The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-31
A PROSPEROUS NEGRO COMMUNITY.


There is a community in Michigan which
throws some light on the mooted question
whether negroes are fit for the higher
duties of citizenship. The last census re-
port shows that Cass county. Michigan, has
population of 10, 40 white persons and l,56S
colored. 1t is an agricultural county with
no large towns. and the proportion of coll
ored population is remarkable. The negroes
constitute a large majority of the popula-
ton in two townships of the county, viz:
Calvin and Porter townships. The total
population of Calvin township by the last
census was 1,27l, of whom 5l2 were white
and $50 negroes. The total population Of
Porter township was 1910 and the
proportion of negroes is nearly as
large as in Calvin township. The history
of the community dates from 1s40 when a
few Quakers from the South located there
and encouraged fugitive slaves TO come
there and settle. which they did in consid-
cradle numbers. The present colored pop
ulation are the descendants of those runa-
way slaves. and whatever they have accom-
plished they owe 10 their own unaided eff
forts. Beginning in poverty they have pro-
crossed to affiuence. Starting in illiteracy
every one OF their descendants of school
age is now a pupil in schools of their own
establishment The townships in which
they constitute majority are said to be as
well improved as any in the county, good
houses and improvements being seen on
every hand. A correspondent who recent
ly visited there says the country resembles
any other prosperous farming community.
except that nearly all the people one sees
are black. Coming to particulars the cor
respondent says:
Some of the negro residents are the
most prosperous men in the township.
Bill Allen. stock raiser and trader. has
as high a standing for honesty and ability
at the Chicago stockyards as has his aver
age white brother. He owns 700 acres OF
land and has 100 head of stock on his place,
all paid for. Mr. Allen was justice of the
peace in Calvin township for eighteen
years and resigned finally because it took
too much of his time from his farm.
Samuel Hawkes. pays the largest tax OF
any one. white or black. in Calvin town.
on good authority to be worth $4,000. G.
W. Bum. another negro in the township.
owns two sawmils and much other real
estate. and is reputed to be worth similar
amount Cornelius Lawson, the supervisor
of the township, is negro. He has lived
there since 1853 and was elected justice OF
the peace in 1878, retaining the office until
two years ago. In 1899 he was elected
supervisor and he has been reelected year
ly since He is a farmer, as is practically
every other negro man in the township
There are eight schools in the township,
four of which are taught by negroes and
controlled by negro school officials. Reg
ular services are held in three churches,
two of which, Methodist and Baptist, re-
spectively, are attended by negroes and
have negro pastors. Both have neat and
attractive buildings. There is negro
brass band and there are two negro physi-
clans In the township.
Although the negroes are a majority in
one of these townships and nearly a ma
jority in the other there has never been
any friction at elections nor any trouble
about Office. There has never been a trace
war; in the township and the bugaboo of
social equality has never asserted it.
self. The negroes attend strictly to their
own business and the whites are SO busy
attending to theirs that they have no time
to make trouble. The affairs of the town
ship are as we'll conducted as those of any
other township in the State, and the tax
collector is always one of the first to set
| tie with the county treasury.
| The success of this large negro commu.
nifty disproves the contention of some that
| the negro has no power of initiation and nc
| ability to make continuous and unaided
| progress toward civilization. 1t shows
| that. given a white mans chance, they
can do as well as the average white man
at least in vacations that do not require q
! high order of intellectual culture. 1t shows
| further, that Booker L. Washington il
right when he says that the salvation o.
the negro depends upon industrial educa
| ton and work.