Charles Daggs: From Enslavement to Community Leadership in Hammond, Louisiana

Charles Daggs Headstone

Charles Daggs stands as one of the important early African American pioneers in Hammond, Louisiana, a man whose life spanned slavery, the Civil War, emancipation, Reconstruction, and the establishment of one of Hammond's oldest African American institutions.

Daggs was born in the Washington, D.C., area in the early nineteenth century, although his exact birth year remains uncertain. Sources place his birth between approximately 1809 and 1814. A later account of his death reported that he was 99 years, four months, and 18 days old when he died in Hammond on January 26, 1909. That calculation would place his birth around September 1809. However, the 1835 slave manifest reportedly recorded Charles as 21 years old, suggesting a birth around 1814. Because these records conflict, additional primary documentation is needed to establish his exact date of birth.

One of the most significant discoveries in Daggs's history is the record documenting his forced migration as a enslaved man from the Washington, D.C., region to Louisiana. In 1835, Charles  along with his mother, Rachel Daggs, and other members of his family aboard the Tribune, a vessel transporting enslaved people from Alexandria, District of Columbia, to New Orleans. The vessel arrived in New Orleans on October 1, 1835. The surviving account identifies Rachel as approximately 35 years old and lists Charles among her children. The shipment was associated with John Armfield and the individuals identified in the record as Brandon, McKenna, and Wright. He was sold to Louisiana Governor Henry Johnson to finanically support the building of Georgetown University. The Maryland Jesuits sold 300 enslaved individuals including members of the Daggs family. 

Carter LaCoste attended the unveiling.

The documentation connecting Charles to the "Tribune" is particularly significant because it provides a rare and powerful link between an individual who later became a respected community leader who endure the  domestic slave trade.  His story therefore does not begin with freedom; it begins with a forced journey whose surviving documentation allows his family history to be traced across generations and geographic boundaries.

During the Civil War, Charles Daggs's life took another dramatic turn. He served the Union cause in the United States Navy.  His service placed him on the Union side during a conflict that ultimately destroyed the institution of slavery. A 1909 notice published after his death specifically remembered Daggs as a man who had served aboard the Scioto. His transition from an enslaved man to a Union Navy veteran represents one of the most remarkable transformations in his life. The war fundamentally altered the legal and political circumstances of millions of African Americans, and Daggs became part of the generation of formerly enslaved people who helped build new communities after emancipation.

Following the Civil War, Daggs lived and worked in Louisiana. His name appears in the John W. Gurley Papers preserved by LSU Libraries. Documents from 1865 and 1866 identify him as a tenant farmer and preserve correspondence concerning charcoal production, farming, timber, livestock, clothing, rations, commodities, and wages for freedpeople. These records provide an important glimpse into Daggs's life during the difficult transition from slavery to freedom.

In 1867, Charles Daggs organized what became Greater St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Hammond. The church became one of the earliest African American religious institutions in the community and an important center of worship, fellowship, leadership, and community life. The Louisiana State Historic Preservation review recognizes 1867 as the year the church was established by Daggs, a newly freed man.

Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church "City of Refuge" received books

Donated by Rwc. Curry

A couple of weeks ago, RWC Curry once again donated books for me to distribute to children in our community. I never turn down educational resources and materials because there is always a need, and I believe every child deserves access to books and opportunities to learn.

After researching the rich history of Mt. Canaan School in Arcola, Louisiana, I contacted Pastor John Smith of Mt. Canaan “City of Refuge” to ask if the youth of the church could use the books. He quickly responded, “Yes!” We are grateful for the opportunity to add these books to the educational resources available to the children.

What really came to mind was the history of Mt. Canaan School. The school once stood near the church premises and was part of the educational story of African American children during segregation. What a meaningful way to honor the memory and legacy of that school, by placing books into the hands of today’s children. I was watching a teacher named Darius William cry after learning that many High School seniors couldn't read. He asked the question as to how did we get here and what is the solution? Mt. Canaan, is making an effort to be a part of the solution. At one time Mt. Canaan School was a Rosenwald School. The school was the foundation of basic reading, writing, and arithmetic.  As well as character building. 

Books donated by Rwc Curry

These books are more than educational materials. They represent opportunity, knowledge, and the continuation of an educational legacy that began generations ago. Thank you, RWC Curry, for continuing to donate books and helping us put resources where they are truly needed. And thank you to Mt. Canaan “City of Refuge” for welcoming this contribution for your youth. We honor the past by investing in the future.

If anyone has educational materials, laptops or computers, art supplies, recreational materials, books, or other resources that could benefit our youth, please consider donating.Mt. Canaan “City of Refuge” will gladly accept these generous educational gifts to help provide our children with the resources they need to learn, grow, create, and succeed. Every donation, big or small, can make a difference and help us build a brighter future for our youth.

If you would like to contribute, please contact me via email at antoinetteharrell14@gmail.com.  Together, we can continue to honor the educational legacy of Mt. Canaan by investing in the next generation

Connecting Through History: The Vernon Family Discovering Legacy in the Archives

Left to Right: Dr. Antoinette Harrell, Dr. Portia Preston
Charlene Kelly-Shockley, Back Row: Sonora Kelly and
 Glyniss Vernon Gordon at the Center for Southeast
Louisiana Studies. 

Several descendants of "Free Bob" recently visited the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies to examine the records in the Mount Canaan Missionary Baptist Church Collection. The joy on their faces was unmistakable as they explored the documents, uncovering pieces of their family's history.

