One newspaper dubbed her the richest negro in the world.. Kansas City A record 13 feet of snow accumulated in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range by Tuesday evening - the heaviest snow fall since 1985. None of the allegations were true. about $11 million Joe Rector also began receiving payments of about $50 a month about $1,500 in todays dollars. Sarah Rector was 11 when oil was discovered on her land in Oklahoma in 1913. She purchased a house on 12th Street, known as the Rector House, which is currently owned by a local nonprofit, with the intention of restoration and historical and cultural preservation. The Muskogee Cimeter, a black Oklahoma newspaper declared, It takes an awful big man to give the Negro a square deal and Muskogees judge is such a man.. Early life. When she turned 18 on March 3, 1920, Rector left Tuskegee and her family relocated to Kansas City, Missouri. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Some estimates place Sarah Rectors net worth at the time at $1 million, or about $28 million today. A record 13 feet of snow accumulated in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range by Tuesday evening - the heaviest snow fall since 1985. increase font size, Honor Black History Month by learning the rags to riches story of Sarah Rector. Now, Forbes has released its 2021 list of the top 10 richest women in the world and in first place is LOreal heiress Franoise Bettencourt Meyers, with a staggering net worth of US$92.9 billion. The Creek Freedmen settled in an area known as Blackjack near Muskogee, OK. Joe Rector (b. After learning about Sarah Rector, read about Mansa Musa, who may have been the richest person ever. The richest kid in the world is Prince George Alexander Louis who is worth approximately $1 billion dollars as of today. If youre unfamiliar with the story, The Richest Black Girl in America is set in the early 1900s, and follows the true tale of Sarah Rector, an 11-year-old Black girl in Jim Crow America, who is given reparations in the form of uninhabitable land by the U.S. government. Although Joseph Rector had selected Porter as Sarahs guardian before oil was discovered on her land, newspapers soon picked up the story that the Rector family was still living in relative poverty while Sarahs white guardian was making a killing off her oil. By the time she moved to Kansas City in her late teens, Sarah Rectors net worth was estimated to be greater than $1 million over $28 million today spread between oil fields, 2,000 acres of farmland in Oklahoma, and investments in numerous businesses in Kansas City. Sarahs parents had selected a white guardian for her Thomas Jefferson Porter. Sarah and Kenneth had three sons, but in 1930 the marriage ended in divorce. It became known as the Rector Mansion, Tonya Bolden said. Walker, achieving that distinction as a teenager. Ironically, this government prohibition proved to be the familys greatest blessing. In 1922, she married Kenneth Campbell, the second African American to own an auto dealership. Rector, with the familys signature round face, looked nothing like the girl with the more angular chin in the picture, said Brown, who first caught sight of the photo online in 2010. The family didnt leave Kansas City as some like to report; five generations of Rector descendants still call this place home. WebShe recalls once during the Hotel California tour when Henley flew her in a cranberry-colored jet to the Omni in Atlanta to watch the show. The family lived in what was called the Rector Mansion in Kansas City, but wrangling over Rectors earnings and financial mismanagement continued until she was 20. She was in Kansas City, Mo., where her family had relocated a few years earlier. Women of Power Summit Now, as mentioned, as Sarahs wealth kept growing, so did her fame. Sarahs luck hit in part because of her ancestry and the way in which land allotments for Native Americans- and their freedmen slaves- occurred in Oklahoma. Soon after arriving to Kansas City, the Rectors bought a sprawling stone foursquare at the corner of 2000 East 12th Street. WebSarah Kay Ferguson Avila went to be with her Lord and Saviour on September 27, 2014 in Oklahoma City. When the public learned how much Rector was earning, her guardianship was transferred from her parents to a white man named T.J. Porter. But instead of hearing that Porter was taking advantage of Sarah in the manner described, Du Bois was reassured. John Rector's mother Mollie McQueen was the Muscogee Opothleyahola, who fought in the Seminole Wars and split with the tribe, moving his followers to Kansas. The facts, including that Rectors themselves had