While researching another subject, I came across a classified ad in the February 16, 1870 issue of the Indianapolis News, in which David Washington, “a colored man,” was seeking a new job. What caught my eye was David’s interest in finding a job in a bookstore.

Classified ads in old newspapers are always interesting. They offer glimpses into everyday life - glimpses unlike those offered by most other primary sources. What made David’s ad stand out was that employment ads aren’t often so specific. They don’t typically list preferred roles. More often, historic want ads simply reflect the desire for or need of a job. They may sometimes indicate a specific field or industry in which the person has previous experience or training. David’s preference for a job, not just as a porter, but as a porter in a bookstore specifically is therefore a bit unique.

I decided to chase David through history to discover more about him. I wondered if he ever achieved his goal or if he, like so many, had to settle for a job that would pay the bills but which didn’t necessarily offer the personal fulfillment he obviously desired.

When most people think of porters, they probably envision the men - usually black - serving the needs of train passengers in old black and white films. While it’s true that the railways were a primary source of employment for porters, there were many other industries in which porters found employment in the past. Store porters, for example, served in various capacities within department stores, pharmacies, groceries, and other retail locations. They may have stocked inventory, carried packages for patrons, and cleaned the store’s facilities, among other duties.

We first find David in the 1870 U.S. Federal Census. In Indiana, this census was duplicated, with many areas being enumerated twice that year. There are sometimes slight variations in the information recorded by census takers, making it important to view both copies whenever possible.

In the first version of the 1870 census, which was recorded Feb. 13, 1870, David is living in the Third Ward of Indianapolis. His street address is “84,” though the street name is not indicated. He is listed as 23 years of age, male, black, working as a teamster, and born in New York. His wife, Ada Washington, is 20, also black, and keeping house. She was born in Kentucky. Lucy Bullett (at this time, an unknown female) is also residing in the home. She is 65 years old, mulatto, working as a laundress, and was born in Kentucky. Given Lucy’s age by comparison to David and Ada’s ages, she is possibly the mother of one or the other. [2]

The second enumeration of the 1870 census was recorded on Jun. 16. David and his family were still living in the Third Ward of Indianapolis at this time, but they’d moved. Their house number is “243,” but again, the name of the street is not indicated. David is working as a book binder in this census. New York is still listed as his place of birth, and Kentucky as his wife’s, but Lucy Bullett’s is recorded as Virginia. You’ll notice there are other variations in the information recorded, including changes in David and Ada’s ages and in Lucy’s recorded race. She was enumerated as mulatto in the first census and as black in the second. Census takers’ own perceptions of color and race play a part in the information recorded within these documents. Regardless, the first enumeration as “mulatto” indicates Lucy was likely lighter in color and that David and Ada had darker complexions. [3]

The hash marks in columns to the right provide a bit more information on David, Ada, and Lucy. The mark furthest to the right for David simply indicates that he was an American male over the age of 21. The cluster of marks for Ada and Lucy indicate literacy details. Ada could write but not read, while Lucy was illiterate. These columns are blank for David, indicating he could read and write, [4] not surprisingly, considering his interest in working in a bookstore.

By 1880, we find that David and his family have moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and not surprisingly, we also find David working as a porter for the railroad. The railroad industry grew dramatically in the late 19th Century, offering black men opportunities for reliable income, consistent employment, and jobs with a relatively low risk of personal injury. [7]

The 1880 census also shows David and Ada had two sons: George, age 11, and David, age 8, both born in Indiana. In this census, Lucy is listed as David’s mother, and David’s place of birth appears as Virginia rather than New York. [8] George’s age is likely inaccurate, since his name didn’t appear on either of the 1870 censuses, but it does provide an approximation of his birth year. Also from the 1880 census, we learn that the family lived at 55 Greenwood St. in Cleveland, [9] giving us an excellent detail for comparing city directory listings in the same city.

Because of her distinctive name, we search for Lucy Bullett in city directories and find her living at 55 Greenwood St., Cleveland from 1884 through 1888. She is listed as the widow of Caesar. [10] In 1887 however, we also find a listing for Lucy Bullett, widow of Ceasar, living in Detroit, Michigan, [11] prompting a search for David Washington in Detroit as well. It appears that in 1887 or 1888 the family moved to Detroit and that the listing for Lucy in Cleveland was in error.

Detroit is where we lose track of David, Ada, and Lucy. A search for David and Ada’s children also yields no obvious results that an be quickly connected to this family. Since finding the David, Ada, and their children moving forward is difficult or impossible, we take a look back instead and find some additional information worthy of sharing.

I’m sure I’ll revisit this family a some point in the future and perhaps I’ll find more answers then. For now though, I can’t say whether or not David F. Washington ever achieved his goal of working in a bookstore. I hope he did.

Sources:

[1] David Washington, “Wanted,”The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, Indiana), Wed., Feb. 16, 1870, page 3.

[2] David Washington household. Year: 1870; Census Place: Indianapolis Ward 3 (2nd Enum), Marion, Indiana; Roll: M593_338; Page: 147B; Family History Library Film: 545837, Ancestry, online image, accessed 31 Mar 2021.

[3] David Washington household. Year: 1870; Census Place: Indianapolis Ward 3, Marion, Indiana; Roll: M593_340; Page: 123B; Family History Library Film: 545839, Ancestry, online image, accessed 31 Mar 2021.

[4] Ibid.

[5] David F. Washington. Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1872, Ancestry, online image, accessed 31 Mar 2021.

[6] David Washington, city directory listings. Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directories, 1871 - 1874, Ancestry, online images, accessed 31 Mar 2021.

[7] Railroads in the late 19th century : Rise of Industrial AMERICA, 1876-1900 : U.S. history primary Source timeline : Classroom materials at the library of Congress : Library of Congress. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2021, from https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/rise-of-industrial-america-1876-1900/railroads-in-late-19th-century/

[8] David Washington household. Year: 1880; Census Place: Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio; Roll: 1006; Page: 52A; Enumeration District: 018, Ancestry, online image, accessed 2 Apr 2021.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Mrs. Lucy Bullett, city directory listings, 1884 - 1888, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, Ancestry, online images, accessed 2 Apr 2021.

[11] Lucy Bullett. Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, Ancestry, online images, accessed 2 Apr 2021.

[12] Lucy Bullett and David F. Washington. Detroit, Michigan, City Directory, 1887, Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011., Ancestry, online images, accessed 2 Apr 2021.

[13] David F C Washington. Detroit, Michigan, City Directory, 1888, Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011., Ancestry, online images, accessed 2 Apr 2021.

[14] David F. Washington and Eda Bullett, “Marriages in Prospect,” Chicago Evening Post (Chicago, Illinois), Wed., Apr 1, page 4.

[15] Mrs. Lucy Bullett. Indianapolis, Indiana, City Directory, 1865, Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011., Ancestry, online images, accessed 2 Apr 2021.