James Hamlin facts for kids
.jpg)
James Edwards Hamlin (1859–1924) was an important American leader. He was a military officer, a successful businessman, and a politician. Born in Virginia, he went to Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hamlin started with various jobs, then became a postal clerk, and later opened his own business. In 1898, he joined the military and became a captain. He served in the Philippines before coming back to North Carolina in 1901. A few years later, he helped start a drug store in Raleigh, which became famous as Hamlin Drug. James Hamlin was a member of the Republican Party and supported workers' rights. He also served on the Raleigh Board of Aldermen for many years, helping to make decisions for the city.
Contents
Who Was James Hamlin?
James Hamlin was born in 1859 in Virginia, United States. He studied hard and earned a degree from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1885, he married Annie W. Foushee. They had two children together.
Hamlin's Work and Military Service
James Hamlin had many different jobs throughout his life. He first worked in tailoring and pressing clothes. Later, he got a job at a United States Post Office. After leaving the post office, he worked as a fishmonger, selling fish. He even moved to New York City for a short time to work on a dining car. However, he decided to return to Raleigh to open his own saloon. He also joined the North Carolina Industrial Association, which was a trade group for Black business owners.
In 1898, Hamlin joined the military. He became part of Company B of the North Carolina 32nd Volunteers at Fort Macon. They were preparing to serve in the Spanish-American War. On May 6, the Governor of North Carolina, Daniel Lindsay Russell, made him a captain in charge of his company. Later that year, he asked for time off to take care of his businesses. The war ended quickly, but Hamlin chose to join the military again. In October 1899, he went to Fort Thomas, Kentucky to find new soldiers. He then served for two years in the Philippines. He returned to North Carolina on July 8, 1901, bringing with him a young boy from the Philippines whom he had adopted.
At the start of 1904, a new rule changed how drinks could be sold in Raleigh. Hamlin changed his saloon on Wilmington Street into a restaurant and pool hall. That same year, Hamlin and Walter T. Harris opened People's Drug Store. It was located on East Hargett Street in Raleigh. This pharmacy helped Black doctors fill prescriptions for their patients. It also had a soda fountain that was very popular with local students. They even had a lunch counter. In 1905, he helped start the Capitol Building and Loan Association. This was a special bank for Black people to help them buy homes. People's Drug Store was renamed Hamlin Drug two years later. In 1916, Hamlin bought out Harris's share of the business. This made him the full owner. Hamlin also bought a second drug store in Raleigh. He owned shares in a third one in Bluefield. He used a lot of his money to buy land and buildings.
Hamlin's Role in Politics
Hamlin was a member of the Republican Party. In the 1880s, he got a job as a general delivery clerk for the Raleigh post office. This was a political appointment. He strongly supported organized labor, which means groups that work to protect the rights of workers. He was a main Black leader in the local branch of the Knights of Labor. When he traveled for business, he encouraged others to form similar groups. In 1883, Hamlin was elected to the Raleigh Board of Aldermen. He represented the 4th Ward. On May 15, the board met to choose a mayor. However, some members tried to stop several Republicans, including Hamlin, from taking their seats. Hamlin was told he could not serve because he worked at the post office. In the 1890s, he joined other Black parents. They worked together to ask the public school leader to let them be more involved in their children's education.
By 1899, Hamlin was serving on the Raleigh Board of Aldermen, still representing the 4th Ward. In May 1901, Hamlin and Charles Williams were the only two Black men to leave their positions on the board. This happened as Jim Crow racial segregation became stronger in Raleigh. Later that year, he became a temporary Recorder of Deeds in Washington. In 1917, he helped start the Raleigh chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This group works for equal rights for all people. In 1919, he was the only Black person in Raleigh to serve as a notary public. A notary public can legally witness signatures on important documents.
Later Years
James Hamlin passed away in 1924. He was buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery. His family took over his drug store. They sold it in 1957. The store finally closed its doors in 2017.
