New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-04
Death or William A.. Nell.

Another of the veterans in the anti
slavery fight has been mustered out of the
ranks William &. Nell died at his resi-
dence on Kendall street, in this city, on
Monday evening, at the age of 81 years and
months. A native of the city, as early as
1888 he was sympathetic with the cause, be-
ing one OF three colored lads who presented
a silver medal to Mr.. Garrison. on the oc-
cason OF his first mission TO England, in
recognition of his sevices in behalf Of their
race. lie was previously Il scholar in the
Sunday school class of LYMAN Beecher's
church conducted by Oliver johnson, who
strongly urged him to make an effort to rise
in the scale OF social life. The young lad at
first was dependent, thinking nobody cared
for him, nor could, as he never would be
anything but Il ''nigger. - Mr.. johnson
drove this depressing thought from his mind, ).
and encouraged him to try. With what emf
nent success, q lifetime Of devotion, for
bearance, patience, sweetness, and fidelity
to various refOrmatory causes, sufficiently
attest. Unconscious ofhis near demise, Mr..
Johnson, in his latest chapter of ant-slavery
"reminiscences (Which we shall reproduce
next week. pays a deserved compliment to
Mr.. Nell. After this experience, Mr.. Nell
went through the 'Smith school, " doing the
best he could with the limited advantages Of
that caste institution, then served with Mr..
Garrison, in the Literator office, subsequently
resided IN Rochester, being connected with
Frederick. Douglass's North Star, and return
ed to BOstOn to become the fast friend and par
ishOner of Theodore Parker, and suisse
quently on the election OF Abraham Lincoln
To be welcomed into the Boston postoiiice,
one of the first colOred men to hold political
office, and which he leaves only with his
death. He was studious self-forgetful man,
always seeking to vindicatc and honor the
race with which he was Identified aud rem
dering it especial credi BY publishing a
volume entitled HThe Colorea !'af'iots OF the
Revolution. )" which demonstrated the ,s,;t,e.,
and fidelity of the black men in the period OF
Revolution, as a subsequent volume, which
he had diligently compiled during the last ten
years, would have rendered the same service
tot the colOred heroes OF the War against
Slavery. We trust some faithful hand will
complete this latter work and give it to the
public. In the great school-contest, from
1885 to 1866, Mr.. Nell was the champion of
the colored peOple-cOllating facts, arrang-
ing evidence, furnishing points to the advo-
Gates of the equality of the schools, and was
rewarded, on the abolition of all distinctions
in school attendance, by the gift of an ele-
giant gold watch from his gratified constitu-
ents, He was ever foremost in promoting
the literary and social development of his
people and numerous societies for their
mental advantage were organized and guided
by him. In especial he rescued the merits
OF Crispus Attucks from oblivion, and for a
long series of years, prior to the centennial
anniversary, he made the 9TH OF March, the
"BOstOn massacre" day, a testimonial coca
sion to the valOr and love of liberty of black
men. In word, wherever he could vim
dictate his race. he did it; wherever he could
plant one additional aspiration for their ele-
walton, he improved it; whenever he could
show to the world that he, too, was man,
despite his complexion and limited opportu.
mites in life, he demonstrated il. Aud all
was so modest, 50 quiet, 50 sel-forgetful, he
won the friendship and goodwill of every
one. and passed into mature years one Of the
most esteemed and meritoriUus OF our fellow
citizens. Hundreds who knew him, will
long miss him, for he was active in every
good word and work. The immediate cause
of Mr. Nell's death WIS oyerwork, resulting
in paralysis of the brain. His funeral took
place on Thursday noon in the Parker-Mem-
orial Westinghouse, prayer being offered by
Rev. w. G. Gannett, singing by quartette
of personal friends. and remarks most APP
prOpriate and felicitious from Wendell
Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison, William
Wells. Brown, and others. Mr.. Nell leaves
a widow and two children, and reputation
for singleness of character that few men of
far greater social standing can surpass.
Boston Commonwealth.