POOR BEN:
a
Story of Real Iife,
BY
LUCRETIA H. NEWMAN COLEMAN.
Do'st thou love life, then do not squander time;
For that is the stuff life is made of:
Plough deep, while others sleep.
Nashville, Tenn. :
Publishing House of the A. M. E. Sunday-School Union.
1890.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in tlie year lS'JO,
By The Sunday School Union of the A. M. E. Ckup.ch,
in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
I Cedieate This Luot*k
WITH SINCERE LOVE FOR ]VLY RACE,
1*0 'I'lie
COLORED y0TJK'3 J5EN ^
OF AMERICA,
WITH THE HOPE THAT IT MAY CONTRIBUTE
SOMETHING TO THAT CHRISTIAN
KNOWLEDGE, WHICH IS THE V EKY BKEATII
OF ALL TKUE NOBILITY.
THE AUTHOR.
P^ EpflCE.
Most of our readers must be informed that the following chap¬
ters are truthfully founded upon incidents in the history of the
birth, poverty and progressive life of one of the leading men of
color in our nation, to-day. With respect to the delineation of
his character, and description of his life, which forms not only
the foundation, but the bulk of interest in this narrative, crude as
the production may be, the author, however, she may have dimin¬
ished " Poor Ben's " prominence, which lie oo truly merits, has not
exaggerated it.
In placing him before the public in book form, she hopes to
give him, not only some of the distinction and popularity he
deserves; but also to generate an ambition in the hearts and
minds of the lowly ones of her race, to go and do likewise :
and trusts these facts simply told, may render ample justice to ev¬
ery one of her rate, who has struggled to rise during the political
spirit of the times in which these events occurred. " Poor P>en's"
elevation is a noble triumph over the persecution of his branch of
the race. There is needed no more potent argument, nor indispu¬
table testimony, than that furnished in the lives of such men, to
remove all prejudice and caste existing against the colored
American.
(4)
Preface.
5
Should these chapters succeed in conveying a true statement of
the narrative attempted, the writer will rest satisfied with the re¬
sult, however severely the merits of the work may be criticised,
Upon purely literary grounds.
If it evinces any political or denominational spirit, let me say
in self-defense, that it was utterly impossible to disassociate the
life of the man from the condition of his country and people, and
the operations of the inhuman and merciless laws of slavery,
which wrought so forcibly against the black man; or to dissever
his life from that off-shoot of the Christian Church to which his
progenitors belonged, and which he so worthily represents. If it
had been otherwise, he might have been born in the lap of luxury,
reared in the arms of affluence, and, with no opposing forces,
would never have advanced above the mass, nor enshrined himself
in the memory of the Church and State.
Hitherto, the history of the men of the colored family, who
have risen from the shadowy depths of the past, into an enlighten¬
ed and useful present, has been left unrecorded, except in diary
form, or journal, and stored away as family relics. But the time
has arrived when we must rescue from the Stygian gulf of obliv¬
ion the records of those who have passed on, and of those who still
temain on the green baized stage of the present.
In writing this volume, the author has found many thorns as
Well as roses in her pathway; but amongst the pleasures the
greatest was when she recognized peculiar merit in some trait
or dee(l of her subject; and the wish would bubble up from the
heart for the power to aid the development of such traits in the
million of ignorant ones of color in this country.
To collect, and arrange, and furnish original matter enough on¬
ly to fill the greater gaps, and adapt all to the end contemplated,
has been the chief duty. The author has with a crude plough¬
share broken new ground, turned up fresh strata, in a field where
6
Poor Ben.
future competition in the glory of classic culture will gather rfeJi
harvests from the field now being sown.
That the book maty prove instructive, edifying and useful,
der God's blessing, especially to that most numerous, important t
and rising class of people for whom it has been chiefly designed^'is
the earnest and prayerful desire of
THE AUTHOIi,
UBLISHERS' lOTICE.
Ijsa assuming tlie publication of this volume, the
gmfelishers have been chiefly guided by the design to
stimulate and encourage the production of Afro-Amer-
Scan literature. That the work is not above criticism
Ss as apparent to us as it will be to every competent
literary critic who may peruse it. As a beginning,
Blow-ever, in a certain line of literature, we have judged
Et to contain sufficient merit to warrant us in offering
£fc to the public, and commending it to the favor of
tbhose who are interested in the production of a litera¬
ture that will represent the ever increasing intelligence,
tas well as the hopes and aspirations of Afro-Ameri-
csans. However fondly the hope may be cherished,
t^hat American society will eventually becopie truly
tudsmopolitan in its character, does not relieve the ne-
faessity of each factor that may enter therein from at-
Staining the highest excellency of thought and charac¬
ter. The strength of the whole fabric will be in pro¬
portion to the strength of each element that enters in-
ito it. In the physical development of the country,
^he Afro-American has contributed his full share.
Will he contribute to its intelligence in a proportion¬
ate degree? ill he win recognition and distinction in
tihe(production of its literature? While others are using
tike jpress to speak for him, will he use it to speak
(7)
8
Publishers' Notice.
for himself? Will he turn the kaleidoscope of honest
effort so as to reveal the higher qualities of his being
through the medium of literary productions, and thus
pour just contempt upon the work of the caricaturists
who paint him only as the subject of humor and ridi¬
cule? It is the aim of the publishers of this volume
to encourage, so far as in them lies? every effort pos¬
sessing reasonable merit that may be put forth by an
Afro-American literator.
We feel a just pride in announcing that the entire
mechanical work, except the binding, was done by
Afro-Americans, with, material owned by the same, in
a building belonging to them; and we are fully con¬
scious that it has numerous mechanical defects, which
will be readily discerned by those who are competent
to judge. Remember, however, that it is our first
effort, and be assured that we intend to improve.
The author of the work undoubtedly possesses the*
possibilities of developing a meritorious standard of
authorship. Give her the stimulating influences of
helpful association, such as she would enjoy were sho
a white person, and in a few years she would take high
rank as an author. We have already been informed
of her intention to prepare the manuscript of another
book at no distant day.
COflTEflTS
CHAPTER. PAGE
I.—Childhood, - - - - 11
II.—The Cow Boy, r 17
III.—The Chore Boy, - - 25
IV.—The School Boy, - 29
V.—The First Fight, - - 34
VI.—The Wagon Boy, - 42
VII.—Steamboat and Hotel Life, - 47
VIII.—A Great Misfortune, - 54
IX.—In Sunday-school, - - 61
X.—The School Teacher, - 66
XI.—At the Capital, - - 72
XII.—Love, Courtship and Marriage, 78
XIII.—The Y. M. C. A., 94
XIV.—In Business, ... 99
XV.—Political Career ... 114
XVI.—A Call to the Ministry, - 132
XVII.—Literary Work, - 145
xviii.-two Years a Representative, 153
xix—the A. M. E. Church, - - 194
xx.—His Home, - - - 199
XXI.—Practical Lessons, - - 208
POOR BEN
<?!?apter I.
Childhood.
'Hf DEEP, elongated valley, through whose centre
flows the Dunlap Creek, as it hastens on between
the hills, thalt tower on either side, and rushes to meet
f;he noble waters of the Monongahela that apparently
checks its onward progress, and completely swallows
f;he little stream in its engulfing bosom—on this well-
known river, whose waters, mingling with the Allegheny
£glide into one and form the Ohio, which sweeps on in
i.ts broad channel to meet the Ck Father of waters," has
Ibeen launched nearly all the finest steamboats that ply,
tihe Mississippi and its tributaries. On each side of
this little creek, stretch the neat cottages and villa
iawns, irregularly situated on cleanly kept streets,
which constitute the towns of Brownsville and Bridge¬
port,. Pa. Of the "old iron bridge," which spans Dun-
Sap creek, and unites the two villages, the following
ramusing story is told: In the building of the bridge,
tone of the stipulations of the contract was, that no clay
•should be placed between the walls of the abuttments,
aand if the builder violated his contract he should for¬
feit his pay. While the bridge was being built, a
stage filled With statesmen, on their way to Wash¬
ington, was capsized, throwing all the passengers
(11)
12
Poor Ben.
into the space "below. After finding that no one was
hurt, one of the congressmen, who knew the word¬
ing of the contract, turned to Henry Clay, who was
among the number that had been thrown down the
embankment, and said, "Clay! the contract is brok¬
en !" This brought forth a hearty laugh from the
sage of Ashland. Thus the ''old iron bridge," over
which have passed our ablest statesmen and most elo¬
quent orators, became historic. But the reader may
say there is nothing very remarkable about this location.
True, yet even in points seemingly insignficant, 'tis well
at time^, to be explicit; for often one's surroundings
has much to do with one's self. And again, often that
which has its origin in apparent trifles, swells in mag¬
nitude, until its source is lost sight of, or, when ob¬
served, becomes a matter of surprise, as the results are
seen. An instructive lesson may be learned by the
student of nature, when contemplating the rain, or
spring as it forms the rill and the rivulet, which glides
down the hillside, and runs day and night, by mill
and cottage. It is this, that is useful, rather than the
swollen river, or roaring cataract. The great Missis¬
sippi excites wonder, and we stand and gaze .at its
power, and stand in awe of the greatness of its Maker.
One such stream is enough to be a repository for all
the water of a continent; but there would be no such
voluminous body of water, were it not for the thou¬
sands of silvery brooks and creeks, that help to make
that great river. So with the human family ; one lit¬
tle babe among us is a mere trifle, and with the lack of
attention, care and prayer, may run at will and its
powers never be trained to follow towards the great
channel of elevation. Hence they are wasted. This is
Ch ildhood.
13
only one! Ah, it is so in famil}T, city, state and
throughout the land. Intellect sinking into nothing¬
ness. Trifles! Who can value a drop of rain, or fix
the price of an immortal soul? though it be found in a
Negro hut, in the rice swamp of South Carolina. Care¬
fully prepare the ingredients, weigh with precision the
simplest and there is a certainty of perfection in its
compound. Deal cautiously with trifles, and there is
but little fear of the future issue. Lead the creek to
the river, and its influence will always be felt, in
quenching the thirst of the cattle, furnishing powerio
move the thousands of spindles and wheels in facto¬
ries, and building a highway for trade and commerce,
as it moves on to feed the mighty ocean.
Thus, reader, may you see, ere this story is finished,
how "Poor Ben," whose existence began, like the little
'creek, in obscurity, has surmounted barrier after bar¬
rier, until he reached the Monongahela of activity; set
the mill wheels of thought into action; passed on to
the Ohio of noble, purposes, there set barges of higher
hopes afloat; rushed earnestly towards the Mississippi
of usefulness, and opened the flood-gates of the gospel
againt sin; and is now hastening down to the honored
Mexico of old.age; thence on, on, until the majestic
ocean of eternity is gained.
This child's parents were of mixed blood. His fath¬
er seven-eighths Negro, one-eighth Irish; his mother
six-eighths Scotch, one-eighth Negro and one-eighth In¬
dian. Now this problem, when solved, makes Bennie
a compound of the following ingredients: Eight parts
Negro, six parts Scotch, one part Indian, and one part
Irish.
The characteristics of race variety exhibit themselves
14
Poor Ben.
"in his latter years of developed manhood as follows.
The Negro, in cheerfulness, eloquence, and hair; the
Scotch in fire of intellect, patriotism, and prominent
features of nose and mouth; the Indian, in his fidelity
to both friend and foe and in color; the Irish, in mag¬
nanimity, wit and in "blarney."
Bennie's days of boyhood thus rapidly fled; not
rocked by the hands of a hired nurse, in an automatic
-crib, of the present date; but kindly jostled, in a rude
old fashioned cradle made of ordinary boards, by the
-foot of a loving mother, whose hands were swiftly ply¬
ing the needle, and with brain active with thoughts of
the future, and whose heart was hourly praying for the
blessings she so much desired for her son.
He was a child of religious parents. His father who
purchased the first lot on which to build an A. M. E.
church in Brownsville, was steward and trustee for
thirty years; class leader twenty-five years, and Sab¬
bath-school superintendent fifteen years. In the midst
of difficult times he stood forth in public and bravely
and triumphantly defended the doctrine and discipline
of his church. He gave praises to God that he was
"bred up in this religion," and finally with singular
sweetness, resigned his soul into the hands of his Re¬
deemer, in 1867.
His mother was also a member of the same church,
until her death, August 12, 1882. These are her part¬
ing words to her son: " My son, God gave us to each
other; one by one He takes us home; but by and by
' We will walk through the streets of the city,
"With our friends that have gone before.
We will sit on the banks of the river,
We will meet to part no more.'
Childhood.
15
God has called you to preach; don't make a ship¬
wreck, my baby! You have Jesus, the Bible and com¬
mon sense to guide you.1'
It was March the 6th, 1S38, and the searching winds
were shaking the leafless branches, rattling the gates
and shutters, and numbing the fingers and toes of the
early risers in Brownsville, Pa. All without was keen,
icy, chattering and chill; all within was quiet, still
and warm; when in a little Bridgeport cottage, the
first item was added to the register in the family bible
under the column headed "Births." Thus Benjamin
William, the oldest of eight children, made his ap~
pearence in this sphere of mysteries, wondering, as he
lay cosily cuddled in his warm flannels, why he had
been banished from the fairy land of angels, and sent
to stay in this world of tempest and confusion.
Nevertheless little Bennie was here; he came to be
the household pet; came to suffer the pangs of colic,
and to be strangled with paregoric; came to be tossed,
trotted, starved, gorged, carefully tended, or left to cry
himself to sleep. This he, however, seldom did; for
Bennie was a fat, good natured, rollicking baby, and
never made wry faces, except when they stuck pins in
him. Baby Bennie was a dull-witted, or rather, lazy
baby, who wouldn't nor didn't talk until his brother
Tommie, whose senior he was, by two years, taught
him to talk.
In infancy, when Bennie was but six months old,
these christian parents gave him to God and the church
in hol}T baptism.
It is by such early consecration and religious train¬
ing at home in the day and Sunday-school, that the
children and youth of this day are to be made noble-
16
Poor -Ben.
men and women. It is high time fo imbue the chil¬
dren with the spirit of christian labor and love; to fa¬
miliarize them wTith the discipline doctrine and rule of
the-church, and with the purpqses of God in'saving the
world, and to interest them in the cause of missions.
Home and church training is the only hope of the
world. The way to procure a nation of sober, noble
men and intelligent cultured women, is to nip all sorts
of vice in the budding time of childhood.
Educate them in every department of morals, indus¬
try, science and art; then let their powers have full
sway. "Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it."
The Cow Boy,
<?l?apter II.
The Cow Boy.
^ I boy who is to be the principal figure in this
!F story is but little removed from the common run of
poor children. Of wonderful geniuses, or marvelous
^characters, the world has but few, and when you meet
'one in life's dense crowd, you, on close examination, will
be woefully disappointed. Happy, indeed, is the being
who ends life without having his ideals shattered. If
■such a person does live, his existence and the ideal
•are both questionable.
It is, therefore, unlikely that you will have the'
pleasure of reading in this work any record of amaz¬
ing adventures or hair-breadth escapes. Here and
there a surprise may occur, or an unexpected turn
may be given to the incidents; but of these the writer
cannot claim to be the inventor, for they are but an
■array of facts, and are the natural outcome of the
" Cow boy's " life. There is no need to enter the land
of romance. The checker-board of most common lives
presents daily new and strange variations. New, be¬
cause the actors are new; and each event, though old,
forms a new combination in their being; and strange,
because they spring from hithertofore neglected sources.
The beggar turns the kaleidoscope and forms a design
©.o king can produce. So each existence eked out is a
(17)
18
Poor Ben.
new book written by the recording angel, never to be
produced by another life.
Like all healthful babies, Bennie grew rapidly, passed
safely all the ills of infancy, and when eight years old
was large enough to work and help father and mother.
Drawing wages was a very pleasing thought to the little
fellow. He didn't want to be called " baby" any longer,
but preferred the appellation of man; but this he sel¬
dom heard, for his parents persisted in calling him
"baby" as long as they lived.
A neighbor wanted a boy to drive his cow to and
from pasture. Ben applied, and was employed at
thirty-seven and a half cents a month, which compens¬
ation was to be received in milk and articles from the
store of his employer. Just at the foot of the iron
bridge stood this store, owned by J. T. Rogers, in 1846,
and there it may be seen to-day, the property having
neither changed owners, nor the store its name or
outward appearance.
Every morning Bennie and his cow could be seen
trudging sloAvly down the coal road, past the,old Gregs*
mill, and with zig-zag directness up the hill beyond—-
the cow nipping the fresh blades of grass, the dewy
cowslips and the dandelions that had pushed their
way up to blossoming along the roadside. The cow
had no other motive in view than to supply the de¬
mands'of her keen appetite, expecting the natural laAvs
to fill her bag with rich milk, which was to be shower¬
ed in a musical torrent into the five-gallon milk pail
at night. Ben, who lagged sometimes in the rear,
sometimes in advance of his cow, was keeping his eyes
and brain busy with the natural objects around him.
As a coal cart passed him, he would at a glance pict-
The Cow Boy.
19
ure on the canvas of memory the old horse, the cart,
the driver, his bent back, his whip, tattered clothes
and strong clay pipe, and long after the wagon had
gone around the turn of the road, he would talk aloud
to himself: "Well, well, when I get to be a man I'll
have a better nag than that! I'll have two good horses
instead of such a one! Then I'll have a big cart, paint¬
ed red, and keep it clean-looking, and I'll be clean, too.
I'll have my hat on straight, my clothes all patched,
a good store whip, and I'll sit up straight. I won't
smoke, nor swear at my horses, like Tom Starr, but I'll
just crack my whip, and 'way they'll go a flyin'!"
At this juncture down goes one of memory's drop-
curtains, and shuts from sight the little cow-boy's vis¬
ion of future greatness in the possession of fine live
stock and red painted cart. The noise of that clat¬
tering old Gregs' Mill has absorbed his attention. He
halts, strikes the usual attitude of boy-men, with
thumbs burried in the arm-pits, his right foot firmly
supporting him, his left toes rooting in the mud and
his heel describing a quadrant in space, and his mouth
puckered up into a whistle, but only emitting an as¬
perate sound. There he stands.
"Vide" has stopped, too, and by lowing is trying to
urge him to his task. But the cow boy is busy at
work on a mill. Do you see him ?—hear him!
When I go home to-night I'll take my jack-knife
and whittle me out some little pine boards and to-mor¬
row I'll make me some little mud bricks and get all the
pins and tacks, and string, and spools and wire I can,
and then I'll build me a little mill on the side of the
ditch in front of the gate. It will be better than old
Gregs' mill. Of course, it will not be better; but, then,
20
Poor Ben.
it will be nice and new. And then, when I get to be-
a man like Mr. Gregg, I'll have a better mill than his'a
is now."
Thus ended this little careless, but not thoughtless
little workman's second day dream, and he began hur¬
rying along to regain lost time, chattering merrily >
staring, first up into the dense foliage of the trees, then,
watching his shadow in the clear road ditch.
"Mama says God made everything, and made me>
too, and is my Father. Now, if he made all these
things, some that move and some that can't move, I
wonder who made God?" His mind seemed bewild¬
ered for a moment, then, clear-headed, on he goes:
"Well, God is made, that's sure, and all the trees, and
cows, and dirt, and stones, and people, and—every*
thing is made, 'cause I see 'em. If God's father helped
him make so many nice things, and he is my Father,.
I just 'spect He'll help me make my mill to-morrow;
won't you, God? "
He said this with child-like faith, turning his face
toward the sky.
"Oh, my, the sun is so hot! I wonder if the sun
and moon ain't God's eyes. He looks at me so hard
it makes me hot. Guess I'd better hurry and get back
home. Whew! I'm getting so warm!"
These childish dreams and fancies are but the work-
ings of the intellect in embryo. In them we see a nat*
ural propensity in Ben to question; to seek out the
unknown things about him; the ability to plan and
build on future prospects, and to turn to account every
material within his reach, and convert all into a high¬
er purpose by his own sendeavors. These traits and
aspirations also show the incapability of man to se&
The Cow Boy.
21
that many of his efforts and schemes are vain and im¬
possible. After his plans are well made they fail of
accomplishment. They are as absurd to a higher be¬
ing as the cow boy's idea of always having a clean coal
cart, drawn by fat, sleek horses, clean clothes and erect
spine, or an everlasting good temper and a fine store
whip; and as uncertain as his ingenuity to construct
a complete mill, and set its machinery in motion with
his untaught hands and baby brain.
Simple reasoning in the child teaches the impracti¬
cability of trying to solve, in riper years, the unrevealed
mysteries of the Creator, or to sound the unfathoma¬
ble depths of the Great Beyond.
The first snow of 1848 had fallen over these two
towns of Western Pennsylvania, on a cold Sabbath
morning in October. The aristocratic ladies and their
children heeded their inclinations and stayed in-doors,
where they were certain of a warm atmosphere and dry
feet. The easy livers and laboring classes gladly
hailed the day, snowy though it was, so the streets and
churches of Brownsville were not quite deserted.
Heavy snow did not dampen the ardor of these hum¬
ble worshippers. Mr. Nicholas Smith and Bennie
were among those who hastened homeward through
the crisp snow after morning service, where they had
returned thanks for the blessing of church, health and
home, without a dream of being deprived of anything
they now possessed.
Uncle Nicholas was a brother of Bennie's mother,
and a steamboat man; working all the week, and lay¬
ing over at Brownsville on Sundays, as was the cus¬
tom of all the river-men in that section. On this Sab¬
bath evening just mentioned, Uncle Nicholas conclud-
22
Poor Ben.
ed not to go to church.
The day had worn on slowly; the snow had fallen
heavily at intervals in great, soft, white flakes, which
covered the ground and lay there, blotting out the
paths and making the face of the surrounding coun¬
try a pure white waste, over which it would be diffi¬
cult to find one's way after dark.
"We will not go 'to church to-night," said Mr. T ,
to his wife. " The snow is too deep for you, and it is
growing colder."
Mr. Smith however thought differently. The weath¬
er must not keep him in. He had attended morning
service, to-night he would worship at another shrine,
that of the amiable Miss . About ten o'clock he
returned home, took a lighted candle and went up to
his room; his earliest and only thoughts were given
to the one he had just left, instead of the locatioii of
the light; so that in placing the candle on the stand,
the curtain took fire, and in an instant the whole win¬
dow frame was in ablaze. Igniting some bedding that
was piled near, the fire rapidly spread from one piece of
fufniture to another, until the whole room was a bed of
flame. Mr. Smith rushed frantically down the stairs,
calling to his sister," Louise, fire upstairs! Louise, fire
upstairs!" The alarm was quickly given, and the citi¬
zens flocked to the scene. Bennie, who was asleep with
his little brothers, in their trundle bed, sprang from it>
caught his little baby sister in his arms, and with great
presence of mind ran from the burning house to the
school building across the way.
