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African/American History in Madison County, Illinois
This is a work in progress, and I'm just getting started on this page. I would like to include biographies, newspaper clippings, photos, and stories concerning the accomplishments, struggles, humor, and culture of Madison County's African/American Community, especially in the 1800s. Please contact me with your information! |
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Timeline Question of Slavery in Madison County Newspaper Clippings Scott Bibb petitions Court to allow his children to attend public school |
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Illinois Timeline and Statistics - 1800s
(Source: Lincoln Presidential Library)
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THE QUESTION OF SLAVERY IN MADISON COUNTY From The Gazetteer of Madison County by James T. Hair, 1866 (Book is in Public Domain)
The following extract from the "Record of Indentures" for Madison County, casts considerable light on the early institutions and customs of the country, and the existence of slavery in the Illinois Territory and County of Madison:
Be it remembered that this day to wit, the fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred fifteen, personally appeared before me Josias Randle, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Madison, in the Illinois Territory, Jack Bonaparte, a man of color and Joshua Vaughan, both of the County of Madison, and the said Jack, now being the property of the said Joshua, and for other considerations doth hereby agree and freely oblige himself to serve the said Joshua Vaughan, his heirs or assigns ninety years, as a good and faithful servant, and the said Joshua Vaughan obliges himself on his part as long as the said Jack continues with him, to furnish the said Jack in good and wholesome food, and necessary clothing, with all the other necessaries suitable to a servant. In testimony whereof, both the parties have hereby agreed to the foregoing bargain before me in my office the day and year aforesaid. Josias Randle, County Clerk of Madison County, Entered 1815. Term of Service 90. Jack Bonaparte will be free 1905.
To appreciate the force of this singular document, as it would now be considered, we are naturally led to some brief account in explanation of the history and nature of slavery as it existed then and for many years subsequent in the county, both under the Territorial and State Governments:
Probably the first slaves brought into the Illinois country were those introduced under a royal grant of Louisiana, by the King of France, 1717, to the "Company of the West," which in 1719 changed its name to that of the "Company of the Indies," and which grant contained a condition "that they shall during their privilege (twenty-five years), introduce at least six thousand whites and three thousand blacks into the country granted them." In accordance with this agreement, a rapid importation of blacks began, and in 1720 Philip Francis Renault, Manager and Agent of the "Company of St. Phillips," a branch of the Company of the West, for prosecuting the mining business in Upper Louisiana, bought five hundred slaves in St. Domingo, which he brought to Illinois where he established himself and his colony a few miles above Kaskaskia, in what is now the southwest corner of Monroe County, and called the village he founded Saint Phillips.
Upon the cessation of the Illinois country to the British crown at the treaty of Paris, concluded 1763, many of the inhabitants removed with their slaves to the western side of the river. Those who remained, held their slaves by virtue of the treaty, which secured to the inhabitants the possession of their entire property and a guarantee of all their rights. Slavery then existed by law in all the British Colonies. Upon the conquest of the country by George Rogers Clarke in 1778, an Act was passed by the Virginia Legislature confirming the inhabitants in the enjoyment of their own religion, together with all their civil rights and property. These "civil rights and property" doubtless covered the so-called right of slavery. In 1783, the Legislature of Virginia passed an Act of cession of the Northwestern Territory to the United States, containing a clause "that the French and Canadian inhabitants, who have professed themselves citizens of Virginia, shall have their possession and titles confirmed to them, and be protected in the enjoyment of their rights and liberties," among which it is probable they reckoned the privilege of holding the black in bondage. The famous "Ordinance of 1787, in accepting the gift of Virginia, declared "there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said Territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." It did not, therefore, affect the condition of the French slaves or their descendants, though they have continued to be most numerous further south - until 1845, when the Supreme Court of the State declared them free.
Under the Indiana Territory's government, two or three attempts were made by votes in convention to procure of Congress a suspension of the anti-slavery clause of 1878, but it was unsuccessful. The Indiana Legislature of 1807, however, succeeded in passing an act which effected at least a temporary and modified form of slavery, under which Negroes were introduced and held as "Indentured Slaves." This act provided the owner of a person owing labor, may bring him into the Territory and agree with him before the Clerk of Common Pleas of the proper County, upon a term of service after which the slave shall be free [as shown in extract above]. Slaves under the age of fifteen were bound to serve until the age of thirty-five or thirty-two, according to sex, and also to be registered by the Clerk of Common Please. No slave was to be removed from the Territory without his consent, except on refusing to serve his master, and the children of slaves were to serve until the age of twenty-eight and thirty, according to sex.
Edward Coles, born in Albermarle County, Virginia, December 15, 1786, was the son of a rich planter with a large number of slaves. Edward received for his share a plantation and about twenty slaves. It was in William and Mary College, under the Bishop Madison, that Coles received the conviction of the wrong and impolicy of negro slavery, and decided to emancipate them. He became Private Secretary for President Madison, and sent on a special message to Russia as bearer of dispatches to the American Minister, John Quincy Adams. Upon returning, he sold his plantation and removed his slaves to Illinois in 1819. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land for each family and superintended their settlement in the vicinity of Edwardsville. Soon after, he was appointed by President Monroe Register of the Land Office at Edwardsville, which office he held until 1822, when he was elected Governor of the State.
During the year 1823, considerable feeling began to be manifested in the county, as well as throughout the State, on the subject of slavery. In the election of 1822, in some of the extreme southern counties, the question of opening the State for the admission of slavery was discussed, but in the Legislature of the succeeding winter, it assumed an alarming attitude in politics. Governor Coles, an open and decided anti-Slavery man, was elected Governor, showing that the people were no more in favor of the change then, than two years afterwards. In the County of Madison, Emanuel J. West was elected a Representative to the Legislature, while Theophilus W. Smith represented the County in the Senate. Both men lent their influence in the contest which followed, to the party favoring the introduction of Slavery, or what was the same thing, the question of a Convention. The old Constitution provided for alterations in only one mode. A vote of two thirds of the General Assembly could authorize the people to vote for or against a Convention. At that period of time, the strong-hold of the advocates of Slavery was in the counties near the Ohio river, and in the old French settlements. It was demonstrated that on a contingency, one-fourth of the votes of the people could elect a majority in a Convention, and that majority might probably be in favor of opening the State to Slavery. Hence, it became a paramount object of the opponents of the measure to defeat the Convention. It was found that the majority in the Legislature in favor of a Convention was lacking by one vote, and efforts began to sway voting in favor of the Convention. The Anti-Convention and Anti-Slavery party embraced the names of many of the most honored citizens of Madison County, prominent among them those of Gov. Edwards, Gov. Coles, Daniel P. Cook, Hooper Warren, George Churchill, and many others. During the campaign which followed, Madison County was active in organizing a systematic opposition to the Convention.
