Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-01-06
STRANGER THAN FICTION
The Remarkable Career Of William Ia
Port Wealthy Negro.


= To,,fy c1,l,.- r,,.,,,,,.,.,t. V-illian,
r., part ~ irl. PCT Ark who *
hnilIf,,, ~. ca,,.., p sn,i,b C,lleea
ra- cgl,-,.,I ,.c,..o.rs 4, S.1olio Ma b,.
nod /. .,.,n,rl,,l,la l,i.torv n * Of
,nt.r.s, nm merely IN ,g,onnt If I'm.
limit. l,,,,,rt.. ,rbfcb entar 81,
'.,.,r,. INTO =, t,,,t ho,,,,.. n ep,,odias
a., h..t tr,jts ~ t,o nooro ,.h,,,,.,.r
,,,1 r,,,,i.I.... ,,,.I.fn,, iIlu.tr,tion If
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t,.,, lil,n ,,r.. n,..n ,,.b,.n ono * saap,-
I, ,,,,. ',...,,,a,di,, ,,.ir1, m tbo odd.
,os,ir,,+ I,4,n Ana ,,.htIa n recalls tba
,ii.,.n...i,,., c,a,,.o - t,,.,,no ,,.binr
ooo,o r.. NAM. a., so,,tbe,., FAMILY as Tho
roln,t ~ M. .i,-iI .ysr tbn n,slan-
,toI,. ,,i,,,.,, T.. ,.oIio,.n.i IN. ~, eybiI,.
ion ~ ,,o..u.,pi,,it, ,ybi.b bonnilv
knows no color.
IA Port was born in slavery about
the year 1873, and was the property OF
a family by the name of GIBSON. who
were among the French exilcs who
sought home in the United States,
They resided in Arkansas, in the
vicinity Of what has since been known
as De Witt. The father of la Port
was q high-spiritcd negro, who was
quick to assert his manhood He was
Industrious and capable aud responded
fully to the kindly treatment of his
master But he would never submit
10 harshnrSS and cruelty, and only a
food would attempt to drive instead of
lead such Il person In this instance
the fool was not wanting During the
absence of his master and in violation
Of the latter's implicit Instructions. the
overSccr severely whipped the elder
Ia Port for some trivial offence, and
he paid the penalty Of this mistake
with his life The enraecd slave killed
him. ran away. and was rover helrd
Of again.
NJ, ,a,,, .,r,,,. hi. s,ti.,,.. di.,n,.,.,r
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80 -, -, ,o4,,,,,, =. Ma n,,stoI
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,,,aI,fr.. t7s. ,,..,,. tI,ro,,,rI, tLi,l.at. ana
-. ,,I 1,.,,. daI5.. ma r,,,f,.,
-, -, ,,h.i.ti,,a. Nm ,,.hat
-. ~ ILL al $3.50 oy,o..,. ,,;,.,,t.
-. Ill. a.. IL ~. ~
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t,,,.ar., f,.a,,, ,,.hioh ,st,. ~. .o.,,,.,1
-, - >-,,,,, vi, ID. ,,,I;,,.
ono dg,, ~ tha yyb,rr
~ .a,. saro,.,, Ttolian CIal,qron who
- .,,,,,,+ -, ,,,,,Io,.l, nm ono ~ Tho
-, .,n.1 ,,,, i,o,,oy, g,,,o. ;l,,,,,,., t,or,
~, =, - ~, 49,, ,,o;,.e n is
t,,,,.-..,,.,l 81 ;,,,+ ~ ~ ,ir,o tbo
~, ~ thoeo nh,llror ,,-,. ryo,otiat.
i,,,, ,,.;tI, Az, tiol,,t ,.ror.t ca, mo ,,se
80, 80 M, e,n,l,. ~ +,,as, ~ >.
i,,r-,,,,ol no acont noi,,+inr ~ mo
80, 80 lh;Idror mo It,1ior ro,,lin1
IN, no 9tiir,,,,ti,-a and di1 not discnve,,
neil ST.. no hod mil his noncy ami
ms ar go, tb9t thn aoant thromoh a
,,isa,,n.ohonsion bo5 included The no
ono !, tho na,.tv Ia port aItbourb
10 ,t,1 NOT l-,,o,,, min oeta,.,y,rd of tbis
,,is+al,o fol1oyyad tha children on hoard
tha shin honinc nat sonetbirc wopIl
l,o,r,,r ~ onorlo hin, r., ra,nain thcro
W., tho TtaIion Ie.,,.r.o. ,,-,ot bo5 a.
c,,,ro1 no tnol, thn ,oot+a,, cood M.
tn,.o,1l,, ana ,,ado no trorlla for hin,
Win ninola5 roolin.ss Ia Port bneon
no vo,ora TTe had matlred ronidIv
,,,.,a- tho ovnarianoas thro,,clYs 1,,biob
H.. had ,.acnltIv r,ossa,l md his
,b,,,.,rts +,,,.na1 honafulIv toward %av
Nh. pr+ ON tho nlon+ation from
which bn had f,aa wore his mother and
sf.t,.r on5 altbonob no v,os horn nm
,,a,, . system that was notorious for III