DALLAS – A former slave from Texas is being honored for being a trailblazer.
Dr. Marcellus Clayton Cooper was enslaved on a farm in Dallas in 1862, before later becoming the state’s first Black dentist. He also co-founded Dallas’ first Black bank.
At a dedication ceremony at Communities Foundation of Texas in Dallas, descendants of a former Texas slave took part in a tribute to his lasting legacy.
Dr. Cooper was born enslaved on the Caruth Farm in Dallas in 1862.
On Wednesday, a historical marker was unveiled outside what is now known as the Caruth homeplace, where Cooper spent the early part of his childhood.
“To be honest, I never knew exactly where the plantation was,” said Lewis Rhone, who is Cooper’s oldest living grandson.
Rhone said Cooper’s home, located off Villars Street, is still standing. All the neighbors knew of him.
“There were people who said they could set their clocks by him walking. They knew exactly what time he would walk by the house,” Rhone said.
Cooper’s life after emancipation was remarkable.