Apr 21, 2017 Orange County Review
Who knew there would be such an incredible response to the photo of the men from Virginia who traveled to Pittsburgh, PA for work? The interest has been over the moon, but we still have had no suggestions as to who those fine-looking men might be.
In response, I am supplying additional information and hoping for some names. Also, leaving no stone unturned, I have reached out to a historian friend in Pittsburgh—an extremely knowledgeable researcher and publisher of Black history in the Steel City. You can be sure I will report all findings in future articles. Enjoy the new photo and the data included here.
Research supports the previous supposition that it was Tucker McDaniel (1867-1930) of Orange County who migrated to Pittsburgh. A city directory for Pittsburgh, PA places Tucker McDaniel in the city by 1896 and the 1900 census record supplies even further and very interesting data. But before we go there, it is most interesting to report what is included in his biography on the Find A Grave link—a burial in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh. Tucker McDaniel was the son of Madison McDaniel and Frances Ellis and the grandson of Benjamin McDaniel, a man known to have been enslaved by James Madison at Montpelier. There are numerous documents that identify Benjamin McDaniel and his duties.
Further connecting Tucker McDaniel and his descendants with deep roots in Orange County is his wife’s heritage. Tucker was married to Tudie Willis, also of Orange County.
Now that you know a bit about their background, let’s see what was going on in their household in 1900.
The census record indicates that the McDaniels were renting a house at 209 N. Euclid Ave. in Pittsburgh and with them were six children. However, the most interesting detail is the names of eight men boarding with the family: all from Virginia and all working as day laborers. Their names are: Benjamin Hill, Charles Ellis, Thomas Moore, Nelson Ellis, Luke McDaniel, Humphrey Ware, Louis Ellis and William Johnson and their ages range from 19 to 35.
No doubt, the house was crowded, but that only affirms the commitment to helping one another get ahead.
The 1910 and 1920 census records indicate that McDaniel bought the house by 1910, had a couple more children, and was promoted to foreman for the paving company. Neither one of those records reveal a significant number of Virginians living in the immediate neighborhood nor as boarders with the McDaniels. They may have been living elsewhere; it will take a bit more research to follow those names.
The paving company was known as Booth and Flinn Contracting Company and according to Pittsburgh history, William Flinn had quite a monopoly on street paving in the city until others enforced a more egalitarian bidding process after the early 1900s. Apparently, he and a powerful politician by the name of Christopher Lyman Magee were extremely supportive of one another’s ambitions.
Flinn and company were the pavers of the streets in the tonier outlying sections of Pittsburgh. The photo of the men from Orange paving streets with asphalt appears to be in a residential area.
In this photo, only Fred Ellis (1876-1952), of Orange County, has been identified as the man standing second from the left. Hopefully, with this additional photo and the names from the 1900 Census, we just might receive more names. Please give it a good look!
Until next week, be well.
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