Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-06-02
INVESTED In HIMSELF.
A SLAVES MAsTERLY sTRuo-
GLE FOR FREEDOM.
Having Bought Himself. He Set About
Purchasing Ills Wifc-Iife Story
of the Attorney Generals
Messenger.

Henry Coleman, the messenger OF
the attorney general since his original
appointment by Attorney General
Speed when. in 1864, the close friend
OF the great Lincoln became the head
OF the department OF justice. was a
truly remarkable man. Seventy-eight
years ago he was born in slavery in
Virginia. His owner was a French
man. states the Washington Post who
did not believe much in the peculiar
institution" Henry came to him
through Inheritance and was his only
slave.
When Henry reached what would
have been his legal majority had he
been white, his master gave him his
"timc''-that j.. while his master re-
tanned his legal title in Henry's body.
the chattcl was generously allowed to
hire himself out TO call whatever
money he could earn his own, al
though his master could have. hal he
been SO disposed. appropriated it to
his own use and not let his chattel
have a cent Of it.
Henry came here as SO many of
all sorts and conditions OF men
and women, too. for that matter
haze done since old John Adams
moved the government lice down
here in pursuance of the little deal
fixed up between Thomas Jefferson
and Alexander Hamilton Here he
obtained employment at Browns hotel,
now the Metropolitan. as waiter
His wages were small as character
lstlc OF walters wages the world over
but his tips were frequent and often
times generous the patrons OF Browns
being then. as the Metropolitan's are
now, Southerners and in those DAYS
the Southcrnors had money to throw
away and many Of them accomplished
that end. Henry had forethought. and
that made him forehanded. He was
ambitious 10 be free. He wanted TO
own himself.
BY hard and faithful work. aided
by the most scrupulous economy, he
attained his desire and one day he
strobe the earth free man. At last
he was not compelled to address any
man as master He had saved up
5000 of his own hard earnings and
turned the whole amount over to the
man whom the law called his master.
Yet his master did not act ungener-
ously toward him. Valuing his chat
tel at 81. 400, and ne could have got at
least that much for him in the slave
market. he accepted smaller sum
by $500 Practically this was a con-
tribution of that amount. Henry
was always proud that he was regard
ed as so valuable. In fact all slaves
who were held at high valuation
found n source of pride in that fact
The purchase of himself was not
the only investment in slave property
that Henry Coleman made. While a
slave he had married, and his wife
was still held in bondage. He de-
termined that she should be free
woman as he was free man. To
accomplish this noble end he worked
harder than ever and economized vet
more closely. 1t was big task he
had set himself, as his wife's master
held her at 81, 900, and allowed no re-
bate or discount Oft for cash. After a
little more than five years OF toll and
saving he was able to produce the
money and to buy his wife.
lac buying of wives is not alto.
gether unknown in the highest
circles OF society. but the transaction
is usually yelled under polite forms
and elegant ceremonies. This was @
bold transaction, in which q spade
was called n spade. There was no
more pretense OF sentiment on the
selling side than if the chattel +. had
been COW instead of woman. The
money was paid over i'll hard cash and
a bill OF sale given in the most
matter. of-fact way. Thus did Henry
Coleman become the sowner'' of this
own wife.
He continued as waiter in the
hotel until. in 1862, he was an
pointed to place as laborer in the
postolice department lie owed
this place to Judge Speed, upon
whom he had waited at table and
with whom he was q favorite. He re-
manned in this department. until
Judge Speed became attorney general,
two years later. when he was made
messenger to that gentleman.
This position he held until his
death. through all the changes OF
men and parties in the department of
justice. His salary was not OF the
princely order being only $3.50 a
year. But he had learned the lesson
of taking care of his pennies, and
they soon grew into dollars. Having
q good head for business, he turned
his money over as fast as it could be
safely done. His favorite permanent
investments were district bonds and
real estate. So shrewdly did he man
age his financial matters that hi,
estate Is estimated at about $50 600 4
All Caused by Spelling.
The Buffalo Express tells how a Ger.
<1Sv II