Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-05-10
A Good oId coIored Man Clone.

| A Good Old Colored Man Gone.
"Uncle" Fred Young, for many years
picturesque character in Shepherds
town and a WORTHY colored man who
was affectionately regarded by numerous
friends, died early Monday morning,
after an illness OF three or four weeks.
About month ago Uncle Fred had a
stroke on the street, and though be was
taken TO his home and given every atten-
ton, his advanced age prevented him
from rallying. Mrs. James S. Phillips,
to whose great-grandfather Uncle Fred
belonged in the time OF slavery, and who
had cared for the faithful old man for
some years past, figures his age TO have
been about IS years, although there is no
definite record OF his BIRTH He was born
in Charles county, Md, and belonged to
John Ford. After Mr.. Ford's death IN
1895 most OF his slaves were brought TO
Shepherdstown, having been inherited by
his granddaughter, OF the Chapline fam
lily, OF this place. They were taken from
Charles county to Washington, and were
brought from there by way OF the canal
to Shepherdstown. Uncle Fred, then
little pickaninny, made most ofthe jour-
ney on horseback with Isaac Chapline,
Mrs. Phillips great-grandfather He was
a clever little fellow, and was trained as
a house servant, and to the day OF his
death was skilled IN household affairs.
II was his boast that he served seven gen.
eratlons:
John Ford.
Isaac Chapline.
Elizabeth Chapline.
Annie Chapline.
Mrs. Anna Chapline Phillips.
Mrs. Carrie Phillips Berkeley.
Berkeley Phillips.
Uncle Fred was hired out before the
war by his mother TO the family OF Eman-
uel Staley, east Of town, and later for
years worked for the family OF Joseph
Staley, west OF town, and was as deeply
attached TO them as TO the descendants OF
his old masters and miStresses. He was
peculiarly faithful to those who trusted
him, and was as honest and upright as
man could be- He had much pride, and
never associated with those who failed TO
live up 10 his ideas OF prosperity. He
was polite and kind hearted and nothing
pleased him more than the esteem OF his
white friends. He preserved his faculties
to a really remarkable degree, and up TO
the time OF his last illness was daily seen
about our streets and did such work as
he was able.
Ever since we can remember, Uncle
Fred was star member OF the colored
Methodist church choir. He had high
tenor voice which ran into falsetto notes
very readily, and he could always he
heard. Although he could not read, he
seemed to know all the hymns by heart
and easily learned The anthems. He had
his own particular place in the choir box,
and nobody ever dared 10 usurp his seat.
For the past year or Two his voice has
been a bit quavery, but he did the best
he could and was rarely absent from a
service. He will be greatly missed in
the church. Uncle Fred always wore a
pair OF small gold earrings, and this little
touch OF barbaric vanity was perhaps an
inheritance from some African ancestor,
tor he was OF undiluted blood. He was
altogether good old man, and we are
sure that many readers of the Register,
at home and abroad, who Tor years have
known him as an old-faShioned. honest
colored man, will pay him the tribute OF
kindly thought and regret TO learn
his passing.
The funeral service was held in the
colored Methodist Church Tuesday after
noon, and was conducted by the pastor,
Rev. ]. N. Yearwood, assisted by Rev.
William Craven, of Charles Town. A
large congregation was present, including
many white persons.