Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-11-05
HISTORY OF A FAv0RlTE SLAVE
IN VIRGINIA.
LIFE TRAITS. TRICKS AND TRAPS
OF
: j e S Sc FORTN Err.
Eighty Years Journey 20 the Promise
Land, and Death I'm the wilderness
or Emancipation.
by I c. FOWLER.

O"esoo JESSE rOkrSER OF John ktrk, VINO
lived on Walkers Creek, In the county of
Giles, Va and To whom he vas born slave
In l7se. Ny first accounts Of him represent
him as filling certain Offices of trust and
preferment in the family, such as carrying
the keys of the establishment, sowing the
grain crops Of the farm, aud giving general
oversight to the "plsntation when the
eye Of his master was diverted by other
matters. In position so trying and deli
cate. he managed to maintain the confidence
of the white family and to avoid -elike the
envy and the Ill. will of the colored ones.
At the close Of my grsndfsther's life he
, passed BY inheritance into my fstssr's pos
session, and after having served portion
OF three generation, he passed away in the
year 1866, at the ripe old age of four score
years. His birth was at a time when wes-
3 tern Virginia was little mors than q feld
for the adventures Of the frontiersman. He
lived to see it opened and titled by q people
noted for their honor and their hospitali ty,
and finally for s,ason seized aud politi.
cally possessed by class noted for Its
cruelty, ignorance, and excesses.
Notwithstanding Jesse's position was one
Of ease and distinction, he seems TO have
imbibed in early life an ardent desire for
freedom. As years passed on this desire
became passion aud afterwar mental
disease. | never knew him to forget or
abandon the dream. While quite young he
was married TO Milly, whom my grandfather
purchased OF John SArtin, on Walkers
Creek, in Giles county. Few marriages are
destined to exist for so many years. The
number Of their children was scarcely less
than twenty, and those who are now living
have their homes in various POI tons of the
country. In complsxiou Jesse was degree
above the perfect black, and his wife de-
gree below it. Some Of their offspring are
the blacksst portion of the African race
have ever seen, their comple xon amounting
almost TO deformity. In stature be was
little above five feet, but hs was athletic
TO such an extent that either at sport or
labor there were few OF his race that could
excel him. II poin. of activity and en-.
durance he was the eq nal of any His fore
head was perpendicular for a short distance,
aud then retreated with a persistence aud
rapidty which was not successfully met
ui,il the apex Of his head made further
progress 10 that direction an impo,sibilty.
II $ eyes were black, brilliant, aid rather
small while his nose ss Of the most unas-
slming dimensions uitil near its infer OF
Termination, where IL Immediately assumed
an outline aud a prominence which at once
Invested him with an air Of Gu ming and
Oddity.
Ny first scquain'ance With sse was in
the year 1886 in fact, was totally un-
Conscious of his existence until upon a cold
winter evening my mother requested me to
step 70 the kitchen aud deliver 9 message
10 Utcle Jesse. found him resting and
warming himself before huge fire o.
hickory wood, for he had just journeyed
from the old homestead at the Ferry"
distant twenty Ave miles, and had come to
spend the remainder Of his days at "In-
dian" His countenance being pleasant
and his msnDer attractive. l found myself at
once installed 10 bis society, aud proceed
cd TO prop"und my usual number of ques-
tions; all OF which he seemed to be able TO
answer with great promptness. found him
distinguished by peculiar badness, which
had for its exceptional feature q narrow
strip Of hair running longtudiually to the
precise centre Of his head for its entire
length. II could read quite quite intelli-
Gibly, and from his acquaintance with scrip
ture, l was induce TO ssk him If he were
not preacher. To this be halfway demur
red, but boosted that LIE had long been in
the habit Of celebrating the rite of matri-
inony. My father always called him " Par
son." and among the colored people living
IN the vicinity Of Indian no otficiated on al
mitrim lnial occasions-save one, the mar.
riagv OF his own daughter, for which he in
vited his oid friend and brother Parson,
b ly Holmes, who still lived In Gilrs.
Ga his arrival 1T Indian be was at once
assigned position # honor. aud Installed
Ms " Uncle" Jessl. IIenceior,h he was al
object of difference and respect. The best
corner 10 the " Loom House - was assigned
10 him aud Aunt NJ lily, and there the.
erected their high posted bed, which IL
- isself Was quite distinction among eolored
people. Az that time he was eIj ying !
portion OF those vigorous years denominatec
the prime of lie, an | for many seas ms h'
went TO tho helds aud plou shed In the beau
tiful alluvial bottoms OF Nsw River aud th'
~ fruitful uplands witch overlook Il. He soo'
became noted for his success st hshing an'
trapping; he had tue fortune to DO the pos
SCISSOR Of two steel traps, aud with these h
walked among ths foxes OF the mountain
4 like a destroying augel. II success stimu
lated other m5ors Of the family to com
pete with him for the game. II sas Of NJ
avail lie possessed q secret which be eithe
Could not impsrt or was uuwililng to mak
Known. Tho gables of the Loom Hons
we're at all times ornamented with the skin
OF foxes, catamdunts, raecoens, opossum'
a,teTs, giound-hogs, muskrais, sc. Tues
he stretcted spon his man son with muo
The sane pride As that With which the India
bells hims, lC With the scAlps OF his enemies
Il he planted bank hook or pat out lin,
d hs was sure Of Ash. These pursuits wer
~ith him tho prime object OF life. Wit
lin slavery Was great obstacle to is'
tuccess in them Of which h- ce-.s=ssi
dreamed. Il may be remarked here, th'
,eore than once no was made acquAlnle
s.,h .he fact that emancipation was vi hi
Lia reach, bat there we're al~ays condition
coupled with hi. general de'hands whio
defeated his aims A homs on one the VI