Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-09-11
For the Spectator.
Cnlnred Sketches

belleVlnS as we 90, SIllce the sudden WnOle-
sale freeing of the negroes, that in the course
of few generations, they will become extinct,
we have thought it might be interesting. to
some of the readers of the Spectator to give
short sketch of few of the most noted negroes
that lived here in times gone by and perhaps,
in after years, to read about people extinct,
who once numbered in the South two or three
millions, might be regarded as curious and en-
tertalnlng.
In giving these sketches, we don't propose
to relate them in regular chronological order,
but just at random as they happened to occur
to us.
At the old Wayne Tavern, there were sew
eral noted servants. There was ''Old Dennis,
little old black man, who had been in his time
a valuable dining room servant, but lived, as
far back as my own memory of him goes as
retired old gentleman. He was always neatly
dressed, kept a horse, and was frequently to be
seen taking rides to the country, for his health
and pleasure, we suppose.
Chilly Gordon" yellow man, brother of
old Aunt Daphne Billy was the hostler an
industrious, well-behaved man when sober, but
would sometimes get drunk; then, he was
crazy, and would fancy himself free mason
He might be seen at such times with masonic
apron on, riding horse to water, holding one
hand over his head in peculiar position, cry
ing out every now and then, "a free and &C
cepted mason
Daniel Webster large, pretty looking,
black man, well and favorably known to travel
lers, was an excellent servant, always pleasant
and attentive to the guests.
| At the old washington Tavern, the most
noted servant was Ben Watson, better KNOWN
perhaps, as 'Harman's Ben. y He was famed
for making delicious Mint Juleps and Hail
| Storms. We have heard Ben juleps spoken
of nearly thousand miles from Staunton.
Another well known old black man, was
''Old Uncle Tom Aunt Daphne's husband =
he was Revolutionary character. We believe
he claimed to have been the body servant of
some officer in the American Revolution
| Uncle Tom was generally neatly dressed, polite,
and dignifed, at times somewhat pompous, and
fond of using big words. We remember one of
Tom speeches. One evening, he was waiting
on some young men in one of the stores, who
were indulging in social glass when some one
stepped in, that he considered rather an intru-
der. Tom said to him, Sir you must be a
perlitical character. The man said, 'sUncle
Tom, what kind of a character is that?'' Tom
Immediately Strengthened himself up, and with
all the dignity of manner possible, replied
''It ar man what steps up aoltar parcel of
gentlemen ar conversing together, and looks
brazen, and filings forth an idea onto a certin
branch of business, farther forth than he can
rightly ascertain; that, sir, is what [ term a
| perhiticol character.
Many years ago, there were several colored
clergymen about the town and neighborhood.
There were 'Uncle Louis, Uncle Abraham, -
''Parson Joe Mead and one or two others :
Louis was once telling us that, between him
difference. Now" said he, Brother Abram
cam take text and wander, and come back
again; but can take text and wander away
off, and come back again to the very same place
aohar [ started from" We heard Joe Mead,
one Sunday afternoon, in Hopkins wagon ma
kers shop, discoursing on the Judgment Dan.
'Ah my friends, said he, Sin that great dag,
the Lord will come, and He will place one foot
on the sea shore and the other on dry land .
These preachers were mostly, what the boys
called, Vet Baptists. That is, they were quite
fond of dram.
In these colored sketches, we must not forget
i two old negro women, one was called Old Doc
tor Jone, that lived with Mrs Edmundson-
She was in the habit of visiting the sick all over
the town, and we believe never failing to pre-
scribe for them. She was tall, venerable
looking old woman, and walked with very
long cane The other was Aunt Nellie, that
lived with Mr.. Tremper. She was great
Methodist, good old woman, very fond Of re-
.kgious excitements Many time we have
heard her lecturing negro man, named Jim.
She would shake her fist at him, and say, Ah
jim! you sinner you, reprobate! you better gt
long and sag y0ar prayers, and then, Nellie
was t1lcked as the negroes call it. She fancied
at times that she had lizards, &C., in her arms
We will now say something about an old black
man, that belonged to DIR. Waddell, cold
Isaac" He was not the most intelligent ser
want we have known, yet 'Uncle Isaac fancied
himself quite smart and useful. On one occa
sion, his master sent him to the country to pur
chase pig; when Isaac came back, he report
ed to his master that the woman he got the pig
from, AGED him four and six pence for the pig
but he beat her down to dollar" Another
time, he was directed to count the sheep; he
returned, saying, Master, [ counted all the
Sheep but the old black 70, (Ewe), and she
jumped so, and kicked so, [ couldn't count
her.
A famous parsonage of African descent, that
resided in Staunton long while ago, was known
by the name of Matheoo B. Truss, shoemaker,
peddler and hack owner and we are not sure
that he did not sometimes preach little Al
any rate we have heard, that when he was out
on his pedling trips, he would occasionally make
collections for the support of the Gospel, and
put it into his own pockets. Truss built the
house in which B. E. Points now resides He
had his shop in an old frame house that stood
on New Street, opposite to where Graves and
| Stoddard have their talor's shop, a large sign
swung out at the door, with boot and shoe
painted on it, and underneath them, these lines
| "As you pass by,
| On me, cast an eye,
Ifyou have any money to spend,
Please leave it with a friend"
M B. TRUSS"
For a long while. Truss carried on the most ex-