The Portland daily press., 1871-10-18
A Negro Porter "a. College Prof s.or.

The Louisville Courier-JyurnaI savs;
Lawrence Minor a colored porter on ths
steamers General Lytle, OF the Louisville and
Cincinnati mail line was, lew days since,
rendered one Of the chairs in Aleorn ,UniVer.
sity, in the State of Mississippi, and has ac
cepted the position. A corn University was
founded year or two since by the State Leg
islature, and an endowment fluid of $4,000
per annum was appropriated for its support.
This annual income is to be paid for five
years, after which it is expected that the Uni.
versity, by private donations, will be selfsus-
tanning. A letter received by the newly made
Professor yesterday states that the Universi.
ty has been located in Adams County, Misc
lssppi, near Natchez, and will be open for
the reception of students the first of October
next. The institution is, we believe, to be
devoted exclusively to colo ed pupils, aud ii is
hoped that it may be productive OF immense
good in educating that large and now very
important element OF the body polite in the
State.
Yesterday a reporter from the Courier
Journal interviewed Prot Minor as to his
| past life aud intentions In the future. He
was born on "Linwood' plantation, in Ascen-
| sion parish, LOUISIANA, few miles from New
| Orleans. His father was the rich owner of
| the plantatlon, bachelor up to his death.
He had three children by Minors mofher
two boys and one girl. The daughter is now
living in Cleveland Ohio, and has son, pri.
vate secretary to Lieute.ant Governor Dunn.
| One oil the sons was an officer n the first coll
ored company ever raised IN the United
States, and particip ited in most OF the battles
of Missouri and Arkansas under Curtis. He
died some years since from maladles co..trao-
ted in service. The other son Is the subject
| oil this article. Before the fathers death he
was importuned by the lady members of his
family-which was and Is one OF the best in
the South-to give bis children a thorough
education, TO which he consented, and engag.
ed a private tulor for that purpose. As tney
grew up he prepared to send them North,
where better facilities exs ed, but ueath in
| terveped before carrying out his intentlons.
| He left provisions iIi bis will, however, maui
uniting the children and their mother, and
providing. for the further ed ication of the Ior-
mer. In the year 1916, La grence, then quite
young man, entered the class OF 80 in
OOerlin College. Ohio; where he is said to
have been distinguished for proficiency in
every study he undertook. During his senior
year, however, slight difficulty occurred be-
tween himself and one OF the tutors, which
was brought to the attention of the facu ty.
The option was give him either TO apoIo2ize
| OF be dismissed; but, with all the blood boil
| ing in his veins at the real or fauced njust,ce
| done him, he embraced the latter alter einatiye.
and left the college.
In 1850 he went to New Orleans, and
| taught school for four years or more He
then married, and, coming Nortn, went on
| the river as porter oD one of the steamers of
| the Louisville and Henderson mail-llre,
| where he remained until taking a similar Do
| sition ON the mai-line between this city aud
| Cincinnati. In this position it may be re-
| marked from the experience OF all no knew
| him, he was noted for the courteous and dig
nified manner in which the duties OF his place
were accomplished. 1t was always a matter
of wonder that he should have remained in
such a subordinate and obscure situation, but,
as he said yesterday, the provision for his fam
lily forbade any political aspirations he might
have had, and kept him c;ose to the business
that assured to them comfortable subsist-
ence. In this position he remained until the
reception of the news as above statel, of bis
appointment as Professor iu Alcorn UnversI-
ty. This appointments insures hun a salary Of
81 500 per annum, and, if we mistake not, the
place will lead o a much higher emoument
In personal appearance Minor is a striking
| ly handsome man for one of his color He Is
bright muatto, with the features peculiar to
his race but slightly developed. He is very
| tall, rather stout, and digniied in dsmeauor.
| His conversation IS fluent and pleasant, dis
| cussing rea lily any subject you may introduce.
| He has always borue the reputation with
| those with wnom he has been connected as
| quite remarkable man, aud Is, perhaps, as
well known upon the river from Cnc'upeti
| to Henderson as almost any man above or be-.
low him in position.