About Mark Gassaway
Mark Hughee Gassaway was one of eight children born to Louisa McPhail and Larkin Gassaway from the areas known as Belton, Pendleton, and Anderson, South Carolina. Mark was born into slavery however, his mother could read and write and taught him to as well. This passion for learning would become an important part of his life. Mark, like many others in the family became a teacher and principal of two schools in Anderson, SC. First, at the Greeley Institute located at 1219 S. Fant Street now known as Greeley Park. The second was Reed School located at 322 W. Reed Street adjacent to St. Paul First Baptist Church.
Mark graduated from Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC before marrying Carrie P. Walls of Columbus, GA in 1889. Together they educated the youth of Anderson county for the next 30 years. Carrie was a recent graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. This same year, Mark took the exam to become the postmaster of Belton County. He received the highest score and was appointed postmaster however, Mark was told that he must relinquish his position or there may be dire consequences. An agreement was made for Mark to become principle of Greeley Institute in Anderson. Once there Mark and his wife, Carrie, presided over the growth of the school from 9 to over 1,000 students. Mark and Carrie were repeatedly referred to in local newspapers as excellent examples to the African-American community.
Mark worked tirelessly to provide a better future for black youth in Anderson and its surrounding areas. This included representing the Belton area in the Atlanta exposition with a group of young men.
Despite all of Mark’s dedication and selflessness, he also had enemies. From the beginning of his career in Anderson, he was opposed by some powerful residents who made their feelings a matter of public record by publishing their threats in newspapers. In 1919, the toll of Mark’s activism came to head when he was told to leave town within 24 hours. His crime was creating the Anderson branch of the NAACP. Shortly after one of the local branch’s first meetings, he was told by a community member that men would be coming to his house to kill him and his family.
Mark and his family made a hasty retreat to his brother’s in Seneca, SC where they rallied and collected firearms. Carrie and others advised that there would be more guns and a legal system that would not support Gassaway’s position if they chose to retaliate. The next morning Mark, his immediate family, and several of his nephews and nieces left South Carolina never to return.
Despite all of Mark’s dedication and selflessness, he also had enemies. From the beginning of his career in Anderson, he was opposed by some powerful residents who made their feelings a matter of public record by publishing their threats in newspapers. In 1919, the toll of Mark’s activism came to head when he was told to leave town within 24 hours. His crime was creating the Anderson branch of the NAACP. Shortly after one of the local branch’s first meetings, he was told by a community member that men would be coming to his house to kill him and his family.
Mark and his family made a hasty retreat to his brother’s in Seneca, SC where they rallied and collected firearms. Carrie and others advised that there would be more guns and a legal system that would not support Gassaway’s position if they chose to retaliate. The next morning Mark, his immediate family, and several of his nephews and nieces left South Carolina never to return.
Shortly after being forced to leave his home in Anderson, Professor Mark Gassaway went on speaking tours across the country with Dr. W.E.B. DuBois and others that were instrumental in the extension of the NAACP. At almost 70 years of age, Gassaway started a successful broom company in Cleveland, Ohio. Here he continued his work in the African-American community by instilling the concept of self-sufficiency among his peers. Mark lived another 20 years in Cleveland and is now resting at Highland Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 2017 Mark Hugee Gassaway was inducted into the Anderson County Museum’s Hall of Fame, recognizing his role in the advancement of African-Americans in Anderson and the surrounding area. This induction also brought the family back to Anderson, SC after 98 years.
In 2017 Mark Hugee Gassaway was inducted into the Anderson County Museum’s Hall of Fame, recognizing his role in the advancement of African-Americans in Anderson and the surrounding area. This induction also brought the family back to Anderson, SC after 98 years.
This page is run by descendants of Mark H. Gassaway and Carrie P. Walls