Author: cmb12

FindingthingsforU, LLC is owned/founded by Char McCargo-Bah. She is the author of two books, and you can find those books on amazon.com by putting a search on her name. She became a Living Legend in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2014.

Contee and Gibson Families

Behind the scenes of the article titled, “A 150-Year history of the Contee-Gibson Family School.”

Myron Contee had no idea about the history of his ancestors in Alexandria, Washington, DC and Maryland. His Contee and Gibson families were early property owners in Alexandria. The Contee family migrated from Prince Georges, Maryland around the beginning of the Civil War to Washington, DC. They stayed in Washington, DC until after the Civil War. Myron’s second great-grandfather and his children migrated to Alexandria after the civil war leaving other relatives in DC. They became property owners of not just one house but several homes in Alexandria.

You can read Myron Contee’s story, “A 150-year history of the Contee-Gibson Family” in the Alexandria Times dated, August 12, 2021 at https://alextimes.com/2021/08/the-other-alexandria-contee-gibson-family/

Indenture to Millionaire: Colonel John McKee

Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Times’ article, “From indenture to millionaire: Colonel John McKee – dated July 8, 2021.

In 19th Century, Alexandria had a large freed Black population. Many of these freed people were able to acquire wealth, but one individual stood out more than others did in his era. Colonel John McKee acquired wealth in Philadelphia. You can read more about him in the Alexandria Times on page 12 at https://alextimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/07_8_2021-Alex_Times_WEB.pdf.

Click Family of Bethel Cemetery

James Click Jr.

Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article on, “From West Virginia to Alexandria: Click Family of Bethel Cemetery.

The Click Family has been in the Cemetery business in Alexandria for three generations. Prior to coming to Alexandria, they were living in the foothills of McDowell County, West Virginia, working in the coalmines.

Like so many people, the Click family wanted a better life and Alexandria offered the family a better life.

Check out the Click Family’s story, “From West Virginia to Alexandria – Click Family of Bethel Cemetery”– dated June 17, 2021 in the Alexandria Gazette Packet on page 11 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2021/061621/Alexandria.pdf.

The Other History of Fish Town – Dogan Family

Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article on, “The Other History of Fishtown – Dogan Family”

Betty Dogan Roberts Nicholas

Mrs. Betty Dogan Roberts Nicholas’ father, William S. Dogan II’s family has been in Alexandria since the 1700s. The Dogan were born free prior to the Civil War. They had businesses in Alexandria down at the wharf. They lived for many years in an African American neighborhood called Fishtown in Alexandria.

One of the Dogans had a restaurant and bar business down at the fish wharf before the civil war. With that type of business, he brought real estate in Alexandria. The properties with houses on it were rented out. This was a source of income for the family.

Unknown to the present generation, they were unaware that their family had been in the area for over 300 plus years. They contributed a lot to the history of Alexandria and they saw a lot of history made in Alexandria.

Check out this article “The Other History of Fish Town – Dogan Family” on pages 9 and 10 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2021/051921/Alexandria.pdf.