William (Billy) Florville was born in Haiti in 1807. He left Haiti for the U.S. in the 1820s.
Landing in Baltimore, he learned to become a barber. America wasn’t welcoming to people with dark skin, so Billy sought a place where he could be accepted. After spending time in New Orleans and St. Louis, he ended up in Springfield, Illinois.
It was in Springfield where Billy met a young lawyer by the name of Abraham Lincoln. He became the future President’s barber and cut his hair for 24 years. Lincoln helped him attract clients to the barbershop Billy had set up across from the State House.
Billy’s shop became Lincoln’s second home, and the future President and Billy became close friends. Billy’s barbershop became the place to hang out for many of Springfield’s prominent citizens. Both Billy and Lincoln were famous for telling stories. In fact, Billy’s stories often were retold when Lincoln became President.
Billy was a successful entrepreneur. He owned an entire block in Springfield as well as a dry cleaner. As Lincoln faced a number of challenges, it was Billy he often turned to.
When Lincoln was elected President, he asked Billy to look over his home when he rented it out. He also adopted the Lincoln’s pet dog. During the depths of the Civil War, it was Billy’s letters that lifted the President’s spirits.
In addition to being a barber and entrepreneur, Billy was a musician. He was a supporter of
education and advocated for the rights of slaves to be educated.
The progeny of Billy had an impact on American history as well. His grandson was falsely accused of rape precipitating the Springfield race riot in 1908. The highest-ranking African-American officer in World War I was also a descendant.
To what extent did Billy shape President Lincoln’s views on slavery? There is no way to be certain of the answer to that question. But we do know that Lincoln saw Billy as a colleague, not as property, which was the popular view of persons of color at the time. Lincoln saw Billy as an intellectual equal counter to the generally accepted belief about the superiority of the intellect of whites. Lincoln saw Billy as someone he could trust. Again, this went against the generally accepted beliefs at the time.
President Lincoln’s home was just a few blocks away from the African-American community in Springfield. He saw them as neighbors. His friendship with Billy and his familiarity with his neighbors must have influenced his views on slavery.
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“The better part of one’s life consists in his friendships.”–Abraham Lincoln