SITE & FAMILY TIMELINE

1

©Historic Columbia Foundation, 2012

SITE & FAMILY TIMELINE

HOUSEHOLD 1 BEN DELANE AND CELIA MANN

1799 Celia Mann is born into slavery in Charleston. How she obtained her freedom

remains unknown. She may have been owned by John Spencer Mann, Jr. of Charleston or the William Main family of Charleston and Columbia.

1800 Ben DeLane is born into slavery in Charleston. He may have been owned by the

DeLeon family (a wealthy Jewish family involved in the slave trade) in Charleston and brought by the family to Columbia. Edwin J. Scott in his Random Recollections of a Long Life (1884) writes of DeLane: “While a slave DeLane hired his time and purchased two boats, commanded one himself and employed hands to work the other, which he ran on the river—the two always going together. His character for industry and integrity was beyond reproach and he could get credit for all he asked.” Likely DeLane purchased his freedom with the money he earned running boats, but so far no supporting documents have been located.

1831 Agnes Jackson, the youngest daughter of Celia Mann, is

born. Jackson had three sisters, (Dinah Collins, Juliana Miller, and Nancy Smith) known only though Celia's will and family oral history. Their birth dates are not known. Family history tells of Jackson’s sisters moving to Boston and crossing the color line. Mann would have been 32 when Agnes was born.

1837 Celia Mann is baptized at the First Baptist Church on Plain (Hampton) Street. The

entry lists her as “wife of and belonging to Ben DeLane.” This is the earliest date we know Mann is in Columbia. The language suggests that DeLane owned Mann at this time.

1840 The Federal Census lists a “Ben Dleon” as a free African American and head-of-

household in Columbia. “Dleon” is a close match for “DeLeon,” the family that may have owned him. According to the census, DeLane owned three slaves. Names, ages, etc. of the slaves are not listed in the census, but combined with the

2


property transfer of 1843 (below), it is probable that the three enslaved individuals are Celia Mann, Mann's daughter Agnes and DeLane's daughter Mary.

1843 1 February, the Mann-Simons property is transferred into Ben DeLane's name:

I Ben DeLane do hereby, request of James S. Guignard to retain in his hands One half of an area of Land in Columbia by two hundred of eight feet on Lumber and Marion Street and one hundred and four feet land on Richland Street including all the buildings now occupied by myself and family for the use of my wife Celia, commonly called Celia {} during her life and after her death for the use and benefit of Mary my daughter and the daughter of Venus Brown a free woman of color _ and Agnes the daughter of said Celia.

No other information is available concerning Venus Brown or their daughter Mary. Apparently, Ben DeLane was not Agnes' biological father.

1847 Agnes Jackson, then 16 years old, gives birth to her eldest child, Benjamin

Jackson. .

1850 Property Map of Columbia produced. The

lots are listed as belonging to “B.D. Lane”—this is the last time we are aware that the lots are listed in DeLane's name. Image courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia

1850 Federal Census indicates Celia Mann owns a slave—a 70 year old woman whose

name is not known. A purchase/transfer date is not known. From this we know Mann is free by 1850.

1853 Hattie Jackson, daughter of Agnes Jackson, is born.

Hattie would first marry Mr. Richardson (first name is unknown) and later marry Richard Williams (b. 1860), with whom she would have four children. Hattie is known through real estate title searches to have bought and sold multiple residential properties in Columbia.

3


1853-1858 Thomas Jackson, the first husband of Agnes Jackson, dies (based on surnames of

children and listing in City Directories as “widow”). During this period, Agnes Jackson marries William “Bill” Simons. In Old and New Columbia, 1786-1929, J. F. Williams describes Bill as, “an old free negro... [and] a member of the famous Joe Randall band, that turned out on all occasions where a band was needed.”

1858 Margaret Simons, the third child of Agnes Jackson and first child with husband

Bill Simons, is born. 1859 John Lucius Simons, the fourth child of Agnes Jackson,

is born. He would later marry Martha (maiden name unknown; b. 1871, d. 1921) and have six children between 1887 and 1897. Pictured are John L. Simons, Jr. (1887-1915, left) and William Simons (b. 1890, right).

1860 Agnes Jackson, husband Bill Simons and three of her

first four children are listed as living at the residence of Joe Randall.

1860 Thomas (pictured) and Ellen Simons, the fifth and sixth

children of Agnes Jackson, are born. They were either twins or there is a mistake in the census.

