Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-08-16
Jeff Davis Slave.

According to Washington CORE
spondent, the wealthiest colored man
in the south since the war, who was
born slave and set free by the eman-
cipation proclamation, was Ben Mont
gomery, of Mississi ppi. He belonged
to Mr.. Joseph Davis first, and then to
Mr. jefferson Davis. For years before
the war he was the secretary OF Hon.
Joseph Davis, Jefferson Davis elder
brother. The Davises were large
planters and owned the "Hurricanes"
estate, consisting OF three great cotton
of Warren county, Miss, and about
eighteen or twenty miles below Nicks-
burg. There were between 1900 and
$1,000 acres OF the finest land on the
Mississippi river in these plantation S
and $50 slaves. All the letters respect
ing the business of these places for
thirty years were written by Ben Mont
gomery. He frequently went to New
Orleans on business Sor the Davises,
and carried with him once ninety thou
sand dollars in money. lie Travelled
with Mr.. Davis all over the north, and
could have run away fifty times had
he wished. But he remained faithful
and loyal to the last. The Davises
were noted for their kindness
to their slaves. They had
finer quarters" on their plantation
probably than any planter in the south,
excepting the Hamptons. They kept
physician always on their places.
and in every way cared for their ''coi-
| ored people," as slaves were frequently
called. When Mr.. jefferson Davis
and his brother Joseph left their
| homes, one as the President OF the
/ Southern Confederacy and the other as
a rigadier-General, they put every
thing under Ben Montgomery charge.
! He made the crops of 1S6l-62 and
! 1S62-63, about 5000 bales Of cotton,
and shipped il TO New Orleans and sold
it to foreign buyers for gold. This
money he carefully sent TO Mr.. Davis.
| In 1868, when the slaves were emanci-
pated, Mr. Davis sold the ''Hurri-
canes" to Ben Montgomery for $500,
! 600 in gold. 1t has been said that
this sale was only ruse to save these
splendid estates from coniiscation.
Whether this was true Or not, when
! the IeueIdl dEcuJS IOt JIc pIOlSNbiOi
of abandoned property and lands
came to take possession Of the Hurri-
canes they found Ben Montgomery
with title so strong and valid that 1t
could not be upset, and they left him
alone in peaceable possession.
After the war he continued to plant
these places with great success, max
ing every year from LOO to 1920
bales of cotton, besides an abundance
OF corn and hay. In 1874 or 1875, there
still being balance due on the pay
ments, Mr.. Davis took the property
back, but left Ben Montgomery in full
charge. These places yield n very
handsome annual income now to Mr..
Davis, who, though he prefers to live
on the Mississippi seashore at Beauvoir
yet visits his old home once n year and
spends few weeks with his friends OF
fifty years ago. AS have said, he was
very kind master and, therefore
whenever he goes back to his former
residence all the old-time Davis negroe:
within fifty miles around come to see
"Old Marse Jeff'' and have a great
time. When Ben Montgomery died,
in 1881, Mr.. Davis went up TO his fun
eral. and there was no sincerer mournei
than he who once had the fate of ;
people upon his shoulders at the grave
of his old and lifelong friend, though
| his slave.