Andrew J. Jones was a Los Angeles businessman who owned a boarding house and restaurant at 109 San Pedro Street during the 1890s. Blacks and whites came from all over to enjoy his delicious biscuits, earning him the nickname "Biscuit Jones." He was born in Kansas. J. H. Shackelford was a prominent civic leader in Los Angeles. A businessman and real estate broker, he served as president of the local NAACP N. P. Greggs came to Los Angeles around 1913 to accept the pastorate of the A. M. E. Church. Two years later he left that church, with forty-seven members, to found the People’s Independent Church on October 2, 1915. Emanuel Hall was a prominent minister and singer. Floyd Henry Crumbly was a successful businessman in Atlanta and Los Angeles, a civic leader, and a military man who rose through the ranks of the U.S. Army to lead troops. Gathering of the founders of the People's Independent Church on the groundbreaking day of the church building, the men wearing suits and the women in light-colored dresses. A rendering of the church building is attached to the wall of the wood frame building behind the group. Eleven participants are indicated with numbers on the photograph, including: (1) F. H. Crumbly (seated at the table on the left with a pen and paper), (2) Reverend N. P. Greggs (standing behind Crumbly), (3) Rev. Proud (Seated below the window, wearing a top hat), (4) Reverend Lightner (seated on the left side of the doorway), (5) Reverend Philip of Cleveland (seated on the right side of the doorway), (6) J. D. Allen (seated directly in front of Phillips), (7) Reverend Anderson (seated in front), (8) A. J. Jones (seated on the right), (9) J. H. Shackelford (standing on the right in the light-colored suit), (10) Emanuel Hall (tallest man seated in the back on the left), (11) George A. Beavers, Sr. (wearing glasses, seated in the back directly left of Rev. Proud in the top Hat). Ernest E. Lightner was the pastor of Lincoln Memorial Congregational Church in Los Angeles, the first congregational church west of the Rockies. Founded in 1915, the Peoples Independent Church of Christ was created when 47 members split from First A. M. E. Church. George A. Beavers, Sr., was one of the founders of People's Independent Church. He was a member of its Gospel choir for many years and served as its deacon until his death. Written on back of photo: Groundbreaking Day Peoples Independent Church. (1) F. H. Crumbly, (2) Rev. N. P. Greggs, (3) Rev. Proud, (4) Rev. Lightner, (5) Rev. Philip of Cleveland, (6) J. D. Allen, (7) Rev. Anderson, (8) Jones ("Biscuit" Jones), (9) J. H. Shackelford, (10) Emanuel Hall, (11) George A. Beavers.
Type
image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b18_f05_003a.tif ark:/21198/z10p2h50
Subject
African American civic leaders African American clergy African American churches African American businesspeople Jones, A. J. (Andrew Jones) Allen, J. D Phillip, Reverend Proud, Reverend Lightner, Ernest E. (Ernest Elonzie), 1883-1942 Beavers, George A. (George Allen), Sr., 1871-1952 Hall, Emanuel, 1879-1936 Shackelford, J. H. (James Harrison), 1875-1972 People's Independent Church of Christ (Los Angeles, Calif.) Greggs, N. P. (Napoleon Payne), 1881-1935 Crumbly, F. H. (Floyd Henry), 1859-1929
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