Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-06-29
THE ORIGINAL UNCLE TOM

Ont-His Life in Seryitude, His
Escape, and His True Story-the
Originals OF Other Characters in
Mrs. Stoves Book.
Rev. Josiah Henson, Mrs. Stoves or
iginal Uncle Tom, died at Dresden, Ont.
aged ninety-four. Personally he was
one of the finest specimens of his race: a
shiny black skin, keen restless eyes, an
intelligent face framed by full silver
gray beard, head bald only little way
back from his forehead, and covered for
the most part with wealth of snowy
wool. Some years ago Uucle ST paid
visit to Detroit, stopping at Mrs. Clay's
little cottage, No. l56 Wilkins street,
where q reporter interviewed him and
heard from his own lips the story Of his
life.
Rev. Josiah Henson, as the original
"Uncle Tom has for many years been
known, was born at Port Tobacco,
Charles county, Md, on the 18th of
June, 1899, Of slave woman, the prop
erty of Josiah Mcpherson, young ply
sician At the age Of seven years he
was sold to Adam Robb; planter. I'm
der this master he lived only two years,
and was then bought by Isaac Riley,
under whom be grew up to be man,
and commenced preaching. "In slave
days" said he to the reporter, "the ne
groes had horror of being sold by the
sheriff. Well, Massa Riley had big
lawsuit at Annapolis, and one night he
come to my caoin-we lived some miles
below Montgomery court house-and
said: ISL its gone agin' me; am ruined,
and you will ali have to be sold by the
sheriff. And then he told me he want
ed me to run away clar to Kentucky.
So took my vile and children and
eighteen good slaves and went to Ken
lucky, to Mr.. Amos Riley, brother to
| my master" The plantation OF Amos
Riley and that of Mr.. ST. Clair were sep
arated by Blackfords creek, a small
stream in Davis county Ky. Riley's
plantation was|a small one, and the fresh
importation of slaves was more than he
needed and they were consequently
hired out to neighboring planters. 1t was
| Sis good luck to work for Mr.. ST. Clair
! most OF the time, and Mr.. Henson told
| the reporter he was just such man and
| died Just such death as the book rep
| resents.
"And was there really an Eva St.
Clair?" asked the reporter curiouslv.
sOh, yes! But her name wasn't Eva
| it was Susau-Susan st. Clair, and she
used to read for me, and then l would
sing for her. She was an innocent. af-
fectionate, God-fearing child" said the
| old man.
"And did she fall in in the .water and
did YOU save her from drowning"
Yes" 0aughing). "Myself and an.
other slave were rowing her across
Blackfords creek in small canoe to her
father who stood on the other shore.
The canoe rocked, she became nervous,
| and fell into the water. jumped after
her, and I can't swim, either, but the
| Lord helped me Just as He always has -
The hideous Simon Legree Of the novel
was Bryce Lytton, overseer Of Isaac
Riley's plantation in Maryland. He it
was who pounded 81 SO that he could
not to the day of his death lift his hands
to bis head to wash his face or dress
himself. He could use his hands and
arms upon any object that was in front
of him, could shave his master and do a
great deal of hard work, but he could
never feel cob de wool dat grew on de
| top of his head" Aunt Chloe the faithful
wife of Uncle Tom, was Charlotte, the pa
tient wife offaithful 81. But instead of cry
ing as she does in the way because Tom
wouldn't trun away, she wept when he
announced his intention to do so. George
Shelby, Uncle Toms great friend, was,
in reality, Amos Riley Jr., and lie it was
who took 81 to New Orlea ns to sell him
and while there was striken with yellow
fever, taken back to old Kentuck, and