1863 “Mann Celia, Cola. Lot in Towns and Villages = 1400. Amt of Tax. = $12.32”

(Comptroller General Tax Record). 1863 Receipt for payment of $51.00 is made out to Celia Mann for boarding two slaves

4


on her property. 1865 Agnes Jackson moves back to the 1403 Richland Street house with her mother. It

is unknown if Bill Simons moved there as well. 1865 Reverend C. H. Carey, a missionary with the Home Mission Society, along with

Reverend Wilson Carr, is sent to Columbia by 1865 to “gather scattered Baptists.” The Reverend uses the basement of “Sister Celia Mann's home” at 1403 Richland Street for church services after the African American congregation abandons the First Baptist Church of Columbia, located on Hampton Street (site of the Confederate Secession Convention of 1860). These meetings lead to the formation of Calvary Baptist Church of Columbia, which later splits to form First Calvary Baptist Church, Second Calvary Baptist Church and Zion Baptist Church.

1865 Charles Hall Simons

(pictured), seventh child of Agnes Jackson, is born. Charles would first marry Lizzie (her maiden name is unknown) and have one child, Charles Allen. Charles would later marry Amanda L. Green (pictured), who has a son (William Green, b. 1891) by a previous marriage. Charles and Amanda have no biological children of their own.

1867 Celia Mann signs her will with an 'X' on 25 August. She has four requests:

First.- I desire that all my just debts be paid, Second.- To my three daughters, To wit, Dinah Collins, Julia Ann McMellen and Nancy Smith, I give twenty Dollars each to be paid to them by my Executrix as soon as practibable [sic] after my death, Third.- To my daughter Agnes Jackson who has always lived with me, I give and bequeath the House and Lot in which I now dwell with the appurentances [sic] thereto, together with all the rest and residue of my Estate both Real and Personal to her and her heirs forever. Fourth.- I appoint my daughter Agnes Jackson, the Executrix of this my last will and Testament.

1867 Celia Mann dies on 8 September. The Daily Phoenix publishes a notice the

following day, reading: “Death of a Respected Colored Woman.—Celia Mann, an old and respected colored nurse, who was present at the birth of many of our citizens, departed this life yesterday.” A second notice on the same page reads:

5


“Funeral Invitation: The friends and acquaintances of CELIA MANN and family, and of Nancy Smith and family, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of the former, at the Calvary Baptist Church, THIS (Sunday) EVENING, at 3 o'clock.” The reference to Nancy Smith, but not Dinah Collins or Julia Ann McMellen, suggests Nancy may not have left yet for Boston, not all her family went to Boston with her, or Dinah and Julia had no children at the time.

6


Household 2 AGNES JACKSON SIMONS

1869 Property Map of Columbia is produced.

The lots are listed as belonging to “Man” (two years after her death). Image courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia

1872 Bird's Eye View Map of Columbia, South

Carolina is produced. This is the first depiction of structures on the property. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress

Pre-1872 The structure at 1407-1/2 is constructed.

Although the actual date remains on the unknown, the house is depicted on the 1872 map. According to family history, it is a three-room structure. City Directories indicate it is rented to extended family members. The structure is seen in this 1969 photograph of the back yard.

1872-1880s The structure at 1407 Richland Street is

built.

7


1872-1880s The residence at 1904 Marion Street is

constructed. Archaeology indicates that it was originally a hall-and-parlor style structure, oriented length-wise to the street. The house is occupied by family members until 1925. Image courtesy of Columbia Housing Authority

1872-1880s Research by John Milner and Associates suggests that the current house at 1403

Richland Street was built during this time period. 1875 Celia Simons (pictured), the eighth and youngest child

of Agnes Jackson, is born. Celia would marry Thomas Smith (b. 1874) and have three children.

1879 City Directory lists Agnes as the widow of Thomas Jackson (although based on

surnames of children, she likely becomes a widow between 1853 and 1858). 1885 Agnes Jackson is listed as a baker in the City Directory. 1885-1905 Charles and John Simons are listed occasionally in the City Directories as tailors

for Robert J. Palmer, a professional tailor with property in Columbia and Washington, D.C.

1888 John Simons is listed as a “Mfr. of walking canes, etc.” in the City Directory. 1890 Ben DeLane dies in Charleston, South Carolina, on 28 July (age 90) of 'Val. Dis

of Heart' and 'dropsy' (from death certificate). He is listed as living at 4 Wilson

8


Street, Charleston, for over 20 years. 1891 The lunch counter is built at 1401 Richland Street (formerly 58 East Richland

Street, northeast corner of Richland and Marion streets). Archaeology indicates the building measured 14 x 14-feet.

