James Hale was born a slave in 1829. He grew up on a plantation located just north of Montgomery that was owned by Dr. William Owen Baldwin. When Jim was a young man he was freed by Dr. Baldwin but he chose to remain on the plantation. It was there that he learned carpentry. When Dr. Baldwin's son, William Jr. was killed in the Civil War, Jim brought his body back to Montgomery to be buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Jim and Dr. Baldwin were friends as well as business partners for the rest of their lives. Jim married several times and had many children. His last wife was Anne, who also grew up on Dr. Baldwin's plantation.
Jim was a well-known contractor who became the wealthiest black man in Montgomery after the war. He owned several houses in town. The first was located at 503 Washington Ave. He later bought another across the street and a third on Lake Street that he made into a boarding house.
He first business venture with Dr. Baldwin was to built houses for newly freed blacks in the area known as Madison Park. Dr. Baldwin, who at that time was also President of First National Bank in Montgomery, owned the land. Jim built the houses and they were financed through the bank.
Jim and Dr. Baldwin were also instrumental in getting the Lincoln School in Marion relocated to Montgomery by donating their money as well as their land. The school eventually became known as Alabama State University.
Jim Hale also built several schools for black students in Montgomery. The Hale School was named for him by Board of Education.
It was Jim Hale who designed and built the "Four Sisters" houses on S. Perry Street for Dr. Baldwin's daughters.
In his will he left his boarding house on Lake Street for a Negro hospital as well as several thousand dollars to renovate and equip it. The Hale Infirmary was completed in 1889. His daughter, Anne, married Dr. Cornelius Dorsett who came here in 1883 as Montgomery's first black doctor.
Jim Hale died in 1888 at age 59. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
Jim was a well-known contractor who became the wealthiest black man in Montgomery after the war. He owned several houses in town. The first was located at 503 Washington Ave. He later bought another across the street and a third on Lake Street that he made into a boarding house.
He first business venture with Dr. Baldwin was to built houses for newly freed blacks in the area known as Madison Park. Dr. Baldwin, who at that time was also President of First National Bank in Montgomery, owned the land. Jim built the houses and they were financed through the bank.
Jim and Dr. Baldwin were also instrumental in getting the Lincoln School in Marion relocated to Montgomery by donating their money as well as their land. The school eventually became known as Alabama State University.
Jim Hale also built several schools for black students in Montgomery. The Hale School was named for him by Board of Education.
It was Jim Hale who designed and built the "Four Sisters" houses on S. Perry Street for Dr. Baldwin's daughters.
In his will he left his boarding house on Lake Street for a Negro hospital as well as several thousand dollars to renovate and equip it. The Hale Infirmary was completed in 1889. His daughter, Anne, married Dr. Cornelius Dorsett who came here in 1883 as Montgomery's first black doctor.
Jim Hale died in 1888 at age 59. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
James Hale was born a slave in 1829. He grew up on a plantation located just north of Montgomery that was owned by Dr. William Owen Baldwin. When Jim was a young man he was freed by Dr. Baldwin but he chose to remain on the plantation. It was there that he learned carpentry. When Dr. Baldwin's son, William Jr. was killed in the Civil War, Jim brought his body back to Montgomery to be buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Jim and Dr. Baldwin were friends as well as business partners for the rest of their lives. Jim married several times and had many children. His last wife was Anne, who also grew up on Dr. Baldwin's plantation.
Jim was a well-known contractor who became the wealthiest black man in Montgomery after the war. He owned several houses in town. The first was located at 503 Washington Ave. He later bought another across the street and a third on Lake Street that he made into a boarding house.
He first business venture with Dr. Baldwin was to built houses for newly freed blacks in the area known as Madison Park. Dr. Baldwin, who at that time was also President of First National Bank in Montgomery, owned the land. Jim built the houses and they were financed through the bank.
Jim and Dr. Baldwin were also instrumental in getting the Lincoln School in Marion relocated to Montgomery by donating their money as well as their land. The school eventually became known as Alabama State University.
Jim Hale also built several schools for black students in Montgomery. The Hale School was named for him by Board of Education.
It was Jim Hale who designed and built the "Four Sisters" houses on S. Perry Street for Dr. Baldwin's daughters.
In his will he left his boarding house on Lake Street for a Negro hospital as well as several thousand dollars to renovate and equip it. The Hale Infirmary was completed in 1889. His daughter, Anne, married Dr. Cornelius Dorsett who came here in 1883 as Montgomery's first black doctor.
Jim Hale died in 1888 at age 59. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
Jim was a well-known contractor who became the wealthiest black man in Montgomery after the war. He owned several houses in town. The first was located at 503 Washington Ave. He later bought another across the street and a third on Lake Street that he made into a boarding house.
He first business venture with Dr. Baldwin was to built houses for newly freed blacks in the area known as Madison Park. Dr. Baldwin, who at that time was also President of First National Bank in Montgomery, owned the land. Jim built the houses and they were financed through the bank.
Jim and Dr. Baldwin were also instrumental in getting the Lincoln School in Marion relocated to Montgomery by donating their money as well as their land. The school eventually became known as Alabama State University.
Jim Hale also built several schools for black students in Montgomery. The Hale School was named for him by Board of Education.
It was Jim Hale who designed and built the "Four Sisters" houses on S. Perry Street for Dr. Baldwin's daughters.
In his will he left his boarding house on Lake Street for a Negro hospital as well as several thousand dollars to renovate and equip it. The Hale Infirmary was completed in 1889. His daughter, Anne, married Dr. Cornelius Dorsett who came here in 1883 as Montgomery's first black doctor.
Jim Hale died in 1888 at age 59. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
Bio by: Charlene
Gravesite Details
Before the Civil War, he was a slave for the family of Dr.William O. Baldwin. Before his death, he became one of Montgomery's wealthiest black citizens.
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
