The colored American., 1901-05-04

in search of liberty and broader Oppor-
tunities.
NEGRO PIONEERS
''The Negroes who first settled in CaSs
County were attracted to Calvin town
ship by the friendiineSS of the whites
who were opposed to slavery 1t is
matter of record that in 1S47, Samson
Sanders, planter of Virginia, died
and by a provision of his will gave
freedom to his slaves, some forty in
number, and appropriated $4,000 of
his estate for the purchase Of lands
in some free State upon which they
were to enter at once. This beQueSt
was fulfilled by the purchase Of land
| in CaSS County. Later one Kinchen
| Arts, a Negro quaker, also led a
small colony of Negroes into that
county, where they also purchased
land. It is said his colony of twenty
| families, or about one hundred persons.
controlled altogether about $4,000 when
| they entered upon the wild land of
Michigan. Among the early settlers
were Green Allen, who came from
North Carolina, and William Allen,
from Ohio, who are now living, and
|
Of the county.
To-day CaSS County contains a pop
ulation of about $4,000, of whom
about 1000 are Negroes who
operate ITO farms, or a little
less than per cent. Of the farms
of the county. Of these 10 farms,
embracing 1900 acres of land, they
own not less than 1000 acres, or near
ly so per cent. of the land they till.
This 10000 acres is estimated at $780,
900. and the buildings thereon at an
additional $4,000. Seventy of the 40
farm operators own their entire farms,
ranging from three to 314 acres EACH
Forty more of the 40 own part OF
! the land they till, while only 81, or less
| than One-third operate upon lands en-
tirely rented. and much of this land
: is leased from other and more pros
porous Negroes, showing at least $222,-
600 worth of farm lands and buildings
owned by Negroes in the county.
"The general farm products, as corn,
| wheat, oats, clover, hay, potatoes,
| beans. etc. raised on the farms dur
ing 1899, were worth in the aggregate
$4,000. while the horses, cattle, sheep,
and swine were worth $4,000 more.
;, and their dairy products, poultry, and
. wool returns a prOpOrtiOnately large
e sum which results cOmparG favOrably
with the value and products or the
o. other farms in the country and snow
i a generally healthy condition.
.r AFRO AMERICAN FARMERS.
1t "These farmers are interested in all
q. that pertains to agriculture, take part
o. in the county fairs and often secure
o. premiums 1t is notable that the entlfe
is Negro population is prosperous, one
Id man reputed to be worth S15O,OOO, ana
le another more than $4,000 This set
is tIement has now two AfrO-AmerIcah
le doctors one lawyer, and owns ana con
aS trolls two stores. Mr.. A. K. BYRD IS tne
c. postmaster at Day post office, and MT
er G. w Brown at WilliamSville. IheSe
it, people control nearly all the tOwnshlp
is offices. and Mr. Il. o. Beverly, now ID
ze the Auditor Generals office at the
of State capital, served two terms d.
Register Of Deeds for the county, WINE
tt Mr.. Byrd, the postmaster, IS III hI'
ld tenth year as Town Clerk.
I'D con many of these Western IafluS
es the air of comfortable thrift, lht
al thorough system displayed in the Va
tn riouS departments of farm WORK, tn'
oe, simple habits and exquisite cleanllhes;
in of the owners and their homes recdl
IN, traditions of the Puritan Fathers, an,
ny impress me with the thought that Suci
ed conditions must develop the same stelL
nd ing qualities which made the can
ri settlers Of this country such poten
rV | factors in IFS daVplOnment.