Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-06-06
OLD DIXON WILLIAMS.

Having heard the many reports 0
the starving condition and wretcheC
poverty of old Dixon Williams, the
pioneer, and once wealthy, negro o
Atchison, we yesterday visited. his
quarters, back of the Patriot office, tc
make inquiry.
The old man is indeed in a baG
way-much worse than has been re.
ported. He is stricken with rheuma-
tism. and is held hand and foot to his
pallet with the fearful disease, unable
to move save with the aid of rope,
which is stretched across his bed and
with which he raises himself to sit
ting posture when he wants to take
food. He occupies one narrow, close
room, which is scantily provided with
furniture and lily ventilated. His bed
is rickety old concern, and is cov-
cred with mattress, roorly filed with
straw, which has been ground to dust
from long usage. The bed clothes
that cover him are very scanty and
ragged and look as if they had not
been near water, as does everything
else in the room, for months. During
our visit, yellow girl lay on a pallet
in the small room, who processes to
be in charge of the old man and min
listers to his wants. But in truth she
prevs upon him and divides with him
the charity which the public now and
then takes HIM, taking the lion share
for herself, which she and her dusky
lovers feast upon.
The rest of the house is occupied
by a lazy tribe of blacks, whom the
OLD man, although still holding the
legal title of the house. cannot drive
away.
1t is known in police circles as re-
sort for negro law-breakers. If these
characters were driven away and an
honest woman placed in charge of the
old man, he would then get the bene-
fit of the public charity which is in
tended for him.
Old Dixon seemed highly pleased
to see us, and made painful effort to
reach us seat, but fell back in agony.
His race of life is nearly run. Filth,
poverty and the racking
which has laid hold of him,
have done their work.
The history of this old negro is in
teresting. Much of it is known to our
old citizens, but to the great najori-
tv, the old fellow il known only as old
Dixon Williams, whose career has
been no more varied or eventful than
the ordinary black we see daily on
the streets.
The old man delights 10 gain the
ear of an Interested listener, and re-
ate the story of his adventurous and
varied life. He was born away back
IN the "Old Dominion, and can re-
facts that were recorded
N history at time beyond the men,
Dry of man. Very strange to say,
and yet it is true, old Dixon Williams
remembers the events of the war of
and relates facts that
history indorses. The war CT 1912 is
,till fresh in his memory, and he can
20 into the details of the capture and
burning of Washington by the Brit
sh, so familiar to the student of
American history. He is one hun
lred and ten years old, and older,
1ut how much he don't know. The
'eader will smile at this, as we did
when the old man made the statement,
out as he gives truth to his words, by
lis close relation of his historic facts,
we can't doubt it; nor could the
reader after an interview with old
Dixon.
Later in life, he ran away from his
master in Virginia, and followed his
wife to Bonneville, Missouri, where
she had been brought by her master,
Peter Pierce, and who sent back mon
ey to Virginia rather than see the
faithful negro separated from his wife.
Here he was given to mill owner as
collateral security for debt. Fearful
of finally becoming the property of
the mill-owner, the old man set to
work faithfully, and with the aid of
his masters dray, which he worked
with nights and Sundays, he accumu-
lated FIVE hundred dollars, with which
he paid off the debt, and his master
set him free. This was in 1874. He
then worked q DIR. Dow's team on
the shares, and in five years saved an
other five hundred dollars, and was
able to buy his wife.
Life to the old man was now sweet.
He set up household of his own and
began to accumulate property. How
ever, his self-appointed mission was
not yet eomplete-his children must
be free.
In 1850 he hired to one DIR. Short
ridge as body servant, and started
across the plains to California, wher