Two generations sat across from one another, carefully analyzing the collection together. At times, Sonora Kelly's mother, Charlene Kelly-Shockley, shed tears of happiness as she saw that the history of her Vernon ancestors had been preserved and documented for future generations.

Family members spent time studying historical records and treasured photographs, connecting names and faces to stories that had been passed down through the years. Dr. Porta Preston was especially delighted to discover a photograph of her grandmother in the collection, making the experience deeply personal and memorable for everyone present. Everyone walked out of the building with such joy, just knowing that their history had been documented and share for future studies 

Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church at Tangipahoa Tourism

John "Tree" Smith
Pastor of Mt. Canaan
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Today, we proudly placed the Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church and Robert "Free Bob" Louis Vernon, Jr. historical brochure at the Tangipahoa Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau (Tangipahoa Tourism), making this important piece of local history available to visitors from across the region.

Pastor John "Tree" Smith of Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church was honored to see the church's history represented in a way that invites tourists and community members alike to discover its remarkable legacy. The brochure highlights the story of a church that has faithfully served the community for more than 157 years, as well as the extraordinary life of Robert "Free Bob" Louis Vernon, Jr., whose vision and generosity helped establish the church, school, and cemetery. By placing these brochures at Tangipahoa Tourism, we hope to encourage travelers, researchers, students, and local residents to explore this rich history and visit the historical marker. Preserving and sharing our stories ensures that the legacy of those who came before us will continue to educate and inspire future generations. 

The rich history found across the railroad tracks in Arcola, Louisiana, holds an important piece of the puzzle in understanding the history of Tangipahoa Parish. It was here, during the Reconstruction Era, that formerly enslaved men and women began building new lives grounded in faith, education, landownership, and community.

Among Reconstruction's most enduring legacies is Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, established in 1869, the same year Tangipahoa Parish was created. On March 6, 1869, the Louisiana Legislature formed Tangipahoa Parish from portions of Livingston, St. Helena, Washington, and St. Tammany Parishes, creating a new parish during one of the most transformative periods in American history.

Glyniss Vernon Gordon
5th Great-Granddaughter of
 "Free Bob"
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

The story of Mt. Canaan is inseparable from the story of Tangipahoa Parish itself. As the new parish emerged, African American communities were laying their own foundations for the future. Churches such as Mt. Canaan became more than places of worship, they served as schools, meeting places, centers of civic leadership, and symbols of hope. The land donated by Robert "Free Bob" Louis Vernon, Jr. provided a place where generations could worship, receive an education, and be buried with dignity. That is exactly what Free Bob has in mind for his family and community. Today that gift keep on giving and that what's important. 

To truly understand the history of Tangipahoa Parish, one must look beyond political boundaries and official records to the communities that shaped its character. Across the railroad tracks in Arcola stands a living testament to Reconstruction a place where faith, freedom, education, and perseverance came together to build a lasting legacy. The history of Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church is not simply the history of one congregation; it is a vital chapter in the history of Tangipahoa Parish and the African American experience in Louisiana.

Mt. Canaan School, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana was a Rosenwald School

Mt. Canaan Rosenwald School
Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

While researching the history of Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church and the Mt. Canaan School, I received a text message from Candice Picard, Executive Director of the Tangipahoa Historical Society. She asked if I was aware that Mt. Canaan had been a Rosenwald School. I replied that I was familiar with the Mt. Canaan School, but I had not known it was part of the Rosenwald School program. That question immediately sparked my curiosity.

I began searching the Rosenwald School Database at Fisk University and was thrilled to discover a historic photograph of the Mt. Canaan School, dated 1938. Finding this image confirmed the school's place within the Rosenwald School movement and added another important chapter to the rich history of Mt. Canaan and the surrounding community. Moments like these remind us that history is often uncovered one question at a time. A simple conversation can lead to remarkable discoveries that help preserve the stories of our communities for future generations.

Hidden within the rich history of Tangipahoa Parish is the story of Mt. Canaan School, an institution that represented hope, opportunity, and determination during the era of segregation. A photograph preserved in the Rosenwald Fund Collection at Fisk University's John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library documents the school and identifies it as being located in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. The archival record dates the image between 1917 and 1938, preserving an important chapter in the history of African American education.

Mt. Canaan School was one of the many Rosenwald Schools established throughout the South during the early twentieth century. These schools were the result of a remarkable partnership between educator Booker T. Washington, philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, local African American communities, and public school systems. Together, they helped construct thousands of schools that provided educational opportunities for Black children who had long been denied equal access to quality education under segregation.

Like many Rosenwald schools, Mt. Canaan School stood as more than a place of learning. It was a community institution where children gained the knowledge and skills that would prepare them for future generations of leadership and service. Families often contributed labor, donated materials, and raised money to help build and maintain these schools, making them powerful symbols of community pride, sacrifice, and self-determination.

For the Mt. Canaan community, education was deeply connected to the church and the values of faith, perseverance, and collective responsibility. The school helped educate generations of African American children in the Arcola community and surrounding areas, creating opportunities that many families had never before experienced.

Today, surviving photographs such as the one preserved by Fisk University remind us that these buildings were more than wooden structures, they were places where dreams were nurtured despite the barriers of Jim Crow. Every image, every document, and every oral history helps preserve the legacy of the teachers, parents, and students who believed education could transform lives.

As a genealogist, I believe it is our responsibility to continue documenting schools like Mt. Canaan so their stories are never forgotten. Their history is not simply about a building; it is about a community that invested in its children and refused to let the promise of education be denied.

Source: Rosenwald Fund Collection, John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library, Fisk University. Mt. Canaan School, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Photograph dated 1917–1938.