The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-30

"UNCLE JAkAE.
BY Mrs. Elizabeth Dowden
In December. 1902, the subject OF
this sketch. Uncle Jacob DowdelI, clos
ed his eyes and fell asleep in Jesus.
He had lived long in the land. having
been born in 17ss, in or near the city
of Washington. D. c.
The New England friends of his race
had no conception of the grand work
they were doing, when seeing the
siowness of the church to obey the
great command of the Lord to go into
all the world and preach the Gospel
to every creature" they sailed their
ships even to the Dark Continent and
compelled the peopl to come in with
them and be transported to a new
world. When landed they felt that
some small consideration in money was
due themselves for their benevolent
| consideration of these heather people
so. they carried them. for the most
part, to Virginia and Georgia and
handed these savages and cannibais
| over to the patriarchal care of the
planters and felt that the money thus
earned was good for them, as well as
for all concerned. Then they would
sail off for another cargo. What a
work they were doing! They indeed
builded better than they knew, when
these children of Ham. naked savages,
we're given in care OF a race of rare
men, Anglo-Saxon of highest type, the
Henrys, Lees, washingtons, Calhouns,
Trcups and Cobbs.
To return to the subject Uncle Jake
thanked God. with tears streaming
down his face that he was a native of
the South. and had been the slave of
God-fearing humane masters.
He was owned by General Jessup
and was brought up a footman in the
elegant Washington City home of the
general.
1t was amusing to hear his descrip-
ton of the grand receptions given at
the home when, as he said, a carpet
was spread from the door to the car
riages to keep the ladies in their beau
tiful toilets from contact with the snow
and slush OF the street.
These same great occasions were in
part the cause of the sale OF himself
and family. Gen. Jessup sold them to
Mr.. Louis Dowdell after the war of
1912, and they were brought to Put
nam county, Georgia.
When Uncle Jake was asked how he
liked plantation life he replied: 81
was my masters servant, and we went
everywhere together" He remembered
cold Friday" and how he saved his
masters life that day. He also told
of when the stars FELL and how the ne
groes went to the big house" to wake
their master, saying: Master, Judg-
ment Day is comet. is sure here
AS sthe old gentleman retired into the
| house after he had looked on the awe
some scene, he said to Jake: Watch
the North Star, and when you begin
to see it waver, call all the hands into
prayer"
Jake's first wife was the nurse OF
the late william Crawford Dowdell
Of Auburn who, when an infant-ir
1e26-lost his mother. 1t was Jacob
who taught his young master to ride
to drive, to fish, to hunt, and to swim
In the absence OF his father, he often
with Jacobs consent. rode his pony
TIN ough the hall of the house. feeling
himself lord of the premises indeed.
Even after Mr.. Dowdell had passed
his three score years and ten, Jake
still addressed him as Young Master"
He had expected to spend his last
days in Auburn, but hearing of the
death of his master, he came to bid all
goodbye. and then go back to the old
place in Georgia. Urged to stay he
said. 'No-there are only widows in
the house. and I might become a great
burden and care as 1 grow older" So,
he left Auburn, and in few months
afterwards was dead. Regularly were
sent remittances to provide necessities
and comforts during his last days.
He died as he had lived, faithful to
God, respected and honored by all who
knew him. often he spoke regretfully
of the good old days when he and his
fallou- aervants were cared for in
sickness and In old age-and of his
youth when they and he were indus
trious and happy.
Slavery did for Jake and his breth-
rem a wonderful thing-gave them the
knowledge of God in Christ. AS Bish-
| op ]. c. Keener said to the fraternal
| delegates of the Northern Methodist
Church: You gave them to us savages
and cannibals. we return them to you
statesmen, bishops" Could angels have
done more?