A meeting of the anti-slavery citizens was held at the log Court House at Edwardsville in 1823. A secretary was appointed to correspond with the friends of the cause in other counties - and an active warfare was from this time kept up in the county, characterized by great zeal and energy. Meanwhile, the pro-Convention party had not been idle. A paper was established at Edwardsville to support their interests under the editorial management of Theophilus W. Smith, called the Illinois Republican. Gov. Coles, an anti-slavery advocate, at the beginning of the contest, resolved, it is said, to devote his whole salary as Governor for four year (four thousand dollars) to the canvass, and was, as might have been expected from his character and convictions, one of the most determined and hard working members of the opposition. In a letter addressed to Rev. Thomas Lippincott, Gov. Coles says:
"I contributed to other papers under various signatures, and published many pamphlets, several of which I assisted in circulating. My labors in the cause were so great that during the several months which passed between my purchasing the Illinois Intelligencer (at Vandalia) and the election, there were but few numbers of that paper which did not contain something from my pen."
Among the leading advocates of a Convention in the County were Theophilus W. Smith, Emanuel J. West, Judge McRoberts, and other. Gov. Bond, Elias K. Kane, McLean, A. P. Field, Joseph A. Baird, Robinson, R. M. Young, and other were also active partisans of the measure in the State, while the Rev. John M. Peck, Judge Lockwood, Judge Pope, Morris Birbeck, David Blackwell and George Forquer were equally active in their opposition.
As soon as the Convention resolution was carried in the Legislature, the Rev. Mr. Peck had a meeting called in St. Clair County, and a constitution adopted for an association to operate against the introduction of Slavery in Illinois. Headquarters were established in St. Clair County, and fourteen other societies were organized in as many counties, all acting in unison with the society in St. Clair County. A perfect organization was kept up during the canvass throughout the state, which was effected more by the exertions of Rev. Mr. Peck than by any other person.
The result of these labors of the Anti-Slavery party was the defeat of the proposition to hold a convention by about 1,700 majority, the entire vote in the State being by the official canvass from the Edwardsville Spectator, December 2, 1824. The vote of Madison County was as follows:
Convention, 351 No Convention, 553 Daniel P. Cook, Congress, 644 Shadrack Bond, Congress, 285
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NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS |
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FUGITIVE CASE IN ALTON, ILLINOIS
Source: Evening Chronicle, Syracuse, New
York, February 23, 1853
CHLOE - FORMER SLAVE, AGED 119 Source: Syracuse, New York Daily Standard, March 29, 1853 A Mr. Melvin, traveling recently in Madison county, Ill., stopped at a Negro settlement on Wood river, and calling at one of the houses, the door was opened to him by a tottering Negro, aged 90 years. On entering he found a withered old Negro female, who turned out to be the mother of his venerable host. On enquiry he learned that she was 119 years of age. She gave her name as Chloe, and says that she is a native of South Carolina, having been there the slave of a farmer named Wilson. When very young she was stolen and carried away from home by a party of Cherokee Indians, from whom she subsequently escaped. She professes to remember perfectly well Lord Cornwallis and the British officers of note who figured in the War of Independence. She is supported at present by her son, who in turn receives material assistance from a promising young stripling of forty-five or fifty. ************************************************
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Source: The New York Times, September 6, 1854 (From the St. Louis Republican of Aug. 30) The facilities afforded by this mysterious conveyance seem to be every day increasing, and it is a matter that demands the calm consideration of every slaveholder in our community. That we have abolition enemies among us tampering with slaves, not only affording them means to escape, but personally superintending them in their efforts, is now no longer a matter of doubt. This system of negro stealing, once a matter of so much risk, is now boldly done in our midst, and slaves are taken away in broad daylight and shipped to their place of destination. Steamboats and railroads are ready to convey them, while there are those in the city who, on an emergency, find the means of facilitating their egress by furnishing them with carriages and horses. This wholesale plunder will prove destructive to slave property in St. Louis and the adjoining river counties, unless steps of the most extraordinary kind are taken to prevent it. We have reason to know that there is a regular agency established in this city, with two branches of the Underground Railroad. It is laid with black rails, but its conductors are white men. In other words, there are associations of negroes in the city who are in correspondence with the Abolitionists, who furnish them money and advice, and who are constantly running off slaves. Chicago seems to be the centralization of negro-stealing from this community, and we have the names of some of her citizens who are engaged i it. We have lately seen a letter from a negro woman who ran away from Mr. Sappy, giving an account of her escape, whereabouts (Chicago), and the manner in which it was done. She refers in the letter to other slaves in the city, calling them by name, whom she anticipates will shortly be on, according to agreement, and congratulates them upon their speedy release. Before closing her missive to her sable friend, this fugitive seems to be in raptures at the contemplated walk she is going to have on the Lake Shore, in the company of some white ladies. The letter was obtained just in time to prevent one or two of the parties from escaping. One of them, an old negro man, had a horse and dray, and was just ready to start for Chicago, when he was nabbed and locked up in jail. A few evenings since, by the same management, several slaves belonging to Mr. Lewis, who resides near Howell's Ferry on the Missouri River, by the aid of some white rascals, had everything prepared to leave. A skiff was ready to run them to Alton, with a white man to conduct them; but unfortunately an old negro woman, though tempted and almost promising to go, could not give up her home and her kind protectors, and told her mistress, Mr. Lewis being absent at the time, and the thing was frustrated. We have some other items, and shall revert to this subject again. In the meantime, we would advise those who have any interest in this kind of property to be wide awake. *************************************************
COLORED SCHOOL CELEBRATION Source: Alton Weekly Courier, May 13, 1858 Alton, May 6, 1858, To the Editor of the Alton Courier: As you were not in attendance at the celebration of the Colored School, taught by Mr. John Robinson and lately adopted as a City School by the City Council, I propose giving you a short statement upon the subject. It appears that it was not only intended to be a May-Day celebration for the children, but also a day of general festivity among the colored citizens. Many parents were present early in the morning at the School House. Between the hours of 11 and 12 A.M., the procession was formed. Teacher and scholars in front; parents, and others in attendance, in the rear. The whole then proceeded to a beautiful grove between town and Upper Alton, on the bank of Shield's Branch, where the usual ceremony of crowning the queen of the day, accompanied by addresses and recitations from the scholars, was gone through with. After the ceremonies closed, the children betook themselves to the woods, glad to be relieved for a time from the confinement of a School Room, and permitted to roam at liberty over the green fields. At a proper time all were invited to partake of a most excellent dinner provided by the ladies. After an interval of about half an hour, Mr. Hardin was called to preside over the meeting, and Mr. C. C. Richardson was introduced by Mr. H. D. King as the speaker of the day. After some preliminary remarks, Mr. R. proceeded to address the meeting upon the subject of education, and its importance to all who would wish to become good citizens and useful in the world. Mr. R. spoke of the advancement in knowledge which many of the scholars present had already made, &c. His address was listened to with attention and received with applause. The children then united in a song selected for the occasion. Mr. H. Ellsworth was then called upon, and addressed the audience in a short and pointed speech. The school again united in a song, after which a short address was made to the scholars by Mr. R. J. Robinson. After a recess of half an hour and another song, Mr. H. D. King made a brief but excellent address to parents and scholars. Mr. Robinson, the teacher, was then called upon, and made a very appropriate address to the audience, alluding more particularly to the rapid advance in knowledge of the colored children, to whom it was his pleasure to give instruction. The following resolutions were then passed: Resolved, That we return our heartfelt thanks to the Mayor and members of the City Council for their unanimous decision in making ours a City School. Resolved, That we shall ever feel grateful to our teacher, Mr. John Robinson, for his kind and untiring efforts for the welfare of our children. Resolved, That we highly appreciate the good behavior of the children present. *************************************************
CLARA WILSON - FORMER SLAVE, 125 YEARS OLD Source: The American Almanac & Repository of Useful Knowledge for the year 1861; Volume XXXII, 1861, page 392 December 13, 1859, Near Alton, Ill., Clara Wilson, said to be 125 years old. She was born a slave in South Carolina, and was carried to the western country about seventy years ago. She was ordinarily called "Granny Wilson," or "Granny Buck."
