The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-18
LITTLE AFRICA IN KENTUCKY.
The Fate OF the Negro Colony Started
by Mai Bib Fifty Years Ago.
E5,on, the Nosb,,ftLe 4msrjcou

rFOH1 utS AQSNCtttc AMERICAN.
In the first settlement of Kentucky many
of the original families were wealthy. Most
of them were from Virginia, and in their
veins coursed the best blood Of the Anglo
Saxon race. 1t has often been said of the
letter element of this primitive civilization
that the society of which it formed the
nucleus was the best on earth Tue Ken
tuckians religiousIy believe this, aud, it
must be admitted, not without some reason.
A gentleman OF this city, now an aged,
respected and successful business man,
who spent his youth in Kentucky
''cearin'," recently said of the old men and
women whom he knew in boyhood that
they represented the highest type of physical
and mental development. why sa he,
1.-THE men managed their business affairs
with skill; they were versed in politics and
students of the principles of government.
They could shoot, hunt, ride horseback,
write poetry and make speeches. The
women were also well educated and physi-
cally strong and beautiful. They under
stood classic literature, and could play
chess with the finest players in the country"
Nearly all these pioneers were slavehold-
ers. but Notwithstanding this fact there was
a strong and respected element in favor of
abolition. These men were strong in the
faith of their fathers, and they thought it
was wrceg to hold property in human be-
lngs. Again, they were stGnch support
ers of the law, and not infrequently found
themselves in perpexing dilemmas. There
are numerous instances where they freed
their slaves and sent them to Africa, be-
cause, under the new constitution" it was
illegal TO free slaves in Kentucky. There
are Instances where, rather than accept
freedom at such price, the negroes would
remain in bondage.
There was an element in favor of coloni-
zation of the negroes, a staunch and con-
sistent supporter of which was Maj. Richard
Bibb. He died at Russellville, KY, in
1885, and my reason for mentioning him
particularly is that he left monument
that has outlasted him. He was bold
enough to practice the doctrine that he
promulgated He freed his slaves and pro-
vided for their colonization. A portion of
them were sent to Africa, and the rest were
settled on two tracts Of land in Logan
county, Kentucky, one about six miles from
Russellville, the other near Homer, little
country hamlet The two latter colonies
still exist and it was to the former and
larger of the two that the writer paid a visit
not long SINCE He was SO much interested
in the colony as throwing some light on a
problem that is now being discussed that
be took occasion to hunt up the records in
the county clerks office, and among other
papers read MAJ. Bibb's WILL under the pro-
visions of which the colony was estab-
lished.
The will, in brief provided that his fifty
two slaves be at his death set free. Such as
had wives or husbands belonging to others
than the testetor should remain in Ken
lucky, the rest should be sent to Africa.
Five thousand dollars in cash was left to be
expended for the benefit of these slaves.
They were also TO have all the crops raised
on the farms OF the deceasedin the year of
his death, together with the cattle, horses
and farming implements on hand, aud all
his wild lands in Logan and Grayson coun-
ties. Such as were hired out should have
the proceeds Of their labor for one year.
| One of the slaves, a mechanic, living in
Russelyille. was to have his house, lot and
tools. ...
The property was to remain in the hands
| of the executors of the will, to be used for
| the benefit of the slaves and to be given to
them absolutely when, in their Judgment,
| it was best TO do So
Mai. Jack Bib, az he was popularity
known, was a son of Maj. Richard Bib,
and one of the executors under the will.
| He died few years ago at Frankfort,
| Ky, at the advanced age of "a years. and
| during his life he saw that the provisions OF
the bill were adhered to.
A colony of the slrves were sent to Liberia
| with their portion Of the bequest, and the
| others were So tied on the wild lands In
| Logan county. Cabins were built for the
latter, farming implements and horses and
| cows, and in fact, everything necessary for
! the pioneer farmer was furnished them,
| and the taxes as paid for them on their
land for forty years. The taxes were paid
| out of the fund left by their old master as
| long as it lasted, and then by Maj. Jack
| Bib till year or two before his death. In
1873, after tutelege of thirty-dve years,
Mai. Bib divided the land and decided it
! in severalty to the freedmen or their de-
scendants, though for several years longer
he continued to pay taxes for them.
The African colony was never heard of
but once. A negro preacher. old Cain, as
he was called, who went to Africa as a
missionary very many years ago, visited
| Logan county a few years before the war.
| He says he understood the colony never did
any good, though he had never seen but one
| of it's members. That was a woman who
had lapsed back into a state of barbarity.
| She wore little or no clothes and had al
| most forgotten Ter name and how to talk.
But to return TO the colony near Russell
vile. 1t is located on a tract of between
eight and nine hundred acres OF land, aud
| is called Bibb Town though it is not town
but a country settlement. The original
| slaves are. | was informed, all dead, and
most of the little tumble-down cabins are
| occupied by their daughters and descend
ants. who have married negro men of differ.
ent blood. The tract Of land is rolling and
picturesque, covered with the primeval for
est. and furnishes residence for popula-
ton Of probably seventy-five men, women
and children.
The traveller who wanders into this
strange settlement may well imagine, as be
sees the faces OF little halt-clad pickaninnies
lodging and hiding behind trees and bushes
that he has landed in somewhere the heart
| of Africa.
Around each little cabin there is small
truck patch; here and there the tinkling OF
solitary COW bells may be heard, and the
rough weather-beaten coats of few sor-
rowful looking horses may be seen as the
poor beasts, with Jokes upon their necks
browse among the bushes. The granting
of few thrifty pigs, that subsist in gooc
style upon the abundant ac0rns and succu-
lent roots that grow on the borders OF the
little limpid brook that cut the tract into 1
thousand fantastic forms, may be heard in
the underground. A prominent figure Il
the snarling, half-starved cur that Is founc
In every dom Gle.
The skins of the inhabitants are as blacl
as ebony. No Caucasian blood is visible
The luxuriant growth of ferns and trail ne
vines and stately timbers give color to th'
delusion that the scene is one Of the Trans
vaal. The visitor is greeted with pleasant
curious smile, and every question