William R. Pettiford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William R. Pettiford
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Pettiford in 1887
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| Born | January 20, 1847 |
| Died | September 20, 1914 (aged 67) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Lincoln Normal School, Selma University, Shaw University |
| Occupation | Minister, educator, banker |
| Political party | Republican |
| Religion | Baptist |
William R. Pettiford (born January 20, 1847 – died September 20, 1914) was an important leader in Birmingham, Alabama. He was a minister and a banker. He helped build up the African American community in many ways. People called him one of the most important leaders for Black people in Birmingham during his time. He even founded a bank that helped many people.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Reuben Pettiford was born in Granville County, North Carolina. His birthday was January 20, 1847. His parents, William and Matilda Pettiford, were free Black people. They owned a farm. William helped on the farm and learned to read on weekends.
When he was about ten, his family moved to Person County, North Carolina. There, William got a tutor and more formal lessons.
On July 4, 1868, William became a Baptist. He was baptized by Rev. Ezekiel Horton. He worked as a clerk at the Pleasant Grove church. On July 4, 1869, he married Mary Jane Farley. Sadly, she died in 1870. He married Jennie Powell in 1873, but she also passed away in 1874. On November 23, 1880, he married Della Boyd. They had at least three children. Their oldest child, Carry Bell Pettiford, was born in 1882.
A Leader in the Church
In 1869, William moved to Selma, Alabama. He worked as a farm hand and a teacher. He studied at the State Normal School in Marion, Alabama for seven years. He taught and farmed to pay for his education.
He became a principal at a school in Uniontown, Alabama. He left that job in 1877 to finish his studies. In 1878, he became a teacher at the Selma Institute. This school later became Selma University. He also studied theology there.
In 1879, he was allowed to preach at the Baptist Church in Marion. Later that year, he became a financial agent for the State Baptist Convention. In 1880, he became the pastor of a church in Union Springs, Alabama.
In 1883, he moved to the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. He was very good at raising money for the church. He helped build a new church building that cost $25,000. The number of people attending the church also grew a lot under his leadership.
Helping His Community
William Pettiford was a strong community leader. In 1887, he helped start the Robert Brown Elliot School of Technology in Birmingham. This was the first school of its kind for Black people in the U.S.
By 1887, he was a major leader in the Baptist Church in Alabama. He was president of the Ministerial Association in Birmingham. He was also on the board of trustees at Selma University. He led the Negro American Publishing Company.
He worked to help Black people have a stronger voice in politics. In 1889, he met with President Benjamin Harrison. They talked about the needs of Republicans in Alabama. They also discussed including more Black people in politics.
In 1895, he wrote a book called Divinity in Wedlock. It was about Christian marriage. In the late 1890s, Pettiford and other pastors asked the city to create a public high school for African Americans. This school, called Industrial High School, opened in 1900.
In 1902, he helped organize aid for victims of a terrible event. Over 100 people died in a stampede at the Shiloh Baptist Church. He also helped start theological classes at the Sixteenth Street church. These classes grew into what is now the Birmingham-Easonian Baptist Bible College.
Pettiford also started the Christian Aid Society at his church. This group helped sick members and paid for funerals. He was active in the Birmingham Negro Business League. He also worked with other ministers on civil rights issues. He fought against unfair Jim Crow laws.
Starting a Bank
William Pettiford saw that his community needed a bank. He was inspired by the success of another Black-owned bank in Virginia. So, he decided to start a local bank for his community.
The Alabama Penny Savings Company opened on October 15, 1890. Pettiford worked with others like Peter F. Clarke and B. H. Hudson Sr. to make it happen. Pettiford was the main leader behind the bank. He wanted to stay a pastor, but the directors felt it was important for him to be president. They believed people would trust the bank more with him in charge.
He reluctantly took the role of president. Four years later, he left his job as a pastor to focus on the bank full-time. Even then, he still saw himself as a preacher and continued to preach sometimes.
Pettiford believed in self-help and Black people working together. He also got help from white leaders. They helped train employees and supported the bank financially. For example, the Steiner Brothers helped the bank survive a money crisis in 1893. He also wrote a book in 1895 called God's Revenue System. It was about how financial success and spiritual success were connected.
In 1906, Pettiford helped create the National Negro Banking Association. By 1913, the bank was very successful. It had over $540,000 in assets. This would be like millions of dollars today. The bank also had branches across the state. Pettiford's leadership was key to the bank's success. Sadly, the bank closed soon after he died.
Later Life and Death
William Pettiford became sick in March 1914. He took a break from leading the bank. J. O. Diffay took over for him.
Pettiford died from heart failure on September 20, 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was 67 years old. His funeral was held at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.
Images for kids
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W R Pettiford in 1902
