St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-14
A NOTED COLORED LADY
A Woman Of the Dusky Race With His
tory Such as Few Gan
Boast.
The Wife of Governor and a Senator
Whom People Of All Oolors
Honor.
The Interesting Story of Mrs. Burch-
Dunn and Her Work Among
the Negroes.
The Guest Of Presidents, Society
Woman, Politician and Office
Holder.
An Interesting Story.

An Interesting story.
'That woman is probably one of the
most widely known and most refined and
intelligent colored women that ever lived
in this country" said an official at the state
house to GLOBE reporter the other day,
as lady of apparently As or so years
passed his door, 'sShe is one of the few
colored ladies that have attended the high
toned receptions in Washington and on
whom such men as Roscoe Conkling and
John A. Logan have called, and she has
been the wife of a lieutenant governor and
a senator" The woman was Mrs. Burch-
Dunn OF New Orleans, who has been visit
ing st. Paul, and called at the capitol to
take brief look at the state officials. She
is about medium height, with jet black hair
and a pleasant, intelligent-loOking face and
is said to be one of the best known and
most respected colored ladies of the South.
Intelligent acquainted with the politics of
the country, a, federal officeholder herself,
a lover of her race and with
a deep sympathy for the poor
and oppressed among them, of wide
acquaintance with prominent people, both
white and black, something OF her his
tory. as told by herself to the reporter, is
full of interest. She has been visiting ST.
Paul and Minneapolis for some days, hay
ing many friends among the people OF her
race. The reporter found her at the home of
j. L. Lyle, the other evening, and she
readily consented to an interview. She
speaks with almost no sign of the dialect
commonly put in the mouths OF the cOlored
race, and, though born of negro parents,
her skin is hardly darker than that of
many brunettes who have no trace OF
colored blood. Her features are regular,
her head well shaped, and she is some
what stout. Her so or SO years have dealt
gently with her, and no trace Of gray is i'll
her hair, and her few wrinkles are not
deep.
CINCINNATI GIRL.
She was born in Cincinnati and attended
school there until she was II, when she
went to New Orleans and was a teacher
among the colored people. 81 didn't intend
to stay there" said she, 'sbut as Mr.. Dunn
thought it was not best to leave our people
in the dark days of slavery, we stayed.
We always tried to help the colOred people
and not one of them ever came to us for
any help without getting it, if it was in our
power to give it to him."
Il naturally feel little proud OF my
husband" she continued, ''for he was the
first colored man that was ever made the
governor of state. Although a colored
man, L believe all the people in New Or
leans respected him very highly, for when
he died we had just begun to
not allow me to pay for finishing it, but
prominent men paid for its completion, some
SIS, 900 or $40, OOO."
While Gov. Dunn was living and in his
official position Mrs. Dunn was much of the
time in Washington, and became acquainted
with many prominent men. With Freder-
lex Douglass she was intimately acquainted
and with him often consulted how she
might help cher people," as she calls the
colOred race
Il was much surprised" said she, cat
the manner in which was treated by Gen.
Grant when he was president. A woman
has no vote, and expected, when I went to
him to ask some favors for my people South,
that [ should be given little OF no attention,
but went just the same and told the gen.
eral just What wanted. He granted every
one of nay requests, and don't know when
HAYS been treated more kindly than by
him. l became
| PERSONALLY ACQUAINTED
with him and never in the world did he re-
fuse a request / made if he could
grant it." When Mr.. Dunn died in 1878
Mrs. Dunn said she was something at a loss
as to what to do, stayin New Orleans OF re-
turn to Cincinnati, her old home. So long
had she lived in the South, and so much did
she desire to be where she could be help to
her large circle Of colored friends. that she
remained. Having no family and anxious
| to do something she secured an important
position in the New Orleans city hall, being
the first woman ever given like appoint
| n,,1 nixrrr OLE of n
year. What was not used for her own sup
port she gave to the poor of her race and,
with several philanthropic white people, she
founded an orphans home in that city.
While filing this position she became ac-
quainted with, and finally married, the
Hon. j. Henry Burch, a cOlOred man, at
| that time member of the state senate.
With the influence of his position she be-
came prominent in society, and during the
stay of the electoral commission in
| New Orleans they were entertained for a
portion Of the time at her home. Six years
after her marriage to Mr.. Burch she was
again widow, and again she said she felt
| as if she must be doing something. Ac-
cordingy she received the appointment as
chief countreSS in the mint, which she still
holds. II like business" said she, land
| if my health does not permit me to stay in
New Orleans, as my physician informs me
may be the case, believe I would come
North and engage in some business in st.
Paul or Minneapolis"
POSTED ON POLITICS.
| Mrs. Dunn. for she said she should al
ways keep the name Of her first husband, is
well up Oh politics. and when asked what
she thought of President Cleveland she
said: II think he has acted very wisely so
fa, Ill; nd h01d off nno y,1
as he has not seen fit to make changes that
have resulted in the cutting off of my head,
| | have no cause to complain. [ believe he
will come nearer to policy of civil service
| reform than has ever been thought posi-
! ble''
'sThe belief has been expressed that the
colored people South will change their pol
| itics largely before the next presidential
election. Do you think this will be SOP"
asked the reporter.
Il cannot say how largely they will do
this, and whether they do it at all will depend
largely on how the president treats office
holders. If he allows Officeholders to re-
main on their good behavior, l think, per-
| hapS the cOlored people of the South may
| change some of them to the other party,
for they are apt to go where they think they
will be the best treated and they will go
with the party that seems to offer the best
inducements. On the other hand, there are
many that will not forget that it is to the
other party that they owe more than they
can repay and will never change so long as
the name Republican is kept by any party.
The colored people South are gradually inn
proving in their condition. There are many
of them anxious to become educated, and
when this becomes general, as | believe it
will. have hopes for my people"
'sDo you believe in female suffrage?"
''NO, do not; on the contrary am Bit
terly opposed to it. believe that women