The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-12-29
HISTORIC
CONTINUED from First Pase)

NSOHtiHuSu ilOi' ENst FaSI1
Joseph Plunkett, an attorney Of that time
of Auglaize County. The land was bought
from LittIeberry Jenkins and wife, who
had received the land on a patent deed
August 21, 1887, from Martin VanBuren,
then President of the United States.
Leigh committed the undertaking Of
transporting the slaves to one Cardell
who accompanied them on the pilgrim
age. 1t was a peculiar trip as told by one
Of the original slaves, York Ryal, while
on the witness stand at the first trial Of
the case in the courts here in 1907. He
has since died.
During their bondage they were permit
ted to gather at intervals for jollifica-
tions. These happy hours were burdened
however by the thought of the torture
that was administered by the Simon Gra-
dys, and the partings at the auction
block, when they We're sold out each
year. Beyond description was there joy
when being measured and given their
free papers" Then followed the mem
orable voyage by wagon and afoot over
the mountains-the older men, the moth
ers and children riding, the wenches and
bucks walking-and across the felds to
the Ohio river. Here the party of almost
four hudred embarked on boats, and fol-
lowing several days river trip arrived at
Cincinnati, the trip only marred by the
death of two veteran slaves, too happy
over their deliverance to withstand tray
el. From the Queen City they wended
their way north on RATS over the Miami
and Erie canal to Bremen Mercer Coun-
ty, now New Bremen, Auglaize County,
almost ten miles from their final destina-
ton Here the joyous trip was suddenly
interrupted White citizens, from the sur
rounding country armed with toma-
hawks, swords, picks, shOvels and the
like, met the calvacade. Headed by the
late Judge Benjamin Linzee, Of Wapako-
meta, Silas Young and Samuel Grunden
the negroes were driven back several
miles The ex-sIaves continued their
flight on south, until on the following day
the Fourth Of July, 1886 they pitched
their tents at the junction of the canal
and the Miami river near Piqua. Here
the whites were more friendly land was
purchased and the party settled Many
Of the descendants are still living on the
sight of this first settlement, while others
reside in and around Dayton, Troy Sid
ney, Urbana and Xenia.
The fight by the white residents-the
Dutch, as the old darkey, Ryal termed
them in his testimony--to prevent the
Randolph slaves from settling in this
came about by a very peculiar in
cident, which occurred two years after
the death of Randolph, and eleven years
before his slaves were brought to the
State.
Augustus Wattles a native of Conneu- !
cut had become interested in the colored .
of Cincinnati, who were shut |
off from every avenue of mental and NOR
al improvement. He decided to move
them to the country for an experiment.
Land was purchased in the south end OF
this county in 1885, and several hundred
former slaves were scattered through the
.ownships Of Marion, Granville, and
Franklin Mr. Wattles accompanied the
negroes and purchased a farm for h msef
n the northwest corner of Marion town
hip. now the site of Carthagena, upon
which school was established for the
ducation of, the blacks. Aid was given
he enterprise by the trustees Of the es-
ate of Samuel Emlen, of New Jersey and
be school became known as the Emlen
institute, The School was on the present
ite Of the buildings Of st. Charles Cath
lie Seminary. at Carthagena. the Fone
[ the Society Of the Most Precious Blood
athers, one Of the largest schools for
be education OF Priests in the State.
This influx OF the Wattles' negroes was
bjected to by the whites and a number q