While the men were doing all they could to stay the
destructive element, our little hero was trying to soothe
the grief of the younger children, who did not realize
The Cow Boy.
23
the necessity of being snatched so suddently from their
warm bed and brought qut into the cold.
"Don't cry, Allie." "Mamma is coming Tom."
"Are you very cold?" "Perhaps papa will save our
clothes and bring them over here to us." And with
many other loving expressions he tried to console his
little brothers and sister, while- his parents were strain¬
ing every nerve to save what they could from de¬
struction.
Reader, imagine, if you can, the feelings of a poor man
and wife, who have struggled hard for years to get and
keep a little place called home, to see all the rewards
of their toil reduced to ashes, and their little ones with¬
out shelter save the canopy of heaven. Placed in an
extremity like this, without any source 011 the right or
on the left from which to ask assistance, the being
looks within at self, then above to its Maker, and finds
hope beyond; and soon there are spread around the
things so much needed and desired; for God never
forsakes his own. Help oftei} comes from unexpected
sources, and through misfortunes and heavy losses are
generally opened the best avenues to success and bet¬
ter days.
After the fire was subdued, and Mr. and Mrs. T
had sadly given a last look at their once happy home,
now a smouldering heap of cinders, they accepted the
kind offer of a home with Mrs. A's brother Jerry. Here
their jieeds were generously attended to, the citizens
showing that spirit of generosity and benevolence that
is so justly accredited to all the native citizens of
"Penn's Woods." J. C. Auld rebuilt Bennie's house,
and kindly allowed his parents as much time as they
needed to pay for it.
24 Poor Ben.
i The person who under all circumstances endeavors
to help himself will always find a helping hand stretched
to save him when his own attempts are futile. So with
these faithful servants of God, whose faith in him was
strong. When all seemed dark and hopeless He opened
the way for them in their extreme need, and bestowed
His aid when they were unable to rise without it.
The Chore Boy.
<?l?apter III.
The Chore Boy.
§ENNIE, the cow boy, nfter loosing his home, was
fortunate enough to get a more lucrative situation,
that of chore boy at the house of an Episcopal clerg}r-
man.
Only a chore boy, yet that was better than being a
cow boy; for he was to get thrice thirty-seven and a
half cents a month and his board. Benjamin felt that
he was rising, not withstanding there was Aunt Mar¬
garet's every whim to gratify, and the numerous calls
to run and answer, of that dignitary, Rector Cowan.
Work, is the mutual heritage of every child of the
human race, and it is the great civilizer. Ben's par¬
ents were poor, and worked, and economized, so it run
in the family for him to love to be busy at something,
mere child though he was. Hence that prodigality so
natural in man, did not predominate in this chore boy.
He believed intuitively that he ought to work, earn
and save.
Thus we see the creation of a tendency toward thrift,
which is made manifest, in later years, by its rapid
developement. Work became Ben's lot in early life,
and to him, as to all others, it was God's richest bless-
ing"
llany do not view labor in this light. Some think
poverty, and its companion work, a curse. But it is a
(25)
26
Poor Ben.
law which, if conformed to, brings the only true hap¬
piness that Providence intended to be ours. It is im¬
possible to enjoy anything in nature or art without la¬
bor. The idle girl or boy, the indolent man or wo¬
man, is the most perfect picture of unhappiness, one
can portray.
By giving a description of Rev. Cowan's parsonage,
you will readily see another incentive to industry that
Bennie might have had, besides his love of employ¬
ment, and it may explain the reason why he seldom
allowed the sun to set on unfinished work.
The rectory was a medium sized house, a nest of
comfort and convenience, without any of the stately
grandeur of some ministerial residences of the pres¬
ent day. There was nothing about the building, its
furniture or surroundings, to suggest a manor. The
flower beds and grass plat in the front yard were kept
in good order, and in fact, wTere laid out with an eye
to the beautiful. The back yard was a wide, deep one,
level, destitute of fruit trees and grass, except several
a^ed apple trees that stood beyond the bam and coal
house, and near to the line fence, while a few shrubs
stood near the pathway of plank, that led to the out¬
buildings, and to the gate that opened into the lot be¬
yond. This back yard extended to the church grave¬
yard, which lay just in the rear of the entire parish,
property.
To the right of the parsonage rose the dingy walls
of the Christ Church, with its staring window case¬
ments, and its gloomy tower. To the left lay a va¬
cant lot, without fencing, having a muddy jiond in
the center, where all the neighboring ducks and geese
swam. In front ran the dimly lighted street.
The Chore Boy.
27
But most particularly impressive to Ten was the
rear boundary of his new home, where the tall columns
of white marble were gleaming in the starlight. As
one could form so awfully sublime, or vastly grand an
idea of the holy horror/, that hangs over a grave-yard
after dark, as Bennie did, on a cloudy night, when he
had tailed to bring in a sufficient quantity of coal and
wood.
Bustling around in her tidy kitchen, Aunt Margaret
would, while preparing things for an early breakfast,
peep into the coal box; a look in that direction, or to¬
ward the water bucket, after sunset, always had a
queer effect on our little nine-year old chore boy; for
he was sure to hear Aunt Margaret's voice: "Here
Bennie go and bring in a couple of scuttles of coal and
an arm full of kindling."
Ever obedient he would start and go—but how far?
Closing the back door he would halt, and shiver a lit¬
tle from the cold, but more from physical fear.
I would not have you think him a coward. On the
contrary, he was really a brave boy; but then an un¬
seen something, on a dark night, often causes much
older persons to quake, and older heads to wonder,
though their minds be concious that no danger is near,
and there is nothing that can harm. There is a point,
or time, when halting between timidity caused by
physical fear, and the boldness engendered by mental
courage and reason, some proclivity forces the physi¬
cal part of man on to the safe accomplishment of his
aim; though the body may continue its involuntary
tremor.
So with Bennie, he would stand and tremble, and
yet was quite certain that nothing would catch him;
28
Poor Ben.
for lie had made many a safe trip to the coal house and
pump, without light or company. He knew too well
the determination of his aunt to have things done in
her own way and time, so he must not return with an
empty scuttle. Finally with a certain amount of will
power, partly natural, partly caused by two exciting
nerves—Aunt Margaret inside, and darkness outsi.de
—Bennie would muster up all his courage, and fill the
coal box at no slow rate.
Little by little his fear of the tall white grave stones,
the geese floating by starlight in the pond, and the
dreary church, with its dark steeple and gaping win¬
dows, was overcome, and he learned that there were
fewer ghosts in the graveyard, than in the chambers of
imagination.
Every day this little soldier of the chore boy regi¬
ment, answered Aunt Margaret's roll call, ate his ra¬
tions, fought his battles, though they may have been
only imaginary ones, with the cemetery hob-gobblins,
or cobble stone throws with which he put the geese to
rout, and he made many such conquests, that perhaps
are unworthy of laurels in the reader's estimation; yet
they were nevertheless, battles and victories, or defeats
comparatively equal to many which grown-up boys
dail}r fight, win or lose. They strengthened him for
the sterner conflicts, awaiting him in subsequent years.
Poor Ben's Birthplace.
Chapter 11/.
The School Boy.
fHE summer months passed swiftly by, and Bennie
stopped work. Not because be was tired of his situ¬
ation, nor th.it he was sick; but simply because he had
learned that school was to open, His parents had
promised him that he might enter school and he was
almost beside himself to see what A looked like, and
to hear how U sounded, when made by his own vocal
organs, and to try to be^,t his Uncle Epbram writing
with a goose quil.
Reader, you and I have both had our first day in
school. With what extreme delight do we recall the
joyous anticipations we had on entering the school
room for the first time.
If you have any curiosity to know hpw Bennie felt,
all you have to do is to take a seat in your own imag¬
ination, whether outside, or in, it matters not, the fact
is the same; and there, when quietly settled in the
halls of memory, you can look around you, and at no
cost, upon the scenes of early school days, painted by
the hand of personal experience. Here you may ac¬
company Ben, in his learning to skate, taking the girls
to coast on Saturday, and capsizing them, then beat¬
ing a hasty retreat to the steep bills where none bu.t
boys dare venture to descend. Iiere you see inglorious
30
Poor Ben.
upsets and hazardous collisions.
There is a striking similitude in the life of every
school girl and boy; and yet enough in the differences
of time, places, and persons, to individualize each one.
In our little student's face, there the enquiring look
as to how he would be received by his school-mates;
the anxious look as to what would be the first embar¬
rassing task, and most prominent and unmistakable
was that mischievous twinkle in Bennie's eyes as to
the 'fun he was going to have in playing jokes on
bashful gi^ls and backward boys; or stealing marches
on his unsuspecting teacher.
The little stone school house into which we are
about to admit the new pupil, commanded quite a
picturesque view. From the elevation on which it
stood, could be seen the lovely valley, which formed
the lower parts of Brownsville and Bridgeport. The
many curves of Dunlap creek, wound in perfect spiral
lines of loveliness, while its banks were diversified with
graded meadows and orchard gardens, and dotted with
comfortable looking houses.
The location ahd the surroundings you have glanced
at, now let us look more particularly at the building.
It is a one story structure, with windows on each side,
a double door in front, and has all those traits of clum¬
sy neatness so rare in the school houses of small towns
at that date.
At the entrance stood the teacher's desk, of white
oak, unpainted and without varnish, and was elevated
about two feet above the floor of the room. The chil¬
dren's desks were very unlike the desks used now.
They were not arranged in rows to fold back; but
werfe straight benches without book rests or ink wells.
The School Boy.
81
In fact they lacked all the conveniences and comforts
of the modern desks. The heaters were long iron box
stoves, a few old dust covered, and smoked soiled maps
adorned the walls, on the sides between the windows;
and two short blackboards were nailed against the
walls; one in the fore, the other in the background.
Some faded blue cambric curtains kept out the intrud¬
ing rays of sunlight.
We cannot help noticing; though we secretly and
silently leave out all comment, the numerous jack
knife hieroglyphics, which may be seen on every ob¬
ject within. Each has its history grave or gay. The
hand that carved may be at this moment at work on
a better, or may be a lifeless piece of clay. If it be a
name think kindly of it. The owner may have sunk
in dishonor, and may be sharing the convict's cell, or
with fame and title, be enjoying the honors a noble
life merits.
The teacher, Mr. Ephram Arnett, is an erect, square-
built, man of two hundred pounds, with firm, massive,
benevolent features, not however without a dash of
will, decision and executive determination in them,
Tyhich adds much to the interest, that such a man elic¬
its from an observer. Hi^1 eyes are black, deep set,
kind and lively, his eye brows are heavy and project¬
ing, and either stern or relenting as the occasion re¬
quires, but in their natural mood are very 'complacent.
There is a proud military bearing about his free, easy
movements, that bespeaks the consciousness of having
discharged his duty in the different fields of work, in
which he has labored.
He is about thirty years of age, but his regular hab¬
its, cheerful and kind disposion, and robust constitu-
32
Poor Ben.
tion make him appear but twenty-five or less
In short yon see that he is but a beau ideal of what
one would call an old-fashioned school-master.
On this cold frosty morning in October, 1849, Ben-
nie for the first time entered this school-room as a
student.
The teacher just spoken of was a brother of Ben-
nie's father. As he came in a desk was assigned him
with Goin Fairfax for a seat-mate. Jerry Cane, and
/Dave Conyon sat behind him, Leslie Fairfax and Sam
Robinson in front, Sidney Banks and Joe. Robinson,
on the right. Just across the isle sat Harriett Poin-
dexter, a girl whose aptness in penmanship charmed
Ben, and whose graceful lines on slate or paper, acted
like a whip to his unsteady nerves, and stiff awkward
fingers. It was not long before such a spirit of compe¬
tition was generated that he would never allow Harriett
to make a nice looking letter, but what he would, by re--
peated practice on it, succeed in making it as well and
rapidly as she, and no doubt would add an extra flour¬
ish as an improvement.
A very noticeable trait in Bennie's character was
perseverance. He early learned to put into practice,
the sentiment of the song he daily sang, and which is
familiar to every ear:
" Over and over again,
The broo-k through the meadow flows,
And over and over and over again,
The tireless mill-wheel goes.
So the dews of the morning must fall,
And the sun and the summer rain,
Must do the work and perform it all,
Over and over again.
The School Boy.
33
Over and over again,
No matter which way I turn,
I always find it in the great book of life,
Some lesson I have to learn.
I must take my turn at the mill,
"While it grinds the golden grain,
Must do my task with a right good will,
Over and over again."
On Monday morning, this unpretending little fellow
would reach over and lay his slate on Harriet's desk,
and put his hand up to his mouth and whisper: <kHar¬
riet make me two good capitals." " All right Ben, these
are hard ones, don't expect you'll know where to com¬
mence on them."' But a few curves, straight lines and
ovals were small enemies, when Ben's heavy hand,
determined will, and sharp pencil were brought to
bear upon them.
He didn't always follow prescribed rules, for making
downward and upward strokes, or beginning a letter
at the proper place. Nor did he notice the particular
beauty of shaded and hair lines, until he had conquer¬
ed the letter in skeleton.
Yet after repeated trials, Friday would find him tri¬
umphant, and then he would hand his slate over to
Harriet with both sides covered with fine, fat looking
capitals, and with a victorious toss of his head would
ask; "Harriet, ain't they better than yourn?" This
of course Harriet would never admit, not because she
was envious, but she did not wish to feed his vanity.
Thus as the wintry days wore on, Bennie studied as
hard in school and at home, as he played at recess, and
on holidays, earnest alike in work and play.
Chapter U.
The First Fight.
HE game of fox and geese, and pull-away, through
the freshly fallen snow, were this ever active boy's
delight.
There was no more royal fun than a day spent on
the hillside, or ice, coasting or skating.
Acting as commander of a crowd of girls and boys,
Bennie would have them build, under his supervision, a
snow fort, and after it was completed and a good sup¬
ply of compact, crystal cannon balls were made, he
would divide his force into two armies, offensive and
defensive. Those who had done the least in the build¬
ing, and the furnishing of the fort, would form the of¬
fending force, and were driven from the possession,
thus would open a lively contest for the disputed ter¬
ritory. The whiz of the swiftly sent balls, the stolen
advances made on the rear of the fort, the shouts of the
victorious boys or girls, who with long poles, succeed¬
ed in bringing down a portion of the fort, and finally
the headlong rush of the ones who had for so many
minutes, held their ill-gotten arsenal, chased by the
victors, can be better imagined than described.
By this and other methods of sport, Bennie culti¬
vated his combative propensity and love of conquest.
He, not differing from the other boys, did not always
(34)
The First Fight.
35
play fight, but some times would find cause to go at it
in real earnest, and when a falling out would occur, a
round of boxing, or tug at wrestling would ensue.
One day, after school had been dismissed, a number
of boys went down to Lanning's saw-mill, to get bark
from the logs. After playing for some time in the
sawdust, a dispute arose between Ben and Johnnie
Tate. "Say, John, I wouldn't take that off of Ben,"
exclaimed Nute Legg, and this was seconded by Hattie
McVullen. "He'll take all that and more too, if he
fools much more, and don't let me alone!'' said Ben.
" I'll lick him as quick as chain lightning." "You'd
better try it," put in Phin Starr, "and you'll have me
to lick too!" "All right, I'll whip you and all the
rest if you don't go off and let me alone," said Ben,
who began to think that things were assuming a very
war-like aspect. " I ain't going off," said Johnnie
Tate, coming up and rubbing his fist under Ben's nose.
This was more than our little commander of the fort
could stand, the latent ferment in him became active
and bubbled over, falling heavily on Johnnie's head,
in his face, anywhere, for he was pummeling promis-
cously every part of his opponents fair proportions.
"Let me go Ben, I take it all back. Oh, bo}Ts, my
nose! Look how I'm bleeding! " But Ben thumped
away until he was not only sure of victory, but was
quite out of breath, and could fight no longer.
Johnnie's boasting friends stepped up and led him
down to the water, and washed his bloody face and
blackened eyes, a't the same time whispering a new
idea, or word of consolation in his ear, Ben didn't
know which. However, no fear of a second attack ever
entered his mind. So he filled his basket with strips
36
Poor Ben.
of bark and went safely home. Once safely housed,
fee told his mother of his adventure while at the mill.
She listened quietly, then when he had finished, she
tried to show him how wrong it was to quarrel and
fight, though inwardly thinking that he'd do it again
if he had to, he promised to keep away from bad boys
and not fight any more. Ben was not fond of being
scolded, so he listened quite patiently for awhile, but
concluding that his mother was not going to stop and
•get supper, he said, "Mother hadn't I better bring in
my wood now?" "Yes, Bennie, before it gets later,
fibr I want you to go to the grocery for me before dark."
So Bennie hurriedly brought in his coal and kind¬
ling, took the basket, and after getting a list of the cr-
ticles to be gotten, he counted and repeated them a
number of times, and set out for Roger's grocery.
This he reached safely and soon had the packages
stored away in the basket under his right arm, and a
tin bucket of molasses in his hand, with which he
started on a brisk walk toward home, fearing darkness
would overtake him
He had not gone far before it was a deep twilight,
and he heard some voice near him say, '• There he
comes boys! There he is!" And in a moment a stone
©ame whizzing through the dark, quickly followed by
another, and another. Bennie not only looked about
Mm but quickened his steps into a run, for he was about
to be attacked by a dozen boys all screaming, git! git!
git! Bennie thought discretion the most valiant thing
to practice at this point, so clinging to his basket with
one hand and his bucket with the other, he beat a has¬
ty retreat. In his haste he ran against a short guard¬
ing post, it struck him in the breast suddenly check-
The First Fight.
37
ing his' speed, and sending his molases all over liim,
and the pavement, while the parcels flew in every di¬
rection from the basket. Ben gave but little thought
to the scattered articles; self-preservation was the
thought uppermost in his mind, so he picked himself
up and away he flew towards home, verifying the old
adage, "he that fights and runs away, lives to fight an¬
other day." He soon reached home and was met at
the door by his mother who was growing verj' anxious
about him.
Bennie rushed in at the door out of breath, and
with such a frightened look that his mother cried:
*l Why Bennie! what is the matter with you? Where
are the things I sent you for?" This she said all in
one breath. "Those old boys chased me, and stoned
me all the way home," gasped the poor boy, who now
saw that he had lost the supposed victory he had made
during the day by the inglorious defeat and retreat at
night. But his mother consoled him, as best as she
could, then went back with him to the place where he
collided with the post, to gather up the scattered gro¬
ceries, and mourn over the battered bucket.
Like all childish disputes, this one between Bennie
and Johnnie Tate was amicably settled the next day,
and they were firm friends. Tate reached the years of
manhood, joined the army and was killed in battle. But
Ben lived to relate with pleasure the story of the first
battle in which John Tate was engaged; with sorrow
the last, in which he fell; for it was with heart-felt
sympathy that Ben followed the form of his school¬
mate to his last resting place, and recalled many scenes
and sports that the now lifeless form had once shared,
with him.
38
Poor Ben.
When Bennie was quite young his mother gave him
a little dog, Avhose color was a dark yellow, unbroken
save by a white spot in the breast and one on each
foot, that had a perfect resemblance to socks. "Major
Ringold," for this Avas his name, was the embodiment
of dignity, courage and fidelity. He walked as proud¬
ly as though he owned both sidewalk and street, or was-
leading major of some famous army. Brave as a lion
he was afraid of neither men, boys nor dogs Wherev¬
er Bennie went he Vas his constant companion*
While the boys played he would guard their coats and
hats; when they swam he attended them, and when
tired he would return to the bank, and lie near their
clothing and dry himself in the sun.
The boys, however, never liked to have Major with,
them when they went on hunting expeditions, for he
was too fat to chase and catch rabbits, and would only
scare them off so that the bo}'s would have no better
success than he.
He was useful, however, in driving up the cows; they
knew him, and as soon as he would pop over the fence,,
they would start for the bars.
Major was faithful as well as brave. Often Bennie
would come in contact with bad boys, on his way to
and from the store, or in going to the home of his
Aunt Henrietta Robinson. If Major was with him,
he would walk close up to his side, and by his action
say, "I am here to protect you." This would give
Bennie great courage, he would look proudly at his
little dog, as he strutted by his side, Avith head and
tail erect. Ben would throw his shoulders back, and
inarch on with his hands full of stones to protect both
himself and dog- When a stone was thrown, Major
The First Fight.
39
would stand and say by the expression of his face and
attitude of his body, "Hit me, but touch Ben, if you
dare."
Major Itingold, was kind and faithful to all the
-children. All the neighbors liked him, and would save
and throw him a good bone. But like all things earthly
he took sick, the family and neighbors did all they
could to alleviate his sufferings, but human aid was
vain, and Major Ringold died.
Here followed another scene, the crying of the chil¬
dren, father and mother looked very sad, while Ben
and Tommie began to make preparations for the fun¬
eral. They went to the back of the lot, on the hill,
dug a grave for him, returned, wrapped him in a cof¬
fee sack, and placed him on long poles. All the boys
in the neighborhood were in attendance, some acting
as pall-bearers. They carried Major to his last resting
place, and with tears and sad countenances they cov¬
ered him up in his little grave on the hill. This was
the last of the animal, who was Ben's faithful teacher
in lessons of fidelity, dignity and courage.
Not even a wooden slab marks the spot where Major
Ringold lies. But at the foot of the old apple tree, he
Bleeps the sleep of all animals. And if animals have
a resurrection and the true and faithful shall come up
first, then when they arise, in the foremost ranks of
faithful dogs, Major Ringold will appear.
Not wholly bereft, Ben had another pet—his blue
lien. She layed a nest full of eggs, and Ben did not
have long to wait, before there were ten chickens. One
was a fine rooster and he named him "Nick," which
he trained to stand on his shoulder and crow. He
was p, fighter and defender, and no other rooster, old or
40
Poor Ben,
young, could stay about the yard. He protected and
scratched for the little ones, and in short was the cock
of the yard.
There was something in that young chicken that
made Bennie like him. Nick looked independent; he
walked, fought, scratched for and protected the hens
independently and bravely. This spirit of independ¬
ence and peculiar dignity became firmly rooted in
Bennie.
As he noticed Nick walking around hunting worms
and bugs for the ckickens, and his care for the hens, it
taught him a lesson of care for those who were depend¬
ent on him for food and clothing, and he resolved that
he would be as independent and as industrious as Nick.
If one will but wratch the instincts of animals, in the
relations of each to each, one can find lessons of duty to
others, that would, followed out, increase the happi¬
ness of the' world. Were mankind each to follow the
teachings of Christ, how blest would be the members
of each family; how improved the condition of each
citizen; and how far superior would be our Govern¬
ment.
