1889 – 1911 – Served as U.S. Collector of Customs in Beaufort, S.C.

where he lived as owner in the house in which he had been a slave.

1895 - Dropped from Navy pension rolls as he had been under the command,

but not a member, of the Navy.

1897 - After a sustained letter-writing campaign was restored to Navy pension

rolls by a private Congressional relief bill signed by President Harrison.

In a 1913 letter to Booker T. Washington , Smalls wrote,

“During the twenty years I have held the position of Collector,

I have succeeded to so manage affairs that when I leave it,

I will do so with credit to myself, my family, and my race

. . . When we go out of office we go clean.

So when the excellent history of Tuskegee and the Negro shall be written,

the Customs House at Beaufort, while conducted by colored men,

can easily be attached to the top or bottom,

for whatever inspiration it may be to the Race.”