The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-12
HONOR NEGRO'S MEMORY.
The Monument at Sumter to The
Village Barber The Story Of
Joe Levan.

VAN
News and Courier says: Few men
make such an impress upon their day
and generation that at their death
there is spontaneous movement to
erect in their honor an enduring mem
orial as mark Of the esteem in
which they have been held by their
fellow citizens. When such a monu-
ment is erected it is considered a note
worthy event in the history Of COM
munity. For negro to be so honor
ed is an event Of such rare occur
renee that it is worthy Of more thar
passing mention, and this is offered
as an excuse for a brief statement Of
the facts concerning the erection of a
monument to Joseph Levan by the
people Of Sumter.
Joe's War Record
Joseph Levan was born a slave in
1880, and was the property Of Mr..
Anthony White, Sr., of this county.
He was trained to be house servant
and by the time he was grown, was a
frst-clasS cook, barber, and handy
man generally. When the war broke
out and the first company was organ
lied III Sumter to go to Virginia, Joe
was hired from his master by Lieut.
j. Diggs Wilder, who carried him to
Virginia and to serve him in the dual
capacity Of body servant and cook.
This company took part in the bat
tie IF Bull Run, and aCpt. J. S. Rich
ardson was wounded. Joe was then
commissioned to wait on him while
he was in the hospital. When Capt.
Richardson was able to return home,
Joe rejoined the company at the front
and continued in the service Of Lieut..
Wilder for two years, serving him and
other members Of the company with
a devotion and zeal that won him
their lifelong friendship. After the
war Joe opened a barber shop in this
town, which he conducted continuous
ly until his death, in 1895. He had
patronage that rival shops could not
win away from him, and as long as
"Joe, the Barber" wa BILE to work
his was the most popu-> place Of the
kind in town, Notwithstanding the
fact that numerous better equipped
f'tonsorial parlors' were establish
ed from time to time.
An outspoken Democrat.
It was not, however, Joe's service
in war times alone that gained for
him the lasting esteem and confidence
Of the people of this community.
Throughout the reconstruction era and
especially in 1876, he was a loyal De-
mocrat, and neither persuasion nor
threats could induce him to ally him
self with the carpet-bag and negro
party that had full sway in Sumter
county, although by so doing he could
easily have attained leadership and
profitable Offices for he was man OF
unusual force Of character and intel
ligence. He was loyal and faithful. to
the white people and was always out
spoken in the expression Of his be-
lief that his Gown white people,
were the best friends he and all the
negroes had, and, that they should
control the Government. He main
tanned this attitude when it was dan
eerous to do so and with it all con-
Quoted himself modestly, not appear
ing to realize that he was doing more
than his duty as citizen.
= Faithful and Honest.
: He never performed any single
spectacular service, but was simply
faithful, courteous, honest and indus
trious throughout his life. He asked
no favors from any man, and was
content to earn an honest living at
his trade. In manner he was polite
and respected, without trace OF sew
Gritty; reserved and dignified in de-
portment and his word was better
than many a white mans bond.
Hundreds of Whites at Funeral.
When he died there was general re-
>gret in this community and his funer-
al was attended by hundreds Of his
white friends. The suggestion, made
in a local paper, that popular sub
scription be started for the purpose
of erecting simple monument to
mark his grave, met with Immediate
response and in a short time suf-
ficient sum was in the hands Of Mr..
J. Diggs Widen, adjutant of Camp
Dick Anderson, Z. C. v, Of which Joe
r.c an honorary member, to- pay tor