The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
Judged by the management of their own plots they are not a success as
farmers, most of their soil being now practically worthless. "The
land which was bought for the slaves was never recorded in their
names," says Judge Mansfield. It was deeded to Benjamin Ladd as
trustee and so stands in the record now. Judge Mansfield's last words
were: "There has been no clash over that land because of its run down
condition, but if coal or oil should be found about there, I cannot
tell what will happen." The financial condition of the colony is no
better than it was seventy-five years ago, the physical condition is
far from being as good. Two or three of these Negroes, however,
showing evidence of thrift are very good farmers. They have increased
their holdings and built new cabins, although most of the old
dwellings are still there and are occupied by the descendants of the
original settlers. They have rapidly increased in numbers and have
extensively intermarried. From the first the people were religious,
regular church goers. They have two churches among them, one
Methodist and the other Baptist. Their morals have been good, having
seldom committed crime. Officers of the law have found very little to
do in this community. During the life of the colony there have been
only two arrests for serious crimes, one of which was for stealing a
horse and the other for stealing wool. Both of the accused were sent
to the penitentiary. No other serious charge has ever been brought
against any member of the community so far as Judge Mansfield knew.
The original set were fine physical specimens, "as fine," says Judge
Mansfield, "as the community ever saw."
Separate schools for white and blacks have been maintained from the
start. Nearly all the teachers have been white. The preachers have
been members of the colony. None of them, however, have gained any
particular prominence in any line. Not even any of the children, so
far as could be learned, had ever been sent off to school. The best
known of them now are two brothers, William and Wilson Toney, both
preachers. Just what acreage they now own I could not learn. How much
is owned by the best of them also could not be determined.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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