LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH) – About 200 years after a former slave broke limitations in Lancaster, efforts to honor his life are underway.
Till lately, not a lot was recognized about Scipio Smith. That’s modified because of the work of Michael Johnson, a neighborhood historian and Advertising Director for the Fairfield County Heritage Affiliation. As a historian, he spends a number of time studying books and older paperwork. About six years in the past, an entry caught his consideration. It was about Smith.
“Similar to a one line entry on Scipio. It talked a couple of six-foot-four black man with one leg who was the primary Black businessman in Lancaster and that’s all there was,” he stated.
He stated it was probably the most distinctive description he’d ever examine Lancaster residents and was decided to search out out extra.
“To begin with I really like the underdog story, I really like uncovering issues that we all know little or nothing about and I believe it’s essential for Lancaster,” Johnson stated.
Regionally, Johnson was in a position to study Smith based the AME church on the town which is now Allen Chapel. Johnson additionally discovered reference to him being a slave in Virginia. Finally via Virginia Untold on the Library of Virginia, he found Smith’s emancipation paperwork.
“This was the foremost breakthrough,” Johnson stated.
Looking for the data then grew to become simpler, based on Johnson. Smith had been dropped at Lancaster and his full emancipation took impact in 1821 when he was 25 years previous. He based the church about two years later. Johnson discovered two years after that, Scipio opened a tinsmith retailer downtown, changing into Lancaster’s first Black enterprise proprietor.
“It’s completely phenomenal and he’s overcoming so much, not simply racism however his incapacity as effectively,” Johnson stated.
In 2023 town put up honorary Scipio Smith road indicators. Fundraising is happening to place a statue downtown within the space of the place the tinsmith store was. Johnson stated about 40% of the $96,000 wanted has been raised.
“I’d contemplate him a neighborhood legend, completely. A hidden legend. He opened the doorways for future Black entrepreneurship and I need to see that celebrated and I need to see that acknowledged,” Johnson stated.
Johnson has informed Smith’s story at native faculties. Some college students within the space have gone on to begin their very own fundraising efforts to assist with the mission. These desirous about donating can accomplish that via the Fairfield County Foundation.
“Our Black historical past has been underneath acknowledged, ignored, underneath appreciated,” Johnson stated. “And most of the people are shocked after I present as much as discuss Black historical past of Lancaster as a result of they suppose effectively there isn’t a Black historical past in Lancaster, however there’s. And it’s a extremely wealthy historical past with a number of wonderful figures.”
