African American Barbers in Fargo-Moorhead

The first African Americans in Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, were barbers. According to the 1880 United States Census, five African American families resided in the young cities—both of which were founded just eight years earlier—and all earned their living in the barbering trade.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, barbering was one of the few professions that allowed African American men to achieve economic independence. Despite pervasive racial discrimination, Black barbers were often sought after by white clientele, who considered it a luxury to receive grooming services from them. Highly skilled barbers were sometimes referred to as "tonsorial artists," and a professional network of Black barbers and apprentices known as the Knights of the Razor emerged during this period.
With the expansion of the railroad and the subsequent settlement of the Red River Valley, African American professionals recognized an opportunity in these growing communities. Many of the early Black settlers in Fargo-Moorhead established themselves as barbers, forming the foundation of the region’s African American community. Over time, the local Black population diversified to include workers in other occupations, such as laborers, custodians, laundresses, cooks, and domestic servants. A small number also became farmers.
By the 1880s, approximately half of the barbers in Fargo-Moorhead were African American, and most African American men in the area were engaged in the trade. Black barbers also established businesses in surrounding communities, including Fergus Falls, Battle Lake, Ada, Casselton, and Sheldon, contributing to the economic and social fabric of the region.
Felix Battles, "The Pioneer Barber of the Red River Valley"
Felix Battles, known as "the pioneer barber of the Red River Valley," is believed to have been one of the first permanent African American residents in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Born into slavery near Memphis, Tennessee, Battles likely escaped as a teenager and traveled north to Minnesota.
During the American Civil War, Battles enlisted in the 18th United States Colored Infantry, serving as a corporal. Following the war, he married Kate Gill and returned to Minnesota. He later stated that he settled permanently in Moorhead around 1873, just a year after the town was founded.
Battles worked as a barber in both Moorhead and Fargo, establishing himself as a respected figure in the growing community. Over time, he and Kate were joined by members of Kate’s extended family from Missouri, including the Gills, Harrises, and Taylors. His 1907 obituary described him as "a quiet, unobtrusive man" who was "respected by all who knew him."
Julius F. Taylor
Julius F. Taylor was born into slavery in 1853 on a plantation near New Market, Virginia. He was the thirteenth of eleven surviving children born to Gilbert and Mary Ann Taylor. His parents and many of his older siblings were sold to different owners in the Shenandoah Valley. After gaining their freedom following the Civil War, some family members remained near the plantations, while others sought opportunities in the North.
Taylor’s entry into journalism was influenced by Alanson W. Edwards, editor of the Fargo Argus.
Julius F. Taylor passed away on May 10, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois. He was remembered as a pioneering journalist who used his platform to influence political discourse and advocate for African American rights. His contributions to journalism and civil rights left a lasting impact on both the Fargo and Chicago communities.
Frank L. Gordon
Frank and Fanny Gordon moved to Fargo in the early 1880s, where they raised their five sons. Fanny was known for her exceptional singing voice and was an active member of a local bicycle club. Frank worked as a barber, eventually managing one of Fargo’s most prestigious first-class barbershops in the 1890s.
Beyond his profession, Frank Gordon was politically active in the newly established state of North Dakota. In 1900, he ran for Fargo Alderman (a position equivalent to a modern-day city councilmember), possibly inspired by African American barber Prince Honeycutt’s 1896 mayoral campaign in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Gordon was well-regarded in the community, earning the nickname “Professor Gordon” for his intelligence and humor. A supporter described him as “a man of irreproachable character and integrity” and “fearless.” His campaign faced resistance, including a death threat received three weeks before the election. He ultimately lost the race by a vote of 169 to 89.
In 1907, the Gordon family relocated west to Williston, North Dakota, and later to the West Coast. Two of their sons became doctors, and their grandson, Dexter Gordon, achieved international fame as a bebop jazz saxophonist.
The Evolution of African American Barbershops
The role of African American barbers began to shift in the early 20th century. Over time, fewer white men frequented the first-class barbershops operated by Black barbers, and new barber licensing laws were often implemented in ways that disproportionately disadvantaged Black professionals.
Simultaneously, economic opportunities for African American families improved, particularly as industrial jobs in urban areas provided better wages. With greater financial stability, Black men increasingly became the primary clientele for Black-owned barbershops. By the mid-20th century, African American barbershops had transitioned from serving predominantly white customers to becoming vital community spaces for Black men. These establishments played a unique and significant role in African American culture, serving not only as places for grooming but also as hubs for social interaction, political discussion, and community organizing.

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