Source: The New York Times, January 9, 1860 Death of Centenarians - A negro woman named Clara Wilson died near Alton, Ill., Dec. 13, at the age of 124. She settled near Alton in 1840, being then nearly one hundred years old. The Alton Courier says: "She was born and raised in South Carolina, and her earliest recollections were of Charleston, in that State, which she remembers as a smart village, instead of the great city it now is. She grew up on the plantation, field work being her task so long as she was a slave. ************************************************
THE COLORED JUBILEE Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, May 19, 1870 As advertised, the colored population of this county turned out en masse on Thursday last at the fair grounds. There were probably between eight hundred and a thousand people in all, and the procession as it passed along Main street was fully three-quarters of a mile in length. The day was pleasant and the proceedings passed off orderly and quiet. Several gentlemen spoke whose names were not on the bills. Our reporter informs us that the remarks made by Judge Joseph Gillespie were sensible and appropriate, and that the crowd paid the most strict attention. Dr. John H. Weir was called upon to speak, and it would seem that his remarks elicited considerable mirth. The doctor has always been a red-hot abolitionist and he went further than any other speaker on this occasion. Mr. Daniel Kerr talked for a while, and he said just what might be expected he would say. Mr. E. M. West was also requested to say something, and after a good deal of coaxing he consented to do so; and as there has been considerable comment upon what that gentleman said, as well as upon what he is reported to have said on that occasion, we have taken the pains to get his exact language. He made no allusion whatever to the 15th amendment. He said, that having been called on to say something, he accepted the call as a token of kind feeling on the part of those present, and was on his part reciprocated; that this day was amongst the happy days of his life to known that the institution no longer existed in the United States; that having been born in a slave state, amongst his earliest recollections were those in opposition to slavery, and that it had been a dream of his youth that he might live to see the institution of slavery done away from the fair page of American history. For our part we do not take this as an endorsement of the radical programme, or that it was an expression of approbation of the privileges lately granted to the negroes. ***************************************************
COLORED MEN VOTE FOR FIRST TIME IN MADISON COUNTY Source: Alton Telegraph, January 6, 1871 (review of 1870) April 4, 1870: Colored men voted for the first time in Madison County, at the town election in Edwardsville. ************************************************
CELEBRATION OF THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT Source: Alton Telegraph, January 6, 1871 (review of 1870) April 13, 1870: The colored citizens of Alton and vicinity celebrated the adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment by processions, firing of cannon, and speeches and banquet at City Hall. *********************************************
THE STORY OF JARRET (this is an excerpt of "Talks With Old Settlers" by George T. Allen, M. D. Read the whole story here.) Source: Alton Telegraph, December 31, 1874 There were many noted fighting men about in those days. Does any one remember James Henry? He was a shoemaker; but a stalwart, six-footer, who "neither feared God nor regarded man," when in his cups. Eventually he reformed and, for a time, was a leading man in the State, I have been told. Henry was a Kentuckian and a very bitter pro-slavery man. During one of his quarterly sprees, he fancied that Jarret, the slave of a lawyer named Conway, had insulted him. Henry demanded of Conway permission to punish Jarret. Conway's cowardice led him to grant the favor. Informed of this, Jarret hid away in the hay in my father's stable. I knew this and secretly fed and watered the poor negro; but a drunken hostler, yet living, and whose name I can give, accidentally found Jarret, and to flatter Jim Henry, reported the fact to the desperate son of Southern chivalry. Jim Henry then provided himself with five hickory whips, fresh from the timber, a rope, his sword, his dagger - a regular bowie knife - and a pistol. He then sought and found Jarret, tied him, brought him out, stripped him of all clothing excepting his pants, and fastened him to the end of a horse-rack, on the public street, so as to compel him to stand on his toes. Henry laid his sword and pistol on the horse-block some three feet from his victim, and with the dagger in his left hand and a hickory in his right, commenced the castigation. It was "Court week" and there seemed to me - a little boy then - five hundred men in town and all present and looking on! Henry wore out two or three, I think three , hickory gads on Jarret's bare back. With nearly every blow the blood ran. The poor negro would sometimes draw up and hang upon the rope and beg for mercy. Then Henry - the white brute - would draw the keen edge of his immense knife over the prisoner's naked abdomen and threaten to let out his bowels if he failed to stand it all, most manfully. Henry was a man of wonderful size and strength, and all knew him to be fearless and reckless. He dared any man to interfere and intimidated the Sheriff and constables and all the men present, with his sword, his dagger and his pistol. In that day and that community, little sympathy was felt for a "n****r." If the man had been white, Henry would not have struck him the second blow and lived. The negro then had no rights the white man even pretended to regard. Just when the second or third whip had been used up, my mother first heard the poor negro's cry and she went immediately to his rescue. She appealed to all the men present, but unheeded. Then she retired to her kitchen, armed herself with a formidable carving knife and immediately advanced upon the enemy. Henry did not see her until she had nearly touched the negro; when he suspended his blow, in astonishment, but with still a threatening gesture. She raised the knife, cut the rope and ordered the sufferer into her own kitchen, where she dressed his wounds most carefully, with her own hands. Henry, watching her as she retired, raised his hand with the dagger in it, as she disappeared, and, turning to the crowd, said: "A woman might tie my hands, but let a man thus try to oppose my will," swinging his dagger threateningly at the men. I may be like some of the men who were there that day, but my mother was a true heroine! *******************************************
NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, June 29, 1880 The colored people of Alton, Upper Alton, Rocky Fork, Godfrey and Jerseyville will celebrate the national anniversary, Monday, the 5th of July, at Virden's grove near Godfrey. Addresses will be delivered by Hon. J. H. Yager, Col. J. J. Brenholt and others. The Declaration of Independence will be ready by Mr. E. Howard, the Emancipation Proclamation by Miss Alice Ellsworth. Prayer will be offered by Rev. W. B. Hammond. Hunter's band will furnish music. *****************************************
TWO COLORED MEN MURDERED Source: New York Times, March 30, 1883 St. Louis, March 29 -- A terrible murder is reported here from Alton, Ill. Six miles from there is a negro settlement, the largest in the county. Henry Depugh and Henry Ross, cousins, lived there together in a little hut. They were unmarried. The hut is about half a mile from any house. They were last seen alive on Tuesday afternoon. Yesterday morning they were found dead in the hut by a neighbor. Ross was lying on the bed, with several cuts in his abdomen. Depugh was lying on the floor, his brains scattered against the side of the hut. His head and shoulders were terribly lacerated, as though he had been killed by a shot from a gun. There was no evidence of a struggle on the part of Ross; he was killed while sleeping. The hut's interior was not much disarranged. Two guns and several other articles are missing. It is said that Depugh had money, but none was found on the premises. The men were evidently murdered, and the position of Ross indicates that they did not kill each other. Who did the deed is still a mystery. Both men were honest and industrious. Depugh is the son of the Rev. Mr. Depugh, a colored Baptist preacher. Coroner Yonree went to the place and held an inquest, but no light was thrown on the tragedy. It is claimed by some that the object of the murder was revenge, and that testimony can be produced implicating persons living in the vicinity. [See below - the hanging of William Felix Henry for the Murders of Henry Ross and Henry Depugh.] *********************************************
