Minnesota weekly times., 1855-06-05
sudden Death Of . Slave Holder-Twenty-Nine slaves
Emancipated.

sudden Death Of . Slave eHelder--Twensy-Nins Slaves
On the 23d Of February, 1854, fine looking,
copulent gentleman, sixty years OF age,
came to this city, in search of DR.. Brisbane, from
whom he wished advice as to the proper course
to pursue to effectuate the manumission of u num-
ber of his slaves. Not readily finding DIR. Brs-
bane, he obtained the advice of John JOliffe, Esq,
and had duplicate wills drawn up. One Of these
he took with him, and the other he deposited
with Mr.. Jolife, to be used if he should die sud
denly, and the will in his possession be accident
ly or purposely destroyed. He stated that one
of his brothers had died very suddenly, and that
he himself being subject to palpitatlon OF the
heart, was also liable to be summoned to another
world without moments notice.
Elijah WiliS-that was his name-stayed only
few days in Cincinnati, but his brig hit benevO-
lent countenance and manly frankneSs We're not
soon forgotten by those whose circumstances had
thrown them into contact with him.
Returning home, he drew up complete inven-
tory of all his property, and making two of his
neighbors his conidantS, he deposited this nven-
tory with them to be used in case of his sudden
death, at the same time making them pledge them
selves not to make it public previously.
He was largely engaged in the lumber business,
and raised no crops except what was necessary
for the support of the 50 full grown slaves, and
the numerous slave children that he owned. The
lumber got out by his slaves was RATED down the
Edsco river. In this business Mr.. Willis had
amassed large estate. He noted Tor the
kindness with which he treated his slaves $, who
were never driven by the whip, nor shut out by
a lock from the store of provisions. They ate in
the Kitchen part of the same food that Mr.. Willis
ate in the parior.
number of tie relatives of Mr.. Willis, who
are all in comfortable circumstances, lived near
him, but seldom visited !: $ residence. His house
keeper was dark, but a very shrewd muiatto
woman whom he purchased with her mother,
bro her and sister. abouI thirteen wears ago. The
hou>ekeerer's name MS Mary Amy EliHore Iur-
ncr. Her father. who was owned by another mas
ter, had desert d her mother and for this was sod
to L cotton planter in Alabama.
Amy, as the GouscAe per was ordinarily ca lied
by Mr. Willis, VIII lie the slave of a former masttr.
a Mr.. Kirkland had IL coored husband by whom
she had three ch.llgen before he was sent South.
This woman by her prudence and shrrwdncss,
acquired great influence over Alr. Willis, by
whome she had three children. She watchiuilv
suprrintended his domestic affairs. attended to the
wants of the slaves, AMI advised to the busi-
ness.
NJ. Wills feeling concerned for the future
wclf IRE of his children and urged thereto by Amy,
at last determin i 10 free her. her mother. er SIX
children, ana brother ami sister. When he ime
to tinc matt, one gear ago, and had his VII writ
tn, II WAS to cIrry out this intcn;.
After his returu honH, he Arranged ali his BIZ
siness us rapid as possible, and taking notes for
outstanding de5ts iue h m, In lde preparations for
ul>poSin1 O MS entire estate inu lno'liS 10 'uo.
whcie lie proposed to locate on fIrm, with Amy.
her mother AMI the children. Finding that the
expnse of bringing Amy brother and sister and
their fam lies would be cons s:Leiable, AMI there
might be difficulty in at once securing Il
home, Mr.. Willis concluded finally 10 come north
with Amy, her moiher and the Children and hav-
ing secured for tn IN IL residence, return 70 close
up the lus ness an hring lie others.
On last Tuesday wees, they left home as thus
supposed. On reaching Louisville, they got on
board tho stcIn. r Jacob Strader, and reached
here at six o'c,ock yesterday morning. Soon al
ter the boat touched the wharf, Mr.. Willis and
his company won't shore, called Il carriage,
was about to reach one Of the small children into
it, he when breathed herv.l". Amy asked him #
he had another attack of palp:taton of the heart.
lie nodded aifrma,ivey, gave two three
heavy breathings, and then fell dead.
Just at this moment some one ask ell whore they
came from; Amy's mother dd not answer,
and was threatened with being kicked into the
river. Some one urged Amy 10 90 board the
boat again, AMI she refused. BY the advice of
a friend she at once secured the money (about
$500 in Mr.. W.'s possession, note, and due-bills
amounting to three or four thousand dollars,
gold watch and o,har valuables. She WIS taken
with the trunks and the body of Mr.. Willis to
the Duntas House.
Dr. Menz.es being called in, held an inqu st,
when verdict WAS returned in accordance with
these fac:s.
Mr.. Ball, of the legal firm Of Chase & Ball, be-
i'm called in, the will Of MIR. Willis found on
him WAS opened and read, when it was found
that he had willcd his entire estate to Amy and
her children, and had appointed john Jolilfe. y.
ii. Ernest and Edward llarwood az executors
This will is duplicate Of that left in the care of
Mr.. JoiiiIe, which has not yet been opened. If
the property is obtained, each OF these cO.Ored
children will have fortune of twenty five or
thirty thousan! dollars. The body of Mr.. Willis
will be buried to dlv. The executors of the will
Ill nf q (nI,
cy' In the days of the patriarchs womans
conduct was the ind X of her heart. When for
instance, the father of Rebccca asked her ii she
would 90 with the servant Of Isaac she mmc cdately
replied III will go.'' Had she been a daughter of
the nineteenth century she would have answered:
'Pshlw go with him! WHY, Mr. Isaac must be
sick! Go with him! of course WON'T And
then she woul have gone W tn him.
Cy There Il count In The world where
tn, p'ople add ccd to the medcn, eating
p open>ity as n the Tn ted States. 1t has < own
to he il perfect min,a-a dis lse of itself. The
fact l. nature never designed the human body TO
be such rccrptical of medicine. If mn would
bnt st Ids the laws of nature, diet properly, in
stead OF drdgg NJ exec vclv. he gular in their
habits instead If re :uiar in their does. use COM
mon sense and C i'd waller freely and then doctor
as i'tt e rs possible. they would I've longe- suf-
fer less, and pay little for tn privilege.
THs ARREST OF BAKER.-Those who think the ar
est of B'ker out of the Territory of the U.ted
S,"tes. by United States law officers, was Illegal
are mistaken. lie had ut, no time. gone be, ond
the jurisdiction of the United States, as he had
constantly been on IN American vessel, under the
Am 'rican flag. Had he succeeded in Ian ling at
the Cana Islands, the arrest would have been
i'll gil.
Az INTERESTING OCCASION AND CORRESPONDENTS.
The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge (Nla>on-
ic) OF the District of Columbia, DIR. Charles 5.
Frailey, has recently lived letter f;om the
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in Paris, ask
ing that delegate he appointed the part OF
the District Grand Lodge to attend Il congress of
the Masons of the World to assemble in Paris on
the Is: proximo. TO take into conSi Grafton the
condition oil NJ ,sonry over the Globe, and to adopt
Tor the benefit of he order whatever may be APP
prorriate and lawful. The Grand Lodge Of this
District finds itself unable at so short a notice to
send over suitable representative but has direct
ed the Grand Master to send to the Grand Master
in Paris n commission in blank to be accorded to
some worthy American Mason, who NAV be at