dube about his poor behavior at the Adams School in Amanzimtoti John was the son of the Reverend James Dube who was the Congregational minister at the AZM in Inanda 6 nbsp In 1887 they were returning to the United States and Dube and his mother persuaded the missionary couple to take John Dube to the United States where he could further his education The Wilcoxes agreed on the condition that the child was to maintain himself financially 6 In 1888 Wilcox was pastor in Keene Valley Congregational church in New York and he asked Dube to visit him where Wilcox could use Dube s printing skills to create a pamphlet called Self Support among the Kaffirs which argued for native South Africans to use self help to better themselves Wilcox went on a lecture tour and took the seventeen year old Dube with him 6 Dube gave a number of lectures which formed the basis of his pamphlet A Familiar Talk Upon My native Land and some things found there Rochester N Y R M Swinburne amp Co 1891 7 nbsp With the Wilcox s help Dube was able to attend Oberlin College although he also had to find time to work Dube never graduated but he gathered a basic higher education Dube returned to Africa to found what became the Ohlange High School in 1901 Dube founded a newspaper and he was a founder and the first President of the organisation that became the African National Congress 6 In 1909 the Wilcoxes created a company called the Zululand Industrial Improvement Company which was owned by 300 black South Africans and themselves The company led to acquiring land for thousands of black natives in Natal Province which was met with disapproval by the local government 7 The Wilcoxes objected to the Natives Land Act of 1913 which restricted the right of people to buy land based on their race They organised blacks to oppose this law which not only denied them new land but also denied the use of the land to those who already owned it or who were renting it As a result of their opposition the couple were driven to bankruptcy in 1918 by the administration and white colonial South Africans who were afraid of what might happen if the native population was allowed to own land They returned to the United States where their situation was described as destitute 8 William and Ida Wilcox died in poverty in Glendale California in 1928 and 1940 respectively They were buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale 9 Legacy EditThe Wilcoxes contribution to South Africa s history was recognised when the Premier of KwaZulu Natal Dr Zweli Mkhize visited Los Angeles to honour them in 2009 Various politicians and the grandson of the missionary couple Reverend Jackson Wilcox attended the ceremony Mkhize said William and Ida Belle Wilcox sacrificed all that they had in solidarity with the South African people 8 Their work was awarded the Order of the Companions of O R Tambo also in 2009 the highest South African honour available to foreigners 3 The Wilcoxes were also honoured in a speech by the South African President Jacob Zuma in 2012 7 References Edit Oberlin Alumni Magazine Oberlin College for the Alumni Association 1928 p 25 Retrieved August 8 2013 a b William Cullen Wilcox Ancestry com Retrieved August 1 2013 a b Cohn Jacob January 25 2013 Professor Cherif Keita s Documentary Film Cemetery Stories Links South Africa to Northfield Carleton College Retrieved August 1 2013 American Zulu Mission Annual PDF Natal American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions 1904 1905 p 14 Coan Stephen It s Nokutela s Turn The Witness via News24 November 2 2011 Retrieved June 15 2014 a b c d Dube Biography Oberlin edu Retrieved August 1 2013 a b c Zuma Address by the President of South Africa at the 100 year celebration conference of the women s organisation of the United Congregational Church of Southern African KZN region polity org za March 31 2012 Retrieved August 1 2013 a b Premier Honours Struggle Allies The Witness Pietermaritzburg South Africa November 12 2009 Retrieved August 1 2013 Nkele Amaka 2010 The Reverend John Langalibalele Dube AfroStyleMag org Retrieved August 1 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Cullen Wilcox amp oldid 1051360619, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
