Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-07-28
From the Ohio Suite Journal.
AN ENTERPRIsING AND PERSEvERING
COLORFD MAN.

Robert Napier, a colored man of this city, has
by perseverance,, industry and affection Cor his
wife and children, given an example worthy of i'm
itation and has also shown that there is no diff
Guilty which cannot be surmounted by patient in
dustry and a determination to use all honorable
means to attain the object sought for.
Mr.. Napier was born a slave in Virginia, the
property of Mr.. Davis, near Staunton, Augusta
county. When he had arrived at the age of "a
years, having heard persons talk about the sweets
of liberty, he hit upon a plan to obtain his free
dom. lie became acquainted with Mr.. John
Brandeburg, q merchant in S~tauuton to whom he
made q proposition. that he (Brandeburg) should
purchase him. and lire him out, and a certain
portion of his wages should 90 towards the amount
paid for his purchase. The merchant knowing
Napier to be a faithful and honest servant, acce.
ded to his wishes, and purchased him from his
master for $1,000. He Immediately hired him out.
and in four years hard labor, in which the
thoughts of freedom buoyed him up, he succeeded
in obtaining sufficient for his ransom, and true to
hs promise, Mr.. Brandeburg gave him his eman-
cipation papers. But now came the hardest trial
Of his life. lie had Il wife and FIVE children.
whom he loved, and acc5rding to the laws of Vir-
ginia, he must leave the State within!ten days. or
be sold back into slavery. But like a man, he
nersed himself for the trial, bid adieu to his weep
ing wife and children, and tore himself from all
he loved and priced on earth, and in d few ddys
found himself in Columbus. among strangers.
lie did not, however sit down and grieve about
his hard lot, or murmur, and long for the flesh
pots OF Egypt but with q cheerful heart, big with
hope, he set about the work Of obtaining the
means by which to emancipate his wife and chill
dren. In enc year after he came to this CITY,
through his own industry and the help of friends
who know his worth, he was able to purchase his
wife and babe, through an agent in Virginia, fol-
whom he paid $3.50.
Encouraged by his success, he again went tc
work, and a few days ago, through the same
agent, he purchased his youngest boy, Cornelius
who cost him, delivered here ll09. Monday. wt
saw and c%onversed with the little fellow, q spright
ly, intelligent looking mulatto lad, eleven years O
age. The little fellow was not aware that he Wa,
bought, until the lime arrived for him to start
For fear of raising an excitement among thu
, hands, all knowledge of their destiny is CAREFUL,
concealed from them until the time arrives fo,
f their departure. The agent of Mr.. Napier pu
him in charge of the Adams Express COMPANY
prover5ial for their promptness in discharginG
with fidelity oil business committed to their hands
who delivered him safely to his parents in ti
city. He started from Stauntoa at 6 o'clock A
NJ llth July, and landed in Columbus on tn,
lilo P. M. train on the 18th, over the Boltimor,
and Ohio and Central Ohio Railroad.
lie has yet remaining in slavery three children
two, girls, aged fifteen and eighteen years respec
lively, and a boy, aged thirteen years. The moth
er, together with all the children, were owned b,
Mrs. Crawford, a widow lady, ALEC living nea
Staunton. Cornelius, the boy lately arrived, wber
purchased, was the property of a Mr.. Bell. son
in-law of Mrs. Crawford. Mr.. Napier is still i,
hopes Of rescuiDg the balance of his interostin,
family from serVitude. lie is thankful to thos
: philanthropic friends who aided him in procurip,
3 tue freedom of those already obtained, and shout,
D others feel an interest ia his laudable undertaking
D they may rest assured that every cent so appro
triated by them will be applied to the object il
D view. An incident .ranspired on the arrival o
Cornelius. which shows how strongly the chords o
E affection bind this family together, The maste
t of Cornelius had given him twenty-five cents OF
5 the 4th Of July out Of this he had spent tel
t cents on the road here, and the balance lie handle,
to his father before he left the Express Office, an,
told him TO applysiI towards the purchase none,