Yesterday's Architect · c. 1818–1891
Biddy Mason
Enslaved midwife who won her freedom in Mason v. Smith (1856), then worked as a nurse and midwife in Los Angeles and bought downtown land from 1866, becoming the wealthiest Black woman west of the Mississippi. She co-founded First AME Church of Los Angeles and funded schools and aid for Black Angelenos.
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- Jane Johnson Endsley
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- Jordan C. Jackson Jr.
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- Sally Seymour
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- Stephen Smith and William Whipper
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- Cyrus Bustill
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- Elizabeth A. Gloucester
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- Jeremiah G. Hamilton
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- Wilson Ruffin Abbott
Same theme: Real estate and land
People
- business partner of · 1888Charles Owensjointly bought Azusa Street land for the churchBEJ profile
- son-in-lawCharles OwensBEJ profile
- daughterEllen (Mason) OwensBEJ profile
- worked forJohn S. Griffinnurse and midwife at $2.50 per dayBEJ profile
- grandson; inherited the Mason BlockRobert Curry OwensBEJ profile
- worked forRobert Marion Smithenslaved by Smith; later won freedom from him in courtBEJ profile
Institutions and enterprises
- co-founded · 1872First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles (FAME)BEJ profile
- foundedElementary school for Black children (Los Angeles)instrumental in establishing itBEJ profile
- principal benefactor ofFirst African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles (FAME)donated land for first building; hosted organizing meetings in her homeBEJ profile
- foundedTraveler's aid center (Los Angeles)BEJ profile
Places
- worked in · 1856Los Angelesnurse, midwife and real estate investorBEJ profile
- held property in · 1866Los Angelesfirst purchase on Spring Street; later Olive St., Broadway, Eighth and HillBEJ profile
- buried at · 1891Evergreen Cemeteryunmarked grave; tombstone erected March 27, 1988BEJ profile
- worked inMississippienslaved thereBEJ profile
Events
- lived through · 1848Mormon migration westwardwalked about 1,700 miles to the Salt Lake Valley behind the wagon trainBEJ profile
- lived through · 1856Mason v. Smithpetitioner; she and 13 others were declared freeBEJ profile
Themes
Only relationships stated in a BEJ profile or a cited record are shown, each with its source.