The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-17
LITTLE AFRICA lfl KENTUCKY.
The Fate of the Negro Colony Started by
Major Bibb Fifty Years Ago.

The Fate of the Negro Colony Started by
Major Bibb Fifty Years Ago.
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. Ii has often been said OF the
better element Of this primitive civilization
that the society Of which il formed the nu-
cleus was the best on earth. The
Kentuckians relgiously believe this, and,
! II must be admitted, not without
some reason. \ gentleman Of this city,
now an aged, respected, Successful business
man, who. spent bis youth In Kentucky
''clearin'.- 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 said he,
1.-THE men managed their business affairs
with skill; they were yersed IN politics ana
students of the principles of government.
They could shoot, hunt, ride horseback,
write poetry and make speeches. The
women were well educated and physically
| strong and beautiful. They understood
| classic literature, and could play chess with
the finest players in the country"
Nearly all these pioneers were slayehold-
ers, but Notwithstanding this fact there was
( a strong and respected element in favor Of
| HDDiIilOn. lltHt IllCll were StiOH- III lut
| faith of their fathers. and they thought ii
was wrong to hold property in human
beings. Again, they were staunch support
ers of the law, and not infrequently found
themselves in perplexing dilemmas. There
are numerous instances where they freed
their slaves and sent them to Africa, be-
cause. under the ''new constitution 1t 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 cOl0ni-
ZatiOn of the negroes, a stanch and consist
emf supporter of which was Major Richard
| Bibb. He died at Russellyille, ny, in
| 1889. and my reason for mentioning him
particularly is that he left monument
| that has Outlasted him. He was bold
enough to practice the doctrine he pr0mul-
gated. He freed his slaves aud pro-
yided for their colonization. a por-
ton of them were sent to Africa.
and the rest were settled on two
tracts of land IN Logan county, KY, one
about six miles from Russellyille, the other
near Homer, little country hamlet The
two latter colonies still exist, aud 1t was to
the former and larger of the two that the
writer made visit not long since. lie was
so much interested in the colony as throw
ing some light on a problem that is now be-
ing discussed that he took occasion TO hunt
up the records in the county clerks Office
and among other papers read Major BlOb.s
| will, under the provisions Of which the col
Ony was established.
The will, i'm brief. provided that his tifty
| two slaves be at his death set free. Such
as had wives or husbands belonging to
others than the testator should remain in
Kentucky; the rest should be sent To At
rica. Five thousand dollars in cash was
left TO be expended for the benefit OF these
slaves. They were also 10 have all the
crops raised on the farm Of the deceased in
the year of his death, together with the
| cattle, horses aud farming implements on
hand, and all has wild land in Logan and
GraysOn counties. such as were hired oui
should have the proceeds Of their labor for
one year, one OF the slaves, Il mechanic
living in Russellyile, 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 50.
Major Jack Bibb, as he was popularity
known, was a son Of Major Richard Bibb,
and one Of the executors under the will. lie
died few years ago al Frankfort, Ky, at the
advanced age Of ninety-iour years, and dur
Ing his lie lac saw that the provisions Of the
bill was adhered to.
A colony Of the slaves were sent 10 Ii
berla with their portion Of the bequests, and
| the others were scttlee on the wild lands in
| Logan county. Cabins were built for the
latter. farming implements and horses ard
cows, and in fact everything necessary for
| the pioneer farmer was furnished them,
and the taxes were paid for them on their
| land for forty years, The taxes were paid
/ Of ba ftfnA 90 l. fnair old A.
long ~ ii lasted, aud then by Major Jacob
! Bibb till a year or two before his death. In
| 1873, after a tutelago OF thirty-iNe years.
Major Bibb divided the land and decided IN
seyeralty TO the freed men or their descend
ants. though for several years longer he
continued 10 pay taxes for them.
The African colony was never heard from
but once. \ negro preacher, old Cain, as
| he was called, who went to Africa as a
missionary very many years ago, visited
| Logan county few years before the war.
| lie saws he understood the colony never did
any good, though he had never seen bun one
of its members. That was IA woman who
! had lapsed back into a state Of barbarlty.
| she wore little or no clothes, and mad almost
forgotten her name and how To talk.
But to return 10 the colony near Russell
vile. II is located on "A tract Of betw en-
800 and 900 acres OF land, and is called Bibb
town. though it is not a town, but Il cOun-
/ try settlement. The original slaves are.
was informed, all dead, and most Of the
! little tumble-dOw cabins are occupied by
| their daughters and descendants, who have
married negro men of different blood. The
tract Of land is rolling and picturesque,
| covered with the primeyal forest. ard tur-
nished "A residence for population OF pro-
baby seyenty-tye men, women and chill
| dren.
The traveller who wanders into this
strange settlement may well imagine. as he
sees the faces Of little hali-clad pickanin-
nies dodgng and hiding behind trees and
bushes, that he has landed in somewhere
the heart Of Africa.
Around each little cabin there is a small
truck patch. Here and there the tinkling OF
| solitary cow bells may be heard, ana the
| rough, weather-beaten coats OF lew sOr-
rowful looking horses may be seen as the
poor beasts, with yokes upon their necks,
browse among the bushes. The grunting
OF few thrifty pigs, that subslst in good
| style on the abundant acorns and succulent
roots that grow on the borders Of the little
limpid brooks that cut the tract into "A
thousand fantastic forms. may be heard in
the underground. 4 prominent figure is
the snarlng, halfstarYed cur that is found
at every dOmicile,
The skins of the inhabitants are as black
as ebony. No Caucasian blood is visible.
The luxuriant growth Of ferns and trailing
vines and stately timbers give color to the
delusion that the scene is one Of the Trans
yaal The visitor is greeted with pleas
ant, curious smile, and every question is
an ,wered with pOliteness.
AS 10 how these people live, / was in
formed that they had never made an effort
10 subdue the forest or 10 ''plant the will
derness.v No complaint was made against
| them except as TO their utter shittlessness.
/