RILEY, ANDERSON Source: The Evening Republic, Buffalo, New York, August 13, 1884 Anderson Riley, formerly a slave in Virginia, died recently near Alton, Illinois, claiming to be 111 years of age. ***********************************************
MEETING DEATH ON THE GALLOWS - THE EXECUTION OF WILLIAM FELIX HENRY FOR THE MURDER OF HENRY ROSS AND HENRY DEPUGH Source: New York Times, January 17, 1885 Edwardsville, Ill., January 16 -- William Felix Henry, colored, was executed here today for the murder of Henry Ross and Henry Depugh, both colored and both single men. The two men were found murdered in their house at Rocky Fork, about six miles from Alton, in March 1883. The crime was traced to W. F. Henry, who was arrested, convicted, and afterward confessed his guilt. During the last four days the doomed man appeared to find great consolation in religion, and was almost constantly attended by clergymen. Last night he did not sleep, but passed the time playing on the French harp, telling stories, and singing songs. This morning he dressed carefully, and at 8 o'clock the death warrant was read to him. The Rev. Mr. Depugh, father of one of his victims, visited the condemned man, took his hand and forgave him. After joining in a prayer, the doomed man was pinioned and led to the gallows. The black cap was adjusted, and at 1:12 P.M. the trap was sprung and 12 minutes later the man was dead. **********************************************
TROUBLES IN UPPER ALTON Source: The New York Times, January 15, 1890 Correspondents who have snuffed the battle from afar, as it were, have sent out more or less blood-curdling accounts of a race war at the little village of Upper Alton, Ill. To ascertain just what the row was all about, The Time's correspondent visited the seat of war and discovered a most peculiar state of affairs. Alton is in Illinois, twenty-five miles from St. Louis, and the place of residence of many prominent St. Louis business men. Upper Alton, the immediate scene of the trouble, is a suburb of Alton proper. In this place the trouble that has now reached a crisis has been brewing for a long time. The Constitution of Illinois specifically provides that no person of school age shall be refused admission to any public school in the State on account of color. It is said that the Constitution of no other State in this Union goes so far, most of them stopping with the guarantee of equal educational facilities to persons of all races. In some places in Illinois mixed schools are, and always have been, maintained under this provision of the Constitution, which was adopted in 1871. This is the case in the town of Alton proper, a fact which has made the resistance in Upper Alton the more conspicuous. In other places the colored people have made fights for their constitutional rights, and have never been met by an adverse decision. In Illinois, petitions for writs of mandamus are included in the brief category of cases which can be opened in the Supreme Court itself, and this circumstance has been construed as favorable to the negroes. To dodge this, the School Board of Upper Alton districted the city so as to include pretty nearly all the negroes in one district. In January, 1888, John Peair, a colored day laborer of Upper Alton, brought the first suit in the Supreme Court to compel the School Board of Upper Alton to admit his two children to the white school, irrespective of grade, qualifications, or the place of their residence, or the subdivisions of the school district arbitrarily fixed by the board. Security for costs was not deposited at the time, however, and for that reason the suit had to stand in the Supreme Court until last Spring, when the money was raised by subscription. A decision altogether favorable to the negroes was ordered, and a writ of mandamus issued directing the Upper Alton School Board to admit Tony and Cora Peair to any school in the district. Nothing was said about any other child than the two on whose behalf the petition was filed. At the time the mandamus was ordered no money was on deposit in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court to pay for its issuance, $75 being the lawful fee. This was not forthcoming until December last, when it was paid and the writ, directed to the Sheriff of Madison County, Ill. was issued. Then followed a series of attempts at compromise and temporary settlements, and finally there was a split among the negroes. The colored folks began to wonder why the dearly prized and hard won writ of mandamus, which should admit at least the Peair children, did not come. They said they had raised the money, $75, and given it to Peair to pay for the writ soon after it was ordered from the Supreme Bench, and that he had taken it and paid his taxes with it. This charge made Peair furious. He denounced his followers as ingrates and withdrew his children from the colored school, but his defection did not break the agreement. The colored male Principal and his white lady assistant, Miss Rhoda Bartlett, continued to teach the greater portion of the twenty-five negro children who attended the frame schoolhouse in "Salu Addition," which is the local name of the quarter of Upper Alton, in which almost every family of its entire colored population lives. Then there were more compromises, and the School Board fixed up a system of grading that would, in effect, keep the negroes out of the new High School, in which they most desired admission. This was coupled with concessions that made the white people indignant, and they said, in effect: "No matter what the board does, our children shall not go to school with negroes." The trouble matured last week and was met by the negroes with an assertion that they would stand on their legal rights. Accordingly, on Wednesday, twenty black children demanded admission to the High School. They were admitted but not assigned to classes, and at recess the white children drove them from the grounds like sheep. On Thursday both sides contented themselves with talking, and on Friday the blacks took action. About three hundred negroes, from six to sixty years of age, marched on the school. The column was stopped at the school door by the posse of constables, who placed their refusal to admit them on the grounds that such mixed crowds could not be allowed within the school yard, and by the exercise of great firmness they forced all the intruders outside the inclosure except about twenty-five, who said they were there to attend school. It was while this informal process in ejectment was being carried out that the relations of the opposing factions became strained to the last degree. Some of the colored men made menacing motions as if to draw weapons from their pockets, but none were actually shown. The threats of violence still continuing to come from "Salu Addition," Principal Powell on Saturday night applied to the Town Council of Upper Alton for a guard of special officers to assist in maintaining order about the school inclosure. Six reputable citizens were appointed and were instructed by the Council not to permit any groups of grown persons of any race or either sex to loiter about the approaches to the school yard or in the street in front of it. This order they obeyed to the letter. Colored children were permitted to enter the school yard, but they were met at the door by the principal, who refused to admit them until they had passed examination in the district of their residence. Mr. Kelley, who has been teaching the colored school, has quit in disgust, leaving the negroes without a teacher, and they are more than ever determined to get into the white school. The situation is decidedly critical. Interviews with colored people developed little except declarations that they "was gwine ter git inter de white man's school or know de reason why." The School Board consists of three Republicans and two Democrats. Its President is Mr. George W. Dudley, a prominent business man of St. Louis, and one of its members is the Rev. G. W. Wagner, a minister of the Methodist church. The other three members are wealthy farmers, two of whom, Gillam and Lowe, are Democrats, and one, Major Moore, a Republican and prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Prof. Powell is a man of very quiet and courteous bearing, and seems to possess the friendship of both whites and blacks. He served through the war in the Twenty-Sixth Illinois Volunteers, in the Fifteenth Army Corps with Logan, under Sherman in the West, and is a Republican "from away back." "If the School Board orders me to receive colored children into my school without discrimination, I will either obey or resign my position," he said, in answer to a question, adding: "I have no personal ends to serve in this matter." *******************************************************