If each being would but use the spirit of brotherly
love, with family, neighbor, friend and citizen, and
measure each half-bushe! of dealing, as he would have
it given him—heaped up and running over—the great
yawning chasms now existing between members of
families, between citizens, states and branches of the
race would soon be spanned by iron bridges of real
friendship, and the chain of humanity would be har¬
monious and complete. This spirit does not teach one
to care for one's self only, and neglect others, nor to
weep over one's own misfortune, and smile at the en-
The First Fight.
41
emy's downfall, nor to take the larger portion and
leave the lesser to those more deserving. It does not
teach one to lie, to cheat, and to steal, but to love an¬
other as one's self. And this is an easy task, if the
import of the verse be kept in mind: " For with what
measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again."
Qpapter l/l.
The Wagon Boy.
fROM the cradle to the grave, life is a struggle.
Some aspire to fame, others to wealth, a few aim to
do God's will without hope of fame or wealth, while
others content themselves with a life of indolence and
pleasure. A few happy ones possess the faculty of
combining these aims into a truly enjoyable state of
existence; but in any case it is appointed for all to
toil, whethei4 by so doing they make themselves mis¬
erable or happy.
The cause of so many blank lives is due largely to
a certain amount of foolish pride, or lack of ambition
and will power to do earnestly whatever the hand finds
to do. The average young man and young woman of
to-day is too proud to do any kind of honest labor to
gain a firm foothold in life. If they cannot at once
be placed in good lucrative positions, they refuse hum¬
ble ones, and so eke out an existence of want, living
on support earned by others, rather than step by step,
mount the ladder of fame.
In early youth 'tis well to know the sphere of use¬
fulness one's natural inclinations fit one for. If these
agree with the mental and physical organization of the
person, then he must pursue the attainment of that
(42)
The Wagon Boy.
43
aim or desire, though his calling be humble. Thus his
cultivated or acquired abilities in these lesser spheres,
but strengthen and assist the whole being to reach a
more exalted position in the region to which his nat¬
ural talent and ambitious aspirations beckon him.
The sooner a child ascertains his fort, the sooner
will lie be prepared to mount the ladder, passing up¬
ward from one field of labor to another until he meets
with success in the sphere toward which he aimed.
Yet he must be careful that he does not try to soar too
high. The noblest ambition is that which fights against
gin and .ignorance, poverty and shame; fights in dark¬
ness, for light; fights when down, to rise. This kind
of ambition dies hard, or never dies at all. An am¬
bitious spirit is one which must be carefully dealt with
—like the powder magazine, so useful, yet so danger¬
ous—it must be well guarded. This ardent thirst for
honor and glorious achievement in any vocation; this
intensity of soul that is unsatisfied with all it has
done, and still has an unextinguished desire for doing
more, is that dreaded spark which ignited and con¬
sumed the souls of earth's greatest men, and so ter¬
minates all ambitious greatness without goodness and
godliness. Only that ambition is good which does
good to the possessor and those who come in contact
with him.
There is to be seen daily, on every hand, instances
of the remnants of young men and once beautiful girls,
who are now total wrecks, the pictures of old age and
despair, who cannot live long upon earth though but
one-third of their days are past—sad wrecks—and in
their faces what can be read? "My life has proven a
blank." "I die young in years but old in crime!"
44
Poor Ben.
"The monument I leave behind will read, 'Beware of
the shoals and reefs that wrecked me.' " " How I might
have blessed mankind!" Now turn the page, and on
the other side are other instances. We see persons who
have learned wisdom from experience, close observa¬
tion, deep reflection, and the intense application of
both their physical and mental powers. This class, no
doubt, forms the most useful part of society.
There is an old adage—though homely, 'tis true:
"Throw a man overboard, and if worth saving he will
Save himself." At all events, many who have had
great success have attained it through force of adverse
circumstances rather than by foresight and friendly as¬
sistance. In the nineteenth century life is short. The
child has matured at sixteen, has reached his prime
at thirty, is old—past three score and ten—at fifty,
and dies^ Childhood is the time to push ahead. Learn
what you are best fitted for, and as soon as you have
gotten on the right track and fully equipped turn on
steam, push ahead, though you may only be on a
gravel train, freight, caboose, or a smoking car; you
can travel along j ust as others have done, over the same
upward grade, and as fast as they, if you only keep
up steam, and the track clear, and pursue your way
until you arrive at the station you covet.
Fine engines, palace cars, and splendid appoint¬
ments, are only the helps to success, which, without
the motive power, that must be generated by the indi¬
vidual and governed by his indomitable will, will not
earn dividends nor escape destruction.
Bennie had continued in school during the winter
months, and always found employment during the re¬
mainder of the year. He not only studied and learned
The Wagon Boy.
the lessons assigned him at school and at home, but
he was daily storing his mind with practical lessons
of morality, industry and thrift. In everything by
which he was surrounded, he found something worthy
of observation, and he applied his mind closely to suck
things until they were fully understood or his curi¬
osity satisfied. Often personal experience taught him
useful lessons, and whether pleasant or bitter, they
were never to be forgotten.
In the spring pf 1850 Ben had grown to be a strong
robust boy of twelve years of age, and quite able to d©
considerable work. He was at this time employed as®,
wagon-boy. His business was to scotch " the wheels of
the wagons, and assist in loading and unloading. His
compensation was six dollars a month, and by this in¬
crease of labor and reward Ben reached the third round
of his ladder. Being a lover of animals, he enjoyed be¬
ing where he could drive or in any w7ay attend to the
horses. He spent many hours of royal fun with the
men and horses, notwithstanding the fatiguing exer¬
cise such work demanded.
During the campaign of 1852, the subject of our
sketch was an off-bearer of brick, and the wagons of
the brick yard were engaged to carry the delegation of
men from Brownsville to Uniontown. The first day
they carried the Whigs, or the Scott and Graham men.
The drive of twelve miles was a pleasant one, and its
pleasure was greatly enhanced by the many jovial and
witty narrations of political stories, told as only poli¬
tical men filled with the spirit of their party can tell
them, and emphasized with bursts of laughter, shouts,
clapping, stamping, and Indian-like cheers.
The day following, the Democrats, whose candidates
46
Poor Ben.
were Pierce and King, were driven over the same road
to Uniontown, where speeches were to be made in the
grove. Ben, having the day previous greatly enjoyed
the hilarity and excitement of the Whig party, thought
he would leave the wagon, repair to the grove, and
hear the Democratic side of the question. Securely
fastening his horses, he started to join the crowd that
had gathered in the woods. Before he had gone far he
heard voices aheqd of him shoutting, "There comes
that ! there he come^!" followed by a
shower of stones, all of which luckily missed him.
Ben very quickly decided that a "to the rear, double
quick, march!" movement was the best step for him
to take; the thought and action came simultaneously,
and as Ben ran he changed his tactics and politics at
the same time. Turning his back on the Democratic
party he ran hastily back to his wagon, and up to this
time he has given the Democrats his back, his scorn
and his opposition.
Young Ben's last work as wagon boy was loading and
driving a coal cart to and from an extensive coal bank
in the neighborhood of Brownsville. One morning
he made a trip to the bank, and was in the act of fill¬
ing his cart. Fortunately for him he was just depos¬
ing a lump of coal in the cart, when an immense
"horse-back," or ceiling of slate, came down with a
crash from the upper walls of the bank. Its weight
was two tons or more. Small pieces of the slate jut¬
ting out from the edge of the u horse-back" grazed Ben's
back, tore his clothing from him, and so thorou ghly
frightened him that he could never be induced to en¬
ter another coal bank. When his bruises were healed,
his clothes mended and shocked nerves restored, he
gave up cart driving and sought other employment.
Chapter l/n.
Steamboat and Hotel Life.
"p? EN doubtless thought as did TTlysses—he would
X§/ look for other worlds of better work. He would
Bail, Though the streams might wash him down, yet
it was equally as probable he might some day land on
happy isles, and there in his wanderings he might
share the fortunes of the good and great, and experi¬
ence the comfort of peace and quiet after battling with
the waves. We are encompassed with the mysteries,
and blindly we daily rush into many dangers which
are intended to be linked for good or ill to our des¬
tinies. And no spark of divine radiance shines out
of frail humanity to warn us, nor illume the dark¬
ness of our future. It is only when life is at the mid¬
night that the star of hope holds its torch so that the
soul alone may see into the future. When it is day
we need no star, and so rush headlong without peering
ahead for danger.
Anxious to see more of the world than w( stern
Pennsylvania, Ben made up his mind to work 011 the
Mono'ngahela, Ohio and adjacent waters, giving little
thought to the fortunes or misfortunes that future
events might hold for him. Hard work had worn
away the novelty of his home, and he longed to view
some of the points of beauty lying along the banks of
(47)
48
Poor Ben,
these streams. Brownsville being situated at the head
of river navigation, Ben readily found employment
on one of the many steamers that plied the river lead¬
ing to the Mississippi. The steamer "John B. Gordon"
■was a small one, or what is called a low-wajter boat,
that made bi-weekly trips from Brownsville to Mor¬
gan town, Va. On this boat Ben set out in the posi¬
tion of "knife shiner." This riverman's phrase meant
that he would be expected to clean knives, and tins,
or attend to any odd jobs the pantryman or steward
might find for him to do. The spirit of willingness,
and cheerfulnees, so prominent in his early life, t\ on
for him friends, and made him the favorite with the
eaptain and all who were employed on board. This
justly earned and deserved friendship was more to
him than his paltry wages. This humble station well
filled made access to other and better work easy. After
running for some time on this boat he accepted an of¬
fer on the " Atlantic," which ran between Pittsburg and
Brownsville. Nothing that could be of interest to our
leaders occurred while Ben was aboard the "Atlantic."
The dull monotony of every-day life was endured by the
proprietor and employees, while each day all the pas¬
sengers declared everything "delightful and charming."
Ben was finally transferred to the "Australia," a very
large boat, and made several trips to St. Louis. In the
meantime he had been working his way up. He was
®ften found in the pilot house learning to manage
things in that department, or down with the firemen
or engineer, studying the wonderful mechanism of the
engine ; then up in the pantry, learning the mysteries
©f bow and where the sweets were made and kept.
Ever trusty, apt and business like, he was often en-
Steamboat and Hotel Life.
49
trusted with the pro tern, management of these several
departments, and when left in charge of affairs never
proved false to the trust placed in him.
In the year 1856, Ben became pantryman on the
" Belle Golden." In this office he prepared all cold
dishes for the tables, had full chargo of the pastries,
fruits, wines, preserves, weighed and sent out all the
coffee, teas, flour, etc. needed in the culinary depart¬
ment. During this year the cholera raged, and Ben
suffered an attack, but was fortunate in that as in oth¬
er epochs, and survived while thousands perished.
During the downward trip to St. Louis, a slave and
a mule were among the other cargo, the Negro receiv¬
ing the same fare with the live-stock. They were hur¬
ried on board at Louisville, Ky. Before they had gone
very far the poor slave was seized with a severe attack
of cholera. Without a friend, even without a bed, he
lay in intense agony. Ben, hearing his piteous groans,
went to him, and finding him seriously ill, had the
poor fellow placed in his bed, and did all he could to
relieve his sufferings. Several of the working hands
watched with Ben at the bedside of the poor man, who
prayed for death not only as a relief from bodily pain
but for freedom of body and soul from that reign of
terror, slavery. His cries of racking pain, his pleading
request and yearning prayer, "Oh, Lord, how much
longer? " wotild have melted the hearts of those who
held the price of his departing soul. Death came to
his relief at four o'clock the following morning, and
the carpenter of the boat, assisted by Bennie,' made a
coffin of rough boards and placed all that was mortal
in it. Bennie then secured the services of a few deck¬
hands to act as pall-bearers, th£ boat was run ashore at
60
Poor Ben.
Slim Island, and there these kind hearts hid from view
the form of the slave, whose lot of toil and anguish
had never been brightened by kindness and brother¬
ly love until this his dying hour. No one stood near
with God's word to cheer him; none save the few
hearts that bled in compassion were near to cast a
farewell glance at the cold, stark, unyielding features;
no eminent divine pronounced the burial rite. On
deck, stood wealthy christian slave owners, jesting with
heartless sneers, wearing the Maker's image as a screen¬
ing mask, knowing too well that the dead slave was
made in God's own likeness, too.
As the rough pine box wras borne across the gang
plank to the lonely island in the Ohio river, the specta¬
tors on the decks of the boat knew that it held only
"Worthless dust, while deep in their hearts wTas a certain
consciousness that a precious ransom had been paid
for the soul, one that was greater than all human
price. The slave's body was no longer in bondage;
his spirit was as free as the white-winged messengers
of God into whose glorious company it had taken
flight. While the deck-hands scooped a shallow grave
for one who had been doomed to be the Christian's
slave for years, his free soul was winging its flight to
a righteous heaven where no slave chains are forged.
The impression made upon Ben's mind will ever be
eo bright that his sensibilities will always be capable
of giving form and color to the scene; it gave a keen¬
er edge to his compassion for his brethren in chains,
and to his love of race, freedom and equality.
The "A.G.Mason" wTas the next boat on which
Ben was employed. This steamer made regular trips
from St. Louis, Mo. to St. Paul, Minn. Our young
Seeamboat and Hotel Life.
51
boatman had a strong love of home, and when things
did not run along with marble like smoothness he
longed for a glimpse of dear old Brownsville and a
word or two with mother. His cultivated vagrancy,
however, did not allow him much time to linger amidst
home scenes, but would carry him" off to the tropics
and try to make him feel at home with the palm and
fig trees; or his mind, which he daily fed on books of
travel, would cause the theater of his imagination to
stretch away into the colder latitudes of the northern
zones; and, in this way he had learned to like a change
of climate and surroundings.
He was charmed with his first trip toward the source;
of the Mississippi. This great, dark, rapid liver, that
in its lower latitudes flowed, moaned and groaned like
an unending sorrow, now seemed to warble a more
cheerful song; its color was less dismal, and the sky
it reflected was a clearer blue; the clouds moved with
a more perfect freedom; and the leaves, the birds, the
laborers at work in the fields—all seemed to move to
and fro with that air of physical liberty which did not
exist below. It was only this that made the contrast.
Spring and liberty smiled as they laid a happy-seem¬
ing spell on all the out-door world. The river banks
were lighted up with a new brightness; no feeling of
imprisonment prevented deep inhalations of the wild-
wood fragrance; no cotton-picking slaves brought tears
of pity from the heart to the eyes; no inhuman faces
of the overseers were seen to arouse the accursed pas¬
sion of hatred. The only thought that carried sorrow
to the heart and brought a sigh in return, was caused
by the unrelenting purpose of old Father Time to hide
the secret of the future freedom of the black man in
52
Poor Ben.
his slow, mighty, but regular pulsing heart. No won¬
der the less picturesque scenery of the northern banks
of the Mississippi had a far greater attraction for Ben,
than the luxurant verdure, dense foliage, great variety
of tone poems as warbled forth by gay-plumed birds,
of the tropics, and exquisit odors of flowers, gorge¬
ously dyed, growing in wildness, or in cultivated gar¬
dens. The former presents a picture of freedom, vir¬
tue and Jiappiness; the latter, slavery, vice and misery.
During the first run to St. Paul, after Ben had set
to work on the "Mason," he saw a great many Indians
on the right or Wisconsin bank. As they neared the
landing these Chippewas came down to the dock to
observe and see if there was a chance of getting ''fire¬
water." Ben, not having seen any Indians before, was
greatly interested, and began talking with them. One
Indian suddenly asked: " You got whiskey? Gimme
whiskey!" The gutteral tone used by the savage some¬
what startled Ben; but he said, "I have no whiskey."
"You lie! you lie! you lie!"—The very woods seemed
to echo it, and it so suddenly frightened Ben that he
hastily returned to the deck with his curiosity about
Chippewa Indians satisfied.
The following fall, the steamboat " \Y. M. Morrison,"
making regular trips between St. Louis and New Or¬
leans, wanted a storekeeper, and Ben, whose name and
integrity had become well known in steamboat circles,
WTas employed. Mr. Wm, Davis was at that time head
steward and Mr. Wm. Goff head pantryman. In those
days steamboats were considered the most popular and'
pleasant means of travel. It was also customary for
boats to engage in racing, and the finest and most.excit-
ing scenes to be witnessed on the Mississippi is a steam-
Steemboat and Hotel Life.
53
boat race. It is one, however, which timid, nervous
persons enjoy most when seen from the land, and
bold, reckless ones when on board the participating
boats.
It was Ben's privilege to become deeply interested in
a race that took place between the " W. H. Harrison"
and the "Virginia." They ran along, side by side for
seven or eight hours; so close were they that the deck
boys could and did step over on the neighboring boat.
An inch gained by either vessel was greeted with
shouts and cheers from every officer, passenger and
deck-hand on the leading boat—even the ladies clap¬
ped their hands and waved their handkerchiefs. Fi¬
nally the Morrisson steamed ahead, and in a few hours
had so distanced the Virginia that she was pronounced
the winner.
Ben continued following steamboating as long as
navigation was open, finishing each year in waiting at
hotels.
<$l?apter l/lll.
A Great Misfortune.
No human being ever had a bright, healthful and
euccessful morning of life, with an unbroken line of
hopes whose fruition came in turn, to cheer, bless and
urge him on to greater desires, but ere the noontide or
evening of life was reached, did find his body writhing
and his heart ready to break beneath the weight of
some sorrow or misfortune. No cloudless morn has
ever dawned but what has shown some speck of shad¬
owy cloud to some mortal beneath its canopy.
In all divine architecture there is nothing so entire¬
ly admirable, no monument so grand and imposing as
a brave wretched man or woman—one who has had
clouds of sorrow and. misfortune spread wide, heaped
high and lowered deep into the soul, and yet has tri¬
umphed over all and learnd to wear these miseries as
sacred fillets upon his brow. 'Tis better so; could we
pibut fathom the griefs of others, ours would be so shal¬
low.
Socrates was wise in his comment on unhappiness
when he said: " If all the misfortunes of mankind
were cast into a public stock, in order to be equally
distributed among the whole species, those who now
think themselves the most unhappy would prefer the
(54)
A Great Misfortune.
55
ehare they are already possessed of before that which
would fall to them by such a division." Before calam¬
ities visit us, we give but little thought to accidents
that daily befall others. The power of observation,
care and sympathy are left uncultivated.
Ben, like all unexperienced humanity, saw no ter-
row in an orange rind; a small stone held no dreaded
history for him, a sack of oats never caused his blood
to chill with fear, nor a playful slap or boyish kick
taken seriously to heart. No sooner were such trifles
seen or enacted than forgotten. Yet one's future des¬
tiny is often changed by the seeming interference of a
few atoms of matter. So, with the same fearless spirit,
the young boatman continued running on the great
stream as far as it was navigable.
Late in the fall of 1856, the "Lake City" started up
river with a heav}T cargo. Having gone as far as Foun¬
tain City the ice-floes became so heavy she was forced
to return to LaCrosse, and there store her freight. The
erevv,1 as well as the officers, dreaded being caught in
the ice at that season of the year, so all turned out to
assist in unloading and storing. In the haste and ex¬
citement of getting the heavy freight ashore and safe¬
ly housed, Ben, who was in the warehouse, in coming
down from the pile of oat sacks slipped and hurt his
left ankle. The bruise was a very slight one, and so
he continued his work, only applying simple remedies
in the hope that it would soon heal. The thought of
giving up his position as storekeeper for what he
termed a mere scratch never entered his mind, and he
returned with the boat to St. Louis. Here he and his
friend and school-mate, G. W. Mossette, were constant
companions. One. day they had been leisurely stroll-
56
Poor Ben.
ing through the city; when they were about to sepa¬
rate, Mossett playfully began tapping Ben, as though
about to open a round of boxing. "Hold up, there,
Wash, I must get back to the boat," said Ben, at the
same time giving Washington a slap. "Good bye,
Wash." Good bye, old boy," said Wash, kicking at
Ben as he spoke. With this playful, boyish parting
each turned at once to go his way. But Washington
Mossett's foot, so carelessly thrown out to trip Ben,
struck the already sore ankle, bruising it badly. Ben
called a good physician, had the wound dressed, and
faithfully followed the instruction given him; yet it
steadily grew worse and eventually turned into osteo sat"
coma, or bone cancer. This rapidly spread and grew in
size, until the ankle measured eighteen inches in cir¬
cumference.
Notwithstanding his intense suffering as the disease
daily worked its way to the extremity of the foot, and
upward toward the knee, Ben did not give up his t^sk.
When the Lake City lay up, he went on the "Tele¬
graph," and from her to the " Dunbar." In Septem¬
ber, 1856, he found it impossible to follow the river
any longer, and went ashore and began work in the
Perry Hotel, at Pittsburg. Though his leg was very
sore and extremely pninful, he worked his way up
from knife-shiner to head waiter.
The truth was slowly dawning upon Ben's mind
that there was but one hope of his life, and even that
ray of hope shone dimly through the clouds of doubt
and despair. He saw the necessity of earning and
saving all he possibly could, in order to secure the
best surgical skill for the trying ordeal. Reader, you
cannot enter into full sympathy with the feelings of
A Great Misfortune.
57
suffering Ben, whose mental anguish almost equaled
his physical. You cannot fully appreciate the dread,
hope, fear, and grief, which, mingled with bodily pain,
cause an acute agony almost unbearable, unless you
have undergone torture of the same character.
During the winter of 1857-8 he was obliged to aband¬
on work and go home. Here he wras warmly greeted by
a loving mother and devoted relatives and friends,
and all that constant attention and careful nurs¬
ing and medical aid could do to make Ben comforta¬
ble, was done. Time wore tediously away until early
spring, when the tumor had reached such an advanced
stage that Poor Ben had but the choice of death, whose
only alternative was amputation. Though hope is
called a delusion, Ben did not allow despair to step in
and warp his judgment, so he thrust one hand of hope
forward, pushed, with a desperate effort, despair into
the back ground, holding her there; then with the
full assurance that his helper was omnipotent, hope
grasped with her other hand the shadowy wing of death
that is ever spread over the human body, and thus
with his soul tilled with a perfect trust in God, and
hope quickening his energy, he said, "Send for the
doctors, I am ready for the operation." To know the
real value of life, or have a perfect idea of self, one
must have stood at least once at the gate of death,
been forced to the door-sill of suicide, or driven to-the
brink of insanity.
March, 1858, was the time set for the amputation,
and the physicians chosen were Dr. G. W. McCook of
Pittsburg, Drs. M. 0. Jones and W. S. Duncan of
Brownsville, all of whom were men of large and suc¬
cessful practice in medicine and surgery. Dr. Duncan,
68
Poor Ben.
who attended him after the operation, was a young
graduate from the Philadelphia Medical College, and
one who had a full and rich experience of hospital
practice. He practiced the most skilled and modern
methods of treatment and having had charge of simi¬
lar cases he worked with a perfect knowledge in dress¬
ing the wound and nursing Poor Ben back to health.
