Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-16

slaves of the plantation, and to her was
born son, who was to occupy prominent
place among his race She was of Indian
origin, her mother being of full blood. and
coming from a tribe of close relationship
to the famous Pocahontas.
Capt. QuarleS was not believer in the in
stitutIon of slavery, and as early as 1906
he set Lucy and her daughter Maria, at
that time her only child, at liberty Suisse
quently three other children, sons We're
born. John Mercer LaEgston being the
youngest The owner of the plantation was
said 10 be the father of all the children.
Capt. Quarles provided for the Langstons
in his will.
Receives His Freedom.
John was in his fourth year when his
Parents died. At an early age he and his
brothers left the old plantation, with the
evidences of their freedom, for Ohio. Col.
VIM. D. Gooch had promised the master
that he would care for and educate the
boy John. which he did. One of the daugh-
tiers of Col. Gooch's family undertook his
education, and he made rapid progress with
his studies. When eight years of age he
was placed in a school. Later he went to
school in Cincinnati, where he remained
during two years. In 1874 he entered Ober-
lin College. Upon graduating, he wished
to study law, but found considerable diff
Guilty in securing admittarce to law
school on account of his color. He finally
studied law and theology together, being
the first colored student to enter a theo-
logical school in the United States. In
1854 he admitted to the bar under the
laws of Ohio.
His health being bad when he finished
his studies he purchased a farm in Lorain
county. Ohio. where he located and remain
ed couple of years. While there he as
sisted in conducting law cases with consd-
cradle success. On one occasion he con-
Quoted case with such great skill that
clients came to him in number. and he be-
lxy tn1,l iS1n
attorney. Shortly afterward Mr.. Langston
married a North Carolina lady, who had
been reared in Ohio and educated at ODER
lin College.
An Ardent AbOlitiOnist.
Mr.. Langston early in life became an
ardent and able advocate of the abolition
of slavery, his speeches attracting much
attention. AS the war drew nearer Mr..
Langston was more and more energetic in
advancing anti-Slavery sentiment. When
the civil strife opened he entered vigor-
ously upon the recruitment of the 54th
Massachusetts Regiment, and through his
efforts 5000 OR more men were sent to Mas
sachusetts from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois,
where they were enlisted
After his work in this connection he
made his first visit to this city to see Pres
ident Lincoln. He was appointed general
inspector of the bureau of refugees, freed
men and abandoned lands. in which ca
pacity he served with credit. His duties
caused him to visit many portions of the
south, and at times the labor imposed was
quite arduous-
Founder of n University.
1t was Mr.. Langston who founded anu
organized the law department of Howard
University, and he was made its acting
president President Grant appointed him
a member of the board of health of the
District Of Columbia In 1871. Later he was
appointed minister resident and consul gen.
eral to Haiti. Upon the conclusion of his
diplomatic service Mr.. Langston was made
president of the Virginia Normal and Col
legiate Institute. He was nominated as q
representative to the Fifty-first Congress
from Virginia, and his campaign was a re-
markable one. The election resulted in a
contest for Mr.. Langston's seat but he was
admitted to the House of Representatives
where he delivered a number of speeches
and made a creditable record. He was
unanimously renominated for Congress by
a popular republican conference. held at
Petersburg. although the republican con-
gressional committee OF the fourth district
had refused TO call the regular nominating
convention; but he felt that the party OBJ
stacles and prejudices to be encountered
were SO great that his campaign could
hardly result in success He was again
nominated for the Fffty-third Congress-, but
declined the nomination.
During the later years Of his life Mr..
Langston occupied a pretty Swiss. cottage
in the neighborhood Of Howard University,
just north Of this city. The widow, two
sons and q daughter, referred to- consti-
tuted his family, his eldest child dying
during his residence at Oberlin, Ohio.
The Decorations Mt Guides show
will give you an idea OF his ability to do
your decorating for weddings. etc. 1924 F.
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