BLIND BOONE CONCERT Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, June 3, 1890 Blind Boone, the colored pianist, gave a recital at the M. E. church last evening. The numbers on the programme embraced selections from the classics as well as lighter music, and even the old style plantation melodies. The request of the manager that someone play for Boone to imitate, was responded to by Mr. L. D. Yager, who gave Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, which was imitated by Boone. The company left for Springfield this morning. *******************************************************
BOONE, MARY A. "POLLY" - WIFE OF UNKNOWN BOONE, WHO WAS BROUGHT TO THE NORTHWEST COUNTRY BY DANIEL BOONE Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, Saturday February 11, 1893 Edwardsville Democrat - We learn that the Mary A. Boone, colored, who died in Alton recently, over one hundred years old, and to whose last will and testament reference was made in the last issue of the Democrat, was in the early 30's a resident of Edwardsville. She was then the wife of James Crow, who was familiarly known by the sobriquet "Jim Crow." They resided in a one-room log house which at that date stood where the long brick house stands now occupied by Edward Dippold and family, in lower town. After the death of Crow, she married Boone, also a negro, of Alton, and it was he and not she, that was brought to the northwest country by Daniel Boone. There are probably not more than two persons here about at present, cognizant of the foregoing facts, Mrs. Jane Buckmaster of Alton, and Mrs. S. J. Torrence, of this city [Edwardsville]. ********************************************************
HENRY HARRISON ARRESTED Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, Tuesday, May 2, 1893 Henry Harrison, colored, was arrested this morning for being a participant in the shooting scrape at Bowman's barber shop last Sunday afternoon. A fight occurred over a game of craps and several shots were fire by Harrison. He will be given a trial tomorrow. *********************************************************
CARTER, RICHARD Source: Utica, New York Morning Herald, May 28, 1896 At Alton, Ill., on May 25, Richard Carter and his wife Nellie went through a marriage ceremony for the third time with no divorce intervening. Carter is a colored man, and was married in slavery times. After the war he was legally married In Virginia, but soon after the courthouse was destroyed, together with the record of his marriage. In the meantime he had lost his marriage certificate, and has since depended on the slave marriage, of which he had proof. When the supreme court decided adversely to slave marriages, Carter decided he would again go through a ceremony, so his children would be sure to inherit the competency he has saved. Carter is a mulatto of more than average intelligence. ************************************************
EMBRY, BISHOP JAMES CRAWFORD
Source: Syracuse, New York Daily Journal,
August 14, 1897 ***********************************************
INCENDIARIES IN ALTON, ILLINOIS Source: New York Times, September 5, 1897 Alton, Illinois, September 4 -- There is much excitement here over two deeds of vandalism perpetrated in the course of the last week. On Wednesday morning Lincoln School in Upper Alton was destroyed by an incendiary, and last night the new Lovejoy school building in this city was greatly mutilated. Both schools were used for the education of colored children, and the outrages are thought to be the work of irresponsible colored people, who resent the separation of their children from those of white people in the public schools. The law-abiding element of the colored population has decided to appeal to the courts, and has secured counsel to contest the legality of the separation system. All the members of the School Board are Republicans, and the fight is being made on party lines. **********************************************
EIGHTH ILLINOIS REGIMENT RETURNS FROM CUBA - JOHN A COOMBS FIRST TO DIE IN THE SPANISH/AMERICAN WAR FROM ALTON Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 16, 1899 The Eighth Illinois regiment, colored, arrived yesterday from Santiago at Newport News, on the transport Cheater. The regiment is now on its way to Chicago where it will be mustered out of service. There are about a dozen young colored men in the regiment from Alton, North Alton and Upper Alton. In the death report from Cuba yesterday, the name of John Combs, of Alton, a member of the regiment, appeared as having died of dysentery at Santiago. Comb's mother lives on Upper Belle street. She has not heard from her son since he left for the war. Combs probably took sick at Santiago and was unable to leave for home with the regiment.
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 18, 1899 The relatives of John A. Coombs, the colored soldier who died at Santiago, have as yet heard nothing from the authorities as to the young soldier's death. They have written to Washington to get the particulars. The dispatch from Havana published in the daily papers simply stated that Private John A. Coombs, of the Eighth Illinois Regiment, had died at Santiago from dysentery. The relatives cling to the hope that there was another John Coombs in the regiment but this is not probable. A half-brother of Coombs called at the Telegraph office last evening to obtain further particulars, but nothing could be given him. He said the young man's folks had not heard from him since he left for Cuba last July. He was only eighteen years of age. Of at least one hundred soldiers and sailors who left their homes in Alton to go to the war, this is the first death among the entire number. *************************************************
EIGHTH ILLINOIS COLORED REGIMENT ARRIVES HOME Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 4, 1899 About a dozen members of the Eighth Illinois colored regiment arrived home this morning, after an absence of ten months in the service of the U. S. Government. The regiment was organized in Springfield last summer, and in the neighborhood of fifteen young, colored men from Alton and vicinity joined the regiment, and were scattered throughout the different companies. The entire organization consisted of colored men, from Colonel down, the first time in the history of the United States of a regiment being officered by colored men. Among those who returned this morning were John Hunter, Alex Johnson, John Crawford, Ed Adams, William Wilson, Henry Long, Olem Pain, Gus Smith, Tony Pear, Wilson Miller and Henry Miles. They were met at the depot and welcomed by a large number of relatives and friends. A reception and banquet in their honor will be given on Friday night. The regiment has a good, clean record and the members received much commendation for their excellent behavior on their journey through the south, in contrast with the boisterous conduct of other regiments. The soldiers went to Santiago to perform garrison duty after the surrender of the city, and to relieve the worn out soldiers who had gone through the Santiago campaign. They have been in Chicago two weeks, and, like all other soldiers who return, are glad they are home well again. One member of the regiment from Alton, John A. Coombs, died at Santiago. He was the only Alton soldier or sailor, out of over one hundred who took part in the late war, who died while in the service of his country. ****************************************************
SMITH - SHARPE SHOOTING Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, Friday, June 30, 1899 Charles Smith, colored, was shot about 2 o'clock this morning by Surry Sharpe, also colored, in an old deserted house near George street, between Seventh and Eighth streets. Sharpe shot Smith with a revolver, the bullet taking effect in Smith's left hip. Dr. Taphorn attended Smith and says he is not seriously hurt. Sharpe was arrested and is now in jail. He served a penitentiary term for killing Fred Crow at the glassworks a few years ago. ************************************************
DAN WRIGHT RECEIVED LOAD OF BUCKSHOT WHILE THREATENING TO KILL LAWRENCE SLAUGHTER Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 27, 1904
Dan Wright, probably the most notorious desperado in this part of Illinois, was instantly killed Friday night by a charge of buckshot fired into him by Lawrence Slaughter, a well thought of colored man, who was defending his own home and family against the intoxicated desperado. The load of shot lodged in Wright's right shoulder and neck and he fell, his hand clutching a knife in his pocket which he was trying to draw "to cut the throat" of Slaughter.