Ben was one of those boys who had become a gener¬
al favorite with every one in his native town and
wherever he was known. All the promineat white
citizens as well as his colored friends, came with flow¬
ers, delicacies, and warm and sympathizing hearts, to
ask after and assist in watching over Poor Ben. In
every house the conversation was about him. Daily,
some one would say: "Poor Ben! I wonder how he is
to-day? I must run and see him." Another good
heart would breathe aloud "Poor Ben!" while her
hands were busy cutting the few opening buds from
the petted plants, or arranging dainty bits of "nice
things" to tem^t the appetite of poor helpless Ben.
Humanity is never so depraved and debased by wealth
or poverty, education or ignorance, pride or humility,
high rank or low station, but what the inherent noble¬
ness of common nature will betray itself in the pure
sympathy it displays and responds to in the society
by which it is surrounded.
The sympathy that gave to a young being whose ekin
was dark, whose circumstances were adverse, an appel¬
lation that will cling with a sweet, sad meaning to him
through life, and live after he is dead, is that passion
in nature whose ear is so fine and keen that it hears
the heart pulsations of all " Poor Bens" whether they
proceed from beneath a glove-fitting suit of black,
A Grqat Misfortune,
59
brown, yellow, red or white skin; whether the vesture
which modified their voice be adverse or prosperous,"
whether the outward cloak be one of Democratic opin¬
ion or Republican, Protestant or Catholic sentiment.
It is simply yet grandly what the Irish wit has termed
it—"a fellow-feeling for a fellow in the same way as
he feels for himself; that is, in a way to reach him."
It was in this manner that the sympathy of the en¬
tire community was given to Poor Ben, who for twen¬
ty-eight long weary days and nights had to lie in one
position. "Poor Ben!" being at times the only rest or
comfort that could be rendered. He accepted it as
it was given—lovingly—and it often soothed, while
with a prayer half uttered he would fall into a qui¬
et sleep. He knew the watchers could not relieve
him, and did not grow restless or impatient under his
close confinement, but bore all that was laid upon him
with a strength of quiet endurance that was as signifi¬
cant of courage and christian fortitude as the most
daring feats and martyr-like suffering.
After the crisis had passed Poor Ben began mend¬
ing, slowly at first, then more rapidly; and in these
convalescent days he had time for study and reflection.
Each day brought to mind the pleasing remembrance
of the many benefits and friendly offices he had re¬
ceived. No regrets for neglected opportunities rose to
lash his conscience, for Poor Ben had always been
kind to the poor and suffering wherever he met them.
Now he saw the verification of that beautiful passage,
"As ye sow, so shall ye reap," and after blessing oth¬
ers he found himself doubly blest. In this heavy
visitation of Providence in the loss of his leg, he did
not find like Pharoah, a punishment, but like David,
60
Poor Ben.
a pardon. The affliction, though an evil in itself, was
for Poor Ben's good.
Time, who makes an end of all things, wrote final
on the number of weeks that had been prescribed for
Poor Ben, and he was allowed to say "I am quite well
I thank you," instead of the two months' expression
of "I am getting a little better." With the aid of
crutches he was able to take a short walk each morn¬
ing, and each evening gave signs of speedy restoration
of perfect health.
Poor Ben at last went down town for the first time
in many months. He was warmly greeted by every
one, and his friends proved by a language plainer than
words their sorrow for his loss, their joy at his recove¬
ry, in giving him, on the first day he went down street,
over one hundred dollars with which to purchase an
artificial leg. The feelings of gratitude that such no¬
ble deeds of love created, have not died, but daily have
grown in Poor Ben's heart, so that an attempt to kin¬
dle a fire with snow would prove more successful than
an endeavor to crush the gratitude out of his life. On¬
ly the grateful soul knows what it is; and he cannot
define it. He can only say "I am grateful but cannot
express it." The ablest rhetorician feels the great de¬
ficiency in the power of words to express the meaning
of gratitude. And yet, Poor Ben felt all that the word
contains. Its meaning was clear to him—he was
grateful to his Saviour, grateful to his .family and
friends.
<?!?apter I/.
In Sunday-School.
The Sunday-School Institute of the Ohio Annual
Conference was originated by Kev. W. H. Coleman,
then the pastor of Felicity Sation; July 2nd, 1875.
He prepared an interesting program, and the next
place of meeting was New Richmond, Ohio, the fol¬
lowing November. Poor Ben was an earnest worker
in the cause of Sunday-schools at this time, and fig¬
ured conspicuously on the schedule as lecturer, con¬
ductor of black board and miscellaneous exercises.
He was a member of the Board of Instructors; and
was called upon to lecture during the session which
convened at Troy, O., Oct., 81, 1877.
He chose for his theme of discourse " Aim at the
Aim," of which the following is a synopsis:
Mr. President, and Members of the Institute,—We have
assembled here tonight to consider a very important subject, one
that has the eternal interest of the souls of men.
The right way to heaven; heaven and how to get there; why
rre should strive to enter into the rest prepared for the people of
God. The importance of right directions when we are on a jour¬
ney on a strange way, is apparent to all; how did we get away
from home? how far are we a way^from home, and how to get
back, are now interesting the world of mankind.
"We find in the question two ideas; the theological and ecclesi¬
astical. The one born in Eden, the other in the house of Abra-
(61)
62
Poor Ben.
ham. They embrace the history of man. 1st, man, as he was be¬
fore the fall; 2d, man, as he is in the depths of human depravity;
3d, man, as he may be by the grace of God.
We find this more fully discussed under the scientific views.
Theology—discourse about God. C'hristology—discourse about
Christ. Anthroj o'.ogy—discourse about Man. Solterology—dis¬
course about Salvation.
They were disciples under three dispensations—Patriarchal, Mo-
saical, Gosppl. 1st. The general idea, Genesis, men found their
way back to God as individuals.—The manner and effect of the
fall. 2d. Ecclesiastical idea; Genesis 8: 9. The organized effort
to bring men back to God and up to heaven—the sign board erect¬
ed by the command of God.
The thought that man is always from God is universal. How to
get back is the question, and wherever you find man he is asking,
which way to God. The answering of this question is the work
of the Church and Sunday- school.
Who are the recognized religions educators? Tliey are: 1st,
parents; 2d, Sunday-school teachers; 3d, day-school teachers; 4th,
professors in institutes of higher learning; 5th, ministers of the
Gospel; 6th, the Holy Ghost. These are the principal educators,
and their business is to train men, women and children for useful¬
ness in this life, and to enjoy tlie presence of God forever. They
aim to begin this training and education when the children are
young. The philosoph)7 oi which is that the mind is susceptible
to impression, which will be durable, and they will be more effi¬
cient in giving rightness to the character of the individual. The
head must be educated to think, the heart must be taught to love
God and humanity, the hands must be trained to work of benevo¬
lence and mercy, the will must be disciplined by precept, and the
conscience must be influenced by living examples of piety and
virtue.
Duty of parents to their cnildren: 1st, to maintain their chil¬
dren and provide food, raiment, shelter, and education; 2d, to
govern them—a miniature state, where the authority must not be
neglected—govern by love, not fear; 3d, physical education—the
development of the physical man must not be neglected; 4th,
moral education—religious belief, honor, usefulness, morality and
eternity, reverence for God and man; the principles of right and
In Snnday-School.
63
Wrong must be clearly set forth; 5th, intellectual education—to
observe objectively and subjectively, to think on mind and matter,
to read good books, to converse on history, biography, philosophy,
science and religion, to listen while others talk—preaching, lectur*
ing, teaching.
Duty of children: Obedience to parents, teacher and God, do¬
cility, reverence, filial affection, gratitude.
The ladder to destruction: Disobedience to parents, breaking tho
Sabbath, lying, stealing, murder. The watch house, pentientiary,
gallows, and hell are stations on the way to destruction.
What they must be taught; 1st, right views of the nature and
attributes of God; 2d, right views as to the humanity and divini¬
ty of the Lord Jesus; 3d, right views as to the office and work of
the Holy Ghost; 4, right views as to the religion of Christ, and its
doctrines. Sin, nature and effect, repentence, justification, loyal
and evangelical; sanctification, what it is and what it is not; glo¬
rification, who shall enjoy it, and the doctrines of reward and pun¬
ishment. The wages of sin and light of God.
The aim of the Sunday-school of to-day differs from what it was
when it was first organized. Mr. Railtes aim was to bring the
boys from the commons on the Lord's day, and give them a knowl¬
edge of the letters—secular education. To have them commit some
portion of the word of God—committing verses. To have them,
commit and answer the questions in the catechism, learn the ten
commandments, the Lord's prayer and the apostles' creed. To
make them smart in the answering of questions in the history of
the race; and bible history.
What is the object or the aim of the Sunday-school of to-day ? 1st,
to convert the children to the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d, to indoctrin¬
ate them.
This has been too much neglected, but ought to receive more at¬
tention from preachers and teachers. They must learn the doctrine
and give them something to believe, T et the sin of unbelief be with,
them and their God, and not with t,.. What is good for the par¬
ents is good for the children. If Methodism is good for me,
it is good for my boys and girls. Tliey must have it from me. If
they want to throw it away, they must do that; but they must know
that the soul which sins must die, but whoever believes on the
Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved.
The third aim of the Sunday-school is to train the children la
64
Poor Ben.
the work of benevolence. They must be taught to give support to
the organized efforts of cliristain usefulness and church advance¬
ments. Now, my advice to the teachers and officers of the Sun¬
day-school Institute is to aim at the aim, inthe moral, intellectu¬
al development of the race. The work is higher now than in
former years. Then we only aimed to remove the cloud of ignor¬
ance, and break the chain of vicious association ; now the first aim
is heaven and immortal glory.
What are the essential qualifications of teachers in the work of
training the young mind how to think, the heart how and when to
I feel, the hand to do efficient work for the elevation of the race, and
ealvation of man ?
1st. The qualification is moral. A good moral character, and
experimental knowledge of the religion of Christ.
2d. Intellectual qualification. A knowledge of men and things;
a good stock of common sense.
3d. Social qualification. Courteous, kind, social, swoet, not of
vin,egar, winning, affectionate.
4th. Punctual in attendance, prompt to duty, never shirking.
5th. A love for the moral and intellectual training of the chil¬
dren.
6th. A love for Christ a»d His cause.
7th. A love for books and papers.
8th. Faith in God as a prayer hearing and a prayer answering
God.
9th. Those who can adapt themselves to the condition of all.
They must know that love is mightier than force. They must al¬
ways have a smile for the brightest andjdullest member of the class.
The object of this Institute is to assist in preparing ourselves for
more efficient working of the problem, leading men back to God.
"We know that we must not only point but lead the way. We must
6ee that the children find their way to God by scientific and re¬
vealed ways. Which way to God? We say, come with us and we
will find Him, and show you the way He has prepared.
An Arabian was crossing the desert with a skeptical Englishman.
The musselman would, at a designated time of the day, kneel down
and pray. The Englishman wanted to know of the devotee "how
he knew there was a God, as he had never seen Him." The ser¬
vant smiled. " How can I tell that a man passed by my tent last
night in the darkness, instead of a camel?" "By his tracks, of
In Sunday-School.
65
coarse," "Well, then, look at the sun setting'now; that's not the
track of a man, is it? I know my God by his tracks."
Poor Ben's audience was a large one; composed of
white and colored workers in the Sunday-school cause.
He gave the parting words to the audience, speaking
of the duties of the hour, he said there was hope for
the race if it would take this advice :
First. Get religion; that will give you communion with God.
Second. Get knowledge or education; that will enable you to
control the forces of nature.
Third. Get money, houses and land; that will give you power
with men.
Fourth. Get integrity; this gives yoxi power over yourselves. It
will enable you to keep your religion, to use your education prop¬
erly, and give you money for good objects.
Now, brethren and sisters, get your heads full of knowledge^
your hearts full of love for God and man, and your pockets full o£
money, and if this does not save you, there is nothing that "will—
we are lost.
chapter JL.
The School Teacher.
MoHNSON says: "More is learned in a public, than
Q/ in a private school from emulation; there is the col¬
lision of mind with mind, or the radiation of many
minds pointing to one center."
Poor Ben, during the thirty years of his life, had
enjoyed but few of the privileges and advantages of
public school or academy. Yet he had become a thor¬
ough and devoted student in that most spacious of
school rooms—the world. He daily learned, recitedand
practised the most useful lessons of duty and love, at
the same time making books of the common and high¬
er English branches his constant companions; so that
in this way he became a good scholar. He possessed a
desire of superiority, attended with the effort to at¬
tain excellency in scholarship, as well as in qualities
of head and heart. His natural ardor was greatly in¬
creased by the praise worthy examples of others, with
whom he came in contact, and whose chances for a
liberal education were made certain by means of
wealth and influence. While reading the Mc.Guffey
series, he was at the same time learning to read the
series of faces opened before him each day. While
solving arithmetical, algebraic and geometric prob¬
lems, he was, in the meantime, finding the process by
G6
The School Teacher.
,67
which the peddler, in a few years, could support a
family, build a mammoth store, own a valuable bank¬
book and a fine home; he was finding the cube of a
hundred dollar bill; extracting the square root of a
small salary and placing it in a saving bank; finding
the value ofthe unknown quantity of—I see no way
plus, but have the will equals what ?
Harvey's Grammar and Clark's Analysis taught
him the art of speaking and writing the English lan¬
guage with correctness and propriety; to take to pieces
difficult statements, name and properly locate each
separate part of a thought. From the Grammar of
Life he learned the full meaning of the verb work; he
clearly understood that it was active, transitive, and
though present tense, indicative mood with him, it
might be found in different moods and tenses. He en¬
joyed the full sense of the action, being or state of rcst-
sleep, eat,etc.; gave much attention to the best way of
disposing of such nouns, as—money, life; he mas¬
tered the entire conjugation of the verb love in all its
modes and tenses. He made practical his logic, rheto¬
ric, history and theology. He early recognized the fact
that human science was the twiii sister of natural and
revealed religion, and, when once having admitted the
origin of the one, could not deny that the other emana¬
ted from the same source. The farther he became re¬
moved from ignorance and prejudice, the plainer
could he see the sciences and religion blending their
rays into a beautiful bow of light, binding eartli "to
heaven and man to his Creator.
They who thus most rapidly, efficiently learn, eaq
best apply, and most readily impart their knowledge
to others.
68
Poor Ben.
By means of these adverse circumstances, attendant
upon Poor Ben's schooling, he was doubly trained to
teach and lead those under his care, into a broad at¬
mosphere of thought.
He received his first certificate as teacher, Decem¬
ber 19th, 1863, from Hon. J. V. Gibbons, Fayette
County Superintendent, in Pennsylvania. Poor Ben
opened his school .in January and continued teaching
both summer and winter, in the red brick school
house situated at the edge of the town of Brownsville;
then at Bridgeport, for as soon as one school closed he
would open the other. He was the first and only
colored teacher belonging to the Fayette County In¬
stitute. In the fall of 1864, he received a call from.
Dr. Henry Highland Garnett, to go to Washington.
D. C., to teach in the African Civilization Society
School, of which Rev. Rufus L Perry, was the general
Superintendent.
Poor Ben arrived at the nation's capital on the 24th.
of December and went to the residence of Mrs. Nu¬
gent on 8th St., where he boarded during his stay. The
following day being the Sabbath, and Christmas, he
attended church, and listened to an able sermon on
the subject, "Triumphs of the Cross" by—Williams, a
colored catholic priest. The next day he entered upon
the duties of a city school teacher; he as principal,
Misses Mary A. Garnet and Mary E. Fisher as assis¬
tants. Two hundred and thirty pupils were enrolled
and it monopolized the entire attention of the teachers
to feed these hungry minds, who were dependent upon
them for mental sustenance. Poor Ben found his
work to be not only important, but it also required
him to exercise charity and patience. He saw his
The School Teacher.
69
duty and knew that to forsake or neglect it, in any
way, would be to break a thread in the loom of his
life work; so, though often hard, and unpleasant, he
did all that lay in his power to elevate his race.
After the close of a ten months session, he returned
to Brownsville, and was given the charge of his for¬
mer school, which he taught until 1867 He then re¬
moved to Walnut Hills, Ohio, and was made princi¬
pal of the school there, holding the position until
1870. During this time, he received a call to teach in
the city school of Toledo. In 1871 he accepted the
offer and taught in the Grammar department for some
months. At the close of this session, the schools of
the city of Toledo were consolidated, and Poor Ben
was the last colored man who filled the office of col¬
ored teacher in that city, and he left the profession at
this date, having had under his care over eight hun¬
dred pupils. Many of them are now teaching, preach¬
ing, or holding useful and responsible positions; do¬
ing grand and lasting work for their race and heaven¬
ly Master. It is impossible to fathom the deep satis¬
faction and pleasure that fills the soul of the teacher,
who has taught the young intellect to think and work
for itself; to dig in wisdom's mine for tact, talent and
ready perception of analogies; and to put into practi¬
cal use, in after life, all his natural and acquired abili¬
ties which must be led forth by that richest possession
—common sense.
The office of a teacher is a calling of the highest de¬
gree, and possesses the noblest virtues of earth.. Noth¬
ing grander can be conceived than the ability and apt¬
ness to educate the children of others; to impart that
knowledge, which has been culled from the prolific
70
Poor Ben.
gardens of science and art, nature and nature's God; to
assiduously feed young minds, as we would have ours
fed.
Poor Ben was a good and successful instructor, be¬
cause he suggested plans, and devised means of study
rather than dogmatized; he taught his pupils to teach
themselves, and inspired them with such a love of
knowledge, that they became eager and grasping. In
this field he manifested his calling, and was ever stor¬
ing his mind, that he might keep pace with the times
and improved methods of imparting wisdom in its
best forms to the ideas springing up about him. He
was indeed an amiable, yet thorough disciplinarian.
After leaving the school-room, Poor Ben's profession
clung to him, and he still taught and is still teaching
from pulpit and platform,in his home circle and around
the fireside of others wherever he is thrown. His con¬
versations, so instructive are they that when listened
to a lesson of usefulness is learned. It may be he has
adopted the philanthropic sentiments of. Elliott, the
Apostle of the Indians, of whom it is said that on
the day_'of his death, in his eightieth year, he was found
teaching an Indian child, at his bed-side. " Why not
rest from your labors now?" asked a friend, "Because,"
replied the venerable man, "I have prayed God to ren¬
der me useful in my sphere, and He has heard my
prayer: for now, that I can no longer preach, He leaves
me strength enough to teach this poor child the al¬
phabet. "
Poor Ben Had done what he could toward imparting
the alpha of the English language to over eight hun¬
dred of his race; and with this foundation, many re¬
ceived an incentive to push forward toward the Omega
The School Teacher.
71
of earthly knowledge, to which all earth's wisest men
have aspired, but never reached.
As an educator, in the earliest days of American
freedom, ignorance, superstition and prejudice, Poor
Ben made his mark.
" He taught some to ably teach the rest;
Anithjy w!i>cnly 1 earned; andfastest,
Have most learned; and now do lead the best.
<?l?apt^r J(I.
At the Capital.
&KASHINGTONCITY! Poor Ben found himself, on
\|P1/ stepping from the train, in this so called centre of
civilization. This miniature world. Here within its
environments he would find specimens of every form of
being, every gift that poverty, luxury and power could
bestow, to complete its cabinet of wondrous curiosities.
In its gorgeous stores, its filthy shops, its splendid
palaces, its neat cottages its unkempt huts, its univers¬
ities, -ite eharity schools, its churches, its theatres, its
courts, its prisons, its parks, its baths, its forum, its
White House,—its atmosphere—in the energy, yet
corrupt wickedness ; in the refinement and culture,yet
vice; in the poverty and wealth, humility and pride of
its great variety of citizens, Poor Ben beheld an entire
system of created things; a universe! This was Wash¬
ington! and in the cycling of months, he learned that
it was either a vast toyshop, or workshop, or market,
or menagerie, and at times it was all these combined.
Each time the gods saw fit to turn the kaleidoscope, he
saw it in some one of the ever varying phases of civil
or barbaric existence. As all this conglomerate mass
of miseries and joys were jammed into one corner
of the District of Columbia, so were the conceptions
of them crowded into Poor Ben's mind. Here were
portrayed scenes common to all readers, and. fami-
(72)
At The Capital.
liar to the eye of all who travel, even though to
places of lesser note. And although the sights
at Washington may amuse and amaze those who
visit it, they finally conclude "there is nothing
new under the sun." As Poor Ben walked the wide
and densely thronged avenues, his eyes became dazed
with the surrounding scenes. Then in a dreamy state,
he would paint on the canvas of his mind, recent his¬
torical events. He would float down the broad Potom¬
ac toward the Chesapeake, and there watch the vessels
of war, and picture them in the brilliant naval exploits
of the rebellion, whose war clouds still filled the air.
Again he would shift the scene and see the glassy bay's
surface covered with bhips of commerce and boats of
pleasure for those who command the almighty dollar.
As Poor Ben watched all without, and reviewed all the
facts he had laid away in his mental storehouse, he
wondered why heaven had given to his race every
blessing but one. It had bestowed health, strength of
mind, genius, illustrious descent, hearts of fire, minds
of eloquence, wills of iron, and yet had denied the
family to which he belonged, the heritage of freedom
and equality. But these visionary wonderings only
tended to benumb a rising 'ambition; and he felt that
immediate action was the only means by which to at¬
tain to that one blessing, of which his race had been
deprived. He determined to labor on; and wherever
duty called he obeyed, looking forward to the time,
when these many classes of people, like various streams,
would some day find their way into the one grand gulf
of unity and equality; when they would so mingle
that it would require a miraculous process of analysis
to distinguish one atom from another.
74
Poor Ben.
The spirit of patriotism, already a prominent feature
in the character of Poor Ben, was fed by the exciting
scenes that transpired during his life at Washington.
He had read carefully the history of strifes of other
lands, and contrasted it with the present; and by such
retrospection and contrast, had gained wisdom to cast
the horoscope of the future. It is needless to plod along
the course of events from the creation, or even from
the deluge, to the present date, to watch the rise and
fall of nations, so familiar to all readers. As science
gains most truth by the study of the past, as found re¬
corded in the fossils of earth, so the student of social
and political progress, must gather knowledge from the
history of other nations in order to understand and
benefit the cause of his own country. Political devel¬
opment, progress and decline are governed by fixed
and immutable laws; and Poor Ben living as he did,
in the ver}' center of national tumult, watched every
event and considered every topic pertaining to the
country's weal or woe.
