The history of African Americans in Winona includes the story of John B. Stovall. He came here in 1868 with General J. W. Sprague who later became the manager of the Winona & St. Peter railroad. John mysteriously disappeared in 1875 and no trace was ever found of him.

In 1877, James Wesley Stovall, a brother to John, arrived in Winona from Chicago. His story begins in Cater, Alabama were he was born in 1837. His father and master was Major Peter Stovall, a rich English plantation owner. His mother was a colored woman, the house mistress of his father. As a child he was often sick and one time almost died. He lived with his mother and father in the plantation house where he was taught the skills of a domestic servant--cooking, sewing, weaving, and looking after the personal needs of his father. By the age of 16, James had recovered from his childhood illnesses and began working in the fields of cotton and corn with other slaves. Although he liked to work with timber, he did not like working in the fields. It was while working in the fields that he developed a desire to join the army. One Sunday he obtained permission from his mistress, actually his half-sister, to attend a Baptist church a short distance from the plantation, inside the Union lines. The day was August 3, 1862. He never returned to the plantation. He joined Company F, Fifty-first Illinois as a servant to the officers. He stayed with that regiment for one and one-half years, seeing major action in the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. In 1864, his regiment went to Chicago for reenlistment. It was in Chicago that he began to realize the purpose of the Civil War as he found himself free to work for whomever he pleased. His beginning pay was $2.50 a week plus board. It was a good sum then and he wasn't sure what he would do with all of his money. He stayed in Chicago from 1864 to 1877, experiencing both the great Chicago fires. During this time he worked in two different restaurants and was in business for himself.

Stovall came to Winona in 1877, where his brother had preceded him. He rented a building at 76 West Second Street and opened a restaurant with three tables. The year was 1878. His business grew and Stovall prospered even though he never raised his price above the 25 cents per plate he charged when he opened his business. His restaurant became one of the larger and better known places to eat in the area.

In the 1883 Winona City Directory is this listing:

In the 1892 Winona City Directory, we find a similar listing:

Stovall eventually purchased his original building and three others on Second Street. He also purchased a lot in the Woodlawn Cemetery and erected a $1000 monument on it.

When Mr. Stovall came to Winona, he could not read. What skills he eventually learned came by patient and diligent reading of the newspapers. He was interested in the church and its work and made donations to many of the churches in Winona. He also contributed to various civic organizations. He was a Republican and attended every Republican inauguration from President Grant up to the time of his death. He went to various world fairs and spent one winter in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In 1901, Stovall sold his business to William Doyle of St. Paul. He retired then and lived in Winona until his death in December of 1919. He made occasional trips back to Cater to visit his former owners and their families. He remained on friendly terms with them and was treated as if he had never been a slave on their plantations. In his later years, he suffered from blindness. In the last six months of his life he received help for his day to day needs from Emma Shelton, another black entrepreneur in Winona.

Emma Shelton, whose husband, Virgil Shelton, was a railroad porter, opened Winona's first beauty shop at 63 W Second Street on May 13, 1909. Her career had actually started earlier when she had carried her satchel of shampoos and lotions from door to door. Her customers then were the wealthy women of Winona. Some of these women helped Mrs. Shelton start her beauty shop. At her shop, her clientele included both men and women from Winona's upper class.

In the 1930's, our country went through the Great Depression, a period of hard times for many. Mrs. Shelton's business, however, flourished. She employed three hairdressers, a masseuse, and several high school girls who washed towels and did odd jobs. One of those who worked for Shelton was Evelyn (Peterson) Bambenek. She was employed in the Shelton Beauty Shop from 1935 to 1943.

After taking a course in chiropody, Shelton expanded her business. She used the little front booth of her shop to work on feet, trimming corns and calluses from Winona's leading citizens.

It was not unusual for a bum to stop at the shop asking for a handout. Mrs. Shelton never gave them any money. Instead, she would call the restaurant around the corner and arrange for a bowl of soup for the person.

On June 18, 1914, there was a surprise addition to the Shelton family. A black baby was left on their doorstep with a note which told the finders to "put the child on the post office steps at midnight if they did not want it." The baby, identified only as "Little Sunshine," was adopted by the Sheltons and renamed Grace.

Evelyn Bambenek remembered Mrs. Shelton as being "quite religious."Shelton was a member of Central Methodist Church. Her funeral was held at that church when she died in the 1950's. She is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Included in Taylor's article is a table listing Blacks in Minnesota for selected years based on the U.S. Census. The chart shows these figures for Winona County: 1860 - 1970.

According to the 1950 Census, there were eighteen Blacks living in the county of Winona -- nine males and nine females. Fourteen of those -- six males and eight females -- lived in the city of Winona.

The 1970 census shows 14 Black males and 18 Black females in Winona County. Twenty-seven of those -- 11 males and 16 females -- lived in the city of Winona.

By 1980, the census shows there were 95 Blacks in Winona County with 77 of those -- 45 males and 36 females -- living in the city of Winona. Ten years later, the 1990 census showed there were 80 Black males and 122 Black females living in Winona County. Of these, 60 males and 115 females lived in the city of Winona.

As we look at the Black or African-American segment of Winona's population in the mid-1990's, it would appear there are four clusters -- Black families with at least one of the family employed as a professional at one of the local colleges; Black students attending one of the local colleges; mixed Black/White families; and African American families where often there is only one adult, usually the mother. The largest group of African American citizens in Winona would the be the latter. The information that follows is about this group. Their biggest influx has been in the last five-six years. There are about 15 - 20 families living in Winona. Many have out-migrated from Rochester or Chicago to Winona. They may have learned about Winona from a friend or relative who had preceded them, perhaps as a student. These families are attracted to Winona because they feel safer here and they like the peacefulness of a smaller community. One mother said she "can let her children play outside."

A key for them is the education of their children. Some have expressed concern over a perceived mismatch between school and parental expectations for their children, the handling of discipline problems, and unclear communication between parent and school. Several feel frustrated because they do not have the reading and writing skills needed to adequately help their children with school assignments.

A number of them have experienced various expressions of racial prejudice such as name calling, being avoided on the streets, or being followed in the stores. It is not easy for them to find jobs. Part of this difficulty may be racial. Some feel they are not seriously considered for employment except for service positions and factory work.

Transportation is a barrier to participation in school and community events for both Black youth and adults. Most families do not have a car, and public transportation options are limited. Transportation also increases the barriers to obtaining ethnic health and beauty supplies as well as food products. Many desired ethnic products are not available in Winona at affordable prices and in preferred container sizes. Lack of transportation makes it difficult to get these products from larger metropolitan areas.

While black families are welcomed into the local churches and are treated well, they often form a small minority of the congregation. Some maintain church ties in a previous location such as Chicago. Some would like to have a Black minister of any Christian faith here in Winona. The closest Black congregation is in Rochester but lack of transportation makes it very difficult to attend church there.

A number of African American families live in low income housing.Those who live there would prefer to have their own home in another part of the community. Another frustration for them is the lack of a place to hang out. Many African American adults are taking classes to develop their skills and get their GEDs. Individuals are joining committees and becoming more involved with community affairs.