The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-06-03
"DaRLINc NELLIE GREY"
The History of Once Very Popular
Ballad-The Author Neglected.

There are few persons who know
the origin of that beautiful and ever
enduring little song, 80 My Darling
Nellie Grey" or the circumstances
under which it was written. The song
was written year or two before the
late war and the author of the words
and composer of the music was a
Young school-teacher named Benjamin
r. Harnby. Harnby was an instructor
in struggling little academy at Seven
Mile, Butler county. He was also
preacher and to some extent musician,
and an abofitionist with fiery hatred
for everything connected with the
slavery of the blacks.
The tender, passionate little song
that afterward became so famous was
conceived, outlined and almost COM
pleted on the way to Cincinnati from
Hamilton one afternoon. says corre-
spondent of the Cincinnati Times Star.
The inspiration came from a Cincin-
nati paper which Harnby had acci-
dentally picked up and which con-
tanned an account of the manner in
which beautiful young quadroon girl
had been torn away from her slave
lover and carried to the Southern
market stalls to be sold at auction.
The uuadroon's name was Nellie Grey.
The account filled Harnby with horror,
and he utilized the incident in his song,
which was almost completed by the
time he reached his destination. Up
on his return home he remodeled it
to certain extent and applied few
finishing touches. 1t is evident that he
didA't appreciate the possibilities of the
production, for he let it lie around a
while and then sent it to Oliver Ditson
& Co., Chicago, with note to the
effect that if they saw anything in the
song they might publish it. He re-
! ceiYed no reply, and the first intima-
ton he had of the fact that it had been
published and had met with a splendid
reception was six months later while
l visiting young lady acquaintance al
Columbus, Ohio. He requested her te
sing for him. and she complied, saying
3 she would sing him sweet little song
1 she had just received, and which, she
4 4 remarked, had by strange coincidence
I been written by person with the
5 same name as his. She thereupor
: proceeded. much to Harnby's surprise
+ to sing Nellie Grey
!. The song made a hit as soon as pub
lished and experienced remarkable
q run, the publishers made small for
s tune off of it, but somehow overlooked
e Harnby in the division of the proceeds
In fact, they even neglected to SEN
him copy of the song until he wrot
for it, and then they sent him six. Thi
is all the pay he ever got.
Harnby came of musical family
His father was compiler of Unite
Brethren hymn-book, which is still i
use in some places, and he had severs
brothers and sisters who were ais
, musically inclined. Harnby himse
! composed number of songs, sewers
of which were afterwards published, bu
e Nellie Grey is the only one which re
! ceived remarkable reception. 1t ha
been translated into several foreig
= languages and known and loved a
:, over the world for its sweetness an
tenderness of sentiment. Harnby die
few years after the war, in obscurit
:. and poverty, as he had lived all b
; life. The fact that he was the Harnh
. that wrote Nellie Grey" was know
l to none save a few intimate friend
He lies in the cemetery at the plat
: of his birth-Westerville, a sma
), village about twelve miles north
} Columbus, Ohio. His grave is marke
q q by no sign of distinguishment. III
u green sward is his only tombstone, Il
y sweet song which has blessed Thousand
- of hearts is his monument.