New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-24
A LYING CHARACTER OF UNCLE TOMS
CABIN"

Correspcndcnce Of The Clercland Herald.
Comparatively few people are aware that we nave
living in quiet retirement here IN OberlIn the orgl
nal of a character in fiction that IL known even
where the name Ohio Is never heard. This Is Mt.
Lewis Clark the George Harris" of Mrs. stoves
"Uncle Toms Cabin.n Mr. Clark lives in pleasant
cottage on East Colege-st.. about half mile from
the public square He is IN needy circumstances
and II was the purpose of the lecture which he de-
livered in the college chapel this evening to assist
him IN the support Of his numerous family. In au-
swer 10 my knock Mr.. Clark came 20 The door HIM
self | stated my erraDd. and inquired IL was
"Oh. MOI he said cordially throwing wide open
the door of his little sitting room and motionng me
to chair never have refused any one such an
accommodation as | could furnish them. The agent
of New-York company has not been gone nve MN
utes he trying TO engage me TO act the part OK
Georoe Harris IN his troupe But you are perfectly
welcome. They call me Old Accommodation. and
l always want to deserve the name"
Mr. Clark il uuseltisb, kindly, jovlal man or
some sxty-six years of age. In personal appearance
he is light octoroon, with gray hair and beard and
little below the medium IN height ne Is q
almost to fault Many fellow-slave IN bondage
has blessed him for his timely assistance. lie came
to ODerln about years ago, with the purpose OF
them having ever been inside schoohouse prior TO
that time. His eldest daughter q young lady OF
twenty years, is now teaching with marked success
in Washington Ind. His eldest son. yout h OF sew
enteen recently came out second best in the cadet
examination at Eyria, and has siDce received from
Annapolis several offers of sub-positIons; these.
however he has declined, since hye years OF school
ing does not satisfy him. What is your occupa-
ton. Dir. Clark y inquired.
Pruning sir, chiefly but l do any other work
to support my family, and even then can't pay tho
rent on my house"
Yes SIR! Pm happy as the dav is long; there
isn't happier IN Oberlin. Pm full OF gladness
all the time"
"Ab, here they come" he added fondly, as five or
six bows came troopng into the room. A hand
somer more Intelligent group OF boys rev white
fathers possess be has nine children IN all. .
he fncfe eli embraced
essential points OF the lecture tonight and consid-
cradle besides.
about nine miles from Berca College, in the month Of
March, 1914 or 1915. He was then the slave OF his
grandf sther Samuel Campbell. His father was
Daniel Clark. Scotch weaver and soldier IN the
Revolution. His mother was mulatto slave,
LetltIa Campbell, the daughter OF her own master
He was himself sold at the death OF Legree Tom
Kennedy to Legrees son. also bearing the name Of
Tom Kennedy for $3.50. The latter was a kind
master very much like st. Clair, though addicted
occasionally 20 drink Mr. Clark saw Uncle Tom
whipped near TO Death by the elder Kennedy. The
original Uncle Tom was coored man by
the name OF sam Pete. Ills present address
Is Dawn Township, Canada dresden r. o.;
ne is very AGED. The character OF Eva was drawn
from two three little Southern girls one oil these
Is dead. and with another Mr. Clark dined four
wears ago at her home in Stanford, Ky. Colwell
Campbell. who most largely furnished the character
OF ST. CLAIR, ed asst year IN Madison COUNTY, ny.
Mr.. Clark showed me linen wheel at which nc
worked ten years, acquiring the reputation OF being
the best labOTer IN the country. lie also operated
the machine invented by him, az described IN Mrs.
Stoves work He further showed me sleeve, OF
which the material was corded by his sister, spun by
his mother, and woven by his father. and which was
worn by ms sister on The auction block. Aiterward
she sent this 10 him TO tell hun where she was it
was impossible 20 send letter. lhis incident and
several others related TO me such As EllZas throw
ing her scarf the river 10 lead her pursuers tn be-
heve she had perishedl, do not appear IN Uncle
Toms Capln."
When Mrs. Stowe got her information from Mr..
Clark she did not tell him her purpose and, indeed,
afterward told him that sue had no purpose az the
time. Mr.. Clark started tor the North IN his twenty
six Ga year. taxing with him a body-slave, Isaac.
The tlmldity of the latter. however caused both TO
return and Clark two weeks later cOusulnmated
his escape alone, promising 10 return for
Isaac IN year This he atterward dd,
but Isaac was dead. The meeting at the
tavern is fairly portrayed by Mrs. Stowe.
At ncInnat he disposed of his horse and went 10
Portsmouth via the steamer SyDh. here ho
took canal boat fOf Cleveland, arriving at the
latter place in 1s4l lie had been told that Port
Stanley across big river from Cleveland, and
wandering up and down the beach of the lake for
several miles, he thought it must be mistake a. he
couldn't the Port anyw here. Only drlftwood
then lay where now the Union Depot aud Lake
View Park extend. He inaily secured passage in q
sail vessel aud arrived at the Canadian port IN
safety.