The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1883-03-01
A STORY TO CAUSE WONDER.

Recently IA prominent citizen gave
to the Atlanta Constitution the fol,
lowing remark able story:
In ante war times there lived 10
Meriwether county, Ca, a don't>
sort of negro named Jack Wilson,
who could neither read nor
write He had gained his freedom
in some way or other, and gained his
livelihood by acting as a sort of di>
rector general kto famous horses 10
tbs neighborhood. Jack became at
tached to servant girl who was
owned BY man named Gates, one
of the wealthiest men in Georgia,
who owned tbousands of acres of
laud, and with his family lived 10
lordly style. The servant girl was
bright mulatto, and Jack was
shade darker They made match
of it, aud were married under the
order of things that existed in war
times. At the same time Jack had
a slave time wife in Virginia, but
she was black as coal. When the
war closed and the slaves were de
clared free, Jack took his Georgia
wife to be his partner for life, and
by living with her for stated peri-
cd, she became his wife according to
law. As soon as he was married, he
showed sudden spirit of industry
that astouished everybody. His
careless habits were thrown aside,
and he went to work with a will,
The wealthy Gage, his master, died,
and the broad acres fell to the pos
session of the heirs. Jack still work
ed on the place, and was saving
and careful The Gage family had
lost everything except their land.
Hundreds of slaves we're freed by
the new order of things, and the vast
and princely fortune was gone The
heirs could not adapt themselves to
the situation Finally pressed, they |
sold fifty acres of land to Jack
then they wanted more money, and
Jack stood their security at the La
Grange Bank aud when they were
unable 20 pay he would take up the
notes at the bank and trade for
piece of the Gates plantation. He
worked with vengeance and all bis
family worked. Old man Jack be-
came a noted and honored citizen
of the county. He was industrious
aud prospered. In the meantime
bis old masters children continued
to sell him parts of the old home-
stead. Finally be owned it all and
was rich. Three years ago he de-
cided that it was his duty to provide
for his old Virginia wife, so he sent
for her, and she, with her children,
came to him. She was given
house on the plantation aud is we'll
provided for. Jack owns now the
magnificent place of about l,500
acres within three miles of White
Sulphur Springs 10 Merriwetber
county. He is 60 years old, and his
children are settled around him, and
all are contented and happy and in
dustrious. He owns fifteen or six>
teen mules. and is Doted for keeping
the best stock in the county. His
credit at the LAGRANGE Bonk is good
and be can borrow all the money he
wants on his simple note of hand
How much is he worth?
Il should say about 100000, and
every cent Of it has been made since
the war. 1t is a remarkable story
of how slave succeeds his master
in the ownership of a vast landed
estate. | passed the place few
months ago, aud the Georgia wife
came to the door to give me drink
of water Everything was neat and
clean about the place, the yard was
newly swept, the barns appeared
filled and in the lots | saw piles upon
piles of manure carefully sheltered.
1t is a model plantation. Why,
have seen on Jacks place, $50 acres
of corn under one fence
is be educating his children
Yes, although he cannot read
aud write, he sees the advantage of
an education, and is giving his chill
dren the benefit of schooling. The
story is true one and shows what
can be done right here in Georgia
by pluck aud industry. The old
adage is true There is more in the
man than there is in the land,