selected Porter, a family friend, went unacknowledged. The Hall & Oates tour begins on August 5 in Mansfield, Mass. She can afford it. She never said she was rich.. Sarah was born on October 23, 1974 in Woodward, Oklahoma to John L. and Carol (Machacek) Ferguson. DuBoisbecame concerned about her welfare. That same year, Rector enrolled in the childrens house, a boarding school for teenagers at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. What happened to Sarah Rectors money? Then, in the fall of 1913, an independent driller struck liquid gold on Sarah Rectors land, bringing the family royalties of $300 per day, about $8,000 today. Of course, there was a trick in this Act, and black children were simply granted the worst parts of the land; generally rocky and infertile soil so the good allotments could be granted to white settlers and distinctive members of the Indian tribe as it had been agreed upon. Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309, Portraits of African American businesswoman Sarah Rector | Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Jones drilled a well on the property which produced a "gusher" that began to bring in 2,500 barrels (400m3) of oil a day. Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle are privately owned by the Queen. She was born in an almost all-black town called Taft in Oklahoma, a land that was considered at the time an Indian Territory. When Rector died at age 65 on July 22, 1967, her wealth was diminished, but she still had some working oil wells and Rectors lost most of her wealth during The Great Depression. When Rector died at age 65 on July 22, 1967, her wealth was diminished, but she still had some working oil wells and real estate holdings. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. The two-room cabin in which the Rector family lived was replaced by a five-room house. The most important part of this saga is the simple fact that her family got lost within the tabloids tabloids worldwide that painted a picture of a poor little black girl from Oklahoma who slept on dirt floors, struck it rich, was taken advantage of and lived frivolously. Jones struck a gusher on Sarahs land that produced 2,500 barrels a day, which gave Sarah a whopping daily income of $300. How better to impress White Southerners than to become slaveholders themselves? By the time she turned 18, Rector was worth an estimated $1 million, or about $11 million today. When Sarahs popularity grew, her parents were forced to give up their guardianship status to a white man named T.J. Porter. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? She married her second husband, William Crawford, and lived a relatively quiet life. At the time, a lawrequired Native Americans, black adults, and children who were citizens of Indian Territory with significant property and money were to be assigned well-respected white guardians. Her siblings all took on jobs- her mother even for a time went back to working as a maid. In 1913, 11-year-old Sarah Rector became the richest Black girl in America, almost by accident. Its too dangerous, Brown recalled. Later, she sounded frustrated. In 1913, 11-year-old Sarah Rector became the richest Black girl in America, almost by accident. They divorced in 1930 and Rector remarried in 1934. They moved to a modern cottage with five bedrooms and owned a car. WebStevie Nicks, Beatles, John Lennon, George Harrison, Fleetwood Mac, Bee Gees, Star Wars, X-Files, "Worthwhile" Comedy (70s, 80s & early 90s SNL, Vintage Looney Du Bois, who got involved with Sarah Rectors case when he heard rumors her money was being mismanaged by a white man. W.E.B. The Smithsonian can count on it, she said: Shell be back in touch. The 12-year-old was soon receiving marriage proposals from suitors as far away as Germany. [4], Rector was already a millionaire by the time she had turned 18 in 1920. Then her best friend, model Sara Recor (at the time married to music manager Jim Recor), fell for Fleetwood and began an affair with him whilst Nicks and Fleetwood were still together. The land became part of the famous Cushing-Drumright Oil Field and it propelled Rector into both spotlight and scandal. The parcel allotted to Sarah Rector was located in Glenpool, 60 miles (97km) from where she and her family lived. The Rector children attended school in Taft, an all-Black town. Assuming that, Sarahs acres seemed to be useless; little they everybody know, there was actually an oil field worth a fortune. Du Bois is said to have written directly to the county judge who oversaw Rectors affairs for more information. What changed Sarah and the Rectors life overall was a stroke of luck if you may say. Last year we listed Elizabeth Holmes as the worlds youngest self-made woman billionaire, worth an estimated $4.5 billion. As a result, Rectors guardianship switched from her parents to a white man named T.J. Porter. 