The daily sentinel., 1907-12-18
NEGRO
HONORED
IERN PEOPLE
Tenderly Care for and
ngly Remember the
Time Darkies Who
e True and Honest.
al to The Daily sentineI)


al to The Daily SentineD
er. S. c., Dec. 1S.-Those
eve that the whites of the
te the negro would do well
ne grave of Joe Leyan in the
,metery of Sumter. Today
aniversary of Levan's death
visitor will find upon the
ot only garlands of flowers,
leir by loving hands, but al
Ipressive monument of light
rble, resting on square
| In all nine feet in height,
this inscription:
Levan, the Village Barber,
80, Died, December 1S, 1905
faithful as n slave and res
s n free man.
stone is erected by his white
as n tribute to his worth.
here are who make such an
on their neighbors and as
that at their death there is
aneous movement to erect a
mt to their memory. Joe Le-
village barber of Sumter,
I'd two years ago today, was
the few.
4 was born n slave in 1880
S owned by Anthony White.
Sumter. From his youth he
l the training of house ser
ID when he had reached man
estate he had few equals as a
barber and valet. Upon the
lg out of the civil war, when
st company was organized In
to 20 to the front, Levan was
rom his master by Lieutenant
Wilder. who took him to Vir-
Is body servant and cook.
battle OF Bull Run Captain ].
iardson, an associate of Lieu
Wilder, was wounded, aid LIE
as given the duty of waiting
aim while he was in the hos
When Captain Richardson
ole to return to his home, Le-
,joined the company at the
and continued in the service of
nant Wilder for two years,
x him and other members of
with devotion and BRAY
lat won him their lifelong
ship.
er the war was over and the
% had been declared free. Le-
Dened a barber shop ia Sumter,
he conducted continuously un-
s death. Although numerous
equipped shops were opened,
sgro had a patronage that none
,m could win away from him.
vas not mainly Levan's service
, war that gained for him the
3 respect of the people of this
unity, however. During all of
period he was a
democrat. Neither persuas-
IT threats could lure him to the
rt of the "carpet-baggers," "
.ad full sway in Sumter county,
Ugh they offered him every po-
honor in their power III return
IS influence. As n man of un-
intelligence and force of char
he could easily have attained
ship and the emoluments of
had he desired. Even when
,ened with death he remained
% his "own white people," de-
g that they were the best fri
hat he and all the colored peo-
I'd. and should control the gov
mt. He maintained this defil-
ttitude when 1t was almost ia
do so. but ut the same time
cted himself modestly, not ap-
x to realize that he was doing
than his duty as a citizen and
man.
Ill his long life Levan perform
single spectacular act. He was
: honest, brave, courteous and
rious, asking no favors from
an, and content to earn n mod
ing at his trade, at which he
n expert, In manner he was
5 polite, reserved and digni-
nfecting neither superiority nor
ty. and II was n common say
Sumter that Joe Levah's
is better than many white
bond"
death produced a profound
= throughout tho community
undreds of his white friends
ed the body to the grave.
a suggestion in n local news
was necessary to start the
lent for the erection of a mon
over the barber's grave. Ad-
]. Diggs Wilder of Camp Dick