Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-05-24
"UNCLE tom GONE.o
The True Story OF the Life and yiclssitudes OF
tf Mrs. Stoves Hero.


The True Story OF the Life and yicissitades Of
Mrs. Stoves Hero.
Detroit special to Chicago Herald
The original of Uncle Tom, the charac-
ter made famous by Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stoves immortal work, died
at Dresden, Ont, Saturday, aged
ninety-four years, as already reported
in the Herald. The true name OF Uncle
Tom was Josiah Henson, and during
his lifetime was called Uncle ST. He
was one of the finest specimens Of his
race, shiny black skin, keen, restless
eyes, intelligent face, framed by a full
silver gray beard, head bald only little
way back from his forehead, and COW
cred for the most part with wealth of
of snowy wool. Some years ago Uncle
81 paid a visit to Detroit, stopping at
Mrs. sClay's little cottage, 156 Wilkins
street, where the indefatigable inter-
viewer ferreted him out, and got from
his own lips the story of his life.
The Rev, Josiah Henson was born at
Port Tobacco, Charles County, Md, OH
the 18th of June, 1887, OF a slave
woman, the property Of Josiah McPher-
son, young physician. At the age of
seven he was sold to Adam Robb, q
planter. Under this master he lived
only two years. He was then bought
by Isaac Riley, under whom he grew up
to be man. and commenced preaching,
.'In the slave days" said he, 1.-THE
negroes had a horror of being sold by
the sheriff. Well Massa Riley had a
big lawsuit at Annapolis, and one night
he came to my cabin-we lived some
miles below Montgomery Court House
and said: Isl, it's goin' agin me; l
am ruined, and you win have to be sold
by the sheriff, and then he told me that
he wanted me to run away clear to Ken
lucky. So took my wife and children
and eighteen good slaves and went to
Kentucky to Mr.. Amos Riley, brother
of my MASTER" This plantation of
Amos Riley and that of Mr.. St. Clair
were separted by Blackford's Creek, a
small stream in Davis county, Ken
lucky Riley's plantation was small
one, and the fresh importation of slaves
more than he needed. They were con-
sequently hired out to neigbboring
planters. TWAS his good luck to work
for Mr.. st. Clair most of the time, and
he told the reporter he was just such
man, and died just such death as Mrs.
Stoves book represents.
"And was there really an Eva st.
Clair?" asked the interviewer
''Oh, yes, but her name wasn't Eva;
it was Susan; Susan ST. Clair. and she
used to read for me; then would sing
for her. She was an innocent, affec-
tomato, God-fearing child" said the
old man.
land did she fall in the water and
did you save her from drowningP"
Eyes. Myself and another slave were
rowing her across Blackford's Greek,
in small canoe, to her father, who
stood on the other shore. The canoe
rocked, she became nervous and fell in
to the water. l jumped after her, and
can't swim either, but the Lord help
ed me just as he always has"
The hideous Simon Legree of the
novel was Bryce Kytton, overseer for
Isaac Riley's plantation in Maryland.
He it was who pounded ST so that he
could not to the day of his death lift
his hands to his 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 OBJ de
wool dat grew on de top OBJ his head"
Aunt Chloe, the faithful wife of Uncle
Tom, was Charlotte, the patient wife of
faithful ST, but instead of crying. as
she does in the play, because Tom
wouldn't run away, she wept when he
announced his intention to do so.
George Shelby, Uncle Toms great
friend, was in reality Amos Riley, Jr.,
and he it was that took ST to New
Orleans to sell him, and while there
was stricken down with yellow fever,
taken back to Kentucky and nursed
back to life by Mr. Henson, who short
ly after made up his mind that the
Lord helps them that help themselves,
took his wife and four children and
made his successful break, for the
freedom for which he had once paid
$500, and which he had really paid for
a thousand times by his faithfulncss to
his different masters.
eve packed up few provisions, ''
said Mr.. Henson, "and put the two lit
tie pickaninnies in bag and slung
them over my back; my wife, she led
the other little ones. A fellow rowed
us across the river and we trudged
through the swamp and on to liberty,
and last week left the two little dark
les that toted away in the bag now
men grown a working the farm at
Dresden, :" and the old man laughed I'M
til his sides ached as he said my farm
do you understand? My farm. :"
81 Henson, with his little family,
settled in Chester, Ont, but few miles
from Detroit, and with $50 colored men
of whom he was captain, served her
Majesty during the Canadian rebellion,
by holding Fort Maiden until Colonel
Erie took possession of it in 1883. At
the close of the trouble he went up Big
Bear Creek, now Sydenham River, and
took up large amount of land near
where is now the flourishing little town
of Dresden. Here he lived and became
regarded by all as exceedingly well off,
being always pastor of church. Here
at the age of fifty-five. he learned to
read and write. In 1850 he went to
England, and in the winter of 1S50-51
he lectured in London. Previous to
this, on several occasions, he had met
Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, and had
told her the story of his life. He had
also written an autobiography, which
was published in Massachusetts. In
1852 he went to England again, and
while there be first learned that Mrs.
Stowe was writing novel, of which
he was the hero. Aunt Chloe died long
ago, having horne Uncle Tom several
children, one of whom, Mrs. Isaac CLAY,
a widow, recently moved from Detroit
to Dresden. She has son employed
at the Cass House, but 81 married
again. and in 1876 determined to visit
England and take his wife, who was ont
health, along with him. He lectured
about fifty times in London, and
preached from pulpits where formerly
stood Wesley and Whitfield. He left
England to go through Scotland and
Ireland, and then return home, and
had got to Edinburgh when summons
from the Lord High Chamberlain
brought him back to London and Wind
sor Castle. Queen Victoria received
him with great cordially. declaring she
that could not let him, whom she had
known of since she was young lady,
return to America without seeing him,
gave him her photograph which bore her
autograph. the whole set in a solid gold
frame. He also received q fine gold
watch from a wealthy English family.