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made significant contributions to the war effort.¹ After the Civil War and during Reconstruction, Columbus, like other southern cities was faced with rebuilding and revitalizing its economy, attending to neglected industries, and developing new relationships between former masters and ex-slaves. Some African Americans held office during this period, but the majority of ex-slaves did not benefit from the policies of reconstruction. The Freedmen's Bureau, the newly created federal agency, established schools, and attended to the sick and diseased in Columbus as in other towns and cities.

Columbus began to rebuild its industries, becoming one of the first "New South" cities that inspired imitation by others.² By the 1870s the economy was thriving again with the production of various goods. During the 1880s numerous churches were built; in the 1890s the school system included nine schools -- five for white, and four for blacks; a second hospital was erected; a new courthouse, post office and many other public and private buildings were constructed. In 1889, the city limits expanded with the rebuilding and the areas of Rose Hill and the Northern Liberties, previously on the outskirts, came into the city.³

That same year, on October 25, John Harris Thomas (1860-1942), a young, prominent and successful businessman, purchased "lot 24 in the Phillips subdivision of the Sorsby Place, Rose Hill, beginning at the S.W. corner of M.J. Wellborn's lot on 21st Street for $560.00."⁴ There, around 1890, he built a large, comfortable Victorian home at 419 21st Street for his new wife, Amelia

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