He was present when the Thirteenth Amendment
was brought before the House, and listened to the stir¬
ring debate, when G. H. Pendleton, the Democratic
leader, was answered most effectively by many promi¬
nent members of the Republican side, among whom
were Boutwell and our lamented Garfield, whose deeds
live after them. And, on the memorable day when the
amendment passed, January 31,1865, it was impossi¬
ble to preserve order. The announcement caused the
Republicans to jump from their seats with screams and
cheers of victory in which Poor Ben heartily joined.
Ingersoll, of Illinois, arose as soon as order was restored,
and said, " In honor of this sublime and immortal
At the Capital.
75
event, I move that this House do now adjourn," which
was carried, and soon the news spread with the rapid¬
ity of wild fire throughout the country; and slavery
was indeed dead.
When Lincoln refused to allow Grant " conference
with Lee unless for the capitulation of his army or for
some purely military matter," and when the day fol¬
lowing this, Lee surrendered to Grant, Poor Ben, his
fellow teachers and students, all threw books and
rules to the winds, and made the school-room walls of
old Bethel Hall ring with that grand old song, "John
Brown's Body Lies i louldering in the Grave."
It is said that every joy has its corresponding sorrow.
Six days after the general rejoicing, came the report
of the assassin's pistol, and the nation was draped in
mourning, for its liberator. He, who was the Moses
of the black American, had been allowed to ascend the
mountain, view the promised land of freedom, and
then was no more. He, who had been true to his na¬
tion's trust, had gone higher.
Poor Ben marched with the funeral procession from
the house where Lincoln died, to the White House,
and witnessed the general mourning for the lamented
dead.
He witnessed the grand review of the armies of the
.Republic at the close of the Rebellion; and when the
treaty of peace was signed, Poor Ben left the great hub
for a more quiet life in his native town, having been
present at the second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln
and many other of the most important events in the
history of this great republic.
During Poor Ben's stay at Washington, he met many
eminent men at the residence of Hon,He*iry Highland
76
Poor Ben.
Garnet, whose home was the central point of attraction
for all the prominent colored men of the day and lead¬
ing abolitionists. He was a prominent member of the
Equal Rights League, an organization that was the
outgrowth of the National Convention, which met in
Syracuse, New York, in 1864. It consisted of state,
county and town leagues ; formed for the purpose of
advancing the political, moral and educational status
of the colored people.
This term league was first used in the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries, to designate a political alliance
or coalition. The most famous of these leagues were
those of Cambray, Schmalkald, and Nurnberg, so famil¬
iar to historical readers. This word had a peculiar im¬
portance in the history of France, as applied to the
opposition, organized by the Duke of Guise, to the
granting of the free exercise of religious, and po¬
litical rights to the Huguenots. This was called the
"Holy League;" formed for the maintenance of the
Roman Catholic religion in its predominance. But
the object of the Duke was to exclude the protestant
princes from succession by blood, to the throne, and
for which a civil war ensued during the reign of Hen¬
ry III., in 1046.
These equal right leagues were of a widely different
nature. The former meant discord; the latter con¬
cord; the former, political and religious slavery; the
latter, freedom and protection in politics, religion and
home.
One of the best in the United States, was the League
of the State of Pennsylvania, which was divided into
three districts, Eastern, Western, and Middle; and
contained twenty-two counties each.
At the Capital.
77
Poor Ben was appointed solicitor for the Western
District by the Executive Board. One of the most
active and efficient leagues of this district was that
called "Faith, Hope and Charity." Here Poor Ben
learned to debate. He, like every other young man,
had thoughts and feelings to express. To aid in mould¬
ing into some available shape, and clothe in fitting lan¬
guage his thoughts, so they might be instructive and
interesting, Poor Ben had but little opportunity. Yet
he hourly saw the imperative demand for improve¬
ment in order to make a sure road to civil and politi¬
cal preferment. His natural love of oratory, and his
lamentable deficiency in it, but made him the more
eager to become a good speaker. Thus, he encouraged
a practice of improrntu speaking, and by attention to,
and association with men of fine oratorical powers, he
learned the qualities of voice, rate, delivery, gesture,
style, force, modulation, key, variations, articulation
and passions; and soon, by constant practice, became
a public speaker of no mean degree. These organiza¬
tions often called for long and earnest, logical speech¬
es; and prominent among its best debaters, Poor Ben
was found.
Out of the Faith, Hope and Charity League was
organized the Citizen's Joint Stock Company, which
entered into a mercantile business and did well. Poor
Ben was the originator of this stock company. He wrote
its charter, and it passed the Legislature of 1866^ with¬
out amendments or changes of any kind.
The National Equal Rights League met at Washing¬
ton, D. C. in 1867, John M. Langston was its presi¬
dent, and Poor Ben, its secretary. There were present
at this session one hundred and eighteen delegates,
representing eighteen states of the Union.
/"•
Love, Courtship and Mar¬
riage.
" The good wife ever is the keystone strong,
That binds the arches of the social state;
It is her quiet counsels that create
That solid virtue and endurance long,
That give the victory to those who wait.
Unto the husband and the son belong
The harvest of her works; she maketh straight
Each crooked paih, and arms him for the strifej
And with the sickle of religion true,
Cuts down the tares that choke the belief life,
Without her, who, unscathed can struggle through,
Toil-soiling labors? Her affections dew
Keeps green the promise of our higher fate,
And is that love which must be wisdom too."
The important theme of love and courtship was a
matter that grew with Ben's growth and strengthened
with his strength. In his early boy-hood days he
was a general favorite with the girls, who to him were
always kind and by whom he was made a pet.
Among the many whom Poor Ben had a special
reason to remember lovingly, were Ellen Lucas, Harriet
Poindexter, Hattie King and her'sister Mary; Mar-
geret Freeman, Eliza Banks, Jane Kiger ajad many
others that he was warmly attached to; but the on«
who claimed all his attention, and whose very name
made his heart beat with joy, was Mary Louise Gor¬
don. She was the niece of a lady whom Poor Ben's
uncle. Nicholas Smith, had marriecL He went to via-
(78)
Love, Courtship and Marriage. 79
it Hs uncle, and there, was introduced to Miss Gor-
don^ who made her home with her aunt, Mrs. Smith.
Said Ben, once, when asked about his boyish love,
"It iras one of those rare cases of love at first sight.
From the first day I plainly saw that she loved me
and |she plainly saw my love for her. The strange
sensation that came over me, I can never forget. I
felt as though I was hung in mid-air by my suspen¬
ders, struggling to get free, but finding I had not the
power to do so, I became content and happy in my
aerial state; so I hung and still am hanging after the
lapse of twenty-six years. I have found that there is
life in hanging, and I have hung so long that I hope
to hang as long as the Lord will allow."
The affection existing between Louise and Ben daily
grew stronger, and Ben visited his uncle's house very
frequently; and when absent from Louise, they kept
up a regular correspondence. One week, Ben failed to
get his letter, and divers unhappy thoughts filled his
mind. After three days of patient waiting, he got
very angry, and wrote the dear girl a decisive, letter
breaking off all ties even the kindly friend-ship that
might still exist. He received no answer to this start¬
ling missive. Then six of the longest and most
weary months of Poor Ben's life vanished on leaden
wings. *
Finding existence, under such a state of affairs, a
most dreary penance, he went to Uniontown and be¬
came reconciled without any very clear explanation
on either side. After all the clouds were driven away>
and happiness reigned in both hearts, Louise said,
"Ben, I have been suffering from a felon on my right
hand, and could not write to you; nor dare I get any
80
Poor Ben.
one to write, for fear it would become known, that we
are lovers.'1
Of course Ben's great loving heart had long since
pardoned her silence; but now his forgiveness and
sympathy found utterance in such sentences as onl}7
true lovers can frame.
Soon after this Poor Ben concluded that according
to biblical teachings, it was not good for man to be
alone. He felt the force of the great historic fact which
shows for six thousand years, that in the exercise
of unlimited control of all affairs, man becomes a des¬
pot. The annals of kings confirm the truth of this;
and the records of domestic life, proclaim it with
tongues cf thunder. Thcro muet be gome restraining
influence, brought to bear on that most wonder¬
ful animal man, or the turbulent waves of his vicious
propensities will swell higher and higher, until they
sweep over the land-marks of reason, love and honor.
The frail bark, thus overwhelmed, sinks into depths
of endless despair.
Poor Ben knew the comforting, magnetic influence
of a mother's and sisters affections; and could easily
surmise the more potent, refining power of a wife's un¬
tiring love. It was with such manly sentimemts that
he at once decided to have a wife —to take to his life
long keeping, the Louise of his heart. The question
was soon settled between the two lovers; but Ben
thought of the dreaded duty of asking mother for
daughter. This was the most unpleasant part of his
court-ship. Accordingly, he went in the morning to
see Louise's mother; he conversed on every topic of
the day; he started at least fifty times, but his courage
failed, and his tongue could not utter a word on the
-Love, Courtship and Marriage, 81
subject, that lay upper most on his mind. The day
tyas nearly spent, still no question had been asked, no
answer given. He had promised to tell the news of his
success or defeat when he next called on Miss Louise,
atid he would not dissapoint her. So he ventured, and
all at once found he had asked the momentous ques¬
tion, though what he said or how he said it can never
be recorded. His embarrassment, and the old lady's
surprise, were both too great for either to recall the
exact words. Nevertheless the idea had been con¬
veyed, and he had received neither a refusal nor con¬
sent. Both were young; and the ever judicious moth¬
er could not see how Poor Ben could support a wife;
for his recent misfortune was the great barrier, that
cut him oft from lucrative positions.
Louise's mother left the matter to be settled by the
young folks; and when they met again they settled it
most satisfactorily to themselves. The question how
could he support a wife?—had indeed been a moun¬
tain-like obstacle to Poor Ben; but now in their joy
it melted away into misty nothingness. Over the
rapture of the present, the hopes of the future glowed,
like the heavens above, the gardens of -spring. They
went sailing in their trustful bark of thoughts, far
down the stream of time; they laid out their chart of
destiny; they allowed the light of their present to
suffuse their future day. To their youthful hearts it
seemed as if care, change and death were never to come.
They perhaps loved each other more because of their
condition in life, and thus over every project, love
reigned supreme. In the life of toil and want before
them, love led them to imagine one of ease and plenty.
To the casual observer, who takes interest in lovers
82
Poor Ben.
found only in the highest walks of life, these two may
seem insipid and common-place. But love acts the
same with intelligent souls, whether ot high or low
estate. There is an ethereal, bird-like existence con¬
nected with every lover's history. Yet often the de¬
lights and secret joys of soul, that hold spell-bound
the lover's hearts, contrast most strangely with the
vicissitudes of after-life.
The dazzling sunlight of courtship may afterward
be tempered by clouds of sorrow; yet no cloud can
destroy that great sun-li^e orb—the god of love. It
is this that lights the true lover's pathway through
earth, pierces the blackness of the tomb, and makes
eternity a city of light.
The engagement, that lasted a number of years, was
becoming very irksome, and Poor Ben, thought of his
strong love for and weak means of supporting a wife-
However he decided to consult Mary Louise; and if
she was willing to share his poverty, they would no
longer wait for the pleasing smile of fortune.
"I wonder, Louise, if I can take care of you, said
Ben, in a very despondent tone one day.
There was such a wealth of love in Louise's young
heart, that she felt no fear of poverty. She knew he
would be her guardian angel, and would do and bear
anything for her sake. So she made him this most
noble answer: "Well, Ben, when you cannot take
care of me, I shall take care of you." Such love is a
religion in itself; it either wholly saves or destroys
those whom it effects. Its ennobling influence was
their salvation as the reader will see here after.
Having fully determined the course they wrere to
pursue, they moved on toward ;the verge of matri-
Love, Courtship and Marriage.
83
mony, without swerving, and with a saturnine stern¬
ness that ever performs what it intends.
A few months rolled by, and Poor Ben and Mary
Louise were quietly married by the Rev. George
Brown, President of Madison College, at Uniontown,
Pennsylvania, May 25th, 1858. No cards were issued
nor cakes cut, parlors crowded with guests with wed¬
ding souvernirs, until twenty years of care, toil and
sorrow had proven their vows of love.
If the reader will allow a short diversion, the writer
will give a pleasing recollection of the minister who
officiated at the marriage of our subject.
The Rev. George Brown is doubtless a familiar name
to the fathers and-mothers who may read this sketch
of him. A pioneer preacher of Pennsylvania. He
was born in an Indian fort, in Washington County >
not more than forty miles from Pittsburg, on the 29th
of January, 1792. When a lad of six or seven years
of age, he swam the Ohio, at the tail of an ox that
was going across. He held on with one hand and pad¬
dled with the other, something like a boy \vith a sled,
who steals a ride behind a sleigh. It was quite a dan¬
gerous experiment, for the river was at its June flood
and was very deep. But young George was going to
his mother, and safely reached the shore.
He had also a thrilling adventure in a wolf den,
among the hills of Eastern Ohio, when he was about
twelve years old. While a comrade stood at the mouth
of the den, with a loaded gun to attend to the old wolf
if she came, George Brown went down into the dark
cavern, feet fore-most, to a good distance, and brought
out the young wolves, one or two at a time, until he
had taken them all. The boys sold the wolf scalps at
84
Poor Ben.
Steubenville, Ohio, for some pocket silver, and the
record of the transaction is on the old books at the
Court House, in Stenbenville, to this day.
George Brown, in later life, became a great camp-
meeting preacher. He traveled over large circuits and
occupied important positions and offices in the church.
He was a lover of his race and believed in human rights
and liberty. He was once pastor of the First Metho¬
dist Protestant Church of Pittsburg, was Editor of the
now Methodist Recorder. He compiled a hymn book
for the church, was President of the General Conven¬
tion^ and Conferences, and of Madison College. Dr.
Brown was everywhere beloved for his genial ways
and eminent worth.
Though a very tender-hearted man, yet his courage
to do right, and his willingness to suffer for the truth's
sake, \yere as great as his tenderness.
He died in good peace, at Springfield, Ohio, October
25th, 1871; and a beautiful monument in Fern Cliff
Cemetery, marks his last resting place.
His two sons, both ministers, died before their father,
his wife a lovable old lady, Mrs. Eliza Brown, sur¬
vived him about six years; and a daughter, the only
remaining member of the family, now resides in Mis¬
sissippi.
Readers, I have introduced you to the man, who
launched Poor Ben's boat on thafr conjugal sea, wliose
latitudinal and longitudinal lines no navigator has yet
ever traced. But once launched and anchor weighed,
the craft floated on with its inmates for twenty long
years; and in peering for land they often found a
treasure, or monster, a pearl, or tempest their reward.
Twenty years a backward glance shows a chain of
Love, Courtship and Marriage.
85
labor, care, of battle and retreat, of victory and defeat.
But there have been many joys, that shine out like so
many stars; all through this chain of years they
shine—diamonds in value.
Twenty Peals! Hear the bell of the St. Paul A. M. E.
Church, at Urbana, Ohio . 'Tis a joyful wedding peal;
and each chime caused the hearts of Poor Ben and
Mary Louise to thrill with a stronger emotion, a true
love than they did twenty years ago! Twenty years
ago, their history began; they had nought to record.
Of money they had little, of friends they had few, of
cake and rich gifts they had. none Now peace and
prosperity beamed upon them from every direction;
friends were gathered to bestow costly presents; tables
well appointed and filled to repletion, awaited the ap¬
proach of bride and groom.
The announcment that the 25th of May, had arrived
was the signal for the friends of Poor Ben to inaugur¬
ate a celebration. At an early hour the people began
to assemble, though the exercises did not begin until
nine o'clock.
When the prominent guests arrived they were shown
into Poor Ben's study, where were gathered his wife and
children, Rev. Spahr, Mayor Deuel, Ex-Mayor, Brand,
Mr. Gribble, of the News and others. The good peo¬
ple of Urbana were hurrying to and fro in haste, get¬
ting ready for the exercises.
At nine they entered the Auditorium. The pulpit
was so arranged as to admit the organ and singers,
while the speakers sat at the left, occupying the en¬
closure used by the choir.
Prof. Chavers presided at the organ, admirably exe¬
cuting the 'Wedding March at the opening.
86
Poor Ben.
Major Deuel, who acted as chairman, on taking his
seat said, that this occasion carried his thoughts back
to years before that church was built; when it was
almost a crime for colored people to worship God as
they now did; that then the colored people were liable
to be interrupted by drunken and ill-disposed people;
and that the white men who took part in colored peo¬
ple's meetings were politically and socially dead. He
referred to the state in which tbey were twenty years
ago, and contrasted it with the present, congratulating
them upon their progress. He then warmly congratu¬
lated Poor Ben and his amiable wife.
Music was then rendered by the church choir; after
which prayer was offered by Rev. A. N". Spahr, foL
lowed by a quartette "Praise ye the Lord." Sung by
Misses Bessie Adams, Mattie Bowles, and Messrs. E. J.
Boyd, Thos. Andrews.
Rev. J. A. P. Mc.Gaw, was next introduced, and
spoke for a few minutes, earnestly directing his remarks
to Poor Ben, and the condition of the colored people
twenty years ago, and now as they were assembled.
He related a Scotch incident in which the lady once
remarked, that she and her husband had lived twenty
years together, without a cross word; but her husband
finished it by saying, it was very monotonous.
Rev. Mc.Gaw concluded by saying that he believed
the lives of Poor Ben and wife had not been monoto¬
nous, and still had been pleasantly and happily spent.
On taking his seat, he extended most sincere con¬
gratulations, to the bride and groom of twenty years.
Following these remarks, came a trio—"Come Holy
Spirit," and a soprano solo, "Dare I Tell," by Miss Mag¬
gie Tudor. Her excellent rendition showed culture and
elicted hearty applause.
Love, Courtship and Marriage. 87
The Chairman then introduced Prof. A. C. Deuel,
who said that since Rev. Mc.Gaw, had addressed Poor
Ben, he would address the audience. He claimed the
right to talk to them/as he had directed many of them
in the progress of their education. He rejoiced with
them in this celebration. He said that the coming of
Poor Ben among them, marked an epoch in the history
of church and people; that by his teachings and prac¬
tical examples, they were made better men and wo¬
men; that he was a man of ability and unspotted
character, enjoying the highest esteem of not only the
colored people but of all classes and color; that he
was one of those men, who achieved greatness and had
greatness thrust upon them. The speaker referred to
the action of the Sunda}T-School Convention at Atlan¬
ta, and said Poor Ben's action was praise-worthjr, and
an honor to that gentleman. Prof. Deuel's remarks
were eloquent and pleasant to his listeners. He
closed with, " Live for God and the race."
A Duet—" No hope beyond" was then sung, and ex-
Mayor Brand being present, was called upon, and re¬
sponded in a neat little speech, going back to the
time of slavery, the struggle through the war, their en¬
franchisement, on up to the present time.
Mr. Samuel Hitt, said he was no speaker, but thct
he had brought his wife along (the house applauded.)
who would say something. He then congratulated
the happy couple wishing them many years in which
to enjoy similar occasions.
Mrs. Hitt, congratulated herself that she was pres¬
ent. She referred to the Scotch story that had just
"been related, and said her life had not been monoto¬
nous, and she thought there would be a gentle breez©
88
Poor Ben.
when she returned home (referring to Mr. Hitt bring¬
ing her along to do the speaking.) She then extended
her warmest wishes to the husband and wife, and to
the people in having so good a pastor.
A. C. Deuel, said it might be going outside the pro¬
gram, but he should like to hear a word from Poor
Ben. In response Poor Ben made a few timely and
well chosen remarks. Of course his thoughts carried
him back twenty years. He gave a short sketch of his
marriage, spoke freely when he referred to his wife;
that if there was any eredit due him, three-fourths of
it must be given to Louise; for what he was, was lnrge-
ly due to her; that while he struggled to get an edu¬
cation, she toiled at the wash tub, and kept the wol?
from the door; and that he was happy to receive such
warm congratulations, as had just been bestowed upon
them. He spoke of his love for his wife, and that he
loved her now better than he ever did; that he had
done all he could to build himself up, so he could help
build up his people. He contrasted the present and
the past, and as a clincher of the wonderful change in
things, politically and socially, said that to-morrow he
would read a full account of his china wedding, in the
" Daily Union Democrat,"and send the glad news to his
mother in Pennsylvania. Twenty years ago, said he,
"this could, nor would not have been done for any
member of my race!
With sincere thanks to all, he took his seat. Then
immediately began the heartiest of hand shaking, and
copgratulator}'' comments from the large assemblage of
guests present; while others waiting an opportunity,
had clustered around the tables that were loaded with
gifts of china sets, bricabrac, and more substantial arT
Love, Courtship and Marriage. 89
tides of dress goods, linen, groceries, etc. A line of
march was formed later in the evening for the lecture
room, where an elegant collation of dainties was served.
Here every one seemed particularly happy, and we are
of the opinion that every one was happy.
Here is to be noticed how these two natures pre¬
served through twenty long years of toil and hardship,
the poetry of love's first passionate illusion. It is this
alone, which makes wedlock the seal that confines true
affection and prevents it from being a mocking cere¬
monial, that constitutes the grave of wedded bliss.
We will swiftly and silently pass over a lapse of five
years, leaving the record of their failures and successes
to be mentioned in other chapters. Without allowing
curiosity to lead you to ask what the intervening events
were, let us suddenly transport you, Poor Ben and
his family from Urbana, to his now spacious residence
at Wilberforce, Ohio. Do. I hear old Mother Eve
within you ask, "How did he get there?" "The top
is not reached by a single bound. He climbed the lad¬
der round by round." Nevertheless, it is Thursday
evening, and a merry party of relatives and friends
have gathered at the Tawawa Chimney Corner—the
home of Poor Ben, to celebrate the twenty-fifth return
of their marriage date.
On the verandas, surrounding the house, in halls,
dining rooms and parlors could be heard the joyous
notes of mirth and laughter. Friends from far and
near were there assembled, and the happy bride and
groom, though their hair was tinted with silver, fit
counterpart, seemed to lift the veil, and look back two
and one half decades; when they launched their boat
upon the sea of life, with all its hopes; with all its
90
Poor Ben,
fears. Around them are gathered their family of six
children, who bless their happy home, and season life
with peace and joy.
At 9 o'clock the organ sounded the wedding march,
and Drs. Johnson and Gaines headed the marriage par¬
ty, while the family followed into the front parlor,
where Bishop Campbell, D.D., LL.D., lead in fervent
prayer, after which Bishop Brown performed the cere¬
mony; speaking of his personal knowledge of the fami¬
ly the benefit of holy and happy wedlock, and then pro¬
nounced his blessing upon the happy couple. ThiHf
was followed by congratulations from over one hun¬
dred guests.
To place a rough estimate upon the value of the
presents received, it would be nearly five hundred dol¬
lars.