1906). Deborah Brown grew up calling her Aunt Sister, and she remembers her storied life through the haze of childhood in segregated Kansas City, Mo., more than a half a century ago. Some of these statements are partially true, but the true story of Sarah should be told through her family. Not in a position to pay for all of the acreage, Joe was able to get rid of Beckys land but was having trouble finding anyone to buy the rest. This raised all sorts of concerns among the Black community who believed this man would rip Sarah off her fortune. That equates to $7,000 $8,000 today. Sarahs acreage, divided into two parcels near the bend in the Cimarron River, did not appear to be an exception. When she was pulled over in her shiny green and black Cadillac, Sarah would cockily turn to the officer and say, Dont you know who I am?!. When the Indian territory where Rector was born became Oklahoma in 1907, the federal government granted each member of the Creek Nation a land allotment, including descendants of people enslaved by the Nation like four-year-old Sarah Rector. Rector married the first of her two husbands at the age of 20 and bore three sons, all now deceased. Mollie McQueen, Sarahs paternal great-great-grandmother, was enslaved by Creek Chief Opothleyahola in Alabama. (Bolden said she found the disputed book cover photo in The American magazine. Headlines such as Girls $112,000 a Year, Negro Girl Will Pay Largest Tax, and Negro Girl Rich From Oil- Has Income of $475 Daily More Soon sensationalized the story of a small girl and her familys reality. Meet Sarah Rector, the 11-Year-Old Who Became The Richest Black Girl in America in 1913. Enter your email address to follow this site and receive news sent to your email. As its revealed in the last episode of Self Made, yes, Madam C.J. Rector's allotment subsequently became part of the Cushing-Drumright Oil Field. She also owned stocks and bonds, a boarding house, a bakery and restaurant in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and 2,000 acres of land. Sales Partnership Solutions Crystal click on the link The New Santa Fe Trailer for a longer more in depth story. Her sudden wealth became the object of racist news coverage. Her mother, Rosa Rector, would simply say, Aunt Sister can afford to do that, Brown said. Her memory of Aunt Sister is all about family. B.E. This was a burden that became so great that Joseph attempted to sell Sarahs land, but was blocked from doing so by state law, which forbade the sale of lands belonging to minors. Will King Charles IIIs Reign See the End of the Commonwealth? Decades after the Rectors made Missouri home, Browns parents warned their children never to inquire about their aunts land in Oklahoma. By the early 20th century, the Creek Freedmen, as they were known, had settled in all-Black towns dotting Indian Territory,which in 1907 became the state of Oklahoma. Her mother insisted that older sister Becky go along to ensure her younger sister was tended to. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. One of his slaves was Mollie, Sarah Rectors great-grandmother. Likely in order to escape scrutiny and not wanting to be the target of some greedy partys act, When she died at age 65 on July 22, 1967, she only had some working oil wells and real estate holdings. Sarahs land was near a bend along the Cimarron River valued at around $500. By the time Sarah was 18, she was worth well over one million dollars. Management [4] In June of that year, a special agent for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), James C. Waters Jr., sent a memo to Du Bois regarding her situation. But things didnt work out for them In 1930, they divorced, and four years later Sarah got married for a second time. Contact That same year, Rector enrolled in the Childrens House, a boarding school for teenagers atTuskegee InstituteinAlabama. Due to her newfound wealth, publications across America wrote of marriage proposals, especially those that came from four white men from Germany. Sarah Rector, also known as Sarah Rector Campbell and Sarah Campbell Crawford, (March 3, 1902 July 22, 1967)[1] was a Creek Freedwoman and oil magnate once known as the "Richest Colored Girl in the World".[2][3]. Rectors cut was $300 each day, a considerable amount at the time. