Edward Duplex
Edward Parker Duplex (1830 – January 5, 1900) was an American entrepreneur, politician, and civil rights activist in California. He was the first Black mayor in California, elected to office in Wheatland in 1888, and was a leader in the state's Colored Conventions movement. Born in Connecticut, he migrated to California during the Gold Rush, and was a partner in the Sweet Vengeance Mine. Duplex used his share of profits from the mine to start his own barbershop in Marysville, California, where he employed other Black barbers. He later moved to Wheatland, where his barbershop became one of the two longest running businesses in the town. Early life and family Born free in New Haven, Connecticut, Edward was the grandson of Revolutionary War veteran Prince Duplex Sr. His paternal grandfather was born a "servant for life", but was a "free man of color" by the time he enlisted. His paternal grandmother was Lement Parker. His father, Prince Duplex Jr., worked as a steward on the New Haven Steamship Line which ran between Long Island and New York City. Prince Jr. was an active member of the Temple Street African Congregational Church, the first Black church in New Haven, and died in 1832, when Edward was very young. His mother, Adaline Duplex (née Francis), was a professional seamstress. After the death of his father, Adaline was briefly married a second time to a man named Whiting, and raised Edward's older brother Elisha and his sister Adeline Frances. Both Edward and Elisha trained as barbers and moved to California in 1852, but his brother died a few years later of consumption. Career Mining Duplex arrived in California in 1852. He became a partner in a gold mine in Brown's Valley, the Sweet Vengeance Mine, which was owned and operated by African Americans. Despite the Black testimony exclusion law which had passed in California in 1851, Duplex was allowed to testify in court against a white assailant who was convicted of robbery in 1853. He later served on the board of trustees of the Rare, Ripe Gold and Silver Mining Company, incorporated in 1868, as secretary. Marysville In 1854, he moved to Marysville, Yuba County, where he became the town's best-known Black citizen. Duplex opened a barbershop in Marysville, Yuba County, using his profit from the gold mine. His barbershop was called the Metropolitan Shaving Saloon, and was on D Street, which was known as "barber row." An employer of other Black barbers, Duplex advertised in 1858 that he would have seven barbers in attendance at the California State Fair. In 1859, The Daily National Democrat reported that Duplex had constructed a row of fans, powered by a steam engine, above the chairs at the Metropolitan Barber Shop. The newspaper praised the constant circulation of air as "truly delightful". That year, he traveled to New Haven to bring his mother Adaline back with him to California, where she continued working as a dressmaker. Duplex was active in the Mount Olive Baptist Church in