Among the regrets sent were the following: Comp¬
troller Wm. Lawrence, Hon. J. W. Keifer, Hons. W.
G. Deshler and F. L. Sessons, Dr. B. T. Tanner and
Prof. Delaney.
We shall give only a short list of the distinguished
guests present: Father David Smith in his one hun-
dreth year, Bishops Brown, Tanner, Campbell, Dicker-
son, Wayman and Shorter; Drs. Johnson and Gaines
of Georgia; C. S. Smith, M. D. of Bloomington, 111.;
Johnson and Fitzhugh of Baltimore, Md.; Turner of
Washington, D. C.; Beckett of Wilmington, Del.;
Profs. Shorter, Hackley, Delaney, Maxwell and wife
of Willberforce.
Supper was served at ten o'clock, and the tables fair¬
ly groand beneath the weight of all the luxuries of the
season. All enjoyed the occasion, amid the shower of
wishes that Poor Ben and his amiable wife might see
Love, Courtship and Marriage,
91
many more years of useful life; and as the shadows
of life grow longer, that their noble life might increase
in blessings and honor to their race.
In that large and elegantly appointed home, there
were, at least, two happy hearts that swelled with grat¬
itude to the Giver of all good, for home, friends and
family. Their little kingdom was twenty-five years
old. "What a blessed institution the family is, had nev¬
er presented itself forcibly to them as it did on that
anniversary night.
' Every institution of earth has its origin in the fam¬
ily. The State is an aggregation of families; the Church
is a large Christain family. Family government was
the original model of State authority.
it is a noticeable fact that the head of most families
deny themselves, exert themselves and form habits that
are of great importance to themselves and to society.
They are thus impelled by the fervent desire that
their wives and children may not want for the comforts
of life; nor be deprived of any endowment of mind
culture that money can obtain.
Love is said to be the very life blood of true happiness,
what love really is we know not, yet it is such a pleas¬
ing mixture of every thing, and nothing, a physio-
phsychological mass, that it is found entering into the
highest, deepest and purest joys of earth. At its first
approach 'tis a mere passion. Then it cultivates the
Society of sentiment and fancy, and when it reaches
the heart, it governs the whole being. It stimulates,
purifies, refines and subdues the vilest propensities,
lifting the soul nearer its Maker. Real love will re¬
form the drunkard, the gambler, and will prove a fatal
antagonist of all natural barbarities. While on the
92
Poor Ben.
othet hand, love will degrade; it will bring man down
from the highest walks of moral and social distinct¬
ion to a companionship with felons, dumb brutes, or
worse, a suicidal death.
In the present time there is little love like that of
E. Allen Poe; none like that of the Irish lover, whose
pleadings inspired Moore to write, "Come Rest in this
Bosom." We find more of Will Carleton's Betsey and
Caleb's, who do not make up again, scattered over the
world like dead leaves of autumn. Autumnal wrecks
from out of whose debris, there never springs a true
blossom for the perpetual spring of love. Bickerings
and separations; like consumption, run in the family
for many generations.
This signifies strongly that the essential design of
courtship is to grant opportunity. Knowing each oth¬
er, a congenial courtship, succeeding a mutual love,
ever makes a happy marriage.
Many to day are aiming to many for policy, money,
convenience, beauty, ability, social standing, and ev¬
ery other motive but love. It is a rare treat now, to
hear a girl say, I married for love. She who marries
money without the love of the man, will soon find
herself moneyless and manless. She who marries the
love of the man without the money, will ever know
that she is both manned and moneyed.
In the instance of the love, courtship and the mar¬
riage of the couple which now absorbs our attention,
the little blind, winged god was at the head of their
kingdom twenty-five years ago, and after the elapse
of this period, his long reign had made a little despot
of him, and he had crowned and enthroned himself
as supreme monarch of the kindom of Poor Ben and
Love, Courtship and Marriage. 93
Louise, and all their subjects. Here he intends to
prevent all dissensions, keep back invading enemies,
and preserve them in their marriage state, in a health¬
ful, invigorating condition, so that with prudence,
foresight and intuition- he may still be their ruler for
a longer term of years.
A soul union produces a marriage like that of Poor
Ben's, and insures both happiness and prosperity.
^lyapter J(lll.
The Y. M. C. A.
£j|\OUBTLESS many of our readers would like to
xEJ know something more of the Young Men's Chris¬
tian Association. That such an organization ex¬
ists, this all know. But what is it? What does it do
with and for young men? Is it a new church? How
old is it? Who was its founder? Is it Catholic or
Protestant?
Some good motive led to the establishment of church
boards of missions. When churches were weak, each
denomination could not support a home nor a foreign
missionary. The field of labor was a great one, and
the means of supporting laborers, small. This called
for a combined fund from all churches, and all worked
in harmony for the common good. Precisely the same
causes led to the establishment of societies for the
publication and distribution of tracts and of the bible,
and for work among the freedmen, seamen and other
qiasses of people,
Thirty-five years ago, it seemed to maiay thoughtful
observers, in our large cities, that an organization was
needed whose special work should be to labor for and
among the young men. This class was becoming as
distinctive as that of seamen or foreigners.
Some of these men go into large cities with fixed re-
(94)
The Y. M. C. A.
95
iigious principles; others liave had religions training
and go, to respect the Sabbath and ihe church; others
go without fixed principles of any kind, and these fall
willing victims to vice and folly,
In Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 14th of October, 1848,
seven young men, who in the records call themselves,
"The Male Teachers of the Central Union Sabbath-
School," organized the "Young Men's Society of Relig¬
ious Inquiry." The original members were all connect¬
ed with one church, but the society was formed upon
union principles, as is shown by the fact, that at the
next meeting three additional members were elected,
who were from different churches and denominations.
In April, 1849, rooms were rented in the Franklin
Building, on the southwest corner of Longworth and
Vine streets, in which was established a library and
reading room.
The Society had a gradual and substantial growth
until it became an acknowledged power for good in
the community. This growth was attained through
persevering struggles and determination to succeed.
Often the meetings were very small, and sometimes the
society was without a place of meeting. In one in¬
stance at least, the members gathered on the sidewalk
in front of the church in which they hoped to find
shelter.
Among the most active workers of those early days,
were Samuel Lowry, Jr., S. J. Broad well and John H,
Cheever.
These rooms rented in the Franklin Building, served
them for more than a score of years; and the only prog¬
ress was that they crossed the street, and in 1870, oc¬
cupied two floors instead of one.
96
Foot Ben,
In February of 1853, they became connected "with
sister associations which had sprung up throughout
the country, and then added to their names the words
{<Young Men's Christian Union." This was a verbal
change only, and did not signify any alteration of spir¬
it or plan, but it was intended to assimilate its phrase¬
ology to the terms more generally in use.
Its usefulness continued until after the formation of
the "United States Christian Commission," by the
National Convention of the " Y. M. C. A," when many
of its active members becoming interested in the work
of the Commission, the meetings and efforts of the
Association were suspended for a few years.
In 1865, almost entirely through the exertions of
Mr. W. J. Breed, the organization was revived. At that
time he was elected president, and through his personal
indefatigable attention to the details of the work, and
his large liberality in pecuniary assistance, the institu.
tion grew rapidly in favor with the people, and entered
upon a career of marked success.
In the autumn of 1867, a state association was or¬
ganized, which held its fourth annual session in Cincin¬
nati. In a discussion, as to the best means of secur¬
ing buildings, the enthusiam became so great that a
practical solution of the problem was given in the form
of a contribution of more than ten thousand dollars
as a nucleus for the building fund of the Cincinnati
Association.
The above facts are culled from a short history of the origin of
the " Y. M. C. A." by one of its eX-presidents, H. Thane Miller.
This organization has its constitution and by-laws.
Its object is to improve the spiritual, mental, moral, soci-
The Y. M. C. A.
97
*1 and physical condition of young men, by the support
and maintenance of lectures, libraries, reading-rooms,
eocial and religious meetings, and other such means
as may conduce the accomplishment of those objects,
not contrary to the teaching of the bible.
The various departments or the services of the 5T.
M. C. A. are as follows: Committees on Hospital, Jail,
U. S. Barracks, Strangers' Home, City Workhouse; by
whom Monday prayer meetings, Sabbath evening ser¬
vices, bible classes etc. are held. At the rooms, fre«
lectures, concerts, laymeDs' institutes, Thanksgiving,
Christmas, and new years' dinners are given. There
are also committees on Lyceum, Music, Employment,
ReceptioD, Prayer meetings, Open Air Services, Bible
Class, Lectures, City and County Jails, and on Station
Houses. *
Poor Ben became an active member of the Y. M. C.
A. while residing in Toledo, Ohio, in 1870. He was
sent, a year later, as a delegate to the International As¬
sociation, which convened in Washington, D. C., June,
1871. Before the session closed, the entire body visit¬
ed the White House, and were received by Pres. Grant,
and, before leaving the reception room, made its walls
ring with that favorite hymn, " All Hail the Power of
Jesus' Name."
The delegates also visited the tomb of Washington,
at Mt. Vernon. This was the first time Poor Ben had
viewed the sacred resting place of the ashes of our
country's father.
His theme of discourse at this convention was "The
stand the Y. M. C. A. takes in relation to the colored
young men." His argument was ably put and well
received.
98
'Poor Ben.
He was again sent as a delegate to the State Con¬
vention of .Ohio, in .1872.
In 1880 Poor Ben was appointed one of the speakers
at the State Convention of the Y. M. C. A., which was
held at Zanesville, Ohio, and delivered the address in
response- to the address of welcome. During this ses¬
sion »he was deputized to bear the fraternal greetings to
the -London^ England, Association of the Y. M. C. A.
When the Y. M. C. A. met at St. Paris, Ohio, Poor Ben
wacj appointed to deliver the annual address. This
was the first instance in which a man of color had
ever filled this position on the program in the history
of the Association. He also conducted the meeting of
the Y. M. C. A. which met atjhe railroad depot of Col¬
umbus, Ohio.
<$l?apter fl\f.
In Business.
«
§USINESS is defined as a calling or profession. It
generally relates in some way to trade; yet isjustas
appropriate a term to use in designating any regular oc¬
cupation.
Wherever mankind exists and is capable of carry¬
ing on trade of various kinds and engaging in com¬
merce, there may be found a high state of civilization,
^he exchange of products between nations is one of
earth's greatest benefits, inasmuch as it banishes na¬
tional feeling of bitterness, does away with local preju¬
dices, makes each branch of the human family feel its
dependency upon the other branches, and creates ties
of interest and good will.
Our mechanical, mercantile, and agricultural in¬
terests are studied with as much earnestness by the
European and Asiatic, as we study theirs. Why?
Because we are each dependent on the other.
Truth and justice are the foundation of all legitimate
trade and commerce, and such business showers wealth
on every race variety that constitute a nation.
When the day dawns, in which the black man shall
belong to the throng of bankers, merchants, druggists,
grocers, doctors, lawyers, hotel proprietors, tradesmen
of various kinds, and be patronized by all, without
(99)
100
Poor Ben.
evincing any spirit of national antipathy —it will be a
glorious one for our nation.
At present we are denied the opportunity of enter¬
ing into many callings or trades; but there is a brighter
outlook for the young men of to-day than twenty
five years ago, when Poor Ben was young.
He nevertheless formed business habits when quite
young. He did all the marketing and shopping for
his mother and thus learned to drive a good'bargain
It also fell to his lot, to do all the steward's trading
for the various boats, on which he was employed.
This business tact cultivated in boyhood, had a ten¬
dency to fit him for the monetary positions of after
life.
At that date good and rapid penmen of color were
rare, and great were the demands made upon the few
to transact business, draw up notes, bills and other
documents, in correct legal form. Poor Ben found
plenty of gratis work to do in this direction, to say
nothing of the numerous letters from the boys in blue,
to be read and answered, for the dear ones at home.
All this made him quite familiar with written matter
so essential to the vocabulary of every business man.
He possessed nearly all those traits needed to make
an active and successful tradesman; but his future was
to be a different calling. He had not, in 1864, entered
into his life work.
At the above date, he entered the office of James M.
Abrams, a dentist, as an apprentice, and completed the
course; and for some time worked at mechanical and
practical dentistry He could not only pull down but
could build up that which had become dilapidated
He made a tooth and located it in his teacher's—Dr.
In Business.
101
Abram's mouth. Hence, as a tooth carpenter Poor
Ben was a success.
While studying in the profession, he carefully ex¬
amined the disease of the antrum. He found a case re¬
ported by a French physician. Poor Ben, had an uncle
who lived in the country, and was suffering from a sim¬
ilar affection. After sending for his uncle and examin¬
ing it closely, Poor Ben thought he would try his skill
On what the other dentists had given up without un¬
derstanding or even giving relief.
He first extracted a tooth, bored a hole into the
base of the antrum, which gave immediate relief; and
took from the cavity a gill or more of prurient mat¬
ter. This was the first cessation of pain the patient
had felt for months. Placing a silver tube into the open¬
ing he carefully washed the cavity with arnica
tincture, and the patient returned home a well and
happy man, and has never felt a pain from the samSe
cause, up to the present date—1889.
Shortly after this Poor Ben received his title of Dr.
for the first time. He did not practise long, it not be¬
ing lucrative enough to support him.
Doubtless it would be well here to speak of a busi¬
ness enterprise started some years ago, of which Poor
Ben was the originator, assisted by Ludlow Apjones,
Of Ohio.
Africa extends from thirty-five degrees south to
thirty - nine degrees north, five thousand miles; and
from Cape Verde to Cape Guardafui, in distance some
three thousand miles from east to west. While
there are table-lands and vast lake regions, and water-
eoaked plains, and other peculiar formations in
given localities, we may say, in general, it is diversi-
1.02
Poor Ben.
Ged as are other continents. Mountains rear their
rugged heads, and conceal in their vast breasts metals
and minerals, which God had fore-ordained from the
^beginningof the world for the use of man. Rivers form
natural high ways,and refresh the adjacent countries
with their moisture. Extensive forests cover whole
^countries, protect them from the heatofthe sun, and are
ready to be used for buildings, ship-timber, dye-woods,
and the thousand applications of the civilization which
will require their use.
In all Africa, grains and fruits of all kinds furnish
perpetual crops, and cotton and other cloth-producing
trees and plants are perennial.
In the infancy of the human race, Africa boasted of
being the most civilized of those times, and the just¬
ness of its claims is attested by monuments which are
<extant in our day, and will still look down on unnum¬
bered centuries to come. The queen of Sheba, in
Solomon's time, came from the South as the representa¬
tive of many subjects, princes and princesses, who
would rank as equals in beauty and wisdom, with
modern sovereigns. In Africa, however, as in Europe^
there came the dark ages, and for centuries progress
was stayed, devastation held sway, and the darkness of
ignorance settled like a pall over that glorious conti¬
nent. So it is that God punishes those who depart
fro n his law, and are disobedient to his commands;
for bad government is as much the result of a violation
of God's moral law, as throwing one's self from a cliff
£s a violation of a law of nature; the fatality of both
is sure. The slave system has been the curse of Afri¬
ca. It is only to-day that the continent is beginning
to shake off the incubus.
In Business.
105
The power of stearo is beginning to be felt in the
most benighted regions. The rapid communication
with the centers of thought and refinement, which
steam and electricity make possible, and which com¬
merce enforces will, in the course of a few generations-
bring the most barbarous of people up to the level of
the most progressive, or else they will melt away as the
frosts of morning before the rising sun. While tribes
of other races will disappear before advancing civilizat¬
ion, it is unlikely that the Negro as a race, will do so?
although such a fate has been predicted for him more
than once. Facts are constantly refuting such a possi¬
bility. The question for them to solve is how to take
advantage of their opportunities, so as to compete
with other people in intellectual progress, and how to
reap commercial rewards, and to save their own conti¬
nent from the spoiler, who even now is taking posses¬
sion of their best and fairest lands, and using the in¬
habitants thereof as hewers of wood and drawers of
water. On the railroads of Africa they should be
conductors instead of track hands. On the steamers
they should be captains instead of coal heavers. AncS-
from their pulpits, Africans should preach, as in for¬
mer times the pure word of God, and lead their peo¬
ple up to Christian civilization, instead of hearing it
only from foreign lips. In a word, we would say, "As,
God. gave Africa to the Negro, so by His help they
should keep it."
At present, the half-caste Arabs of Zanzibar, the Ma-
homedans of Egypt, the French, the Italians, he Portu¬
guese, English, and Dutch are partitioning Africa among
themselves, and quarelling over it, as so many dogs over
a carcass in their midst.
104
Poor Ben.
This they are better enabled to do by knowledge
the art of war, and the modern inventions and capi*
tal at their command. The Africans themselves, th%
Negroes in America, the friends of liberty and equality
•very where should cry out to stop this shameful phas%
of human cruelty and avarice. Africa should belong
to the Africans, and foreigners should benefit from it
only by fair exchange. The Republic of Liberia^
founded by emancipated people of America, offers th%
only bright spot on the dark picture. It should b%
protected and encouraged by the home government an*|
its influence greatly extended. In addition, the United
States is bound to afford protection to Americans, N§»
gro or others, who may engage in trade and thecU*
velopment of the country, in the most distant regions*
Americans are entitled to protection and redress by
the government in any part of the world. It is fox
that we pay taxes,'and we can claim it. There is not a&
official civil, military, or naval—that does not draw
his pay in part from every tax payer.
That the trade of Africa is valuable, it is only neces*
eary to call attention to the fact that white firms
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston hav$
made fortunes in that trade, while it is yet undeveloped *
and that English steamers pass along the west coasl^
as far as Capetown, every week.
No traveler, who has written of Africa, has failed to
draw enchanting pictures of the scenery, and the traits
of nobility of the inhabitants. The accounts of Bruoe
of the land and people north of the Equator, oa $*■%
Benue river, is only equaled by Cameron in his recent
extravagant praise of the regions of the Manganjas
the south.
In Business.
105
It is a notorious fact that the decendants of the Afri-
^in race in America are debarred from promotion in
business, and are forced, by the spirit of caste, to labor
*n menial employment, without any present expecta¬
tion of bettering their condition. Their pay is kept at
& low figure, thus preventing the respect which is
\isually paid to men of wealth.
Surely, out of so great a nation, such as the col¬
ored people of .the United Slates really are, there
Should be some who should have the benefit of the
highest education, and of the best business facilities.
Of all the citizens of different races, of which this
country is composed, it is wrong that they alone should
be oppressed.
The effect of the establishment of a great company,
organized in the interest of the colored people, would
toot only give them opportunities, in the employments
offered by the company, such as cominanders of ships,
and agents and traders at the posts; but it would
be like a light house, to guide them in the way of na¬
tional greatness, by organization and industry.
The influence of the company in Africa would open
the way for vast numbers of teachers and preachers
among the natives, and the increase and direction of
tfade, would furnish employment by which men could
<garn wealth, and return to elevate their families and
increase the resources of our own country. Africa
presents the aspect of super-abundant resources unde¬
veloped. "The fields are ripe for the harvest, but the
laborers are few." The first steamship crossed the At¬
lantic in' 1835, and other continents have gained the
Impetus created by the rapidity of transit. Africa is
now in the path of this wave of progression. It will
106
Poor Ben.
not be many years before Cairo, and Capetown and
^Monrovia, and Gondar, will be united by railway and
telegraph. The interest which it has proposed to have
Americans take in the future development of those
regions is not unreasonable. The capital $5,000,000,
is not large in consideration of the possibilities of the
fiuture, and yet it is thought that it will be sufficient to
open the way fairly for innumerable enterprises, and
to return good results to its stock holders.
The act of incorporation of the African Company
-was as follows:
I. Know all men by these presents that Ludlow Ap-
jjones, "W. B. Arnett, Solomon Blackburn, Andrew J.
IDellart, A. A. Brasher, Lewis Schwab, Joseph S. Shaw,
'Gustar Stifer, Frank V. Cousins, J. B. Stansberry, and
^George Parker have associated themselves together,
-and, by this instrument, do hereby become incorpor¬
ated, in accordance with the laws of the state of Ken¬
tucky and the constition and laws of the United
States, as the African Company.
II. The object of the African Company is to engage
En trade and commercial transactions in Africa, and
operations connected therewith.
III. The capital stock of the company shall be five
millions of dollars ($o.000,000), divided into fifty
thousand shares (50,000) shares of one hundred dol¬
lars ($100) each, payable in successive monthly in¬
stalments of ten dollars ($10.)
IV. The principal office of the company shall be in
Covington, Ky., where the council meeting of the stock
uolders shall be held on the second Monday in Janua¬
ry of each year, for the election of eleven directors,
who shall direct all the business of the company du-
In Business.
ring the year for -which they shall be elected; and they
shall have power to fill vacancies in their number,
caused by death, resignatipn, or otherwise. The Board
of Directors may have other offices for the transaction
of the business of the company, in Africa or elsewhere^.
They shall be subject to such rules as they may adopt.,
approved by the stockholders. From their number^
they shall elect, immediately after their own election.,
a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and also a
treasurer, who shall give bonds for the security of the
funds which may come into his possession, in such
sum as may be set by the Board of Directors.
Any director may be impeached and dismissed by
a majority of the votes of the stockholders at a meet¬
ing called for that purpose. Stockholders may vote
by proxy.
The stockholders may adopt such rules and by-laws
for their guidance as from time to time they may deem
proper. The officers chosen by the Board of Directors
#shall be ex-officio officers of the company.
V. The incorporators shall, after incorporation, elect
a board of directors to serve until a special meeting of
the stockholders is called for the purpose of electing
a board of directors, who, in turn, shall serve until the
first regular annual meeting of the company.
VI. Members of the company may at any timss
withdraw by sale and transfer of their stock, or by it®
surrender to the company, either without considera¬
tion or at its market value, if the company choose to
purchase.
VII. The private property of the stockholders shall
not be subject to the debts of the company.
VIII. The indebtedness of the company shall nevear
108
Poor Ben.
exceed two-thirds of the amount of the capital stock
of the company,
IX. The shares of the stock shall be transferable on»
ly on the books of the company by the holders in pejs
eon or by attorney. The holders of shares of stock
shall be entitled to a land warrant for one hundred
acres of land, from the property purchased by the
company, for each share held; the said warrants to be
transferable by endorsement and record on the books
of the company kept for that purpose,
X. The duration of the company shall be until the
first day of January, 1901., A. D., with the privilege
of renewal for twenty-five years, according to law, and
again and again, for like periods, in the direction of
the company unless sooner dissolved by a majority of
the votes of the stockholders.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands
and seals, on the day and date accompanying our
names severally, April 5, 1876,
Ludlow Adjones, (seal)
W. B. Arnett (seal)
Solomon Blackburn, (seal)
Andrew J. DeHart, (seal)
A. A. Brasher, (seal)
Lewis Schwab, (sead)
Joseph S. Shaw, (seal)
Gustar Stifer, (seal)
Frank J. Cousins, (seal)
-J. B. Stansberry, (seal)
George Parker, (seal)
State of Kentucky, Kenton County,
A certified copy of the act of incorporation of the
African Company, lodged in this office for record. In
In Business.
