John Merrick, co-founder of the North Carolina Life Mutual Insurance Company, was born in slavery on Sept. 7, 1859, came to Durham as a barber in 1880, became pioneer business leader and financier.
Honesty, hard work, thrift, and shrewd judgement marked his rise from barber to business man.
He early established friendship with the Dukes, Carrs, and other monied people of Durham, from whom he learned much.
From small beginnings in real estate, he gradually spread his interests until at the time of his death on August 6, 1919. He was generally recognized as the outstanding Negro business leader of the South.
Contributed by Andre Vann, Durham Historian
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(1900s)
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