Wright had been paying attention to Slaughter's daughter, Sarah, aged 15, and the girl had repeatedly spurned his proposals of marriage. Slaughter also refused Wright admission to the house, but being much smaller in stature could do little to prevent the physical giant having his own way in the house. Thursday night, Wright called at the Slaughter home and persisted in forcing his attentions on the girl. Finally, when she persisted in refusing him, Wright pinned her against the wall with one powerful arm and with the other struck her a blow in the face that nearly rendered her unconscious. The father is weak from rheumatic trouble and had no ammunition in the house to use in his firearms. Wright left the house vowing to return the next night to fix them.
Slaughter bought some powder and buckshot, loaded up two old army muskets and a revolver, and laid in wait for Wright behind locked doors. Wright came back according to promise, very drunk and noisy. On the street car he was insulting and abusive to passengers and was evidently looking for trouble. He went straight from the street car to the Slaughter home and there demanded admission. He was begged to go away peaceably, but Wright insisted on entering, saying he would cut Slaughter's throat and would run him out of his house. Slaughter then told his daughter to throw open the door. She did so, and the father brought his gun into position for action. Wright, holding a knife in one hand, was advancing through the door. As he was on the threshold, Slaughter fired and Wright fell dead outside the house. Slaughter gave himself up to Constable Harry Streeper, and the Alton police would not even lock him up. He was allowed to stay in the police station all night. There is real relief in police circles that Wright's career is ended. He was notoriously bad, an ex-convict, and had a reputation for looking for trouble.
Slaughter was visited in the detention room at police headquarters last night and congratulated on his work in killing Wright. Presents of money were made him and offers made to procure him anything he desired in the eating and drinking line. Wright was so generally recognized as being a "bad man," that his taking off is looked upon as a blessing by those who knew him best.
Deputy Coroner C. N. Streeper said this morning he will hold an inquest over Wright's body tonight. There is little doubt that the jury will render a verdict of justifiable homicide, as all the evidence obtainable indicates that Slaughter killed Wright in self-defense. Until exonerated by the jury, Slaughter is being detained at police headquarters. There is considerable talk of raising a fund to be presented to Slaughter, as he is suffering from rheumatism and unable to work at present. (see story below) **************************************************
SLAYER OF DAN WRIGHT WAS HOODOO VICTIM
HUNDRED YEAR OLD NEGRO VERY SICK Source: Alton Telegraph, September 18, 1913 Samuel Baker, said to be one of the oldest colored men in Madison County, and who is claimed by many old residents to be over 100 years old, is in a very low condition at his little shanty on Locust street, in Salu addition to Upper Alton. He has been bedfast more than a week. The county physician visited him a few days ago when relatives of the old man requested him to do so and the physician stated he could do nothing for the aged colored man. Sam Baker has been a well known character for many years about Alton. Men who knew him forty-five years ago say he appeared just as old then as he has in the last year or two. Baker is a very tall man and he has been a great wood chopper in his day. He started work chopping wood for the brick plant at North Side when the plant was built and he has worked for the company almost constantly ever since as a wood chopper. Last winter he attempted suicide by cutting his throat, but failed in the attempt. ***********************************************
ARRESTED ON VOODOO CHARGE Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 25, 1920 A dapper looking colored man who gives the name of William Johnson, his occupation as shoe repairer, his home in Alabama, also in Baltimore, was behind the bars today on a charge made by Mrs. Al Hickman, colored, that Johnson was getting money from her husband on the promise to give him a charm that would bring terrible suffering to the wife. Just why the husband should want to bring any trouble to his wife Chief of Police Fitzgerald could not understand, as the wife is a hard working woman, a valuable asset in these days of high cost of living. The woman told the police that her husband had given Johnson $8 and this money was to be used to buy a charm that would everlastingly embroil the wife in trouble. It was supposed, she said, to make her see toads and rats and snakes, and finally to die in horrible agony. Of course if the prohibition law was not being enforced, Johnson might easily have filled the prescription, and the only guess at his plan now is that he was just trying to get some of Hickman's money. At police headquarters, Johnson said he knew nothing of charms, never dealt in them, in fact, didn't believe in them, and said he was certainly no voodoo doctor. *********************************************
SAINTS IN DUST WHEN HUSBAND PUNCHES THEM Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 11, 1920 "Two Saints of God," a white man and a colored man, returning home from baptising a woman in the Mississippi river Friday night, were met by the husband of the woman, who indignant over the loss of interest in her home as her interest in the "Saints of God" increased, undertook to beat up the two head "Saints" and break up their attentions to his wife. Harvey Bailey, a young colored man with two children and a wife, was arrested after the assault. His accusers each had good sized lumps on their heads where Bailey's fists had punished them, and both had been knocked down. Bailey told after the arrest that the pastor of the "Church of Christ and Saints of God," a colored man, named S. W. Anderson, who runs a little church at Fletcher and Highland, had been coming to his house trying to convert his wife to their belief. Soon a white man named W. F. Doman reinforced Anderson, and together they took up so much of Bailey's wife's time trying to get her "sanctified," she didn't have any time to cook his meals, keep the house clean or take care of the children. Doman's wife, a white woman, began coming too. They stayed most of the time and had Mrs. Bailey worked up to a frenzy. Protests against their breaking up the Bailey home were of no avail. Anderson would always reply he was "carrying her to God," referring to Mrs. Bailey. But when Anderson and Doman went to Bailey's house, carried away the 7 months old baby and 2 year old child with Mrs. Bailey, took them all to the river and there baptised the Bailey woman, that was too much. Bailey discovered what had happened and waited for their return. He "popped" Anderson in the eye and knocked him down, then when Doman rushed in to help, knocked him down too. The police were sent for and Bailey quietly submitted to arrest, and after he told his story was allowed to go home on his own recognizance on the promise that he wouldn't cause any more disturbance, and would appear in the police court at 9 o'clock this morning. *********************************************
NEGRESS AT 109 YEARS OF AGE RECOUNTS TALES OF SLAVERY DAYS Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 20, 1920 Recollections of the Indian Wars, utterances of Jefferson, Monroe and the early presidents, and the Year of Falling Stars are the daily privileges of "Grandma" Jane Durham, a negress living at 109 West Ninth street, and at 109 years of age, claiming the title of Alton's oldest citizen. The aged negress declares she was born in 1811, near Richmond, Va. While this assertion is viewed with skepticism by some of her hearers, it is pointed out that she has a daughter, Eliza Hall, living in Bloomington, who is 89 years old, and her youngest daughter, Martha Jackson, is 72, and lives with her mother. Blind and slightly paralyzed, the centenarian is the recipient of many gifts from her visitors, to whom she recounts freely tales of the Civil War and the heated days of slavery in Virginia, carrying on an interesting conversation despite her afflictions, which have not affection her intelligence nor memory. *********************************************
