Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-02-04
where defaultins

part of Lexington, where defaultins
tenants are the rule.
1t is generally said that Clark is thu
original of Mrs. Stoves George Harris
and from the old mans story this
seems to be true. Other features n,
the book he disclaims all Responsibilities
for. About the use of bloodhounds fo,
tracking slaves, he says: "The ola
Kentucky gentlemen kept packs oil
hounds, but they were used only FL,
fox hunting. Bloodhounds may hay.
been used along the border line, but
never heard of them anywhere else "
The old man has kindly thought
for the old~time slave owners, as he
says; "a great many Of them were
kind to their negroes and made them
have better time than they have ever
had since the war, but some of these
masters were cruel, and it was these
who caused all the trouble
Clark was born in 1911 in Madison
county, Ky, on the Old Campbell plan.
tation. When he was six years ola
Mrs. Campbell gave him to her mar
ried daughter, and the next ten years
of his life were happy ones Then the
husband of his mistress failed in bus.
mess, and all the negroes on the es-
tate Were sold at public auction At
Stamford Court House, Lincoln county
His new master was Thomas Cana
da, who according to Clark. was very
mean. One of his slaves, Sam Peat
was the original of Mrs Stoves Uncle
Tom. Peat committed some offense
and was beaten so severely that he
died. Clark was one of the pallbear-
ers at Sans funeral, and greatly re-
GREETED the death of his friend.
Soon after the old man Canada died
and all the slaves passed into the pos
session of his son, Tom Canada. on
the latter Clark says: mo man was
ever kinder to his slaves than young
Tom Canada" 1t was at this point
of his career that Clark developed
some mechanical genius by inventing
a machine for weaving flax. When his
master heard OF it he told Clark that
he could work out for other people and
when he had saved $500 he could buy
his freedom, although he was worth
s1,500.
Mrs. Stowe, to whom Clark had told
this had his prototype. Harris, ordered
back to the hardest farm drudgery by
the master when the latter discovered
lis hemp-cleaning machine. This ID
one of the little things in Mrs. Stoves
book which has fired the real Harris
with desire to publish his own story.
While Clark was working to save up
the money his young master died, and
that ended his hope of purchasing his
liberty.
When the slaves were auctioned off
no one wanted to buy Clark because he
had been given so much liberty, but
while the executors of the estate were
looking around for buyers he ran away
to Chilicothe, Ohio, where he easily Al
PASSED as white boy. Later he made
his way to Canada, and later Joined 1,
his brother, Milton, at Oberlin. Ohio,
where the two made abolitionary
speeches.
he lived for two years, and then went
to the home of Mrs. Spofford, at Cam
bridgeport, Mass. 1t was there thadN
he met Mrs. Stowe, who was a guestS
in the house. Mrs. Stowe talked to}
him every day about his past life. an6tb
little later began her series of letters
which were later published in book
form. Clark did not know that Mrs
Stowe intended writing a book, and he
says that If she had so inform ed hin
many things might have been statet
differently.
Clark in later years Travelled all over
the country as a dime museum attrac
uon. In 1898 he returned to Lexing
ton.
1t is a curious thing that not one Gu
of a dozen of his colored neighbori
know anything of the history of tho
old man, or, if they do. attach no i'm
portance to ii whatever