The Original Torchbearers
James Carroll Matthew
1852 – 1920
James Carroll Matthew known as ‘Cal Matthews’ was born a slave. At night. the two sons of his owner taught him what they had learned in school that day. He became a skilled reader and lover of books. At the age of thirteen, he joined the Union Army as a water-boy. Carroll was one of the first African American to be a large landowner. He was the first African Ame
Essex Suggs
1873 – 1969
Essex Suggs was vast landowner, owning just under 3000 acres. He provided opportunities to other African Americans to share-croppers on his land. He was known for his abundance of cotton crops and heads of cattle. He took his cattle by train to Kansas City to sale. Essex was a deacon at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Byhalia, MS. He spoke with a speech stutter, but neve
Ben E. Ingram, Jr.
1877 - 1944
Ben Ingram was a highly successful farmer and businessman who owned about 2200 acres of land. The only thing the family needed from the outside world was coffee, flour and salt, everything else he raised on the farm. In 1919, at age 42, Ben was acquitted by an all-white jury of the murder of a white man.