Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-06-22

'tSl SUM Il ilIllI anu NlNNt tcl sum q
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, atiec-
tionarc, God fearing child" said the
old man.
The hideous Simon Legree Of the
novel was Bruce Lytton, overseer for
Isaac RiIey's plantation in Maryland.
He it was who pounded 81 SO that he
couid not, to the DAY Of his death, iift
his hands to his head to wish 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 Go a great deal of hard
work, but never feel Oh de wool dat
grew on dc top of his head
George Shelby, Uncle Toms great
friend, was in reality Amos Riley, Jr.,
and he it was that took 81 to New
Orleans to sell him, and while
there was stricken with yellow
fever. taken back to kentucky and
nursed back TO life by Mr.. Henson.
who shortly afterwards took his wife
and lour children and made Il success
ful break for the freedom Of which
he had really paid for thousand
times by his iaithlulnesS to his differ
ent masters.
>i Henson, with his lite family,
settled in Colchester, Ont, but few
miles from Detroit, and, with $50
Colored men. of whom he was captain.
served her Majesty during the Cana
dian rebellion by holding Fort MAIDEN
until Col. Erie took possession of it
IN 1898. At the close of the trouble
he went up Big Bear creek, now Sy dem
ham river, aud took up large amount
Of land near where is now the flourish
ing little town Of Dresden. Here he
lived and tecame regarded by all as
exceedingly well off being ALWAYS pas
tor Of a church. Here at the age of
s. he learned 10 read and write. In
1850 he went To England, and in the
winter of ls50-5l he lectured in Lon.
don. Previous to this, on several oc-
casonS, he had mt Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stowe, and had told her the
story Of his life. lie had also written
an autobiography. 1852 he went TO
England again, and while there he
int I,grngd that Mrs. Stowe was writ
ing a novel, of which he was the hero.
>las. has been aScertained that
this notable character. Josiah, or ola
Il nCie II, as he was famlI3arly call
ed by mauy who still rrmemb~r sim
here, We have made careful inquiries
into some Of tie statements he Is re-
ported 10 have made.
II uclc 81 remained with Mr.. Riley
fgom the time Of his purchase from
Mr.. Robb until he ras some twenty
three wears cid In the meantime
Mr.. Riley became surety on a bond IN
;hc famous Arnold +. Windsor suit,
ard an adverse decision having teen
rendered in the Court of Charcerv, at
Annapolis, Mr.. Riley became alarmed
AID after advising with his counsel
the late John \. /. kilgour, be sent
Il ucle 5" with his family ana soTe
other slaves, under the care Of his
nephew, Thomas Middleton, to his
brother, Amos Riley, then residing
in kentucky. In or about 1928,
"Umclv 81 visited Mr. Isaac Riley
and negotiated purchase of himself
for $500. for which he gave his note,
which note was never paid, and which
Mis-. Matilda Riley, the widow of
Isaac Riley, and now in the SD year
of her age. still holds. Uncle ST.
was not satisfied with purchasing him
self, but entered lntofurther negotla.
tions for the purchase of his family.
Holding the conidcuce OF Mr.. Riley
he got an order upon Amos Riley 10
let 81 have his wife and children,'
his object being to return with them
to Montgomery TO conclude the pur-
chase aud remain.
Armed with this paper "Uncle ST.
iSluIItu ~ NCIt tttNN, No'a'h'u lVo'
session of his family, and when he
reached Cincinnati made for Canada.
so far as his having been treated
badly. it would apper just the reverse.
In 1879, when he visited his old mis-
tress, Mrs. Riley, he took occasion to
speak of ''tte good old times, and in
the most atirctionate terms of Mr..
Riley. "Cucle 81 was regal ded as a
pet servant with Mr., Riley, and had
many privileges which were never ex-
tended to the balance Of his slaves.
Mr.. Il. often had complaints that
"Uncle 81" had struck Il hen-rooSt
or jumped a sheep fold bnt the con
fdemce of Mr.. r. in his honesty re-
mained mistaken until he had de-
ceived him in obtaining the order ior
his family.
Brice Letton. also late Of Montgo-
merry county, the ''cruel and heartIesS
overseer," mentioned by Mrs. Stowe IT'S
Simon Legree, never acted IN the eapa-
city of overseer for Mr.. Riley, but was
rather confidential friend and adyls-
er. Mr.. Riley never had an overseer
save in 1910 Mr.. MiIburn acted as
his foreman. Moreover Mr.. Letton
was kind and humane man, and en-
ioyed the confidence and resp ct OF all
who knew him-a kind, good old man,
for we remember him ourSeli.
We cannot trespass further on the
Indulgence of our readers of space-a
few more words in conclusion.
When Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe
shall have grown weary for the mono
tony of the luxury of her orange
groves, and the celebrity of Uncle
Toms Cabin shall be buried in the
obscurity from which it ought never
emerged because of its misrepresenta-
ton and vituperatlon, let her go to
the State of Massachusetts,, whore she
properly belongs, visit Tewksbury,
Al