He also, with Johnny Booker, organized Booker and Sliter’s Minstrels, which was quite successful. Dick Sliter died in Jackson, Mich., May 21, 1861. JASPER H. ROSS was famed as a musical director and composer. His professional career began in 1847 with Spalding and Rogers’ Circus. Subsequently he played extended engagements with the minstrel companies of Carncross, Bryant’s, White’s, Rumsey and Newcomb’s and the San Franciscos. He was born in Northampton, Mass., in 1826; he died in New York, September 8, 1889. JIMMY WELLS, once well-known as a manager, was a member of Ordway’s Aeolians in Boston for a lengthy period in the early 50’s. He was born in New York in 1826; he died in Grand Rapids, Mich., March 16, 1893. SAM WELLS was prominent as a bass vocalist and interlocutor. He went to Europe in the middle 40’s with the Ethiopian Serenaders, and they created a sensation. He was with several prominent minstrel companies located in New York up to 1855, when he sailed for California, where he was located with George Christy’s and other minstrel companies until December, 1863, when he went to New York, and after playing one week with Bryant’s Minstrels, returned to California. Mr. Wells’ death was caused by being thrown from a horse in California, August 27, 1864; he was 38 years of age. CHARLEY HOWARD has been given credit of being the first to represent the aged darkey on the stage. At the age of ten years he traveled with Joe Sweeney’s company, giving concerts in the Southern States, appearing in barns and churches, and traveling by coaches. Mr. Howard was with many prominent minstrel organizations, and when Haverly separated from Cal. Wagner in 1873, Howard was one of the first engaged for the Haverly Minstrels. Charley Howard was born in Virginia, June 5, 1826; He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 28, 1895. STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER, whose simple and homely ballads contributed as much as any other cause to the placing of early minstrelsy on a permanent and successful basis, was the author, among others, of “Willie, We Have Missed You”, “Old Uncle Ned”, “My Old Kentucky Home”, “Old Dog Tray”, “Massa’s in de Cold, Cold Ground”, “Ellen Bayne” and “Old Black Joe.” He was born in Allegheny, Pa., July 4, 1826; he died in New York City, January 13, 1864. JAMES POWERS was one of the real early minstrels, and a member of the Boston Harmoneons, which were especially well known in Massachusetts. With his brother John, he was with the above organization several seasons, commencing in the early 40’s. Mr. Powers was the author of “She Sleeps in the Grave” and “Faded Flowers”, favorite ballads of days now forgotten. James Powers died in Boston, Mass., January 5, 1890; age 64 years. DAN LEON, a real old-time black-face comedian and general performer, died in New York City, April 27, 1863; he was born March 1, 1826.