TERRE HAUTE — The man who became the fifth president of Liberia, Edward James Roye, once was known to have the largest barber pole in the Midwest, about 79 feet tall.
Roye was born in Kentucky in 1815, and grew up in Ohio. He moved to Terre Haute in 1837.
John Roye, Edward’s father, was a partner in operating a Wabash River ferry, and left everything to Roye when he died in 1829, including 640 acres of land in Vandalia, Ill.
Once Roye knew his disabled mother was taken care of, he headed for Vandalia to see what his inheritance held for him, but he only made it as far as Terre Haute, according to a 1996 article written by Vigo County historian Mike McCormick.
Roye opened a bathhouse in a two-story building on North Second Street, which had the 79-foot barber pole.
During that time, exposure to the American Colonization Society was growing. This organization, formed in 1817, encouraged free African-Americans to move to West Africa to live in a prejudice-free nation.
Terre Haute’s chapter was known as the Indiana Colonization Society.
With no more ties to the United States after the death of his mother in 1840, Roye felt compelled to go, but he remained in the United States for an additional six years.
On May 2, 1846, he left from New York and arrived in Monrovia, Liberia’s capital, June 7, according to the 1996 article.
Success from the states followed him because within two years, Roye was Liberia’s top shipping merchant. He also became Speaker of the House for the Liberian Legislature in 1849.
Roye said Liberia was “decreed to champion the black race and should be governed only by ‘pure Africans,’” according to McCormick’s article.
In 1870, Roye was elected president of Liberia.
“I do not expect immunity from the criticisms of our opponents, nor do I ask for it,” Roye said in his inaugural address. “But I shall endeavor so to act for the good of the people while allowing our opponents … the utmost latitude in their criticisms … ”
His resignation was demanded by an armed coup d’etat on Oct. 21, 1871, when he announced he wanted to extend his term by two years to complete his policies, McCormick stated.
It is unclear how Roye died.
Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.
Black History Month
February 24, 2007
Black History Month: Terre Haute barber Edward James Roye became fifth president of Liberia
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