Lost Fortunes: The Wealthy Black Women Who Built Empires Before the Civil Rights Act—And Where Their Wealth Went (Part 15 of 28, Henrietta Duterte)

Henrietta Duterte: The Trailblazing Entrepreneur Who Built Wealth in the 19th Century

She was “prompt in her business affairs, and sympathizing and accommodating to all—rich or poor.’” 

Henrietta Duterte was a remarkable woman whose entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to her community made her one of the earliest documented Black female undertakers in the United States. Through her pioneering funeral business in 19th-century Philadelphia, she not only amassed wealth but also used her financial success to support abolitionist efforts and uplift the Black community.

Early Life

Born in 1817 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Henrietta S. Bowers Duterte (1817-1903) came from a well-established free Black family of 13 children who also included abolitionists and renown touring opera singers. Bowers grew up in Philadelphia’s “Seventh Ward,” a long narrow strip in center of the city that for nearly two centuries was home to the city’s most prominent African American neighborhood with residents such as W.E.B. DuBois.  Her father, John Bowers moved the family from Baltimore and was the warden of the St. Thomas African Episcopal Church founded in Philadelphia 1794.

How Henrietta Duterte Acquired Her Wealth

In 1853, at the age of 35, Henrietta worked as tailor who made capes, coats, and cloaks for the city’s middle and upper classes. That year she married Francis A. Duterte, an established undertaker. The Duterte family was known for its active participation in business and community affairs. After her husband's death in 1858, Henrietta took over the family funeral business at the age of 39—an unusual role for a woman, especially during that era. Duterte’s funeral business quickly gained recognition due to its professionalism, efficiency, and compassionate services. She became the first Black female undertaker in the United States and successfully expanded the business, serving both Black and white clients. Her firm catered to the growing African American population in Philadelphia, many of whom sought dignified funeral services that respected their cultural and religious traditions.

Beyond her business success, Duterte used her funeral home as a covert station for the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people escape to freedom. Her financial resources enabled her to support abolitionist causes, fund Black institutions, and contribute to civil rights efforts.

Managing and Growing Her Wealth

Henrietta Duterte’s business acumen allowed her to accumulate significant wealth, which she invested in real estate and philanthropy. She owned multiple properties in Philadelphia, a city where Black land ownership was crucial for economic stability and political influence.

Her funeral business remained highly profitable because of her reputation for quality service. Additionally, the funeral industry at the time was one of the few sectors where African Americans could achieve economic success, as it was a necessary service with a consistent demand. Duterte capitalized on this opportunity, ensuring financial security for herself and her family.

At the time of her death, her funeral business was generating approximately $8,000 annually (approximately $300,000 today). ​Additionally, her estate encompassed the mortuary, hearses, carriages, burial plots in four cemeteries, and residential properties. Her office listed in the collection of The Library Company of Philadelphia as: “H.S. Duterte, Dr.; General Furnishing Undertaker, Address No. 838 Lombard Street” is valued at more than $1.7 million today.

What Happened to Her Wealth?

By the time of her passing in 1903 at the age of 83, Henrietta Duterte's once-prominent funeral business had scaled back in influence. Her nephew, Joseph Seth, inherited the funeral business and managed its operations until his own death in 1927. ​ 

Henrietta Duterte, despite her significant contributions as a pioneering businesswoman, philanthropist, and abolitionist, did not leave behind a large, enduring financial empire. She left a legacy of social impact passing much of her wealth on to charitable efforts, along with family and broader societal forces that limited wealth preservation for Black Americans are among the factors that contributed to the dissipation of her wealth:

• Lack of Direct Heirs: Henrietta and her husband, Francis Duterte, had children, but none survived infancy. Without direct heirs to inherit her estate, her wealth did not transfer generationally.

  
  

• Community-Focused Philanthropy: Henrietta actively supported causes that advanced the well-being of African Americans. Much of her wealth was directed toward the abolitionist cause, local churches, and community aid organizations. While this elevated the lives of others, it reduced her personal estate over time.

  
  

• Challenges of Black Wealth Preservation: Like many affluent Black individuals of the era, her wealth faced the dual threats of systemic racism and economic instability. Racist policies and discriminatory financial practices made it difficult for Black wealth to accumulate and persist over generations.

While details about the exact distribution of her wealth are scarce, her legacy endured through her business and philanthropic contributions. The funeral home continued to operate beyond her lifetime, and the wealth she accumulated helped support institutions that benefited the Black community. For example, she raised funds to pay the pastor’s salary at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas (founded in 1792, it was the first African American Episcopal Church in the nation) and helped fund Stephen Smith’s Philadelphia Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons.

However, like many successful Black entrepreneurs of the 19th century, Duterte’s wealth did not translate into multi-generational prosperity. Systemic racial barriers, lack of legal protections, and economic disparities often prevented Black wealth from being passed down effectively. The transition of Black-owned businesses from one generation to the next was challenging due to limited access to financial resources and discriminatory policies.

Legacy and Impact

Henrietta Duterte’s legacy is one of resilience, entrepreneurship, and social activism. She demonstrated that Black women could not only build and sustain wealth but also use it to empower their communities. Her contributions to the abolitionist movement, her business achievements, and her commitment to dignity in death care continue to inspire generations of Black entrepreneurs.

Though her direct financial impact may have diminished over time, her story remains a powerful example of how economic success can be leveraged for social good. Today, her life serves as a reminder of the importance of wealth preservation, estate planning, and community investment in ensuring that Black economic power endures across generations.

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This is a financial education series of The New Lavilla. Find us at Thenewlavilla.com and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-new-lavilla and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thenewlavilla/