The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-05-16
miscellaneous,
OLD HICKORY.
A Negroes Account Of His Last Illness and Death,

A NegrO's Account Of His Last Illness ana Death'
A reporter of the American yesterday
visited hannah Jackson, Colored, relict
of the Rev. Aaron Jackson, who recently
died at the age Of ninety two years. He
found her at No, 16l South Summer
street, where she resides with daugh-
ter. The reporter told Aunt Hannah he
desired to obtain from her "reminiscences
of her early life in connection with the
Hermitage. She said she was growing
old, and could not tell it all as straight as
Aaron (her late husband) could. Aaron
knew it ALL and it was often they sat by
the fire talked over old times, when they
were with Marse Jackson. They were
always treated like white folks. Said
she, ,as the tears trickled down her cheeks
-"Marse Jackson was a father to us SER
wants, he was 80 good and kind to us.
The morning he died the house was
crowded, and the whole yard; pa dar-
kies were living on his place, 1t was
very distressing, They tried to carry
me out when old marse was dying, and
he told them TO let me alone. You see,
/ had always waited on him and he was
not going to drive me out NO." he
said, "let Hannah remain if she wants
to-" and / did. l wasn't going to surren.
der my place to any one, though | was
so full of grief all the time that | could
hardly stay in the room. Every morn
ing Dr. Esseman told me to get fresh
egg, and mix it with milk and brown SUI
gar, and let old Marse eat it, | did it
regularly. When | came in on Friday
morning with that egg and brown sugar
and milk, | says to q, orge Harris, "ls
old Marse asleep?" He says, "No." He
looked me in the face and said, "Han-
nah, you will soon be done totin' this in
to old marster" And then, Saturday
morning | carried it in again. Old Marse
didn't take it for some time and when
he did it was long swill, like it went
down 80 heavy. | can't tell you what |
felt then," and here the aged woman
wept like a child, Il knew death was
mighty nigh, when he couldn't take that
bit of a morsel. Sunday morning | did
not see any change in him. Marse was
asked if he knew them ALL yes" said
he / know you all, though ! can't see
you" And they brought him his specs,
and he said be recognized them all, The
first thing | knew George Harris cried,
"0h" and it was repeated back to the
kitchen. Old Marse was not dead, but
his breath had stopped All crowded
into his room, when DR.. Esselman said
they must go out. The doctor gave him
something to revive him, and he lived
until eight o'clock in the evening. White
and black were all standing in the room
together Just before he died. No dis
tinction was shown in the eyes of old
master. Turning his eyes to where me
and George were standing, he said: And
here's poor George and Hannah, they've
been faithful servants to me. | have |
left it so you will be we'll taken care of as
long as there is a bit of property left
He then called Mrs. Adams up, and told |
her she would not suffer for anything !
Just before he died he preached his own |
sermon. He said: only friends, Christ !
is no respeCter of persons, and what |
say to one say to all, and have a right |
to the Tree of Life; prepare to meet me |
now all cried out, "LooB! look" and old
Marse was dead His soul went direct
to heaven; know it did, and my hus-
band has gone up to meet him, and |
won't be long here. My husband always
said old master preached his own funeral
And he did, too, George Harris and me
were head walters, and we could not help
CRYING bitterly when the old masters
spirit was taken up into heaven by the
angels Of God ,"-NostUUe american.