The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-06
DYING AT AGE OF 1O5
GEORGE SMITH, AN EX-sLAyE, MAR
RiED THIRTY-FOUR TIMES.
He Has Lived for Years in the Family
of Capt. David Braden-Re-
markabIe Life story.

Dying Of old age. at the home of David
Braden. 1920 North Capitol avenue. is
George Smith. a negro. who is, according
TO the best information obtainable, one
hundred and five years old. lie was born
slave and before his release from slavery IN
1862 had been sold nineteen times. He was
brought here in 1862 by Captain David
Braden, who found him standing beside the
body of his dead master, Asa Brown, after
the battle at Lebanon. Tenn, weeping as
if his last friend had left him. He was un-
able TO read or write, but was unusually
we'll informed and used excellent English.
having picked it up from those he had
served.
He was giant in stature, being more
than six feet tall and well proportioned. He
was, said Mr.. Braden, a magnificent speci-
men of manhood when found there at Leb-
anon. He was then sixty-six years old. He
had a wonderful memory for events and
dates and was able at all times to tell the
day of the week. the month and year with
out hesitancy. He was able to tell every
place in which he had been, the names Of
all his masters and the price at which he
had been sold.
He had been married. he said, thirty-four
times, the wedding ceremony each time be-
ing the one in vogue among the slaves. The
friends of the bride and groom would take
hold of the ends of broom-stick and the
participating parties would jump it
and then kiss each other, thus ending the
ceremony. He knew that he was the father
of fifty-two children, all of whom (as were
his WiveS) were taken from him and sold.
He was never able to trace them and since
coming here he was often urged to try and
locate them, but was satisfied in the knowl-
edge that he was, as he said, "a free mig
GER and that his wives and children were
free also. y few years after the close of
the war Mrs. Brown, his former mistress,
who lived at Nashville, wanted to see him
and Capt. Braden persuaded him to go
there to visit her. He was soon back In In
dianapolis, leaving there without notice,
thinking he was again to be put under the
bond Of slavery. He explained upon his
return that he thought they were trying
to put up job" on him He could never
be persuaded 10 again return.
WAS WITH GEN. DUMONT.
After coming here he went to work on
General Dumonts farm near here and
lived there in old log cabin until fifteen
years ago when he was unable 10 continue
with his work. He heard rumors of being
sent to the poorhouse and mentioned the
matter TO Mr.. Braden, who promised that
he should never go there. He brought him
TO the city and he has since occupied a
room in the family residence. He has been
a familiar figure on Capitol avenue, and
well known to most of the residents of the
street. He knew but few colored people
and seemed TO take but little interest in
them. For two years he has been almost
helpless and for the last two months has
been blind This affliction affected him
greatly and when being fed with spoon by
Mrs. Braden he would weep If his heart
was breaking. He was wholly trustworthy.
Last night Mr.. Braden said he never re-
membered having caught him in un-
truth. He was honest and faithful, as much
so as a man could be. He was well cared
for. the family providing a physician when
ever he became i'll, and he showed in many
ways his gratefulness. One of his favorite
amusements was fishing He would sit on
the bank OF the canal and fish from early
morn until late in the evening, seemingly
happy as long as he could smoke his pipe
and hold a fishing rod. He. seldom caught
anything except Sinners but these he
always took home and cooked.
Although he coulu neither read nor write
he never missed election and more out
of gratitude for his freedom than anything
else he voted the Republican ticket.
His age he was unable to tell. He knew
that he had been born at Wallis Ferry, Va,
and when a child was sold by his master,
John Smith, for So. After being sold several
times he came into possession of Joe and
Isaac Duckwiler and then overheard con-
versation in which he was said TO be nine
teen years of age That was just about the
time of the battle of New Orleans, in 1915.
From that time on his life was hard one,
being subject TO the cruelties of many mas
tiers and he finally became the slaye OF
Capt. Asa Brown, whose body servant he
was during the Mexican war and in the
of the rebellion. He ran away numer-
Gus times because OF the tortures inflicted
upon him but was each time captured, or
became tired of hiding and returned to
servitude