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BIDDY MASON: Entrepreneur, Humanitarian

© Maisah B. Robinson, Ph.D.

Biddy Mason was born on August 15, 1818. She was the slave of Robert Marion Smith who had a plantation in Mississippi. Biddy had three daughters by her owner, Robert Smith. When Smith became a Mormon, he migrated to Utah to help build the Kingdom of the Saints in Salt Lake City. Mason accompanied him on the trip and prepared the meals and tended to the animals that were taken on the journey.

In 1851 Smith moved with Biddy and his other slaves to San Bernardino, California. The California state constitution forbade slavers. Learning of this, Smith made plans to move to Texas, which was a slave state. Biddy Mason did not want to travel to Texas and remain a slave, so she elicited the help of Charles Owens, a prominent member of the community. A court date was scheduled, however, Robert Smith did not appear in court. Therefore, Biddy Mason’s petition for manumission was granted. She and the other members of her family were freed.

Mason and her children moved into the home of Robert Owens who assisted her in obtaining her freedom. Her daughter married Owens and had two children. Biddy Mason became known as a skilled nurse and midwife and she was able to amass a considerable amount of money by plying her trade. Mason purchased a home for her family on Spring Street, which is now a thriving commercial center in downtown Los Angeles. She became the first African American woman to own land in Los Angeles.

In 1884, Mason bought a commercial building and rented out office spaces. She acquired several other prime properties and from the money she earned, she was able to educate her children. Her descendants prospered and one of her grandsons, Robert, became a successful politician and real estate developer. He was one of the richest African American men in Los Angeles.

Mason was very generous and participated in charitable activities in her community. She visited jails and provided financial assistance to people of all races. She established a day-care center and a nursery for working parents. She was very religious and in 1872, helped found the Los Angeles branch of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Biddy Mason died on January 15, 1891 and was buried in an unmarked grave at Evergreen cemetery in Los Angeles. Ninety-seven years later, in 1988, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and other members of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church unveiled a tombstone to mark her grave. November 16, 1989 was declared Biddy Mason Day in Los Angeles and a memorial depicting her life and achievements was unveiled at the Broadway Center multipurpose building.

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