Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-30
Runs Away to Savannah.


But he was bright and ll-behaved boy
and as he developed a thirst for learning he
found those who were ready to assist him.
although he says himself thas he does
not remember how he learned to read. He
grew weary of the dull monotony of his
hopeless existence, and when he thought
how dreary must be the future for those
who were ignorant and debased. and with
out ambition to rise higher in the world, Il
sudden resolution came over him to leave
the cabin in the cotton fields and seek his
fortune in other localities. 1t was in 1863
or 1870 that he put this resolution into ef-
feet. and he was only II years old when he
appeared in Savannah. Ga. ragged and
without cent. His worst fear was that his
father would trace him to his new retreat
and force him to go back to the cruel step
there to he subjected TO a condition of
slavery worse than that from which the
his people. He determined to change his
name and thus efface every chance of
recognition. and. thinking that the more
of detection. he became Charles II. J.
Taylor" thus evincing the fondpess Of his
race for long. high-sounding name.
Commission House to College.
Under that name the boy applied to Mr..
Hull. member of one of the largest COM
mission houses in Savannah. and secured
the position OF office boy and general facto-
tum around the extensive warehouses and
IL,
active, intelligent and prompt in the dis
charge of his menial duties and the men,
bers OF the firm soon became very much
attached 10 him. This gave him new op-
portunities for increasing his knowledge of
men and books. Every spare moment. day
and night, he devoted himself to the ac-
quiremcnt of the rudiments of an educa-
ton. After four or five years he had saved
up Il little money and SO far fitted himself
for acquiring higher education that he gave
Mich. to attend the famous University Of
Michigan, which he had learned would re-
ceive him as a student.
In spite of his economy however his slen-
der means were soon exhausted and he was
forced to resort to all sorts of odd jobs SO
went through. law course and all. and fin
ally was graduated a law student in
1873. received his diploma, with the highest
applied to the courts of Michigan for ad-
mission to the bar and his examination dis
played his profound insight into the knowl-
edge and spirit of his profession.
Practices Law in Kansas City.
There were very few people Of his race
in Michigan, and he went to Kansas City.
| Mo-, where the ratio of the negro to the
4 white population was about one in twelve.
| His success there was marvellous. He en-
/ tered politics and took part in the NUM-
cipal election, and such was the reputation
that he had achieved that he was appoint
ed city attorney by the mayor-elect,
| Thomas F. Harmon, and filled the position
for several years with marked ability-the
| first of his race to occupy such a high
| position In that state.
He espoused the cause OF Grover Cleve-
land In 1884, and when Mr.. Cleveland be-
| came president he rewarded Taylor with
the position of minister to Liberia, Taylor
desiring the Office SO that he could make
| IL fuller study of the African question
| After remaining there for a little more
than seven months his active spirit re-
belled against the sloth and Incidence OF
life In that semi-barbarous region, and