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS Like most other dealings the government had with Indigenous Americans, it was not entirely honest. Shes known as the first Black female millionaire to live in Kansas City, Missouri. This home-place was a stately stone house. Walker did steal the base formula from Turnbo before adapting it into her own Wonderful Hair Grower. They divorced in 1930 and Rector remarried in 1934. [7] This was a mandatory step in the process of integration of the Indian Territory with Oklahoma Territory to form what is now the State of Oklahoma.[8][9]. Her last stop in Kansas City was none other than the old Rector Mansion, now a funeral home. Booker T. Washington even reportedly visited their home. [11], As news of Rector's wealth spread worldwide, she began to receive requests for loans, money gifts, and marriage proposals, despite the fact that she was only 12 years old. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy Policy After Oklahoma earned statehood in 1907, the new state continued to draw drillers to the area hoping to get lucky. How the author stumbled on Sarahs story is included in this spellbinding presentation of an early America and real-life mysteries. Who was the real Sarah Rector, The Richest Black Girl in America?, Missing in Action: Local artists painting of Patrick Mahomes stolen, UPDATE: Shakir is safe. BE 100s Along with the oil, the checks began flowing, as if by magic, to the Rectors, who, illiterate and barely scraping by, knew little about managing money. Since then, shes been contacting historical societies to urge them not to use the image. Upon graduation, she attended the Institute. By 1920, the Rector family was living in a beautiful brick mansion at 2000 E. 12th St. that was purchased by Mama Rose for $20,000 from Henry S. Ferguson, president of the U.S. Water & Steam Supply Company. The land allotments were usually rocky and unsuitable for farming, while the more arable lands were sold to white settlers. With an estimated net worth of $177 billion, he is the richest person in the world. Defeated, he sobbed all the way to Dallas on a train where he ended up in Baylor Hospital. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. She is also the founder and co-host of "Be Heard Talk," a political podcast that adds a sprinkle of trap music, Beyonce, and flavor to unseasoned news. There, the Rectors eventually moved into a home that was a far cry from that weather-whipped two-room cabin in which Sarah began life. According to the Amsterdam News, Rector and her family sought to end Porters guardianship and were ultimately successful. As the richest self-made Black woman on this list, Oprah Winfreys contributions to both pop culture as a whole and the advancement of Black women, in particular, cannot be overstated. Concerned with her wellbeing and her white financial guardian, early NAACP leaders fought to protect her and her fortune. Yet the possibility of riches teased the imagination as landholders throughout Oklahoma began striking oil. Beckys land was in Okfuskee County, and Sarah and Joe, Jr. ended up with parcels 50 miles northwest of Taft. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. The two photos side-by-side, one of a child in a plaid dress and the other of a woman with her hair pulled simply back, have been timelessly interpreted to be the richest black girl in America, Sarah Rector the very same Sarah Rector who lived out the majority of her life in Kansas City. In return for that and otherwise assimilating to Anglo-American culture, White Southerners often called them the Five Civilized Tribes.. Even as tens of thousands of Native Americans were forcibly relocated northwest to Indian Territory from 1831 to 1850 in the genocidal journey known as The Trail of Tears, the tribes largely sided with the Confederate states during the Civil War. They drive by the abandoned Rector Mansion, boarded up and falling into disrepair, wishing that they could find a way to buy it back and bring it to its former glory. 1878) met and married Rose Jackson (b. He had lived in the home for over 17 years. When Sarah reached legal age, a judge found her mentally sound and capable of managing her own affairs. Then in 1917, the source of all the speculation vanished from Oklahoma. I purchased the book of The Richest Colored Girl. Shortly thereafter, he died and was buried in Blackjack Cemetery in Taft. Most of the fancy parties that Sarah had where celebrities such as Duke Ellington would attend werent at the Rector mansion- they were at her home at 2600 Lockridge where she had purchased several homes on the block. Selena Hill is the Digital Editor at Black Enterprise and an award-winning multi-media journalist. 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