109
testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand as
clerk of the Kenton County Court, and affixed the
seal of the said court, at my office, in Covington, Ken¬
tucky, (seal) this April 26, 1876.
J. L. Briston, Clerk."
The inception of the company appeared in the fol¬
lowing circular letter:
"Sir :—
The project of a company of Americans to take com¬
mercial interest in Africa has been mooted. There are
many reasons why Americans should be first, instead
of last, in taking advantage of the opportunities offered
by such a vast continent, embracing as it does one
quarter of the habitable globe. The disposition of the
American people has made them renowned as naviga¬
tors and explorers. They are always ready to seek in
distant places for resources not found in their own land.
Neither frigid nor torrid zone has stayed them in their
search for wealth. The development of our own
country in times past was only equaled by our com¬
mercial enterprise, and foresight abroad.
But the incubus of the debt created during the war
against the slave holders, and the loss of trading ships,
has thrown this country far behind in the race for
national aggrandisement, outside of the United States.
Every enterprise there which seems to open new
fields to any class of Americans, should be encouraged.
The continent of Africa is rich in all the productions
of nature, necessary for the use of man; grains, fruits
and vegetables; animals, and materials for making
cloth, the precious stones ^nd useful metals. It has
water communication internal and lateral; and it
110
Poor Ben.
holds a'population which could be developed to take
rank with the cultured people of any part of the globe.
Other nations, have long before this, acquired terri¬
tory in Africa of immense extent, and year by year,
are extending their sway further toward the interior.
There are already one million whites in South Africa,
and the gold and gold fields are attracting crowds of
immigrants. Europeans are domesticated on all the
shores of Africa, and explorers crossing even the equa¬
torial regions are apparently as long-lived as if they
had remained at home.
The culture of cotton, rice, and sugar-cane, and the
mining and forging of metals, would enable our col¬
ored people to become as rich in that continent, as the
eelf-made men among us.
Intelligence, wealth and enterprise will soon com¬
mand respect for a people, whether they be black or
white. There is now a chance for our colored men to
gain the respect and admiration, not only of the whites
of this country, but of all other nations. They have
only to saythat slavery shall cease to exist,and it willper-
ish from the face of the earth. They are strong enough to
accomplish it, backed as they would be by the whole
country. The whites of this country are anxious to
make money, and the colored race here can take them
into their pay to gain their ends, just as the Japanese
have done in hiring foreigners to perfect systems of im¬
provement, to drill their troops, and furnish them with
chips, locomotives and machinery. The united ser
vice of the two races in money making enterprise,
would do more than any thing else to dissipate pred-
judice on both sides.
Should this company be pushed to success without
In Business.
HI
their aid, it will be little to the credit of the colored
men of America.
It is not to their credit that slavery still exists in
Cuba, and Africa. The English are freeing Africa, not
Americans of either color. While they are thus carry¬
ing civilization and religion to the southern part of
Africa, at is no less true that they are erecting a state
which, in time, will equal the mother country in popu¬
lation, wealth and resources. They are repeating their
program of India, Australia, and Canada.
Many of both races white and colored, in this coun«
try, are it this time out of employment, and the ave¬
nues to promotion, in business are filled to such an ex¬
tent that an abundance of the best material is only
waiting for opportunity to engage in anything which
promises them employment. This state of affairs ia
likely to continue.
Among colored people in this country the few pro¬
fessions open to them are over-crowded, and even the
most intelligent among them are compelled to engage
occupations little suited to their tastes or abilities.
The colored people of this country have developed
the very highest qualifications of civilized life. They
are intelligent, brave, religious in thought, domestic
in habit and easily organized. Opportunity only is
wanting for them to become a distinguished people.
They are twice as numerous as the thirteen colonies, at
the time of the Revolution, twice as numerous as the
Egyptians, and are capable of accomplishing as great
results as either, if their attention is direc. ?d to the
continent of Africa.
Why should Americans neglect fair prospects, such
as are there offered, and especially our colored citizens,
112
Poor Ben.
fitted by nature and education to carry civilization and
Christianity over so vast a field? The missionary
should go where commerce makes the way easy, and
missions thus prepared to be self-sustaining.
Your own knowledge will give you facts for con¬
sideration in connection with this matter. The propo¬
sition is to organize a company, under the laws of Ken¬
tucky and the constitution and laws of the United
States, to trade in Africa; to secure trading-posts and
concessions, to open new avenues of trade, and to use
the means of the company, so formed, to establia
steam lines, or to build railroads, or to foster the civili¬
zation of profitable products, and to act in such a man¬
ner in Africa as to make the company rich and strong,
and to carry out the desires of the American people in
that direction, and to enhance the value of the stock
of the African company in every way possible. The
proposed amount of capital is set at five millions of
dollnrs, in shares of one hundred dollars, each share to
entitle the holder to a land warrant for a hundred acres
of land; the holders of shares to have the preference
in the employment and nomination to offices under
the company.
The scheme is by no means a project of coloniza¬
tion, but Bimply a business arrangement, by which
money can be made, by some energetic and capable
colored people, without detriment to their compa-
troits, and with benefit to the natives of Africa. Wo
would bf glad to hear from you, in regard to its feasi¬
bility and desirability at your convenience.
Respectfully,
Ludlow Apjones.
In Business.
113
To this circular letter, numerous favorable responses
Yere received, recommending the organization of th«
■"company as suggested. Citizens of Cincinnati and
Covington becoming incorporators.
114
Poor Ben.
Chapter )L\f.
Political Career.
biography of a great or good man is rarely, ifev-
Jr er, well executed. To portrait a life fully and truth¬
fully, the portrait must be drawn by one who has li^ed
through the same scenes political, social and religious,
and who has been closely associated wTith the subject
he attempts to set forth. Yet, those who have spent a
life time with another do not know how to write
about him. His faults will all be either hiden by hia
good qualities, or made the dominant feature. A clsar-
ly written biography is," however, equivalent to a ser¬
mon ; for it teaches the many important lessons ;hat
the masses need; it is a guide, a help, and an incent¬
ive to the reader; it teaches noble living, and think¬
ing; it helps to energetic action; it is needed for indi¬
vidual good, and the good of«the world.
In the political world, sometimes a single anecdote
connected with a man becomes famous, and opens up
his character; and the politician being anatomically
formed, often a single speech, or sentiment or ceed,
enables the writer to construct a political skeleton,
which the subject himself must complete, beaitify
and immortalize with muscles, sinew, nerve, bbod,
flesh and soul of his eloquence, doctrine, vigor, nas-
Political Career.
115
Biv^ intellect, irresistible force of magnetism, and grand
noble achievements.
]So language will better delineate the sentiments of
the Subject of this work, than that given by Webster,
wh^n he expressed John Adams' love for independ¬
ency Born in an age of slavery, and barbarism; liv¬
ing in a time when the cries for liberty and justice
were continuous and heart-rending; when heroic en¬
durance, high examples of noble daring and deeds of
valor, were enacted, such as were never exhibited be¬
fore in the history of the world, Poor Ben could not
be otherwise than patriotic. His natural heroism be¬
came materialized. His love of right and race ambi¬
tion, his grit, his natural and acquired abilities, taken
together with those necessary ingredients found in all
men, that is, some of the angel, some of the beast,
some of the God, and some of the devil,—all these were
thrust into his heart, brain and backbone, and formed
the physical substance of the political orator, Ben.
All these elements were closely combined in him,
and thp '• spirit of the age" with its many changes of
code and statutes, have acted like skilled sculptors on
marblej so that to-day, if celebrity and notoriety be
his, they are due, not mjjre to the man himself, than to
the horjors of slavery, rebellion, injustice, prejudice
and caste that have pervaded the atmosphere in which
he has lived.
The v<j>ice of the press has spoken loudly of. his tel¬
ling influence, and of his instructive, logical and stir¬
ring eloquence. The following are extracts from some
of the leading papers of his state:
During the campaign of 1872, August 24, "Toledo
Blade" says,
116
Poor Ben.
"At the close of Governor Noyes' address, the band
struck up a national air, and notwithstanding the
skill with which they discoursed the music, the audi-
ence shouted as with one voice for Poor Ben, who
came forward and furnished a fitting sequel to the el¬
oquent speech of the Governor. His speech was re*
plete with wit, logic and stirring appeal. He gave an,
illustration of the feeling manifested everywhere by
the colored people in the interest of the party which,
gave them their freedom, and all the franchises of citk
zenship. When he finished, loud calls were made
for J. Madison Bell, the orator and poet, who came
forward and made a spirited and quickening appeal,
Poor Ben was again called out, and for twenty minutes
kept the hall in a continuous shout of laughter and ap¬
plause. Thus closed the first full day in Toledo, and
we are justly proud of this good beginning."
"Toledo Democrat," of July 27, 1872., in speaking
of the congressional covention says:
" Poor Ben, the colored delegate, read in a clear, bo*
norious voice, enunciating and pronouncing each word
distinctly, the following report of the committee on
resolutions:
Rosolved: That the platform of principles adopted
by the National Republican Convention, which was held
in the City of Philadelphia, June 5, 1872, is fully and
unequivocally endorsed and adopted by the Republi¬
cans of the Sixth Congressional district of Ohio.
Resolved: That the success of the principles of
National Republican party, and the incorporation of
these in the very frame work of government, is essen*
tial to the peace and prosperity of the great Nation.
Resolved: That we heartily endorse the wise, jug^
Political Career.
117
humane, and economical administration of Pres. U. S.
Grant.
Resolved: That we will use all honorable means to
secure the election of General U. S. Grant, and the
Hon. Henry Wilson to the presidency and vice-pres¬
idency of the United States.
Resolved: That we do most earnestly appeal to the
honor and patriotism of the voters of the Sixth Con¬
gressional district to support the ticket nominated by
the State Republican Convention, which met in Col¬
umbus, March, last.
Resolved: That we use all honorable means to defeat
the so-called Liberal Republican and semi Democratic
and Lost Cause candidate for presidency of the Unit¬
ed States, Horace Greely; and we warn all honest men
not to be deceived by any cry of civil service reform,
nepotism, tyrany, or centralization, for it is only the
despair of disappointed politicians, hungry Democrats,
and men whom the people elected to attend to their
own business."
"Kenton Republican," of Sept. 19, 1972, say:
" The procession of those on foot, on horseback and
in wagons, was a large one. Some of our citizens as¬
sert that Poor Ben made the most thoroughly logical
and comprehensive speech made here during the cam¬
paign.
One of the points made by Poor Ben, in his address
at the fair grounds, on Thursday against the Demo¬
crats was this: 'Ask us the colored voters of the Unit¬
ed States, to vote the Democratic party back into pow¬
er, that party that lived and flourished on the unpaid
labor of four millions of people, that party that had
no regard for the sacred ties of marriage, that for pal-
lis
Poor Ben.
try gold separated husband and wife, parent and child,
brother and sisters; that party that sold in the market
the virtue of women to the highest bidder. That par¬
ty asks us for our votes, before we are done hunting
our kindred scattered by them over this broad land!'
We will never give them our votes! No, never 1
In the Toledo Commercial, of September 1872, was
given the appointments made by the Central Republi¬
can Committee of speakers. Prominent among the
names of the following noted men and able orators,
was the name of Poor Ben, Col. J.*R. Swigart, Gen. J.
A. Hall of Maine, Gen. John Beatly, Gen. James A'
Garfield, our lamented president; Hon. J. A. Bingham,
Hon. Wm. Kraus, Hon. J. W. Torney; Hon. B. F.
Wade and others.
During the campaign of the State of Ohio 1874, the
question of civil rights was discussed in mass meeting
at White's Hall. This being the first purely colored
political meeting in the history of Toledo was one of
more than ordinary interest. The audience was large
and manifested an unflagging interest.
The speakers of the evening were J. M. Bell, J. H.
Lewis, W. R- Revels and Poor Ben. The following is
a report and an editorial as taken from the "Toledo
Daily Commercial:"
" The , Poor Ben of Cincinnati was introduced,
who spoke substantially as follows:
'Ladies and gentelmen, and by the grace of the Rs-
publican party, and fellow-citizens, I feel a diffidence
in coming before you to try to say something that may
enlighten you in regard to the present issue; for the
great boon of freedom, it seems to me, gives a man not
only life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but al-
Political Career.
119
eo devolves upon him certain duties which cannot be
neglected." He called attention to the vast extent,
wonderful resources, and great interest involved of
this country, and said in considering these, it became a
voter's solemn duty to consider before exercising a
right by which the fortunes of such important meas¬
ures were decided. •'There are two parties asking eve¬
ry one to support them next Tuesday; the Republican
party on the one side, and the Democratic party on the
other. Each had a right to ask for votes, and the
speaker had a right, individually, to express the claims
of his party.
What had the Democratic party done for the citi¬
zens of Lucas county which should induce them to
vote for it? What had it done for the white race?
Some people claim that we should not inquire into the
past history of a party in discussing its claims for pub¬
lic favor. Let us look at the matter in the light of a
business transaction. Suppose two men should apply
to a merchant for a position as his cashier, one of whom
refuses to give reference, and the other of whom gave
them. Which would be employed? Just so now. We
want to know the record of the Democratic party in
the past, in order that we may know whether to trust
it in the tuture.
During the long period of the war the Republican
party was the friend of the colored man. It demands
justice for all, and equality before the law. The Dem¬
ocratic, on the other hand, had possession of the gov¬
ernment for nearly a hundred years, during which
time it denied the black man the right of existing,
kept him ragged and ignorant, and in bondage; it was
also opposed to the free action of the white man. One
120
Poor Ben.
of its cardinal principles was that the normal condi¬
tion of every foot of land, throughout the country,
was that of slavery. In other words, that every gun
in the army, every plank in the ships of the navy, was
dedicated to the propagation of slavery.' [A voice.]
*What do you mean by normal condition?' The
speaker became euthusiastic. 41 mean that first con¬
dition in history of every man and of every one of
God's creatures in which they longed for liberty.
[Cheers.] When it was in power, the Democratic par¬
ty opposed free speach, and a free press in favor of
freedom. The party was like the Irishman, it didn't
want justice, but it wanted mercy. It desired that the
mantle of charity be thrown over its past career."
Poor Ben then turned to his colored hearers and in
a peculiarly earnest, but eccentric way, portrayed to
them their suffering while in slavery, and told them
if they wanted to put the party in power which caused
their sufferings, to vote next Tuesday for the Dem¬
ocratic party. The speaker admitted that there were
scalawags in fhe Republican party, men who entered
in hope of power and place, and for personal gain, and
the moment they were hauled out of power, that mo¬
ment they repudiated the party. He reviewed Ash¬
ley's course in a scathing manner; saying that 'after
he had been turned out of Congress, out of an office
in the west, he came baek here. He went down to the
Cincinnati Liberal Convention, and claimed that, like
Paul, while on the way, the spirit of the Lord entered
his soul. He was converted, and like the Methodist,
grew in grace. He stood like Peter of old before the
Democratic party warming himself. But when the
showers of tears fall at the election, he didn't know
Political Career,
121
where he would go. When the speaker saw Mr. Ashley
In the congress of the United States championing the
thirteenth amendment, he thought him to be the no¬
blest Roman of them all; but he had fallen. He went
back on his entire record, and shouted with the loud¬
est Democratic brawler for a white man's government.
This was but natural, and the only thing to be expect¬
ed of that kind of men."
One of those Liberal speakers with whom Mr. Ashley
is now associated, had said that the movement was for
peace; was to bring back into the halls of Congress,
and place in power those gigantic rebel brains that
headed the rebellion. The speaker agreed with him
that it was what a Democratic victory meant, nothing
more than a return to power of the southern rebels.
He appealed to his audience to say whether they want¬
ed such men in power. It was rebel brains behind
guns that created such havoc on many a bloody battle
field. It was rebel brains that originated the hellish
cruelties of Andersonville; it was rebel brains that
caused the sufferings at Libby Prison; it was rebel
brains that left the whole country, from the Potomac
to the Rio Grande, strewn with the bones of the best
young men in the land; it was rebel brains that di¬
rected the arms, that wielded the lash, which scour-
aged the backs of the colored race, for so many weary
years; and if his hearers wanted any more of rebel
brains, they could go and vote the Democratic ticket
next Tuesday.
Poor Ben then took up the question of civil rights
and discussed it at length, showing the fallicies of the
Democratic assertions in a striking and original man¬
ner, and illustrating his points by amusing and tell-
122
Poor Ben.
ing anecdotes. 'The. great Democratic bugaboo was
'nigger equality.' .What of it, if there was? The col¬
ored children demanded an education in common
with those of our white fellow citizens. Let the white
and „ the black boy. have equal opportunities, and
the one. that is superior in intellect, be he white or
black,^take the first, rank. This is the policy of the
Republican party; that of the Democratic party is to
hold back the b,lack bpy and urge forward his whits
competitor. The speakers of the party asserted that
if there were common schools, soon their daughters
would be piarried .to 'big black buck niggers, and that
there would be social equality.'
There had been none of that social trouble in Tole¬
do when the Negro and the white had attended the
same school. But thanks to the Democratic policy,
they were provided with enough of the white color
without going out of their own race to marry; they
had the octoroon, and they could boast that the best
Democratic blood of the land flowed in their veins,
too. As to the question of hotels, the colored man
asked simply for the privilege of buying a meal of vit-
uals when traveling, the same as any other man,
and he did not propose to be shoved with his wife and
daughters into smoking and baggage cares, or into the
gallery of the theaters. The question of the finances
of the government under the Democratic and Repub¬
lican rule was taken up, and the superiority of the
Republican monetary system clearly set forth. The
Democrats grumble a great deal about national banks,
although they had not offered any thing superior to
them. As for himself, he preferred a currency as sound
as ours was during the panic to one like that in vogue
Political Career.
123
in Democratic days, when, should you go five hundred
miles from the place of issue of a bank note, it would
be nearly worthless.
Poor Ben closed with an earnest appeal to his col¬
ored brethren not to forget the price of blood at wThich
their liberty had been bought, and to vote for the par¬
ty which had so nobly and steadfastly stood by them
in the hours of need, uttering a prayer that in the re¬
sults of the election, God would vouch safe to every
man and all the nations, life liberty and the pursuit
of happiness. He was rewarded with a hearty round,
applause.
The following editorial appeared in the "Toledo
Daily," of 1874:
White's hall, last night, furnished testimony to the
fitness of the colored race for citizens, which must have
challenged the attention of every considerate man pres¬
ent. Without undertaking to make comparisons,
which under the most favorable circumstances, are apt
to be odious, it is safe to say that the hall, had it a
tongue, could tell of political assemblages of lighter
hue, which, in neither speakers nor audience would ex-
cell in character or intelligence, the one referred to. It
would no doubt be revolting to Democratic sensibili¬
ties, for us to compare the speech of Poor Ben, on this
occasion, with that of the Chief Magistrate of the State
of Ohio on Tuesday night, but the truth could only be
stated, by saying, that in the elements of a calm," dis¬
passionate and logical presentation of public issues,
the colored speaker had the advantage of his white
excellency. The speech of the former was free from
the bitterness of spirit, violence of language, and reck¬
lessness of statement, which marked the harangue of
the latter. Assuming that it was the intellect and the
124
Poor Ben.
judgement of his hearers, rather than their passions
that were to be reached. Poor Ben addressed himself
to these, and with an effect which none failed to ob¬
serve; while Gov. Allen, from first to last, assumed
that his auditors were incapable of appreciating facts
or argument, and could be reached only through the
medium common to the ignorant and the vicious.
What we have thus said of Poor Ben's remarks, ap¬
plies also to those of the other speakers. Each of them
' seemed to be imbued with a sense of the importance
of the occasion, especially in it,s bearing upon their
«race. Accepting the facts, that colored citizens are on
trial before the jury of the world, they sought so to
present to that class, their duties and obligations, as to
impress them with the gravity of their responsibility.
In this, they succeeded to a great degree Each speak¬
er labored to show not only what should be the aim of
the colored people, but how they may best attain such
end. Believing the party which gave liberty and the
ballot to the colored race to be the most reliable friends
of that race, they did not hesitate to say so, and to
urge upon them their duty of standing by those, who
alone stood by them. Unable to see how the colored
men's rights are to be safe in the hands of the party
which from first to last has denied them all rights, these
speakers warned their race against the fatal mistake of
trusting to such dependence.
Who will say that in this they have not rights?
The base statement of the relations of the two politi¬
cal parties to the colored people is an urgent protest
against the latter's favoring Democratic ascension.
There is one view of this subject, which the colored
people at the North should not lose sight of. They, by
Political Career.
125
"Virtue of Republican predominance here, are yet free
to act, and especially to vote, according to their own
.Judgement and desire; a privilege not allowed to their
fellows in many of the southern states, where the Dem¬
ocratic party predominates. The facts given else where
in regard to the recent election in Georgia, show how
the colored race fares where the Democratic party is
in power. In all the county of Richmond, with a to¬
tal colored registration of three thousand voters, but
■one hundred Republicans votes were cast, while the
"white leagues polled within one hundred and fifty of
their full vote, in the severe contest of 1868. No ter¬
rorism, such as that which silenced the voices of 2900
•colored freemen in Richmond, has yet appeared to pre¬
vent the colored citizens of Ohio from appearing at the
polls; but once let the power in Ohio be placed in the
tiands of the party that holds power in Georgia, and
"Where would be the difference in the two cases? It
"Will be borne in mind, that in all the North, not a single
DemocraticConvention has denounced the white league
•conspiracy against personal rights and public liberty.
The Democracy of the North now stands by that dis¬
loyal and atrocious organization, as they did by the
"game rebels when in arms for the overthrow of the
Union. How then can any colored man make up his
$nind to vote for a Democratic candidate, whether
northern or southern? No colored man in Georgia,
Louisiana, or any other southern state, is safe in voting
•"any other than the Democratic ticket, and consequent¬
ly the mass of that race refuses to vote at all. Shall
the colored people of the North voluntarily vote to en¬
dorse and give effect to what so sorely oppresses and
threatens their friends in the South? To vote for Frank
120
Poor Ben.
H. Hurd or the Democratic ticket, generally is to do
this very thing."
In every campaign, and wherever the State Commit¬
tee assigned Poor Ben to address the Republican par¬
ty, he would go inspired with a knowledge of the deep
and general interest felt in the issue of the campaign.
