John Merrick

Merrick was born into slavery in Clinton, North Carolina on September 7, 1859. Following his emancipation, Merrick learned to read and write at a Reconstructionist school. Most newly freed Black people at this time were merely trying to survive, as they lacked many of the rights that their white counterparts possessed. Black people also faced blunt discrimination and a lack of economic opportunities from biased whites that were opposed to their emancipation. Growing up in this environment, Merrick was forced to begin work at a young age in order to support his parents and siblings. Merrick became a brick mason while simultaneously learning the barber trade “during a lull in construction” in order to make ends meet. In the brickyards, Merrick had a first-hand look at Durham's impoverished black population, “whose improvidence impressed upon his mind the thought of doing something for their protection”. His early jobs paved the way for Merrick's future success as a barbershop entrepreneur and later as a business mogul and philanthropist.

Barbering

Merrick's first financially successful business venture was his ownership of barbershops in the Durham area. His eventual financial achievements in the barbershop business gave him the necessary experience and resources to kick start his later business endeavors. Merrick joined John Wright, “a fellow barber,” who decided to “establish a [barbershop] business” in Durham and “offered [Merrick] employment in the new shop”. Eventually, Merrick became a partner in the barbershop, and ultimately became the sole owner of the business when Wright retired. Owning the Durham barbershop brought Merrick immense personal success. He rose from an “un-schooled, self-trained boy to a successful businessman and substantial citizen”. John N. Ingham notes that few blacks in the late 1800s demonstrated such adroitness for business success.

Merrick later expanded the barbershop business by opening many more branches and became extremely successful. Through his entrepreneurial experiences in the barbershop business, Merrick accumulated wealth and was able to build relationships with many prominent white families of the time. His financial success allowed him to live somewhat extravagantly, purchasing a lavish “six-room cottage” for his family.

Merrick's barbershops “catered to wealthy white men”, and Merrick's endearing and industrious attitude—he was noted to be unselfish and altruistic—allowed for his powerful white clients to become his friends. Many older members of Durham's African American community told stories of the fabulous gifts that Merrick received from his white confidantes. The networking and relationships that his barbershop business allowed for would serve Merrick well in his future business undertakings and enable him to develop the necessary social skills to thrive in a white-dominated society. The success that the barbershop brought John Merrick was uncommon for a black man. Reconstruction had only just concluded, yet Merrick was already beginning to transcend financial racial barriers. His wealth and influence among numerous prominent white families of the time was extremely rare for someone of his race during this time period, and these resources paved the way for even more individual success.

In 1880, Merrick lived with his wife Martha Hunter Merrick in Raleigh, North Carolina where he attended barbering school. By 1900, the Merrick family included five children—three daughters (Geneva, Mabel and Martha) and two sons (Edward and John). The household also included other extended family members.