The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-19

TEEN y EAR-OID Sp+>s
classes Of citizens. John Redcross died
about 1861, at the house Of Tarlton johns
on the summit OF Bear mountain ire
viOus 10 the late war. these people were
isolated and practically shut out from
contact and Intercourse with the OUTSIDE
world. owing to the fact that their color
precludcd intercourse with the whites,
who were the land and slave owners, ana
they on The other hand held themselves
above the slaves In this way there seem
ed so be 30 place for them, and no pro-
vision i'm the law for such a race as 10
schools as there IS now. and to some eN-
tent they were cut off from church pri-
vileCes. The state law forbid the as
sembling Of colored people unless spe-
cially permitted by the county court ana
under control OF the whites, who had 70
be present. Indignantly rejecting the
idea that they had African blood ana
scorning the term Of free niggefs' but
earnestly 10 this day claiming to be pure
Indians, they could not enter the white
churches and disdained to worship with
the slaves, they became for the time. as
they really were. a separate aud distinct
race and colony, and remained so until
a few years before the late war II IS
greatly 10 their credit that under such
peculiar circumstances they did not be-
come a settlement Of thieves ana muir
dercrs and their colony hiding place
for fugitives from justice. Shut out ana
hidden I'm the little coyes OF Bear noun
tain, where hunting and fishing. gambilhg
and drinking amongst the bucks was
the Sabbath amusement, without schoois
and a gospel. and where mo sabbath
heavenly light" ever came for p
years. couT1 anything else have
been expected but heathenism? Strange
az II may seem it was not the case but
a now era was about 10 dawn on them
FOR in the year 1888. the late Judge Samuel
ii. Henry and col. Thomas Whitehead.
one a lay preacher in the Baptist Church
and the other a class leader in the
Methodist Church. South, determined 10
obtain from the county court Of Amherst
permission 10 use tie courthouse on Sun
day afternoons for preaching TO the
slaves, and using for that purpose one
Addison Washington. an eloquent negro
preacher, a slave, born orator gllted
i'm prayer They commenced religious
services and had large and successful
meetings. which soon were noised about
i'm the county During this period one
day these evangelists, Henry and White
head. Of whom it was sometimes SAID
by narroW-mudel people Of that day
were moving ahead OF the times In which
they lived, received a message from
the Indian settlement from all old woman,
saving she lived there and had children
living i'm the colony; that she was old and
that her life was coming 10 close that
sre has not heard the gospel preached
nor hymns sung for - years; she had
been a member Of the Methodist Church
at Rocky Seats now SMYRNA, from 1890
10 1885: that the white people had as
serted that her people the Indians. were
"free niggers" aud must sit with the
slaves IN seats provided for them. That
this move offended the Indians. who
LETT. vowing they would never enter a
church again, but size felt a great desire
30 hear the gospe. preached once more,
and begged that singing and prayer be
had at her house.
HEARD THE GOSPEL.
They compiled with her request and
appointed 4 day for preaching. a few
| DAYS after this her son returned and said
| that they had built an arhor with seats
! and a stand Tor preaching IN the Indian
reserve. lie stated that many OF them
/ had never heard prayer, hymn or the
/ Scriptures read, because they We're stead
! lastly kept the vows their fathers had
made. These men preached according 10
| their promise, carried on their meetings.
| had revival service. buried the dead and
established a joint church In when Henry
procured a Baptist minister 10 immerse
those who preferred that mode, ana
whitehead brought the Methodist minis
ter TO those who preferred the Methodist
Church. and thus it continued until the
! war carried the oNausclists into the Con
! federate army. soon after the WAT Nne
| Northern Methodist Church sent TO them
| one l.. W. loarcc. preacher, VINO re-
| mained with them for one year, ana
after he left the Rev. W. c. Clements
| OF the Northern Methodist Church, came
| ana remained three years, collecting Il
! congregation and starting the building
| of a church. but bis death from heart
disease put an end 20 his labors' In the
last TWO years the Rev. j. w. Johnson,
or the Baptist Church. colpOrter, has
preached to them and In his work has
been assisted by Mr. 5. II. Walkup, an
elder IN the Presbyterian Church. and
the teacher Of the public school FOR them.
IL Is evident that much good IS being
done by these gentlemen. Here Is to-day
an opportunity for The indian achooi al
Hampton. 10 accomplish great good
amongst the IS descendants OF these ori
! einal Indian settlers There are a number
OF bright youths amongst them' VINO
would gladly welcome the chance 10 gel
an education al the Hampton school, and
who would In a few years return nome
to lit their people TO higher plane
moral and religious life. Let this good
work begin at once. and let the neglect
and the errors Of the past, that were
born Of prejudice AGAINST these sons ol
the forest. be wiped ont and forgotten.
SURVIVOR % YEARS OLD.
one OF the sons Of William JOINS, Char
les Johns, was a soldier In the war o.
1872 and during the late war many o
their young men were drafted and car
ried to Petersburg and Richmond. L
work on the Confederate fornhcatlons
From another son Of william johns VIM
, Il. Johns. born the 18Th February l'9J
now living on the farm OF Mr. Adoiphu
Coleman. have been enabled 10 &c
, much information about their history
and TO verify much that l had aieau.
| heard about them. ou recent NiSi1 !.
! him, while / noted down his answers
my questions in my memorandum doom
| glanced al this man OF nlheiy-seVel
| wears. and az he stood before me VIII
his welldefned Indian color ana features
erect in form. with his white Jocks hahe
ing down TO his shoulders, OF
| relic Of the past, standing on inc thfes
hold OF the 2Jth' century. a represents
tive OF a race soon to be numbered WIZ
, ire things that were" / was forciDiy II
minded Of Campbclis Last Man
II saw a vision In my sleep
: That gave my spirit strength 10 sweep
I | Adown the gulf OF time'
| saw the last Of human mouln
That shall creations death behold
AS Adam saw her prime
EDGAR WHITEHEAD.