Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-11-21
JOHNSON THE PRE.EMPTOR.

history VI tltc plO-SluptOi VI lHO N4AHSOA
Location, for the benefit Of Mrs. Stowe,
or any body else who may lack material
out of which to build small hero. The
very promising results of recent explora'
tions upon that location, makes the story
particularly interesting and aPropOs at the
present time.
Some fifteen or twenty years ago, a
gentleman by the name of PembertOn
moved from Frankfort, Kentucky, to
Monticello, Lewis County, Missouri, and
there died. Among other chattels per-
sonal, he owned slave named Noel,
who was a remarkably intelligent negro,
by trade brick.maker, but had fer
some time worked in hotel as waiter.
Alter the death of Pemberton, as the
embarrassed condition of the estate hung
over his future destiny veil of uncer-
tainty not altogether pleasant to cOntem-
plate, the man Noel formed the determi
nation to migrate. This resolution, it
seems, was also taken by two other chat
tells OF the same sort, and was jointly
carried into effect on one Saturday night
in April, 1843. Having travelled all
night, they stopped in the morning on
Fabius Greek, a small stream emplying
into the Mississippi, where they lay in
ambuch during the Sunday following.
Their place of concealmeut was near the
road, and during the day they distinctly
saw four or five men on horseback pass,
in great haste, whom they knew to be
their pursuers. The party passed, how
ever, without suspecting how near was
their prey.
Moving on their journey by night, the
negroes at length reached the Mississip-
pi-crossed it in canoe, below Quincy,
Illinois, and ran up to the town. Shortly
afterwards they started out for Chicago,
and being overtaken by white man in
a buggy, they followed him. After trav-
cling for some distance in this way, they
espied in he road, ahead of them, a
party of men upon horses, and upon ap-
preaching near, they again recognized
their pursuers. Each emigrant cooked
his rifle and made ready, with pres
ence of mind which in a soldier would
have challenged admiration. For, be it
known, they had provided themselves
with arms at the commencement of their
journey. They managed to present so
bold front that the horsemen filed of
to right and left, and the sable infantry
marched through in single file-not a
word being uttered by either party
The cavalry probably retired in good
order, and without loss, while the emil
grants moved on to Chicago, and thence
to the lower Peninsula.
In the spring Of '46, the man Noel,
who had by this time taken the name of
johnson, came to the copper country, in
the employment of some person whose
name we have not heard. He soon after
was hired by Mr.. Mendenhall, and, be-
ing industrious, intelligent and energetic,
soon accumulated some money, and was
able. through his friends. to commence
negotiations for his own purchase. The
letters containing propositions were dated
and mailed at Wheeling, Va.
The reply Of Mr.. Ellis, administrator
of the estate of S. Pemberton, deceased,
conveyed assurances of the great gratifi-
cation with which the heirs received in
telligence of the health of Noel; and
afIer expressions of their high regard,
they desired to be allowed to communi-
cate with him directly. In rejoinder, 1t
afforded Johnson's friend great pleasure
to assure the heirs of the excellent health
of Noel, about whom they had inquired
so tenderly; but at the same time he re-
GREETED to add, that business engage
ments would prevent that individual from
corresponding with them in person. 1t
was also proposed on the part of the
aforesaid Noel, to pay to the estate the
sum OF $3.50, for all the title which it
might have in him. And the result of
the negotiation was, that johnson was
made free, on paying that sum to the
estate.
Afterwards, in October, 1851, he
made the pre-emption which bears his
name, having first procured from Mr..
Crittenden, then U. S. Attorney Gene
raj, an elaborate opinion in favor Of his
right to pre- empt the land. He lived
on this tract until his death, which took
place at Cleveland in the spring of '53.
He had been taught to read and write
by young man named Mercer. Read
ing is said to have been his amusement,
and he had quite passion for the pos
session of good books. In his library
were found Prescott's Ferdinand and
Isabella, Bancroft's History Of the U. s.,
and many other works of a similar G ar
acter.
From all that we can learn, W, spD
pose that johnson was about as good a,
his race has produced ii failhfulness
sobrietv. industry and intelligence. Hi
sagacity was evinced by other transac