The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-01
THE OLDEST MAN ON EARTH.
A Negro Resident of Santa Rosa, Mexi-
co, in His 135th Year

a Negro Resident OF santa Rosa, Mexi-
co, in His 135th Year
A correspondent at Laredo, Tex, writes
as follows TO the st. Lonis Globe Demo
crdt:
James James, IA negro and citizen of the
United States, who resides at Santa Rosa,
Mexico, is probably the oldest man on
earth. He was born near Dorchester, s. c..
in 1752 and while an infant was removed
to Midway River Ga. in the same year that
Benjamin Franklin brought down electric
ity from the thunder clouds. In 1862
there was quite an Immigration into South
Carolina. and his master, James james,
from whom he takes mis- name, moved near
Charleston, S. c., i'll company with num-
Der of his neighbors. On June 4, 1916,
when "a years OF age, large
British fleet. under Sir Peter Parker, ar
rived off Charleston. The citizens had erec-
ted a palmetto wood fort ON Sullivan's Is
land, with twenty-six guns, manned by
800 troops, under Col. Moultrie. and on
June rs, the British made an attack by
land aud water, and were compelled to
withdraw after l0-hours' conflict. 1t was
during this fight that Sergeant Jasper dis
tinguished himself by replacing the flag,
which had been shot away upon the bastion
on a now staff. Jm's master, James james,
manned one of her guns i'll this light, and the
subject Of this sketch aud four other slaves
were employed around the fort as general
laborers. Jim followed his master through
out the war, and was with Gen. Moultrie
at Port Royal, s. c., Feb. 3, 1779, when
Moultrie defeated the combined British
forces Of Provost and Campbell His mas
ter was surrendered by Gen. Lincoln at
Charleston, S. c., on Feb II, 1850, to the
British forces, and that ended Jim's mill
tary career.
L. e Al. .-Aa
throughout the country in consequence of
Washington's election to the Presidency,
he then being 40years of age. In that year his
first master died, aged about 60 years. Jim
then became the property of "Marse
Henry" Henry James,, owning large Us
tates and about thir y slaves, near Charles
ton. On account of having raised "Marse
Henry Jim was a special favOrite with his
master and was allowed 10 do as he chose
His second master, Henry, died in 1873, about
s. years of age, and Jim, then 63 years of
age, became the property of James James,
Henry's second son. In 1888 tho railroad
from Charleston TO Hamburg was compile
ted, then the longest railroad in tho world,
and Jim, with his master, took "A trip over
the road, and was shown special iavorS on
account of his age, then 81 James James
was 10 years of age at his fathers death,
and when he became of age inherited large
estates, slaves, etc, among whom were "old
Uncle Jim" and his family. James James
lived III South Carolina until 1853, when he
moved TO Texas with his slaves. James de
sired that his slaves should lie free at his
death, and in 1858 moved Into Mexico so
that they could he free before his DEATH
James returned to the United States, and
died in Texas, and in 1868 after there were
no longer slaves in the United States, Uncle
Jim's children aud grand children returned
10 the United States. Five years ago, at
The age of 100, Jim could do light chores,
but subsisted mostly by contributions from
the citizens, but for tho past two years,
not icing able to walk, he remains for the
most part in his little jacal, his wants
being supplied by his generous neighbors.
from walking, but yet he has sufficient
strength in MS arms to drag himself
short distance-fifty yards or more.