Mid-1890s First addition to house 1904 Marion Street

constructed. Evolution of the house at 1904 Marion Street. 'H' is the original hall-and-parlor style house; 'I' is the first addition, built during the mid-1890s; 'J' is the second addition, built during the early 1920s.

1899-1903 Allen Williams (shoe maker) and J. B. Carroll (furniture repairperson), live and

operate shops at 1407 Richland Street. Williams is likely related to Richard Williams, Hattie Jackson's husband.

1900 The Federal Census indicates that 13 people live at 1403 Richland Street,

including a 16 year-old maid named Minnie Thompson. 1903 Agnes Jackson is listed in the City Directory as a cook. 1903-1909 Archaeology suggests that the property is wired for electricity by this time. 1904 The first Sanborn Fire Insurance Company publishes its

first map of Columbia depicting the lots owned by the Mann-Simons family. Image courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia

9


1904-1905 John L. Simons runs a grocery at the 1407 Richland Street property. 1906 Charles Simons takes over the grocery business at 1407 Richland Street from his

brother John. Charles runs the grocery until his death in 1933. 1906-1909 Charles Simons is listed as head-of-household at 1910 Marion Street, north of the

Mann-Simons house on the same block. 1907 Agnes Jackson is listed in the City Directory as a laundress. 1907 Agnes Jackson dies. Charles Simons appointed as executor of estate, with

instructions to “sell for cash to the highest bidder, after advertisement once a week for three consecutive weeks in one of the daily papers published in the said city of Columbia.” Harriet Richardson, Agnes' eldest daughter, purchases the estate for $1,500.00.

Household 3 CHARLES H. SIMONS

1908 Harriet Richardson sells the estate to Charles for $1,000.00. 1908 Bernice Connors, niece of Amanda Simons, is

born. 1909 Richard Williams, husband of Hattie, is listed as head-of-household at 1403

Richland Street following the death of Agnes. 1909 The lunch counter catches fire and is torn down. Following the fire, the counter is

gutted and dumped into a pit dug directly behind the structure. Archaeology later provides a material snap-shot of the business's day-to-day operations.

1909 Richard Williams, husband of Hattie, is working as a baker at Riedlinger's Bakery.

10


1910 Charles Simons becomes head-of-household at 1403 Richland Street. 1910 First City Directory listing of Amanda as wife of Charles

Simons occurs. The 1903 City Directory lists Amanda as living at 1631 Richland Street, two blocks east of the Mann-Simons property. Amanda's first husband, Joseph Green, a ship captain, was lost at sea when his ship sank. Image courtesy of First Calvary Baptist Church

1910 John L. Simons moves from 1904 Marion Street to 1912 Marion Street. He builds

a new lunch counter at 1914 Marion Street, next to his new house. Both the house and lunch counter are razed between 1912 and 1913.

1912 Charles Simons becomes a Worshipful Master in the

Free Masons, Capital City Lodge No. 47. His brother John was also a Mason. Amanda Simons was a member of the Eastern Star, Queen Esther Chapter No. 1.

1912-1913 Charles Simons buys and razes four residences to the north at 1906, 1910, 1912

and 1914 Marion Street. Three two-story houses are built in their place. City Directories indicate Charles rents the houses to individuals identified as “white.”

1912-1915 John Simons opens (and closes) a series of restaurants over a four year period: in

1912 at 1007 Gervais Street, in 1913 at 1906 Main Street, in 1914 at 1124 Richland Street, and lastly, in 1915 at 1912 Main Street.

1913 The family installs the first known telephone on the property at 1407 Richland

Street. The grocery store's telephone number was 1222.

11


1913 An article in the Columbia Record, 10 February, names Charles Simons as a

committee member for “Negro Day at Corn Show.” Booker T. Washington is scheduled to speak at the show.

1913 A classified ad in the Columbia Record, 10 February, reads: “FOR RENT—To

gentleman, one nicely furnished room in private family, with or without meals, with hot and cold water. Apply 1908 Marion Street.” This is one of the properties Charles owned and rented. The family to which he was renting was likely taking in a boarder. The advertisement indicates the neighborhood had been plumbed for water.

1913 Four articles in the Columbia Record (11, 12, 13, and 16 November) detail the

arrests and court hearings of individuals involved in a “Church Row” at the First Calvary Baptist church on 10 October. A minority faction within the church called for the removal of the pastor, who was accused of “gross immoral conduct.” John L. Simons, on the side of the pastor, was arrested for having told an anti-pastor individual that he would “ram his fist down his throat.” The 13 November article states that John “is a brother of C. H. Simons, chairman of the board of trustees and is as bitterly opposed to the retention of the present pastor as his deacon brother is for keeping [the pastor] in the church.” All charges dismissed.

