DR. G. R. SPALDING, whose “Floating Palace” and steamers “Banjo” and “Gazelle” and “James Raymond” gave minstrel performances on the rivers for many years, commencing about 1855, was a native of Coeymans, N. Y.; he died in New Orleans, La., April 6, 1886, aged 68 years. SAM JOHNSON (Isaac Ray) was one of the earliest minstrel performers; as early as the Summer of 1844 he appeared in Hoboken, N. J., at Otto Cottage as one of the Operatic Brothers and Sisters. He died at River View, Ky., about November 1, 1876, aged 62 years. JIM SANDFORD (Blandford) was one of the earliest jig dancers of minstrelsy. He appeared with small companies as early as 1843; and for several years traveled with the great John Diamond. He was noted for his fastidiousness in dress. He was born in Baltimore, Md.; he died in Philadelphia, September 2, 1855; aged 41 years. JOHN WASHINGTON SMITH was one of the earliest and best negro delineators ante-dating minstrelsy proper, although he was later associated with several prominent organizations. His earliest recorded appearance was with the Lion Circus in Cincinnati, December, 1838. The following year he played in New York, and a year later went to Europe, where he performed with “Pickaninny” Coleman. Returning to America, he played at the Bowery Amphitheatre, April 25, 1842. In 1849 he wrote and first sung the song that was afterwards in the repertoire of many famous minstrels--“Old Bob Ridley;” this occurred in New Orleans, La. In the Fall of 1855 he was with the original San Francisco Minstrels in the California metropolis. He subsequently went to Australia and other foreign countries, where for many years he piloted various minstrel organizations. John Washington Smith was born in the United States about 1815; he died in S. Yarra, Australia, August 31, 1877. FRANCIS GERMON was one of the early comedians and tambourinists in minstrelsy. December 25, 1839, at Taunton, Mass., in a concert there he was singing the old song of “Sittin’ on a Rail.” About 1844 he joined the Ethiopian Serenaders, and continued as a member of that party several years. September 15, 1845, Mr. Germon and the company, as shown on another page, began an engagement at Palmo’s Opera House, New York. Francis Germon died in Philadelphia, it is said, in the 50’s. NED HARPER was one of the early black-face performers who ante-dated minstrelsy proper. He was the author of “Jim Along Josey,” and the first to sing it in his drama, the “Free Nigger of New York,” about 1838. February 22, 1837, at the Lion Theatre, Boston, he played Gumbo Cuff in “O’ Hush.” He died in England about fifty years ago. “BILL” CEDA (Wm. Price), up to the time of his death was the oldest living minstrel in England, where he had been since 1848; he was a comedian and general performer, and made his first appearance at the Bowery Theatre, New York, in 1840; in June, 1848, he was with the Virginia Harmonists.