BURHAM/DURHAM, JANE Born a Slave in Virginia, Woman Came to Alton After Emancipation ... Dies At 111 Years of Age
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 20, 1921
BURNS UP PARSON IN COLORED FUNERAL IN UPPER ALTON Woman "Wore the Scarlet Letter" Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 22, 1922 The funeral of Miss Cecil Baker in the Upper Alton colored Methodist Church was made the occasion, yesterday afternoon, for a very unusual proceeding. It seemed that Cecil, who died from tuberculosis leaving a two-year-old infant, had before her death made a disclosure of the identity of the father of the child. A short time before her death she had called to her bedside a few dozen friends, including the wife of the man she accused of being the parent of her baby, and facing death, she said that she had kept the secret before through fear. She said that the father of her child had threatened her with dire vengeance and that in her terror, she had always refused to reveal his identity, but when she had nothing more to fear, she said, she wanted to make known for whom she was wearing the "scarlet letter." It turned out to be almost an exact replication of Hawthorne's celebrated story, for the man she named was a preacher-pastor of a colored church. Tuesday afternoon, when the funeral services were held, there were two colored preachers present, one of them the pastor of the church, Rev. Gray, the other a blind preacher, Rev. Grizzle. What happened to the "Arthur Dimmesdale" of this story was something that will live long in the history of the colored Methodist Church in Upper Alton. Rev. Gray, the pastor, and the blind Rev. Grizzle, called names right out in the funeral service. They denounced the accused parson, both of them did, and they proclaimed to the audience their belief that through her suffering and disgrace the deceased had earned a place in glory, while the preacher, the author of her disgrace, had earned a place "in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone." Those who heard the excoriation that was inflicted on the preacher, who was not present, by the two officiating clergymen, said that it was one of the most drastic moments they had ever experienced. The speakers told of the deathbed statements of the girl who was lying in her coffin there, and her accusations against the preacher. *************************************************
BLIND BOON PLAYS TO GOOD SIZED AUDIENCE Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 26, 1922 Blind Boone, the celebrated negro pianist, played to a good sized audience in Crowe's hall last evening under the auspices of the Model A. M. E. church. Notwithstanding the heated atmosphere of the hall, the crowd was deeply interested and stayed to the end of the program. Boone was late in arriving. He had been driven over from Columbia, Mo., his home, and was late in arriving, the program being delayed in starting until 8:45. Arrangements were made for him to come back here soon and play at an entertainment under the auspices of Campbell chapel, A. M. E. church. ************************************************
CROWD REBUKED FOR LEVITY AT HOLY PRANCING Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 12, 1922 When the crowd of white people were rebuked last evening at an old fashioned camp meeting being conducted by negroes, for showing undue levity over the antics of those who were "getting religion," the crowd felted away rapidly. One explanation of why picture shows have not been prosperous in Alton has been rival attractions and the tent meeting on Highland avenue has proved a great attraction for an immense number of white people who drive over there in their cars. Last night the crowd became impatient for the holy dancing to begin. This dancing is a feature of the religious services, the dancers keeping it up until they fall exhausted. They are dragged to one side and someone else takes the place of the fallen one. The dancing had not started up with the usual vim, and the crowd kept calling for the dancers to start. That gave ground for a rebuke, which was administered by a white woman who said she was a missionary student from Granite City and was shocked at the lack of consideration of those who were disturbing the religious gathering of the negroes. Two Salvation Army representatives also rebuked the audience, and after that there was a rapid thinning out of the crowd. The spectators melted away fast and long before the usual time for the ending of the entertainment, the crowd had disappeared. ***********************************************
DEATH OF SUSAN DATES, FORMER SLAVE Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 17, 1923 Mrs. Susan Dates, a resident of Alton since immediately after she was freed from slavery during the war, died this morning at the home of Louis Jones on Easton street, from old age. She is said to have been ninety years of age as she was about thirty years when she came to Alton sixty years ago. She had lived alone in a two room house on Easton street between Ninth and Tenth streets. She had continued to do work to earn money to support herself up to her last illness, which began three weeks ago. A week ago Mrs. Jones moved the old woman to her home and took care of her the last week of her life, because there was no one in the home of the old woman to look after her. Mrs. Dates was the mother of eight children, all of whom are dead. She was the wife of Joseph Dates, who died years ago. She was born in Franklin county, Mo., and lived there until she came to Alton. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Union Baptist church. *********************************************
COLORED LEGION PLANS MEMORIAL DAY EVENT Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 19, 1923 A meeting of Col. Charles A. Young (colored) Post of the American Legion will be held tomorrow night at 118 West Fourth street, at which plans will be completed for observance of Memorial Day. The business session will be followed by a lunch. ***********************************************
CORNERSTONE LAID FOR COLORED PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CENTER Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 5, 1923 The U. B. F. Circle Lodge No. 2 and S. M. T. Progress Temple No. 79, laid the corner stone of their new building Sunday, September 2, which will be used for the meeting place of the lodges and a community center for the colored people. Such an effort has never before been attempted by the race in Alton, and, it is sincerely advocated by the whites, as well as the colored people, that the Y. M. C. A. department will improve the race in Alton. Honorable Mayor Elble gave an excellent address in behalf of the citizens which was more than appreciated by all who heard him. The Hon. Adjutant R. P. Davis, of Springfield, was the principal speaker, and for twenty-five minutes held his listeners with his lofty sentiments and high ideals on fraternization. W. B. F. Circle lodge No. 2 was well represented by one of the leading young colored men of the organization in a response to the Mayors address by R. A. Taylor. He expressed his gratitude to the mayor and the citizens of Alton, who encouraged the lodge with their support and assured the Mayor that if all the people, white or colored, would stand upon the principles of the U. B. F. and S. M. T., that the Honorable Mayors police force could be dismissed for the want of something to do. Mr. Taylor was highly commended when he said, "There's no organization without some defective material, but I am proud to say that the majority of our fraternity is 100 per cent citizenship and 100 per cent American. We have never aspired for social equality nor sympathy. The only favor we ask of the Hon. Mayor and the good citizens of Alton, who realize what life means to a man, be he white, black, brown or yellow, is justice, and when one of us comes knocking on the door of progress to use your influence to let us in. The United Brothers of Friendship and S. M. T. are fully prepared to meet and fight the difficulties that beset our path and we are going forward in the face of every opposition supported by the Honorable Mayor and the good citizens of Alton. We hope for nothing but success. A grand parade succeeded the addresses, headed by the Hussars band, refreshments were served on the building ground, and a very elaborate collection was given by the public. ***********************************************
