The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-07-17
A Noted Oolored Lady.
WOMAN OF THE DUsKY RACE WITH
HISTORY sUClI As FEW
CAN BOAST.

"That woman is probably one of the
most widely.known aud most refined
and intelligent colored women that ev-
er lived in this country" said an official
at the State House to Globe reporter
the other day, as lady of apparently
as or 80 years passed his door. "She
is one of the few colored ladies who
have attended the high-toned rccep-
tions in Washington, and on whom
such men as Roscoe Conklng and John
A. Logan have called, and she has been
the wife of Lieutenant Governor and
a Senator The woman was Mrs.
Burch-Dunn, of New Orleans, who
has been visiting st. Paul. and called
at the Capitol to take a brief look at
the State officials. She is about me
dum height, with jet black hair, and
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
otiiceholder herself, lover of her race
and with deep sympathy for the poor
and oppressed among them, of wide ac-
quaintance with prominent people,
both white and black, something of
her history, as told by herself to re-
porter, is full of interest. She has
been visiting st. Paul and Minneapolis
for some days, having many friends
among the people Of her race. The
reporter found her at the home of J.
Il. 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 feat
ures are regular, her head well shaped.
and she is somewhat stout. Her fifty
or so years have dealt gently with her,
and no trace of gray is in her hair, and
her few wrinkles are not deep.
She was born in Cincinnati and at
tended school there until she was II,
when she went to New Orleans and
was teacher among the colored peo-
pie. 81 didn't intend to stay there, "
said she, 'but 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 every came to us
for any help without getting it if it
was in our powerlto give it to then" "
81 naturally feel little proud of my
husband she continued, "for he was
the first colored man that was ever
made the Governor of State. AL
though a colored man, believe all the
people in New Orleans respected him
very highly, for when he died we had
just begun to build a home, and they
would not allow me to pay for finishing
it, but prominent men paid for its com
pletion, some $4,000 or $4,000"
While Governor 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 Frederick
Douglass she was intimately acquaint.
ed, and with him often consulted how
she might help ''her people, as she
calls the colored race.
81 was much surprised said she,
sat the manner in which l was treated
by General Grant when he was Presi
dent. A woman has no vote, and !
expected when | went to him to ask
some favors for my people South that !
should be given little or no attention,
but went just the same, and told the
General just what | wanted. He
granted every one of my requests, and
| don't know when | have been treated
more kindly than by him. ! became
personally acquainted with him, and
never in the world did he refuse a re
quest | made if he could grant it
When Mr.. Dunn died, in 1878, Mrs
Dunn said she was something at loss
as to what to do-stay in New Orleans
or to return to Cincinnati, her ole
home. So long had she lived in the
South, and so much did she desire t.
be where she could be a help to hel
large circle of colored friends, that shC
remained. Having no family and anx
ious to do something, she scured al
important position in the New Orleans
City Hall, being the first woman eve
given like appointment, and receiving
a salary of $4,000 year. What wal
not used for her own support she gave
to the poor of her race, and, with sew
eral philanthropic white people, sh,
founded an Orphans Home in tina
city. While filing this position sh'
became acquainted with and fnall,
married, the Hon. j, Henry Barch, a
| colored man, at that time member o
the State Senate. With the intiuenc,
of his position she became prominent
in society, and during the stay of tn,
Electoral Commission in New Orlean
they were entertained for portion o
the time at her home. Six years afte
her marriage to Mr., Burch she wa
again widow, and again she said sh
felt as if she must be doing something
Accordingly she received the appoint
ment as Chief Countress IN the Mint
which she still holds. ~ like business,
said she, land if my health does no
permit me to stay in New Orleans, a
my physician informs me may be tn,
case, | believe | would come North an,
engage in some business in St. Paul O
Minneapolis. St Paul Globe.
lie was wiping away his tears wit
a dirty fist in the postoiiice alley whe
one of the letter carriers asked wha
| o;lol liz,