The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-11
ROMANCE OF A SLAVE.
Advanced Money for Education or
Former Masters Children.

Former Masters Children.
Permitted by his white owner to |
purchase his own freedom and that |
Of his wife with money he had accu |
INFLATED through his industry, Will |
liam O'Neal, remarkable negro who |
has just died at Cheneyville, La, years
afterward educated a son and a daugh
ter Of his former master and cared for
them with the greatest solicitude posi-
BILE, says the New Orleans Picayune.
This incident was recalled yesterday
by gentlemen in New Orleans who knew
drst owned him and then were the ben
eticiaries of his affection. The owner
was John Johnson, a prominent sugar
planter of Rapides parish. Before the
civil war johnson was the owner of a
large plantation and of many slaves.
Among the slaves was a mulatto, Will
liam O'Neal, who, like many Of the
more intelligent slaves, had been taught
a trade. O'Neal was trained as a
cooper, and proved not only a skillful
mechanic, but steady worker, faithful
and economical.
Belonging to an indulgent owner,
O'Neal was given many liberties not
usually accorded slaves, but instead Of
wasting his time he worked for him.
self and laid aside his earnings. When
he had saved d sufficient sum he ar
ranged to purchase the freedom of his
WIFE, He was advised that it would
be better for him to purchase his own
freedom, SO that every cent he there
after made could be devoted to the
purchase Of his wife and other rela
tives. But O'Neal had early deter
mined that his first earnings should
free his wife, and the suggestions were
disregarded. 1t was not until after
the purchase had been effected that
be realized his mistake and sought to
eepair 1t.
Again the indulgence of Mr. johnson
was shown. He permitted O'Neal and
his wife to arrange the matter SO as
to apply the money on O'Neal's free
dom, the wife returning to bondage.
he pleased and to apply his earnings
Is he pleased, O'Neal soon saved enough
DO buy his wife's freedom a second
time, and then that of his mother.
Freedom did not spoil" O'Neal, as
Ii said to have been the case with
many negroes He continued at his
trade until he had accumulated a small
sum, and then opened general mer-
rhandise store at Cheneyville. His
business was success, and he soon
bought a small farm for his mother,
giving 1t to her for life. He next bought
a place for himself-a small residence
and sixty acres of the best land.
O'Neal continued to prosper after the
war, which had practically stripped his
former master of his wealth. An I'M
fortunate shooting ARRAY, in which Mr..
! Johnson was killed, added to the fam
ly's troubles and made the children
dependent upon others. O'Neal was the
FIRST one to offer assistance, and the
help he proposed to give was not mere
, ly temporary. He agreed to support
the son and daughter Of his former
master, paying their expenses until
they had acquired an education.
This act of O'Neal's won for him the
admiration and respect of the entire
community, which had formerly re-
garded him merely as good negro.
The two children he educated grew
to maturity, married and moved to
. Texas, while O'Neal continued to re
side in Cheneyville, conducting his bust,
/ ness. When his mother died he insist
ed upon the property he had given her
being distributed among her other heirs
!. declaring that he had enough.
r O'Neal was known In New Orleans
in business way. His credit was good
). at all the wholesale houses with which
( he did business, and he was regarded
1 as a good business man.