The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-26
Knew John Howard Payne
Rob Roy, Who Died Recently, Waited
on the Poet.
CPhiIadelnhia -

(Phiiadelphia Ledger
Old Rob Roy. the negro who waited on
John Howard Payne when he visited his
sweetheart, Mis-. Mary Harden, in Ath-
ems, Ca, died a few days ago. His last
words were addressed TO Miss EvVle
Jackson, the talented niece of Miss Hard
en-, and We're. God bless you Miss Evvie,
NJ PAYNE
Rob Roy was the slave of General Ed
ward Harden. and during the days when
Mr. Payne visited Miss Harden in this
city, to him was assigned the duty OF
looking. after and waiting on the author.
The old man never grew tired of telling
of his Miss Mary and Mr. Payne
Miss Jackson visited the old negro fire.
quently in his humble little cottage. and
during his last days, as well as Tor years
past, since the death OF Miss Harden. she
mas seen that the falthful Carkey
was not neglected. Miss jackson inner
tied by will the estate and private papers
of Miss Harden. and it is claimed that
among these papers is the original man
uscript of Home. Sweet Home, which
Mr. Payne had given to Miss Harden.
1t was in 1882 that John Howard Payne
visited this state for the purpose of in
vestigating the condition of the Cherokee
was at that time attempting to move out
of the state Mr. Payne, with many
others. did not believe the Indians were
being treated fairly and hpusanely. and
he determined to go TO the Indian nation
and make a personal investigation
From influential gentlemen in Wash
new 1OEk, boston ana 1IniduGi-
phia he secured letters of introduction 70
General Harden. who was then a resi-
dent OF Athens, but formerly lived in Sa-
vannan, and TO whom had fallen the
honor of entertaining General Lafayette
when he visited Georgia in 1924 When
Mr. Payne reached this city General
Harden gave him cordial welcome, and
II is stated that the author came near
abandoning his trip to the Indian coun-
try after he had been entertained at the
home of General Harden and met the
young lady who became his sweetheart
However Mr.. Payne. after prolonging
his visit several days, set out, and sue
ceeded in getting an audience with CHIEF
John Ross; but the Indian agent FORMED
BODIED evil and that he had come to stir
up strife. and had him arrested.
As quickly as possible Mr.. Payne SEM
word to General Harden and that gen.
tleman at once went TO Milledgevllle, then
the state capital. and secured from the
governor the necessary papers for the re
ems. General Harden took his negro boy
this same Rob Roy, who has just died
and set out for the Indian nation. Oh
this trip the old negro told the writer a
few weeks before his death:
Mars Edward took three of his best
horseS-he rode one. 1 rode one and leo
the other-when we went after Mr.
Payne. In dem days you couldn't git Over
the mountain roads with er carriage, an
we had TO go horseback. Mars Edward
sure was mad, sub, an when We gu
| done had Mister Payne rested did come
no WHARF near Mars Edward
When we went to Mister Payne NJ
/ looked poW-tul down IN de mouf, put III
/ awful glad to see Mars Edward WheI
we comm on back ter Athens 1 hesrS
| Mr.. Payne hummin' dat Home, Swee
/ Home an dat wus the frs time l eve
/ hears it. sab. After dat 1 used to heal
/ Miss Mary sing an play it, an deed sh'
/ could make de pianner talk an sing Tx
/ er nightingale.
When we got home Mr. Payne wen
right to our house, an Miss Mary maxi
cut like she pow'ful glad ter see he
par. but den knowed dat she was "a
/ gladder TO see Mister Payne. n Re
/ Payne sure was a nice gentleman. an
/ every time he come to see Miss Mar.
/ he GIBBS me er dollar. Miss Mary used te
] show me dat Home, Sweet Home VII
on a piece of paper, an she said ID
/ Mister Payne writ it