Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-07-28
A Kentucky Slaves Career.

When we saw our colored fellow citizen.
the Rev. Jackson Blackburn, speaking
from the stand in the Court House Square
on the 4th of July, with his former owner,
p. l.. Mitchell, Esq, intently listening to
him and evidently pleased with his re-
marks, Mr.. Lincoln's language seemed to
repeat itself: I'VE cannot fail to note that
the world moves"
A brief review of Mr.. Blackburn's
earlier history may not be uninteresting to
many readers of the Union who heard him
on the Fourth. Mr.. Mitchell informs us
that Mr., Blackburn was plantation hand
near Georgetown, Ky. About 1910 his
owner died, and in order TO settle the es-
tate all the slaves had to be sold. Between
the death and the sale, some of them scat
tered about the country and into town,
hunting odd jobs for themselves. Mr..
Mitchell was then keeping store in George
town. One day "a likely looking Niger"
of some twenty-seven years came in and
asked him for work. He gave him load
of wood to saw, and the man worked so
much to his satisfaction that he gave him
other little jobs about his premises. AS
the dreaded day of sale approached the
man one day begged Mr.. Mitchell to buy
him, and save him from being sent down
lHC IiNcI dLlu lOlCNtI lIOH
his wife and children, who were owned by
a neighboring planter. Mr.. Mitchell is a
New Englander, and had scruples against
holding slaves, but the man pleaded so pit
eously that Mr.. Mitchell finally agreed to
keep him from going down the river.
On the day of the sale Mr.. NJ. was as
good rs his word, and when Jack was
mounted on the auction box lie was on
hand.
"a likely niger" was worth about
$700 at that time, but there was sharp
competition between several slave traders
who wanted good gang of down-river"
hands, and Jack was finally knocked off
to Mr.. NJ. at 1910. He afterward bought
his wife and children, built them a little
house on his own premises, and kept them
in his service. In the meantime Jack
somehow managed to learn to read and
write, without aid of schoOl-house or
school teacher. Then he picked up the
paint brush, and soon handled it so well
that he could make 50 or So day work
ing for others, half of which Mr.. NJ. al
lowed him to retain for his own use.
Jack also "iined the Methodists" and be-
gan to exhort little. Then he changed
his views on baptism and joined the Chris
tian Church, and it wasn't long before he
developed from an exhorter into full
fledged preacher.
Then Mr. NJ concluded to leave George
town and remove to Rock Island. 1t be-
| ing against the laws of Kentucky TO man.
unit a slave, Mr.. NJ. told Jack to choose
his new master, and whatever he was will
ing to pay for him he would take. The
selection was soon made, the entire Black
burn family passed over to new owner,
and at very much lower figure than they
had cost Mr.. NJ.
The war brought emancipation the
shackles were broken, and Jack was free
to go where he pleased. Mr.. Mitchell sent
him money to bring his family to Rock
Island, all of which has been honestly re-
paid. Jack has worked industriously al
his trade, and has done well. He has
reared and educated his children, has been
the means of securing little church for
his people, and to-day there is no man in
this city who stands higher in the estima-
tiOn of all who know him than Jackson
Blackburn. As Mr.. Mitchell expressed
it, would take his word for anything
as soon as that of any other man ever
saw the only thing that isn't white about
him is his skin"
| And there stood the master listening To
his old slave making Fourth of July adj
dress in Court House Square. Can fiction
invent more wonderful transformation
Can history pay a grander tribute to Abra-
ham Lincoln than the simple story of Jack
son Blackburn and his old mas'rf-Rock
Island IH) Union,