Doctors

**S.C. Watson, M.D.
After practicing medicine in the Chatham area for a few years. Dr. Samuel Watson moved to Detroit, Michigan where he started a lucrative drug store business. He was a political activist serving on the Common Council for the City of Detroit and was also the first black delegate from the north to the Republican National Convention in 1884.

**Dr. Delany (1812-1885)
Physician and Surgeon
He was a Worldwide traveler and advocate for black reform. He moved to the Chatham area in 1856 at the age of 44 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started a practice here and also lectured and wrote (for periodicals) for the cause of black reform. He also attended the John Brown Convention. He left Chatham during the Civil War and became a recruitment officer (a Major) and army Doctor for the Union Army.

More on Doctor Delany

**Doctor Aray
Dr. Amos Aray arrived in Chatham in 1856 and boarded with Mr. and Mrs. I.D. Shadd. His wife arrived some time later after the doctor had established himself. Dr. Aray appears to have been a physician who maintained the health of Amelia Shadd and had a flourishing practice in the area for some time. Although he was not as active in public affairs as some, he was know to be a very knowledgeable man.

**Dr. R.M. Johnson
Another noticable physician was Dr. R.M. Johnson. Dr. Johnson came to Chatham in 1852 from Jackson County, Mississippi. In 1893 his daughter, Sarah Agnes, married Mr. Authur St. George Richardson B.A., principal of Morros Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia.

***Dr. Thomas Joiner White
Dr. Thomas Joiner White was born free in Virigina in 1831 and relocated to New York City with his family, graduated from Bowdoin College in 1852 and became a respected physician and activist in New York's black Community. White married and moved to Canada West, first to Hamilton in 1856 and then Chatham in 1859. William Wells Brown referred to Dr. White as "first on the list of his profession in Chatham," in regards to education, medical skill and pastronage. During the summer of 1863, while preparing to return to the United States to join a black union regiment, White died of cholera.

***Dr. Samuel Russell
Dr. Samuel Russell was a black physician and herbolist who kept a medical office next to the Provincial Feeman newspaper in the Charity building (Charity Block). Drs. John Riley and Joseph Riley are also found in the 1861 census for the Town of Chatham. Robinson and Robinson also mention a Dr. R.M. Johnson, who came to Chatham in 1852 from Jackson County, Mississippi. In 1893, his daughter, Sarah Agnes, is said to have married Mr. Arthur St. George Richardson B.A., principal of Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Doctor's Advertisements

Source:
***Seek the Truth: A Story of Chatham's Black Community By: Gwen Robinson
**Celebrating the Legancy: Chatham's Black Heritage
By: Adrienne Shadd, Writer and Reseacher, July 6, 2004

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Artists

Artis Lane, a native of the area and a descendent of slaves, is a renowned sculptor and artist. Her works are collected by Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier, Lionel Richie, Michael Jordan and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cosby. The social content of her works including "The Beginning" - Rosa Parks and "The Tear" on the face of America have garnered her acclaim in the art world. Ms. Lane was one of the personages to open the W.I.S.H. Centre.

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Blocks in Chatham

A "block" was a large building (usually in the main business district) that housed more than one business. This was common in the late 1800's and the early 1900's. Some of these "blocks" were owned and operated by Blacks.

The Boyd Block
This consisted of a mill and warehouse on Third Street at the bridge. The building was owned and operated by Mr. Grandison Boyd. The building consisted of three floors which house the equiptment necessary for the refinement of oats. This was one of the major milling businesses in the Chatham area. The mill, which opened in 1876, flourished until 1881 when the mill was totally destroyed by fire. Even though Grandison Boyd built and owned the block, Mr. Issac Holden had partial ownership in the milling business.

The Murray Block
This was located on King Street near William Street and was built by Nathaniel Murray. This housed a shoe store, operated by Mr. Murray. His shoemaking skills were taught to him by his father, Samuel Murray, before leaving Pennsylvania for Chatham. The front portion of the store is where he sold China and at the rear was his shoe store and shoe repairing.