The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1914-03-10
THE NEGROES
Choose Their Surnames From Those
of "OId Masthas."
kansas City Star.)

were known by one appellatiOn, a
given name.
When 1t become necessary our
Jewish people selected surnames that
meant something and are generally
9uphonious as Rosenbaum, Silverstein
Lobe, Rothschild, and so no. When
Anglo-Saxton surnameS were added or
adopted in the Eleventh and Twelfth
centuries some seem to have been
taken haphaZzard, and are of no sig
nificance. Our colored people retain
ed, in the main, after freedom, the
surname of "Old Mastah." Most of
them felt proud Of the family whom
they served and spoke of them as
my white folks" mo corger blood
in our family, and us cullored ones
amt got no use for po' white folks, -
so often used by the negro servant
had no general reference to financial
conditions, meaning, rather, social
status-"Mannahs and customs" as
they sometimes expressed it.
Example of Missouri Negro.
One example of family fealty is the
case of Nelson Crews. This really
remarkable negro was born on the
plantation of DR.. Samuel Crews, of
Howard county, Missouri, who at that
time owned over 500 negro servants.
His parents were far above the aver
age in intelligence and integrity.
Joanna, the fine old mother of Nelson
Crews. lives now in Kansas City.
She was the weaver of the Crews
nome, and | believe there are wooden
counterpanes yet in the possession OF
the family that bear evidence of her
skill. From remarks made to me by
a member of DR.. Crews family few
DAYS ago, they "our white folks" feel
a pride in the fact that Nelson Crews
helps to perpetuate the fine old name,
and so creditably.
With us yet is a staunch, dependa-
BILE negro woman, Industrious and
self-supporting, though long past three
score years and ten, who, though she
has led to the altar-yes, led to the
word-three husbands, has never
changed her surname; she either
made pre-nuptial arrangements with
her various suitors of brought them
TO taw afterward, for Susan Clark
she was, is and ever will be. 81 was
BON and bred on the plantation of
Beverly R. Clark, the finest white
folks in Kaintucky or any whah upon
the yeath, and twel l meets up with a
bettah name l don't see no'casion to
change mine," insists Aunt Susan.
The numerous COllinses, Bradleys,
Simpsons, Stones, Smarts hereabouts
bear out my assertion that negroes
fAy fl,ni1
the surnames of former owners.
Howard, Scott and Wallace Smith,
negroes, good and creditable citizens
of the vicinity of Kansas City, Mo-,
were slaves in the family of a sister
of Cassius Clay. Though they are
proud of the fact that they are of the
Clay clan of colored folks, they pre-
fer Smith, the name of the member
of the family to whom they were as
signed Among their proudest poss-
essions is a portrait of a handsome,
distinguished looking white man, in
scribed on the margin this testimony:
For My Dear Old Nanny
From Green Clay Smith"
Nominated AS President.
The donor was, you remember,
the Liberal Republican party.
Whether Hadley Bradley came by
his curious cognoman of his own free
will or force of circumstances l could
never learn. This Jealous colored
pasture" as he was called by his
faithful flock, boasts OF being a ser
want in the house Of President An
drew Jackson Why so loyal an ad-
herant of Mass General didn't add
Jackson to his alliterative appella-
ton seems strange. He could have
hardly considered its inference with
poetical possibilities. One OF the In
cidents Uncle Hadley was fond OF re-
lating in praise of "Old Hickory was
in the proof of his devotion to his
wife: by the JUNCTION and frequency
of its reiteration he evidently deemed
this a clincher. "Old Mass Gineral dlo
sho' love his wife, hit moighty nigh
broke his heart when she died and ne
peared lax he jes can't give her up
An exception as proving a rule
that negroes retained the surnames o.
! former owners was the case or a not
| ed negro of Olden days mere. JACK
son, a long, lank, capable hano, OF
| a farm now in the heart of Kansas
City, was bought when quite youns
by a civil engineer with the first one
thousand dollars he saved from MI
salary. Jack was pleased with ms
Young master, was faithful and re
spect, but he would never adopt hl'
surname. mo, young Mistis, he re
piled when asked why, Il amt gwln'
back on the name my dady an nam!
went by; eff Scruggs was good enougl
for dey it pintedly is good enough 10
me. Den I'm bound to say that Capt.
Scruggs was a fine old, genplemurn
an a good mastah adj 'apects' to Dal
dat name twel / die"
Jackson married Rachel, the WldoV
of a free man. Harry Smith. Har
nv. though Free. remained in the ser
vice of his white folks" Col. ChlcK
family. until his death in 1S49. Harr.
bought a lot in Kansas City, on NAH
street. near Missouri avenue. Afte
his death the widow either could no
or would not pay the taxes ON tnl
toropcrty. When it was about TO o.
sold for taxes she was unable 10 re
deem it. so her master gave her 30
Il -.-lwr