Minerva Breedlove was the wife of Owen Breedlove. Minerva has spent most of her life enslaved with her husband and children. However, her daughter, Madam C, brought light to the family and made them famous. As we discuss who Minerva Breedlove is, we will also focus on her daughter to uncover and share all details we know regarding Minerva’s family.
Minerva Breedlove Family
Minerva Breedlove was born in 1828. He husband was Owen Breedlove. She is the mother of Madam C, Solomon Breedlove, Owen Breedlove Jr, Louvenia Powell, Alexander Breedlove, and James Breedlove.
Minerva Breedlove, her husband, and their older children were enslaved on a parish plantation that Robert W. Burnley owned. Their daughter, Madam C, was the first child born into freedom after the ruling president signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Minerva Breedlove died in 1872 due to a cholera pandemic. Her husband later remarried, but unfortunately, he died the following year, leaving their children as orphans.
Despite all this, the family’s name has been kept thanks to the success and popularity of their daughter, Madam C.
Minerva Breedlove’s Daughter – Madam C.J. Walker
Although Minerva and her family were initially enslaved, their daughter, Madam C, was born into freedom. Her birth name is Sarah Breedlove, and she was born on December 23, 1867. Sarah Breedlove is better known as an American entrepreneur, social and political activist, and philanthropist. Her prominent popularity came from being recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Sarah Breedlove grew her fortune from scratch. She developed and marketed her cosmetics and hair care products, and her business eventually succeeded. Moreover, she founded Madam C/J. Walker Manufacturing company and she often donated financial aid to different organizations, earning her reputation as the “patron of the arts.”
Sarah Breedlove owned a lavish estate in Irvington, New York, and it acted as a social gathering venue for African-American communities. Her business success quickly earned her a place as the wealthiest African-American woman in America.
Madam C.J Walker’s Early Life and Family
After the death of her parents in 1872 and 1873, Sarah and her siblings were left as orphans. Sarah was orphaned at the young age of 7 years. She moved to Vicksburg by the age 10 to live with her brother-in-law. Unfortunately, she began working as a domestic servant and missed most of her formal education.
To escape the abuse she was facing from her brother-in-law, Sarah ended up marrying Moses McWilliams at the age of 14. she got a child with her husband in 1885, but the husband died in 1887. Later, she married John Davis in 1894 but divorced in 1903. She then married John Walker in 1906 and divorced in 1912.
Madam C.J. Walker was a Christian. She had worked in different places, including as a laundress, commission agent, etc.; however, she started her hair-are product, which eventually boomed into success, making her a self-made millionaire.
Comments are closed.