The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-04-23
ABE THE BUNTER.
A Negro Whose Head Was Hard
or Than q Grindstone.
Ic Is a Century Old Yet Continues to
Utilize his Sturdy Skull as Batter
ini, Tsam--A Review of Ills

It may be an open question, writes q
Williamstown correspondent Of the Bos-
ton Globe, who is tho best-known man
in the vicinity, President Franklin Car
ter of Williams college or Abram Par
SONS, better known as "Abe the Bunter."
Certain it is that Abe is known to
thousands and that his fame is fully
earned. 1t was no scratch hit or lucky
bunt that gave Abe place in the inches
of fame The Lord was kind to Abe in
giving him an unusually thick skull and
o horn about On inch long on the frontal
bone, but he has developed the talent
given him and has made the most of
his opportunities
Abe the Bunter is an exceedingly jolly
old negro, who lives in the part Of this
town known as White Oaks, and claims
that he was 104 years old last 4th Of
July.
The story of the old negro runs like
this: His first recollcctions were those
of a pickaninny on plantation in
South Carolina. His masters name was
McInster. There Abe lived until he
was IA years old, as he thinks.
Up to the time Of his sale as slave
from the auction block, together with
his mother and three sisters, his most
vivid recollections are OF trials of bunt-
ing with young ram. The ram would
take a position, lower his head, and
with burst of speed start for Abe,
wLo always met the ram half way, the
two heads coming together with great
force, but the ram, as Abe tells 1t, ives
always beaten.
By the sale Abe was separated from
his relatives, and sold, ss he thinks, to
Stephen Miller, OF Claverack, N. Y.
Here he staid for five years, and then
ran away and went to Sheffield, Conn.,,
where he worked for James Curtis as o
house servant. In running away from
Miller he was pursued by dogs, and es-
capped only after killing one.
From Sheffield Abe went 10 Old Stock
bridge, where he lived for . number Of
years, working for Gen. Williams, the
Carriers, Bradleys, Brewers, Crosbys,
Cashier Adams and Maj. Burril, all Of
whom are now dead. Long before the
war he located in Williamstown, where
he has, worked for many people. Boys,
! since he came here, have become gray
haired men.
All the past years he had continued
bunting, until he was confident that
nothing less than a blow from trip
hammer or q pile-driver would break
his skull.
The first act, however, that brought
him fame occurred many years ago.
Abe was then living over blacksmith
shop on Water street. In the night he
was awakened by an alarm Of fire, and
getting out on the street found that
Harvey Coles store was on fire. The
door was locked, the key was missing
and, at the suggestion Of q Mr.. Powers,
Abe went at it head Arst and after re-
peated attacks it yielded.
This gave Abe great prestige stock
in trade, SO to speak; but with the con-
fidence thus acquired he passed on to
greater victories.
1t came about In this way: Abe and
his wifc's brother were st South Win
Jamestown one day and they found
Farmer Blake having trouble with a
two-year old bull that he wanted to
kill. The bull was In an inclosure and
paving the turf in great shape, and, by
his almost human believing, asking for
some one to swing Q red cloth IN front
Of him.
Abe offered to mako the bull lower
his colors, but took big drink OF cider
brandy before he began the sct He
then entered the inclosure against the
earnest protestations Of Farmer Blake,
who asked Abe among other things:
"Are you dashed fool enough TO 60 In
there with that wild bull throwing dirt,
with nothing to kill him with?"
1t was another case Of David and
Goliath. The big bull and Abe both
bunted, and while Abe was shaken bad
ly the bull was stunned 50 that his
throat was cut forthwith. Abe does
not say so, but doubtless the cider
brandy was called upon to assist In the
celebration that followed.
Then the students tempted Abe to
show his prowess to them. He was
bindfolded and something placed in q
bag. Then the bandage was removed
and he was told that If he could break
the contents of the bag by bunting his
head against it valuable present
would be given him. The contents Of
the bag proved to be a big cheese, and
Abe had no difficulty in smashing 1t.
He was then blindfolded again, and it
was assumed that another cheese HAD
been placed in the bag, but instead q
big grindstone, an inch and half in
thickness, was substituted.
The first bunt failed to shatter it, but
Abe, realizing that his reputation was
at stake, went at it again and broke it
into four pieces ''wid my nigger-head.
For this act he was given five dollars
In money, two big cheeses, two pounds
Of tobacco and assurances from the
college boys that If he was sick as a re-
sult OF the grindstonc act he should be
well cared for, but he was able to work
as usual the following day and expert
enced no trouble whatever from the