"John Cheatham" (January 15,1855-April 16,1911)

Was born a slave in St.Louis,Missouri.He was freed on January 1,1863,when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.Shortly afterwards his

family moved  to Minneapolis where he attended school.After graduation held several jobs including porter and church sexton. On March 13,1888,he was of 37 men appointed to the Minneapolis Fire Department by Frank L.Stetson,Chief Engineer.The records aren't entirely clear,John was,if not the first African-American fight fighter in Minneapolis,certainly one of the earliest.He had a distinguished career within,the department,holding several positions of responsibility and receiving numerous promotions.He began as a pipeman and was promoted to driver after three years.Less than three years later he was promoted to lieutenant.On January 1,1899,he was promoted to captain.He and his wife,Susie,owned a home at 302o 20th avenue.Their four children,Ethel,Bertha,Gilbert,and Wesley,attended South High School,and the family belonged to Bethesda Baptist Church.On June 16,1896Susie,died from typhoid;she was 46.Within one year of her death,John found himself at the center of  the one controversy of his career.In 1907,John and two other African American firefighter (Layfette Mason & Frank Harris) were placed in charge of the Minnehaha Fire Station located at the intersection of 45th Street and Hiawatha Avenue.Their appointment met with resistance from some local residents who circulated a petition demanding that the men be replaced by white firefighters on "general principle."That move was "strenuously resisted" by another group of residents who circulated a petition in support of the firefighters.An article in the Minneapolis Journal detailed the excellent records of John, Lafayette and Frank.The artice noted that John had "distinguished himself" in the House of the Good Shepherd fire and and said that there was "no man on the books of the department who can show a better record."John's response to the situation was straightford.He said that all he wanted was "a chance to educate my children and get them started right."John described the move to replace him as "drawing the color line and drawing it stiff."John's supporters were successful,and he remained at the Minnehaha Fire Station until retirement.he died from chronic endocarditis.John is buried next to Susie and and His daughter,Ethel.Ethel died on April 16,1911,from tuberculosis;she was 25.