Biddy Mason In The 1800s

Beauty for Ashes
Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, William Wells Brown, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, Robert Smalls—these are just a few of the many determined African Americans, all of whom were former slaves, that changed the world. During the 1800s, the average African American faced a world of immense discrimination and injustice, yet many rose above their adversity to accomplish their goals. The life of Biddy Mason exemplifies the principle that one’s background need not define who one is, nor need it limit what one can become through perseverance and determination.
Beginning with Biddy’s birth, and continuing until later in life, her story would be one full of struggles and hardships. Bridget Mason, or more commonly
While in California, Charles Owens and Elizabeth Rowan, two black former-slaves who lived in San Bernardino, told Biddy how she could attempt to become free (“Biddy Mason” Encyclopedia of World Biography). Their planning took a turn when, in 1855, Smith decided to move his family and his slaves to Texas, a state which allowed slavery (“Biddy Mason” UXL Biographies). However, Smith’s plans were foiled when the group’s journey was delayed due to one of his pregnant slaves’ imminent childbirth. While awaiting the birth, the party set up camp in the Santa Monica Mountains. While the group was delayed, Elizabeth Rowan and Robert Owens, the father of Charles Owens, successfully persuaded the county sheriff to prohibit Smith from leaving California with his slaves. The Smith slaves were held in a the county jail in order to protect them while their legal status was determined. When Owens and Rowan filed a petition alleging that Smith was keeping his slaves illegally in California, Smith claimed that they were actually members of his family. Despite Smith’s considerable efforts to avoid losing his slaves, the petition was granted on January 21, 1856 (“Biddy Mason” Encyclopedia of World Biography). At the age of 38, Biddy had finally reached
Robert Owens, therefore, invited the small family of four to come and live with him in his home in Los Angeles. Immediately, Biddy began work in the city as a nurse and midwife for Dr. John Strother Griffin (“Biddy Mason” Encyclopedia of World Biography). She assisted in the birthing of hundreds of newborn babies of all races and social classes (Brennan). Within a short period of time, Biddy became well-known for her herbal remedies, quickly gaining a favorable reputation. Biddy earned $2.50 a day, which was a good salary for a black woman during that time. Biddy would sometimes even deliver babies for those who could not afford to pay. After working for 10 years, Biddy had saved up $250 and decided to buy two lots of land on the outskirts of the city. This made her one of the first African American women to own land in Los Angeles (“Biddy Mason” UXL Biographies). For 18 years Biddy used the property to make small houses which she rented out for extra income (“Biddy Mason” Encyclopedia of World Biography). Biddy later bought more land and then built a commercial property on it in 1844 (Brennan). By the late 1800s Biddy was the most affluent African American woman in Los Angeles. Biddy was very generous with her wealth, however, freely donating her money, as well as land, to schools, churches, day care centers and grocery stores (“Biddy Mason” Encyclopedia of World Biography). In 1872,