New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-16

John Mercer IAnGston was born slave IN
IT.. co,r,v Va. in 1870 His father was Ralph
Ouarles a white man. belonging to one OF ..'e
wealthy and respectable families OF tho o'a po
rninion His mother was his fathers s'aNo' ""u
IN blood was a mixture OF Indian. Angio-saAoh unu
negro. Her name was Langston' ana ny ~"
ou.rIes had three sons named respectively gideon
ou.rl.s Charles Henry and John Mercer Langs-
ton Their father took great pride IN them' ana
ths older two received a good education iro" hin
own hands About the time John NJ Lahgs'oh was
Ave- years OF age hts father died. The latter now
aver had provided in his will for the freedom OF inc
Langs,on boys and the education OF mo youngest
A r.,phbor md firm friend OF Ralph |uar.es
named ". y. Gooch, had some time previous ~
tho death OF the former freed his slaves anu re-
moved TO Chillicoths. Ross County ONO ihe
EXECUTORS OF Ouarles's will determined that young
I,nr,ton should be sent TO ONO ana placed III 'ie
h,nd. OF this man TO receive proper education
Ue was sent and his brothers accompanied h'''
Mr. Gooch and family manifested great interest,"
in their ward, and In every way treated h''h d.
one Of tho family. ,, .
". continued with them until he was about ten
YEAR. old when Mr. Gooch concluded to dispose OF
hi, property In Onto ana remove to Missouri then
slave-hodnG sat- - 6oHbn s family, and when
questioned about going to Missouri at once my eN,
pressed desrs 70 assompsny Mr. d STsa wcrs
left aground before anSther county Inra Was sS
Wills thus delayed mb 5aey o Tsrs w 5G4n% 70
ane Snv NJ Gaoch on the charge OF kidnapping the
boy the warrant having been sworn on, ma pI ho
we're much averse TO his departure Allen T. IhH gar
P n asn s'f@$ sSs"t neS If.
tmri.dicion OF the court which had placed MN un,
der his (Ciooch's) guardianship; iou''s H""s
sc Solas there, and in fa entered oberln College
Alter passing through the pIpasuaieg from the
Theological department In lS2 re haa no n oriy
ton OF entering the clerical procession Eng no on
studied ,hso'sy to S%se as or o bar Not
being able to gain admission 10 reku'Nr n inv hs
town he was first admitted TO practice Ho had
IN" honor of being tho first OF his race to be ad-
mtted TO the bar In the West and the nrst to De
| the ofice being that OF clerk Of the Townships OF
Brownhelm and Russia. which he held from N'2
| lie practi.ed law successfully for twelve years
| In Ohio and was for eleven years member or the
| Oberlin Board of Education. When he left Oberin
npder der the AZURE Bureau OF Refugees freedmen and
abandoned Lands in which capacity he served
SvG p thu nr' South, RESTING ':s
OF white and coored people Wherever ne stopped
; hs al
him lie was elected vice-presdent and acting
| president OF the college. and had conferred upon
him the degree Of Doctor OF laws, ne served ioi
| for tho Board Of Health OF the District OF Column
In 1877 President Hayes appointed him United
States Minister and nsuGeneral to Hayti, which
office he retained for eight years. Upon ms return
| to this country he became president OF the VIZ
| burg. where he remained for three years, when he
| was elected TO the List Congress, and his seat was
S,sSa Once sas bee" prominent IN politics. but did not