Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-12-04
A Romance in Real Life.

A ROMANCE in real (colored) life has
Just come to light in this city which puts
fiction TO the blush, and makes Sylvanus
Cobb hang his head for shame. 1t is the
story of two brothers, formerly slaves,
separated in infancy, and, being tossed
about for a dozen years or more on the
wave of freedom, finally rushing into
each others arms in the Palmer House,
to which point both had driited. The
age, their owner being large planter
near Station Camp Creek, Sumter Coun-
ty, Tenn.
The Times reporter, to whose knowl-
edge the facts came yesterday, derived
elder of the brothers. They we're the
children of slaves named LADY" and
Essau Douglass, both of whom were old
house-servants in the Douglass family,
one of the wealthiest in Tennessee, and
from whom, in accordance with the slave
custom, they both took their name.
Wh,n William was about three years
old Mr.. Douglass died, and his widow
not long afterward married a wealthy
planter named Maj. Watkins. The lady
retained all her slaves, and reserved the
right to dispose of them as she wished
David, the younger brother, was born
subsequent to this marriage, and in
Difference TO their master his parents
named him Watkins, though they them
selves still retained the name of Doug
lass. And it is this iniquitous oblitera-
tion of family names which has pro-
tracted the separation. The two boys
lived on the plantation with their parents
or several years; until William was
narly eight years old and his brother
a'out four. They were the members of
a arge family of brothers and sisters.
Teir father and mother were both old
aid favorite house-servants, and as the
marriage had effected the union of two
vey large plantations which had been
he'd by their respective owners for years,
h,slaves never being allowed to pass
ou of their hands, there was no thought
tht the family circle would ever be
brken. And with the exception of
Villain the Watkins family appear to
haze kept all their old servants and their
Children together until the war destroyed
thrinstitution of slavery. Mrs. Watkins
ha niece, Miss Peggy Green, with
wbm William was great favorite. He
ws smart, active house-bOy, and as
tn young lady was about to marry a
Missouri planter she besought her aunt
tmake her a present in the shape of the
crly-headed little negro. Mrs Wat
kls assented, and William left his par
els and brothers, having been given the
ipression that his absence from them
vs to be of short duration, and accom-
psied Miss Green to Lexington, Mo, |
Wire she became the wife and he the |
huan chattel of Dr. William Gordon. |
H@orked in the family as house-boy |
uni he was thirteen years old, when he |
wahired out to Tom Shelby, who put |
hirto riding in horse-races. The war
chiged his career very materially, and
on day, when the First Kansas Regi- |
met marched into Lexington, the COM
mider, Col, Dietzler, declared William
colraband of war and gave him the
chige of his steeds. Subsequently Will
iameached Chicago, and, as the war was
stilin progress and there was demand
for olored troops, he enlisted in Col. j.
A. Toss regiment and served till hos
tilits had ceased.
II returned to this city and obtained
enjoyment in the family of A. G.
Bager, and afterward in various hotels
as waiter. When the Grand Pacific
Opned he found work there, and re-
mined there until about six months ago,
wen he went to the Palmer House,
Were he has been employed as waiter in
te bar-room. His newly.found brother
smained on the Watkins plantation un-
II it was occupied by Union soldiers,
Vhen he made his way to the North and
atter filling various positions became
water on lake propeller. He came to
thl city about month ago from Cleve-
lad, and, fortunately for the develop
NIT of the story, obtained employment
ate Palmer House as bell-boy. The
mworked under the same roof without
kFledge of their relationship until last
Fhy.
ring the long years of their separa
ttthough William is now thirty-five
ye old and David thirty one, they
haheld each other in affectionate re.
mbrance. In all their travels they
hs searched for each other, and have
inuted many anxious inquiries Will
iaaas written repeatedly TO the scenes
ofs childhood, without any result, on
aqnt of the confusion in the family