1914 Charles and Amanda adopt six-year-old Bernice Connors, the daughter of

Amanda's sister Emma Franklin, who passed away due to unknown causes. 1919 The Sanborn Fire Insurance Company map indicates additional changes to the

property: a back porch at 1403 Richland Street has been added, the addition to 1407 Richland Street has been removed and a small, 10 x 13-foot structure with a south-facing door (perhaps a shed) has been built in the backyard. Archaeology suggests post-in-ground construction.

1920s (early) A number of changes occur on the property during this time, including the closing

of the privy and the construction of a second addition to house at 1904 Marion Street. From archaeology we know that the addition to the house was to incorporate a bathroom/toilet and kitchen. The privy, also known through archaeology, was unlined and measured 5 x 5 feet on 2-1/2 foot centers, supported by 4 x 4 inch posts. The door likely faced east.

1925 Minnie Thompson (a former maid working for the Mann-Simons family) moves

into the house at 1904 Marion Street as a renter. She lives there until the early 1940s.

12


1932 In January, Amanda Simons sells the lot at 1908 Marion Street to Lula Kelley, who had been renting the house with her husband William B. since 1915. The Kelley's were white.

1933 Charles Simons dies. He was 68 years old.

HOUSEHOLD 4 AMANDA GREEN SIMONS

1939 By this time, Amanda has stopped running the grocery at 1407 Richland Street.

Over the next twenty years, she rents the building to a series of small business owners, including a grocer, plumber and electrician. All renters are listed in the City Directories as white individuals.

1940s Amanda Simons sells the properties to the north (1910/12 and 1914 Marion

Street) that her husband, Charles, had built and rented. 1945 Celia (Simons) Smith, youngest daughter of Agnes Jackson, dies. She is 70 years

old. 1956 The last produced Sanborn Fire Insurance Company map depicts the property as

identical to the 1919 map, including the location of a small backyard structure (perhaps a shed) and the footprint of the house at 1904 Marion Street. However, archaeology suggests that the second addition to the 1904 Marion Street house was built in the early 1920s.

1958 Columbia tax map depicts the footprint of the house at 1904 Marion Street as

matching the archaeology (second addition in-place). Either the 1956 Sanborn map is wrong or the second addition was constructed between 1956 and 1958. Both of these suggestions are inconsistent with the archaeology, which suggests the addition was constructed during the early 1920s.

HOUSEHOLD 5

BERNICE CONNORS 1960 Amanda Simons dies and Bernice Connors inherits the estate. According to

Amanda's Last Will and Testament, the estate consists of: 1 lot, 1 building $20,000 1403 Richland St. 1 lot, 2 buildings $5,000 1407 & 1407 ½ Richland St.

13


1 lot, 1 building $5,000 1904 Marion St. 1 lot, 1 building $4,000 N. 19th St., Philadelphia, PA

House furniture, fixtures, appliances at 1403 Richland St. valued at $500.00. $5.00 total cash property. 1960s Joseph E. Winter, a house inspector for the City

of Columbia, photographs the back of the house at 1403 Richland Street. Image courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia

1969 The family takes photographs of the property

before moving.

“Household” 6 A HISTORIC PLACE

1970 27 July, Columbia Housing Authority takes ownership of property via eminent

14


domain for construction of low-income, senior apartment complex. Housing Authority documents property, including photographs. With their help, a search in 2005 of their archives indicates that this documentation is lost.

1974 The Richland County Historic Preservation

Commission acquires the 1403 Richland Street lot from the Columbia Housing Authority and renovates the house.

1978 The Mann-Simons site becomes a house museum

known as the Mann-Simons Cottage. 1979 The first annual African American Jubilee Festival of Heritage is held at the site. 1998 Bernice Connors dies at the age of 90. She was the last individual who lived at

1403 Richland Street. 1998 The first archaeology is conducted at the site by Chris Clement of the South

Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology on behalf of Historic Columbia Foundation.

2005 The Mann-Simons Archaeology Project is

initiated.

15


2010 The Mann-Simons Community Engagement Project is initiated. 2011 The “Mann-Simons Cottage” is officially renamed the “Mann-Simons Site” to

better reflect the extent of the family's property. 2012 “Ghost structures” and interpretive signage are

installed at the site. Each structure represents a former building on the property.

SITE & FAMILY TIMELINE

Documents

Transcript of SITE & FAMILY TIMELINE