Ferdinand "Ferd" Havis
During the late 1800’s, Ferdinand “Ferd” Havis of Pine Bluff Arkansas was called “The Colored Millionaire”. Ferdinand “Ferd” Havis was born a slave on November 15, 1846 in Desha County Arkansas. His father was John Havis, the owner of the plantation. In 1859, John Havis moved his operation to Jefferson County Arkansas. Ferd had little common school education, however, along the way he learned the barbering trade. After slavery, he opened a very profitable barber shop on West Court Street in Pine Bluff Arkansas. The shop later moved to Barraque St.
See Ferd Havis video
Ferd began his political career in the 1870’s Ferd served as a public official in many important local, state and national positions. Governor Elisha Baxter commissioned him a Colonel in the Arkansas Militia during the Brooks-Baxter War.
Besides owning a barber shop and his own home, Havis owned approximately 2000 acres of land, several tenement houses, and was part owner of a local tavern. The Ferd Havis Building on the northeast corner of Third and Main streets was a popular meeting place for Black society in Pine Bluff.
In 1898 President William McKinley nominated Ferd Havis for the position of Pine Bluff Postmaster. The Senate refused to confirm the appointment because Pine Bluff white citizens along with the local newspaper opposed his nomination. Within 2 years from this, African Americans were eliminated from nearly all public offices in Arkansas.
Ferd Havis died at his home at 920 West Barraque, probably of a heart attack, on August 25, 1918, and is buried in Bellwood Cemetery in Pine Bluff Arkansas.
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.