Black History Month - Agriculture

Each week during February 2021, the Surry County Historical Society Facebook page will have a “Then and Now” post that features Surry residents from the past and present who shared similar occupations or roles in life. There are many more examples that could be written about for all of these areas, but we have just chosen a few to feature! 

Week 2- AGRICULTURE

THEN! December 17, 1656- A Land patent of 300 acres was granted to Benjamin Doll, a free Black man in Surry County. It is one of the six known land patents to Blacks in Virginia at that time and among the earliest in Virginia. In addition, two later land patents were in Surry County, also! Mr. Doll would have certainly farmed his land.   Later, around 1886, a group of Black men in Surry, Bolling Morris, John and Carter Hardy, and Roberson Simmons, bought a 521-acre farm on Gray’s Creek for $2500!  Peanuts are thought to be their main crop. By 1915, the Morris family was the sole owner of Smith’s Fort, and they sold it to Williamsburg Holding Company in 1928 for $9000. In the 1930 census, the family had moved to Richmond, and Bolling Morris, Jr. is listed as a proprietor of a tobacco store in Richmond, in the same block as the Maggie L. Walker home!

Now! Slade Farms, with over 500 acres, is run by Clifton Slade, with the assistance of his daughter and granddaughter!  A variety of items are planted, harvested, and sold by the Slade Family, including fresh summer vegetables, Elephant garlic, and their well-known sweet potato plants! In addition, the Slades have begun another interest in recent years- CBD oil. They have customers from around the country, and in the “season” for harvest, can be found at farmers’ markets around the area. Other African American farmers are also successful with their farms in Surry County, including the Pierce Family, under the guidance of Glen Pierce and his son Breyon. Like most Surry farmers, the Pierce family’s crops include corn, beans, and peanuts, but Breyon Pierce. The Wooden Family has also been a long-time farming family in Surry, led by Joseph H. Wooden, Sr., who passed away this past year. Joseph, Jr. and Jerrod Wooden continue their family business.  Mr. Wooden, Sr., was featured on the  PBS special, The Virginia Peanut Story. Giron Wooden, Sr. and his sons Giron, Jr., Myron, and Bryant also continue to farm in the Spring Grove/Claremont area.  Other prominent farmers include the Howell Family and Glen Slade, all of whom farm in our county.

For more information about or to research your family, visit us at 281 Bank Street, Surry, VA 23883 (Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 am.-4 p.m.) Phone  757-294-0404 or request information by email at surryhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.