FORMER SLAVE TO TRAVEL BACK TO HOME TO TELL HISTORY .... HUMAN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FACTS AND FIGURES Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 5, 1923 David Harris, an ex-slave, nearly 80 years of age, left today for Mayfield, Ky., where he will be one of the central figures in the centennial celebration of the town. He was sent for by the committee in charge of the celebration, and his expenses are paid, and it is planned to have him relate a long story about the history of the county. Harris, who was born a slave and lived at Mayfield for many years, has a memory that is filled with facts and figures. He has a vast fund of information he has stored up on general subjects. He claims that he seldom forgets anything he has ever learned. "Education," he says, "is what you remember." He is therefore a highly educated man, though he went to school but one day in his life. He says there are 3,586,472 letters in the Bible; 779,692 words and 1, 184 chapters. That is just a sample of what his information is. He calls off dates in history and in the lives of prominent people without hesitation, and is correct. He said before leaving that he is to cover the history of the county where Mayfield is without reference to a book, and his story is to deal with 56 years' time. He is to tell all the county officers in that time, all the big events, recall every mob, talk of personal incidents among the inhabitants, and he is to be checked up by anyone else who will attempt to dispute any of the facts as to accuracy. Mr. Harris gave an exhibition in the Telegraph office of his ability to give facts and dates, which was remarkable. He has a wide fund of scientific and other knowledge and is one of the best informed men ever in the city of Alton. He says he was sold as a slave to pay for some land his owner bought. He came to Alton six years ago, and is living on Tonsor road with his son. He served as a soldier in the Civil War and any school child who has had trouble remembering historical dates would envy the aged ex-slave for his ability to recall dates of any events that ever came to his attention. He is a wide reader and student, and he has a memory that is tenacious for facts. The arrangement has been made to place him in a booth at Mayfield, and turn him into a bureau of information. He is to answer all questions that are put to him by any persons in the crowd of homecomers at Mayfield, and he is to be checked upon on the accuracy of the information he gives out. Just for instance, to illustrate the powers of the old man, he can tell off hand the day of the week anybody was born, when given the month, day of the month and year. He can tell you in advance or in the past, the day of the week any holiday came on, without hesitation and without referring to any table, and he is right. The veteran displayed a remarkable knowledge of the life of Andrew Jackson. He told the date of "Old Hickory's" birth, marriage, accession to the presidency, retirement and death, besides several intimate facts of his life, study of Jackson's life in an encyclopedia substantiated his statements. He boasts that he is to serve as the bureau of information without consulting any records, except those in his memory, and he has no fears that those appointed to check and catch him in errors will be able to achieve much. A reward is offered, he says, for anyone who can trip him in his statements of facts and figures. That a man of his years, without any schooling, should be able to retain such a vast fund of information is astounding, and he is sure to be a great attraction in his old home when he goes back to answer questions about events of the past. Mayfield is a light colored man, stout and well kept, and he continually wears a blue uniform with G. A. R. buttons on the coat. He is a familiar figure about the streets. **********************************************
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NO WITNESSES USED IN SCHOOL CASE - SCOTT BIBB Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December 20, 1904 All the witnesses in the Alton school case, 100 of them, were discharged today in the Circuit court and will not be needed any more. A jury was secured before noon and the case was taken up. Col. J. J. Brenholt for the colored people proposed that the reading of the evidence taken at the last trial be considered sufficient and this was agreed upon. Accordingly, Col. Brenholt took up the evidence and was engaged reading it to the jury at the last report. *****************************
ALTON SCHOOL CASE COMPLETED - CELEBRATED SUIT WAS ALMOST FARCE AT THIS TRIAL - SCOTT BIBB SUES CITY Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December 21, 1904 The Alton school case, which heretofore has occupied several days of time in the circuit court at every trial, was finished yesterday afternoon, except for the arguments of the attorneys, and that was ended this morning. E. B. Glass argued for the city of Alton and Col. J. J. Brenholt for the colored people. The reading of testimony was finished last evening, and not a single witness was examined by either side, as told in the Telegraph yesterday. This arrangement had the effect of expediting the trial greatly and saved much time for the circuit court. The case went to the jury this morning. The jury that tried the case was out only ten minutes and returned a verdict finding against the colored people on every issue. This now gives the colored people an opportunity to carry their case up to the Supreme court at once and the outcome of it will certainly be favorable to the two children of Scott Bibb, who have been trying to get admittance to Washington school. *********************************
SCOTT BIBB FILES PETITION TO SUPREME COURT TO COMPEL ALTON TO LET HIS CHILDREN ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOL Source: Proceedings of the Illinois State Bar Association, Thirty-Third Annual Meeting, Peoria, June 24 and 25, 1909, edited by John F. Voigt
PEOPLE EX REL. BIBB vs. MAYOR, ETC., OF ALTON, 233 Ill., 542:
In 1898, Scott Bibb, a colored man, filed in the Supreme Court his petition for a mandamus to compel the city authorities of the City of Alton to admit his two children, Minnie Bibb, then seven years old, and Ambrose Bibb, then eight years old, to a public school in that city. Issues of fact having been made by the pleadings the Supreme Court, following its previous practice in such cases, which practice had prevailed for about eighty years, sent the issues to the Circuit Court of Madison County for trial by jury. A trial being there had it resulted in a verdict against the petitioner, which verdict, being certified to the Supreme Court, was set aside. Six subsequent trials by jury were had in the Circuit Court in two of which the juries disagreed and in the other four of which verdicts were rendered in favor of the respondents. Each verdict in favor of the respondents prior to the last one was set aside by the Supreme Court and an order made sending the issues back to the Circuit Court for another trial. When the last verdict came before the Court in 1908, ten years had elapsed since the commencement of the suit and Scott Bibb's daughter Minnie had reached the age of seventeen years, and his son, Ambrose, had reached the age of eighteen years. The Court then, for the first time, discovered that there was no constitutional right of trial by jury in a mandamus case originally brought in the Supreme Court, and, finding that the last verdict rendered by the jury was plainly and palpably against the evidence in the case, the Court set it aside, found that all the material facts alleged in the petition were true and that the relator was entitled to the writ of mandamus prayed for, and ordered the issuance of the writ, in and by which the city authorities of Alton were commanded to admit the then grown-up children of the relator to the public school in question. Two of the judges of the Supreme Court dissented from the judgment on the ground that the parties had a constitutional right of trial by jury in a mandamus case brought originally in the Supreme Court. |
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Copyright Bev Bauser. All Rights Reserved. |
