Thanks for this information, Ellison was a very wealthy man, and its not surprising to see former slaves that became freed, becoming very prosperous, because during slavery they had become the skilled labourers, enabling them to use their skills during their time of freedom to start businesses and generate wealth.
I read on the web, how they found a bunch of old letters, underneath a house and that these letters was compiled into a book called No chariot down. I equate this with an archeological find, similar to finding papyrus thats been written on in hieroglphics in ancient Khem (egypt), therefore it is worth reading, for it gives a glimpse into ancient colonial america and the free african americans.