She was buried in her wedding dress, in a metallic coffin, which was lined in rose colored plush fabric. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. This house still stands on 452 Telfair Street. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In 1892, she married Nathan Toomer of Perry, Georgia. GREAT NEWS! [1]:58 Because of anti-miscegenation laws in Georgia at the time, Amanda America and Charles, as an interracial couple, could not legally marry in Georgia. [1]:117 Her health was fragile throughout her second marriage, as she had several health problems which required the continual attention of her family physician, Thomas D. Amanda was not only one of the wealthiest Blacks in the U.S., but also one of the wealthiest people in the country. Elegant Experiences. Amanda attended Atlanta University from 1876-1878. Dickson inherited his estate in Hancock County upon his death in 1885. Shutters are being built for the house's front. 2251 Florin Rd. As a child Toomer was purchased by John Toomer, who moved to Houston County, Georgia, in the 1850s. He married Eva W. Walton on 10 December 1885, in Richmond, Georgia, United States. Failed to remove flower. and to behave like a lady , according to biographer Kent Leslie. Charlotte continued to prosper until a fateful night in 1830. When her father died on February 18, 1885, Amanda became the center of a famous lawsuit. As Amanda grew, her grandmother used her as a domestic servant. Eubanks was a Confederate Veteran. In New Georgia Encyclopedia. Born in 1839 in Chatham County, North Carolina, Toomer had been the slave of Richard Pilkinson of Chatham County, North Carolina but was later sold to John Toomer of Houston County, Georgia. On December 26, 1894, they became parents to Jean Toomer. Amanda America Dickson Toomer was buried in her wedding dress, in a metallic coffin, which was lined in rose colored plush fabric. Amanda America Dickson House. She was the main heir to the estate of over 15,000 acres valued at $309,543. As Henry Toomers personal assistant, Nathan Toomer learned the manner of the white upper class. Upon his death in 1885, Dickson bequeathed most of his wealth to Amanda. Her mother was a household slave, assigned as David's housekeeper, and she was raped by him, producing Amanda. Her birth was the result of the rape of her slave mother, Julia Frances Lewis Dickson, when Julia was twelve years old. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. a Sort of Mystery: Jean Toomers Georgia Heritage, Georgia Historical Quarterly 77 (winter 1993): 789-809. Therefore, they either never officially married, or they married out of state before returning to Georgia (but there is no surviving proof of a legal marriage. She was intermittently unconscious from nervous shock. Clinging to his body, Amanda cried, "Now I am an orphan, though her mother was still alive. Amanda America Dicksons life reflected the power of family and class to erode the boundaries of race in the nineteenth-century South. [1]:108, She arrived in Augusta in 1886 and purchased a large, seven-bedroom house at 452 Telfair Street, which was in a multiracial neighborhood. Meanwhile, her father had begun to secure his daughters and grandsons futures. "Amanda America Dickson." cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In 1865 or 1866 Dickson married her white first cousin, Charles Eubanks, a recently returned Civil War (1861-65) veteran. Dickson was born in 1849 to prominent Hancock County plantation owner David Dickson and a 12-year-old slave. In 1892 Dickson married Nathan Toomer of Perry. As a consequence, Amanda America Dickson's life unfolded within the boundaries of her father's social and economic power, her mother's conflicting loyalties, and her own evolving sense of self" (Page 32). We extend our congratulations and best wishes; Amanda Dickson was the inspiration for a 2000 television movie "A House Divided" - with actress Jennifer Beals playing Dickson - and the biography "Woman of Color, Daughter of Privilege", by Kent Anderson Leslie. It was practically a statewide scandal when it was discovered that Dickson willed the bulk of his $300,000 estate- $8 million in todays dollars- to his only child, Amanda. At the time of her birth, her mother was 12 year old Julia Frances Dickson, a house servant belonging to Elizabeth Dickson. She learned to read and write, and assumed the social graces of white Southern affluence. May her Soul Be At Rest. Executors appraised the estate, which included 17,000 acres of land in Hancock and Washington counties, at $309,000. Amanda America Dickson's birthplace, Hancock County, Georgia, is in the fertile so-called black belt of the state, 125 miles south and east of Atlanta, between the pre-Civil War capital of Milledgeville and the river-port city of Augusta (Map 1). In his will David Dickson stated that the administration of his estate was to be left to the sound judgment and unlimited discretion of Amanda Dickson without interference from any quarter, including any husband she might have. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Thank you for your time. Drama In the aftermath of the terrible Civil War which has devastated the South, Amanda America Dixon returns home to find she has become the sole heir to a vast cotton plantation. . who was raised and educated in Davids household. Executors appraised the estate, which included 17,000 acres of land in Hancock and Washington counties, at $309,000. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. That court ruled in 1887 that Amanda Dickson was legally entitled to the inheritance under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that property rights are equal for blacks and whites, including the offspring of black and white citizens. As a young man, Nathan had served as the personal assistant to Colonel Henry Toomer, and in that capacity learned the ways of white upper-class gentlemen. Features: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. A host of David Dickson's white relatives contested the will, but the superior court of Hancock County ruled in favor of Amanda Dickson in November 1885. Kent Anderson Leslie. Gabriel moved to Emanuel County, Georgia after his fathers death.David Lipscomb College, TN~ 1939 (Edna Waters)Harding College, Se David Dickson is a wealthy plantation owner in antebellum Georgia who fathers Amanda by raping one of his slaves, Julia. A. Dickson Toomer was, in her time, the wealthiest African-American woman in Georgia and possibly the United States. 1900), who married Kate Holsey, the daughter of Harriet and Bishop Lucius Holsey of Augusta. Woman of color, daughter of privilege : Amanda America Dickson, 1849-1893 / Woman of Color, Daughter of Privilege is the life story of an elite woman of color who lived within the social and economic systems of slavery and quasi-freedom in nineteenth-century Georgia. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. [1]:69, Years after having completed her teaching degree, Amanda America In her late 20s, Dickson attended the normal school of Atlanta University, a historically black college, from 1876 to 1878. [1]:123, Amanda America Dickson Toomer's funeral took place at the Trinity Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in Augusta, Georgia. Coleman. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Walton, Frank, and their lawyer, E. J. Waring, were indicted by the grand jury of Baltimore, Maryland for conspiracy to kidnap Mamie Toomer. From 1876 to 1878 she left the plantation to attend the Normal School of Atlanta University. Her younger son, twenty-three-year-old Charles Dickson, who was married to Kate Holsey, became infatuated with stepsister Mamie Toomer, who was only fourteen years old. They serve as an inspiration and testament to the strength of the human spirit and the will to succeed. Although conceived through the rape of her adolescent mother, Amanda was raised and educated in the Dickson household. Wednesday - by appointment. [1]:4244 In her white grandmother's household, she learned to read, write, and play the piano, unlike what was permitted for her enslaved relatives. On his death he scandalized Hancock county society by bequeathing the vast bulk of his estate (a share with a value estimated at more than $300,000) to his only child, Amanda America Dickson (1849-1893). As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Dicksons social status may have enabled the child to live a life of relative privilege while enslaved. Amanda America Dickson spent her childhood and adolescence in the house of her white grandmother and enslaver, Elizabeth Sholars Dickson, where she learned to read and write and play the pianothe survival skills of a young lady but not ordinarily the opportunities of a enslaved child. To use this feature, use a newer browser. ." who was raised and educated in David's household. Amanda America Dickson, the daughter of an enslaved woman and her enslaver, became one of the wealthiest Black women in nineteenth-century America when the Georgia Supreme Court upheld her claim to her father's contested will. A historical marker was dedicated to honor her legacy May 21 at the site of her former residence, now a law firm. By the 1880s, he had deeded Amanda three-fourths interest in 13,000 acres of good land in Texas, as well as several thousand dollars of bonds. Legally, Amanda was still a slave until her grandmother's death in 1864. Antebellum Hancock County was in the black belt, a rich streak of fertile soil that grew the white bolls that made the South prosper. We have set your language to Dickson was the daughter of wealthy Georgia plantation owner David Dickson (Sam Waterston), and his slave, Julia (Lisagay Hamilton). July 30, 2000 12 AM PT TIMES STAFF WRITER Set in the late 1800s, the Showtime historical drama, "A House Divided," tells the story of Amanda America Dickson, a woman of mixed race who fights. Monday/Tuesday - closed. When John Toomer died, he became the property of Colonel Henry Toomer, Johns brother. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Maintained by: BeNotForgot Toomer was born in 1839 in Chatham County, North Carolina, and enslaved by Richard Pilkinson. Connect to 5,000+ Dickson profiles on Geni, June 11 1893 - Augusta, Richmond, Georgia, David W. Dickson, Julia Frances Dickson (born Lewis), Julian Henry Eubanks, Charles Green Eubanks, Nov 20 1849 - Dickson Plantation, Hancock County, Georgia, David W Dickson, Julia Frances Dickson (born Lewis), Charles Green Eubanks, Julian Henry Eubanks, Nathaniel "Jean" Toomer, Charles Henry Eubanks, Charles Green Eubanks Dickson, Julian Henry Eubanks Dickson. During the contest of the will, Amanda purchased a beautiful three-story brick house in the elite downtown neighborhood of Augusta, Georgia, which was at the time an integrated city. Died: June 11, 1893 (aged 43) Alma mater: Atlanta University: Spouse(s) Charles Eubanks; Nathan Toomer . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Failed to report flower. The Civil War, however, caused the loss of much of that wealth; for Amanda, the war brought legal freedom. She moved to Augusta, Georgia before the town mandated residential segregation by race and purchased a large brick home at 484 Telfair Street, in the most prominent neighborhood in the city. In 1866, 17-year-old Amanda married her white first cousin, Charles Eubanks, a recently returned Confederate Army veteran and together they had two children, Julian Henry and Charles Green. Daughter of David Dickson and Julia Frances Dickson Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Amanda America Dickson was born to 40-year-old slave master David Dickson and 13-year-old slave, Julia Lewis in 1849. [1]:44, In 1864, Amanda's grandmother Elizabeth Sholars Dickson died. In 1793 or 1794 Suzanne married Jean-Baptiste Peltier. Amanda Dickson Toomer Wife of Nathan ToomerA True Christian. Dickson became a member of the elite black community in Augusta, Georgia. Their mixed-race sons later married prominent members of Georgia society. Mother of Julian Henry Dickson and Charles "Charley" or Leslie Green Dickson, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10337890/amanda-america-toomer. On July 14, 1892, she married Nathan Toomer of Perry, Ga. Amanda got sick. Born on November 21, 1849, baby Amanda's parents couldn't be more dissimilar her father, the renowned white agricultural plantation owner, and writer, David Dickson; her mother, Julia Frances Lewis Dickson, was an enslaved child-servant to Dickson's mother Elizabeth Sholars-Dickson. She was kind-hearted, generous, and charitable, and her benevolent work was indeed extensive.. [1]:42 Amanda also learned rules of social etiquette appropriate for the social standing of her father's side of the family. Amanda married first to her father's nephew, Charles Eubanks, in 1866-67 and they lived on a plantation in Rome, Georgia. without interference from any quarter. To discourage challenges to the will, anyone contesting it would lose their own bequest. Paterson residents woke up to a surprise Monday: A group of six sheep from unknown origins were roaming the streets of New Jersey's third-largest city. Michael Romano, self-proclaimed carbohydrate king and executive pastry chef for Edgar's Hospitality Group stopped by our front porch to chat with Ashlee. 1900), who married Kate Holsey, the daughter of Harriet and Bishop Lucius Holsey of Augusta. Before the supreme court decision, Dickson purchased a large house at 452 Telfair Street, in the wealthiest section of the then-integrated city of Augusta. This home is located at 1173 W Grab Creek Rd in Dickson, TN and zip code 37055. The front porch is getting new crown molding and new columns. As her father quickly began to rebuild using tenant farmers and establishing businesses including the Dickson Fertilizer Company in Augusta, Amanda also began to build her new life. Toomer was born on November 20, 1849, in Sparta, Georgia, to a White 41-year-old plantation owner, David Dickson and an enslaved twelve-year-old girl, Julie. Toomer was born in 1839 in Chatham County, North Carolina, the slave of Richard Pilkinson. The former slave-turned-millionaire purchased a home at 448 Telfair St., Augusta, Georgia, primarily to distance herself from irate relatives in Hancock County, Georgia. She was born November 20, 1849, on the Dickson Plantation, near Sparta, Georgia (Hancock County) to a famous 40-year-old plantation owner David Dickson and a 12-year-old enslaved girl, Julia . The Superior Court of Hancock County upheld her claim and the family appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court. A system error has occurred. The marker was placed at Toomer's last Augusta residence448 Telfair Street. In the early 1880's, Dickson gave Amanda three-quarters interest in 13,000 acres of Texas farmland, several thousand dollars worth of property bonds and a home in Augusta, Georgia, where she and her mother often stayed during shopping trips. MORE: Augusta Historical Marker Part of Georgia Civil Rights Trail [2] In what became known as the David Dickson Will Case, seventy-nine white relatives of David Dickson disputed the will in court, mainly arguing that David Dickson was not of a sound mind when he wrote the will, that he was "unduly influenced" by Amanda America and Julia Dickson, and that Amanda America was not his child. Amanda was legally held as Elizabeth's slave until her death. Weve updated the security on the site. (1-1) Philip Brown, of Westbrook, recipient of a Spirit of America Foundation Award. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. His estate included 17,000 acres of land in Hancock and Washington counties in Georgia. The disgruntled relatives then appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court, which upheld the lower court decision in 1887. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Amanda America Dickson, conceived as a result of her forty-year-old white father's rape of her thirteen-year-old enslaved mother, became the pet of her white grandmother and her father. Symptoms of neurasthenia, as described by nineteenth-century physicians, include "sick headache, noises in the ear, atonic voice, deficient mental control, bad dreams, insomnia, nervous dyspepsia (disturbed digestion), heaviness of the loin and limb, flushing and fidgetiness, palpitations, vague pains and flying neuralgia (pain along a nerve), spinal irritation, uterine irritability, impotence, hopelessness, claustrophobia, and dread of contamination. Her mother, Julia Frances Lewis Dickson, and her second husband, Nathan Toomer, both petitioned in court to be designated the temporary administrator of her estate. Atlanta also has an "Amanda America Dickson" day they celebrate. 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