The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-12-28
\ Colorcd 1lesseu gers Creer
F',m Corrsspo oadsnc, of tbs Boston Trav-

III III CSEFsSp 1JUSOC5 OF Jus OOSOl xTdy.
csler.
Washington is city Of qlaint charac.
ters. They are everywhere, oven in
the most unexpected places, and, rs u
matter of course. many Of them find
their way into official positions. My at
ten!ion has often been brou yht 10 the
col,rcd messenger OF the attorney gen
erals office, and tho other day ques-
toned him about his history. He has
held the present position for many
years, and doubt if there is single
member Of congresses or United States
Judge in this section of the country who
does net know Coleman. I vii. give his
history in his own words.
Said he: IL was born in Forkhill
county, W., on tho old plantation ol the
Lee family, Idon't know exactly how
old I am, but think ! will he sixt; :
three some time in next March. In
l848 Mr.. Lee, my master, sent me 10
Richmond to be sold, as lie had to raise
sonie money, and / was carried away
from my wife, hand:uifed, and
pns in freight car. That night I
lodged in the Jail, and the next
morning was led out to the block
Years before bad been kicked in the
head by horse. VIII ch lett the. ugly
looking scar which you see OIL nv fore
head. That night in Jail I rribbaI the
scar with my hands until it looked vefy
sore, and on auction day. when The
traders came around, they asked Ine ii
ever felt any effects of the wound.
told them tia! IL had a good muster ]
guessed that could get along well
enough. but that was subject 10 attacks
of fits. was appraised 1T high figure,
bnt the 'ats' story cut 1t down consider
ably. The day when | WIS led out to
the auction block there were over 800
niher saves sold. A Frenchman named
Brant bought me at a private snle for
500, and vas his valet u. the old Ex.
change hotel i'll Richmond, now the Enl.
lard house. for seven years, and at the
end Of that time had some $2,259, with
which ] bought freedom for myself and
wife. fused 10 make great deal Of
money at the Exchange, and l remem.
ber that some weeks l laid by as much
as $lG ina single week, but this of
course did MT happen often.
Mr.. Brant, when he found that | was
q married man, told me that he had u
lot Of "yailer" girls on his plantation,
and that / could easily find another
wife, but he liked me so we'll that he
bought my wife. In 1859 bought my
wife's sister, and paid $3.50 for her, as
Dhe was sickly. She hadn't been with
us long before she died, at an expense
( 500. l had three sisters somewhere
in Louisiana or Mississippi, and after
the war was ovef 1sent letters to the va.
rlous churches in that section to be read
from the pulpits, with the hope that
could get Some information as to wheth.
er they were dead or alive. One of my
letters was read in little town in Miss.
lssippi, when colored Woman jumped
up and said that she was one of the sis.
ters. / brought her here, and she is
with me now. Ny remaining two sis.
ters died during the var, or some time
previous. wss appointed messc ngcr
by Attorney General Speed, who was in
President Lincoln's cabinet, and have
served at this door ever since, including
the terms of office OF Messrs. Speed,
) ansberry, Evarts Hoar. Akerman,
Williams, Pierpont, Taft. Devens, Nc.
veagh and the present incumbent, Mr..
Brewster"