Genuine and hearty enthusiasm always pervaded the
hosts who greeted him. When he saw and heard such
noble veterans as Gov. Noyes, and general Swayne,
both crippled in battle for the right, when he stood on
the same platform with these men who knew what the
Union cost, who forever bear with them the marks of
rebel malignity, and the memory of brave blood that
purchased thq nation's existence, he needed no other
incentive to duty. These events had sufficient power
to force words from the heart, and send them to the
hearts of his hearers. His speeches were replete with
wit, logic and stirring appeal, abounding in illustra¬
tions of the feeling manifested everywhere by the col¬
ored race, in the interest of the party which gave theni
their freedom, and all the franchises of citizenship.
Unfortunately, for a success in point of members at
the Republican meeting held September 26, 1870, at
the Toledo opera house, the rain storm, which began
at six o'clock, continued with unabated intensity all
the evenings But notwithstanding this, the house was
well filled by an audience that listend with the utmost
attention, and appreciation, to the eloquent addresses
of the two orators of the evening, Gov. Stewart L.
Woodford and Poor Ben of Ohio.
The meeting was called to order promptly by J. K.
Hamilton, Chairman of the Republican Committee,
who briefly introduced Gov. Woodford. The Govern-
Political Career.
127
or made a lengthy and eloquent statement between
labor and honest money. He argued strongly that in
case the greenback was substituted fox-the national
bank currency, it would abolish a portion of the taxes
of the government, and be a movement directly-in the
interest of the banker. He closed with a fine perora¬
tion, and was greated with great applause.
Though it continued to rain as though the-heavens
were open, Gov. Woodford and Poor Ben had a very
large audience, and those who were present were well
rewarded. Gov. Woodford more than justified the
superb reputation he had already won, while Poor Ben
made an admirable speech.
Poor Ben is unquestionably one of the most eloquent
political colored orators that this country has ever
produced. His campaign in the State of Ohio was a
brilliant one, as every one expected it would be. He,
at that time, was a growing man and had a brilliant
future before him in the coming campaigns of his
state and country. At the close of the Governor's
most able effort, Poor Ben brought forth most forcibly
the merits of the good old Republican party. For wit,
touching pathos and real common sense, he could not
be surpassed. His many eloquent phrases, and hap¬
py hits brought down the house.
He introduced himself in a few humorus remarks,
and said that, "We should not delude ourselves with
the idea that we are respected all over this Union. We
are in danger in many places in this land. We ask
you to examine the parties claiming your vote, and af¬
ter examination, to see to which party we are the most
indebted for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The Prohibition party is a sober party, but most too
128
Poor Ben.
eober. There is one party that never got so drunfe^,
that it voted against me. To-day, not a slave is in the?
land. The party accomplishing this is a sober enoughs
party for me.
Greenback, Labor, National—in whatever party it i&
[a voice, "Communism,"]—that mule party wants to.
take from the wealthy and give to the poor. In sucl*
an event there would be too many Annaiases and Sap*,
phiras' If the leaders are honest, why don't those of"
the Nationals set the example and divide theirs? Mr*
Kahlo, why does he not distribute his wealth among
his followers? Yours is no new party. Deep down is.
the red hand covered up, atheistic in principle and
communistic in action. I like chickens, but not these-
cemmunistic chickens. We believe in honesty. They
are building a fire which you cannot quench—one of
the Democratic party. I don't know where to begin icj
speaking of that party. It is said the bloody chasm,
has been bridged over. Thurman says the party i&
alive, and as he is one of the doctors of it, and says it'a
alive, I suppose it is, as he ought to know. Horace
Greely gave the certificate of death of the Democratic
party. The Democratic party is opposed to human
rights. I am opposed to it on account of its course du*
ring the war, and for every measure since the warv
The Democratic party is alone responsible for the debt
of the Nation.
Be loyal to principle, and vote the Republican tick«-
et. The people I represent feel the wickedness of a de*
nial to them of the rights of freemen by the Democratic
party wherever it has power. Colored men are found
who are willing to vote the Democratic ticket. Such
are a fraud on their race."
Political Career.
12$
His remarks were made with, a variety of humorous
anecdotes. "Put the Democratic party in power, and
then it will rivet the chains of slavery as firmly as they
ever were." He closed with a grand enlogium on that
party, which set 4,000,000 men, women and children
free, the Republican party.
On the following morning, the papers were replete
with the well won plaudits of the talented colored ora¬
tor. This endeavor was one of the rarest treats of the
campaign of 1878, without distinction of party or race
At times he grew grandly eloquent, sublime and poet¬
ical. Then again he would bring his language down
to the understanding of the simplest person before
him. He enthused all to the highest pitch, and accom¬
plished great good.
On Sept. 21, 1876, the meeting held at Cadiz, O., was
a grand success. Hundreds had gathered in front of
the court house, the Cadiz Hook ^and Ladder Com¬
pany (colored) in uniform having charge of the ar¬
rangements. After several soul stirring pieces of mu¬
sic by the Cadiz Cornet Band, Mr. J. L. Rivers opened
the meeting in a few well timed and appreciated re-
niafks; and then introduced Poor Ben of Urbana, as-
the orator of the day.
Poor Ben came forward, and in one of the most elo¬
quent and thrilling speeches to which any one ever
listened, held his audience spelbound for an hour and
a half. He was then probably thirty-five years of age,
well educated, of keen wit, apt, had a splendid use of
language, and possessed one of the grandest voices for
speaking ever heard.
At the evening meeting, he spoke for an hour, in his-
inimrtable manner; holding the closest attention of hist.
130
Poor Ben.
audience, and giving the Democratic party one of the
severest overhaulings it ever received at the hands of
any speaker at Cadiz.
At a mass meeting, the week following, held at
Springfield, 0., there were loud calls for Poor Ben. He
came forward, and made a speech which was not re¬
portable in proper form, but was a sockdologer on the
Democrats and their sham professions of reform, hon¬
esty and friendship to the colored race. One mo¬
ment by his witicism and close hits, the speaker had
his audience aroused to a high pitch of enthusiasm,
and throwing their hats to the ceiling, and at anoth¬
er, when describing the condition of the slave, or the
patriotic service of the colored people in the rebellion,
his words took on such pathos and deep feeling as to
draw tears.
One point made was that there had been a reversal
of feeling since the war in the order of things, in more
ways than one. Before the war the northern Demo¬
crats did the shooting of them; while now the south¬
ern Democrats do the shooting and killing, and their
northern allies try to do the buying and selling.
At another period, he drew from his satchel a form¬
idable looking document covered with seals, and told
how he, a poor young man, working for fifteen dollars
a month in the great State of Pennsylvania, had to
pay thirty dollars for that paper, to prove that a little
boy was born of free parents, in a certain place, at a
certain time, was, therefore, himself free; and that he,
Poor Ben, was the boy.
Notwithstanding the insults, and the many rights
the colored people were deprived of, Poor Ben occasion-
Political Career.
131
ally received calls of active citizenship, from which col¬
ored people less favored were debarred.
"While stationed at Toledo, 0., he was summoned to
act foreman of a jury, all of whose members, except
himself were white. During the same year he again
acted as foreman of a jury, all colored. These were the
first instances in Ohio of a jury having a colored fore¬
man.
Poor Ben was chairman of the committee on resolu¬
tions in the city convention at Toledo in 1872. He
not only fulfilled his duty as a pastor of the church,
and a teacher of the school, wThile in this city, but did
full duty as a citizen; setting example to his fellow
brethren of Afric hue, to be men, and get a chance and
to do likewise. During this same year he was chair¬
man of the committee on resolutions at the convention
of the "Sixth Congressional District," that nominated
I. R. Sherwood. It was composed of six counties.
Later we find our Poor Ben still a citizen of Toledo,
and judge of elections there, at the election of General
Grant. In this election, he gave the women a vote.
Again he was placed on jury which condemned the
site of the Toledo water-works.
During the legislative session of 1879, Poor Ben
filled the position of chaplain of the House of Repre¬
sentatives, at Columbus, Ohio.
Chapter
Call to the Ministry.
MTO one dreamed that in the cold, cheerless month of
JlnL March, 1838, a burning and shining light had sud¬
denly burst upon the moral world of the colored Ameri¬
can. Its source and power may have been doubtful,
in its early morning; but ere long, it caught the eye of
the multitude perishing in darkness, and they now re¬
joice in its beam.
Nor will it soon burn out and be forgotten like a
meteor flash; but sun like the influence of this light
jnust be felt and remembered for generations—aye
•through all eternity.
I have, in previous chapters given the reader a brief
sketch of the history of Poor Ben's boyhood and
early days of manhood. The few opportunities
of an early education are also known. He had, by
employing his leisure moments, improved his mind
.and gained some insight into natural science. 1 will
not say Poor Ben's talent as a minister is an extraordi¬
narily good one, however gifted he may appear to be.
-His public life in the school-room, Sunday-school, be¬
fore societies and leagues all had a tendency to develop
that which was within; and to prepare his vocal and
•oratorical powers for their future task. So continued
practise added to his fctyle, and perfected to a degree
(132)
Poor Ben.
the elements of his then professional influence.
Unless I, with a multitude of others, mistake, Poor
Ben was intelligent, independent, and honest in pur¬
pose as a servant of God; and so long as he remained
so, no point of success, however greal^ ought to be.con¬
sidered wonderful, or dangerous.
His personal influence wherever he is known shows
him to be intelligent. His speeches, writings, teach¬
ings prove it. During youth, early manhood, and at
the present stage of life, he was then and is now an
assiduous and comprehensive reader, of whatever he
deems of practical use. Nor did he learn from books
alone, but often peered over their musty folds to read
from the fresh green leaves of Nature; or turn to her
more ancient volumes of rocky peaks, and salted bpds
of liquid blue, and there enlarge and embellish his
store of intellect from dame Nature's realm of elegance
and granduer. Then turning from her pages, closing
the natural eye. contemplate, glorify and magnify) the
author of all he had read; and enjoy wisdom not
only from scientific works, but from the book of Na¬
ture, and the Word of God.
In the meantime he was accumulating literary treas¬
ures in the form of books; but his best acquisition of
intelligence, was the accurate knowledge of human na¬
ture, which he had gained by juvenile and adult teach"
ing; and in his diversified labors in early life. Here,
reader, we leave Poor Ben highly intelligent, and now
make note of his spirit of independence.
Here in lay his clue to professional success. I
should not deem him divinely called to the ministry,
who, like the wind mill, is turned in as many direct,
ions as the wind may blow, and subjected to change aa
134
Poor Ben.
often ; "but he is called who like the beacon light at sea,
is more staunch, firm, and resolute than brilliant; who
is so hardy and strong that he must turn the winds-
It is said that the watchman at a light house trims his
lamp alone, never allowing ^nother to do his duty; so
that it pours its light to the best advantage under his
skilled management. If every citizen on the land and
sea were allowed to force their opinion and method of
attending to the business, both light and lighter would
soon be obliterated.
Poor Ben's success is due to his independence of re¬
ligious views. There is not money enough in the
Church coffers, nor force enough in the outside world
to dig a particular rut for him to wheel along in; he is
no respecter of feelings or creeds. When the truth of
the'text is in heart and brain, it bubbles forth from the
tongue, and all must hear, or leave.
All can testify to his honesty of purpose. He sticks
closely to texts, diverging occasionally to make a con¬
trast with the precision of method. Poor Ben is pos¬
sessed of much personal magnetism; frank, friendly
free, simple in language, often introducing the conver¬
sational and colloquial styles which hold an audience,
better than other modes of address. The energy of
soul, and its expression beaming from the eye, as well
as being displayed in every word, tone and gesture, be¬
speak him a man of God.
Our subject possessed all these charasteristics of mind
and soul in 1863; though in a lesser degree, or at least
they were not cultivated, as now. It was at the above
date, while teaching in Brownsville, Pa., that the sub¬
ject of the Christian ministry presented itself most
forcibly to Poor Ben's mind. The thought uppermost
Call to the Ministry.
135
with him was, how he could best use his time and tal¬
ents for the good of his race, "What must I qualify
myself for? " was the question he often asked himself,
lie was, at this time, studying under special instruct¬
ors, who would often inquire, " What do you intend to
do?"
He looked at the question from its human and di¬
vine standpoints; and while praying over the matter
in the school-room, the voice of duty said, " Preach and
teach."
He communicated his thoughts to Rev, A. Harwell,
the pastor of his church, who gave him much encour¬
agement, and advised him further by saying, "Brother
Bennie if I had your talent, I would make moccasin tracks
in Time's sand, so deep that it would take more than one
century to wear them, out." This w7as said with'great em¬
phasis and earnestness; and with even more solemni¬
ty, he added, " Go on, my son, God has a great work for
you."
This good, fatherly advice was given to Poor Ben in
an unexpected manner; nevertheless, he went out of
the reverend minister's presence, feeling greatly encour¬
aged.
He next spoke of the subject to Brother Thornton
T. Baker, a local preacher, and one of the best of christ¬
ian gentlemen. He said to Poor Ben, "If you are cer¬
tain you have the rig^t impression of your duty to
save souls, you obey it. Good impressions come from
God. The devil never impresses men to do good, or
be good."
Shortly after this Ben, entered into conversation
with his class leader, the Rev. N. T. Terrell, who ad¬
vised him as to what course to pursue, and gave him
136
Poor Ben.
directions how and what to study to fit him for exami¬
nation. He presented Foor Ben with a copy of Thomas
Ralston's Elements of Divinity, which he faithfully
studied. But before the meeting of the Quarterly Con¬
ference, Poor Ben received a letter from Rev. H. H.
Garnet, requesting him to take charge of a school,
Washington, under the auspices of The African Civili-
tion Society. He accepted and soon after arrived at
the National Capital, Dec., 24th, 1864.
Here he at once joined Union Bethel A. M. E. Church.
Rev. J. D. S. Hall was then in charge. During thu
first conversation he had with Poor Ben, he imagined,
if he was a preacher. "No Sir, was the prompt reply.
l<~Yoih ought to be," said Rev. Hall, with much feeling.
This so affected Poor Ben that he went home that night
a id made the matter a subject of dfeep consideration
and fervent prayer; asking for light that he might be
shown the will of God, as to his future field of labor.
His petition was answered by a vision or presentiment
o,- what many might term an unusal impression. It
was an old man standing in the way. Poor Ben went
up to him and spoke, without saying anything to hirti
in words. The old man inquired, " Are you a preach¬
er ?"Then Ben answered, " No." Ah, said the aged
man, l'God has a work for you to do and the sooner you get
at it, the better
Poor Ben continued to Pr^ an(l ask God to make
plain this matter to him. The following morning, on
his way to school, he met an old man, David Gettrel,
who answered to a minute description of the one he
had seen in his dream during the night just passed,
a nil he came up and used the identical words spoken
in the vision. This strange coincidence of fact and
Call to the Ministry,
137
fancy, thoroughly convinced him that his calling
was of God, and not of man.
He told Rev. Hall of his decision to work in the
vineyard of his Master; and asked for a license,
which was granted, on the 31st day of March, 1865,
by the Quarterly Conference, of the Union Bethel
Church, of Washington. D. C.
Poor Ben's sentiments now were fully expressed
in the language of that inspired poet from whom
we delight to quote:
"We have listened to the preacher,
Truth by him has now been shown;
But we want a Greater Teacher,
From the everlasting throne."
He knew that only God could apply the glorioua
gospel to his heart, give him faith in Jesus, and
make his word among dying souls an eternal suc¬
cess.
He preached his first sermon, at St. Paul Church,
Washingten Heights, D. C., April 9th, 1865. His text
was, "Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught hia
disciples."
On his return home, he preached his second ser¬
mon from this text: '' Behold, he cometh with clouds,
and every eye shall see him; and all kindreds of
the earth shall wail because of him. Even so,
Amen."—Rev. Chap. 1, verse 7.
Poor Ben continued to act in the local capacity
until the winter of 1865-66. He held a revival in
his old home, Brownsville, Pa. During its session,
eighty-five persons joined the church. Samuel Robin¬
son lead the singing, and Poor Ben did the preach¬
ing:, so it was known as, and callsd "* Ben's and
138
Poor Ben.
Sam's Revival." Many of those who were converted
at this time are still living, and are active members
of the church.
In 1866, while on a visit to Uniontown, Pa., Poor
Ben received and accepted an invitation to preach
from the Rev. R. A. Johnson, who also urgedhim to
join the traveling connection. Later he visited
Rev. J. P. Underwood, who was anxious for him to
join the Ohio Conference, which he finally con¬
sented to do. Rev. W. B. Lewis presented his name
and he was recommended to the Quarterly Confer¬
ence. He was examined, and his recommendation
pent to the Annual Conference, which met at Lex¬
ington, Ky.,—this state being a part of the Ohio
Conference. On Saturday, April 13th, 1867, he was
admitted on trial, to the Ohio Conference. The fol¬
lowing Thursday he received his appointment to the
Walnut Hills Church, of which he took immediate
charge, and preached his first sermon there on the
following Sabbath. He remained in charge until
May, 14th 1870.
His next appointment placed him at Toledo, Ohio>
where he remained until May, 1873. On taking
charge of Wairen Chapel, he found a good but in¬
complete building, which had been standing unfin¬
ished for over six years. Poor Ben, contrary to the
judgement of the Trustees, set to work to finish the
church, and six months later it was completed and
dedicated. Bishop Payne conducted -the dedicatory
exercises. Text Psalm 27, 4-6.
Rev. R. B. Pope, of St. Paul M. E. Church, preached
in the afternoon from the 17th Psalm, 7th verse. In
the evening Rev. S. S. Baxter of the Lagrange St.
Call to the Ministry.
139
M. E. Church delivered a sermon from Mark, 11;—22.
The day's collection was by cash and subscription
1800.
On leaving this charge to take a new post of duty,
u^der the inexorable rules of the Church, Poor Ben's
kittle flock felt acutely the loss they were so soon to
Sustain. They bestowed on him a souvenir that
would hourly remind him of the appreciation in_
which he was held. It, was in the form of a hand¬
some gold watch. A presentation meeting was held.
Speeches were made by Revs. Yiney, Robt. McCune,
Mr. Waring, Mr. Clark .Waggoner, who spoke for
the press; and J. Madison Bell, delivered an elo¬
quent eulogy upon the pulpit, its power for good,
and the grand work accomplished for humanity.
He closed with a fitting tribute to the worth and
abilities of Poor Ben, and detailed at lengtli the
work he had done for Toledo and the race.
At the close of Mr. Waggoner's address, Mr. E.T.
(1laybrook, presented the watch in an address, ad¬
monishing him that it would sertfe as a constant re¬
minder that time was fleeting, and that God would
expect a good account of each moment. Poor Ben
was scarcely able to express his feelings. . He was
deeply grateful for such an unlooked for recogni¬
tion of his services in Toledo. He thanked all in
Uehalf of himself, family and his aged mother, whose
.heart would beat with pride at this testimonial to
her son. He also returned his thanks to his mem¬
bers, the clergymen and citizens, and the press, wha
each had encouraged, assisted-and sustained him. The
pr^ss had aided him in all he had, accomplished;
for while he could only speak to hundreds, it had
taught thousands.
140
Poor Ben.
Poor Ben was next given the charge of the St. Paul
A. M. E. Church, of Urbana, Ohio. He began his pas-
torial duties there, June, 1876, and faithfully served
the church for two years.
During his last year's labor among the citizens, of
Columbus a presentation concert was tendered Poor
Ben, and not only his church, but the citizens gener¬
ally, attested their genuine appreciation of him as a
minister, a friend, and citizen, by presenting him with
a set of Potter's Encyclopedia.
The fond christian ties that bind pastor and people
were again broken, and the cords that had for two years
made Poor Ben a resident of the pleasant little city of
Urbana were loosened, and his face was turned toward
Columbus, Ohio. This was, his last charge. September
3rd, 1878, he entered this field of labor, serving the A.
M. E. Church for two years; from which place he was
called to fill a higher official post in his Church. Of
this we shall speak hereafter.
During his pastorate at Urbana, he preached a most
eloquent Thanksgiving sermon, in 1876—the Centen¬
nial year.
In this chapter, the reader has been allowed the
privilege of following the ministerial career of the sub¬
ject, from his entrance into the pulpit, until he was
honorably taken from it to serve his Master in another
capacity, We should not say that " he is taken from
the pulpit" for his love of the work, his aptness to
preach, his popularity, taken together with his spirit
of self-sacrifice, keep him preaching, teaching, and do¬
ing the work of an active pastor, throughout the entire
year. Seldom a Sabbath passes, but what he is called
upon to fill some pulpit, one or more, times; so that,
Call to the Ministry.
141'
Poor Ben preaches on the average, as many sermons
as any minister holding a charge. And in addition to
this he has the annual addresses of many lodges, and
benevolent orders to deliver; funeral sermons, wedding,
ceremonies, and baptismal ordinances to perform by
special request. Then, his love of country, calls him
into active service; and Poor, Ben is heard occa¬
sionally in the political field, gathering sheaves fot
his Uncle Sam.
Wherever duty calls, Poor Ben is found faithfully-
discharging the demands. Though there is not a to¬
ken of remembrance attached to'each favor, nor a pub¬
lic demonstration of appreciation made at the close of
each generous action done, yet all is accredited to the
name of Poor Ben, in God's great-day book of remem¬
brance. Both penalty and reward are meted out by
the Divine hand, and no act shall pass unnoticed.
His intellect in early life, was acute; his power of ac¬
quisition great, and his perseverance unflagging. To
these elements of character, let me add amiability*
love of race, and uncommon self-reliance. Thus en¬
dowed, it may be readily believed that Poor Ben was,
and is, still an acknowledged leader in the various re¬
ligious, political, secular and benevolent circles, with*
which he is connected. 1
By daily enforcing the following rules on his mind^,
he with diligence under God, commanded success.
Poor Ben has commanded himself to-
"Love ,your work.
Do your duty.
Study the Bible.
Be punctual in all things.
Preserve order.
142
Poor Ben.
Occupy all your time.
Visit your charge.
Work for God and humanity.
Pray for success."
The examination, that is the annual examina¬
tions, will be held at the homes of the members, and
in writing. Lists of questions will be fowarded to
them, and by writing the replies the committee
on examinations can judge whether they have read
thoughtfully the books required. But it is not inten¬
ded to prevent any one from attending the annual
meeting of the T. T. S. C., and enjoying the lectures
and addresses of the same.
The association will be divided into eleven schools or
^divisions, with courses of study, as follows:
1. The Sunday School Normal Department.
2. The Secular Teachers' Department.
3. The School of Elecution and Sacred Rhetoric.
4. The school of Languages. 5. The School of Natural
Sciences. 6. The School of Art. 7. The School
of 'Theology. 8. The School of Philosophy. 9. The
College of Music. 10. The "Tawawa Scientific, and
Literary Lecture Course." 11. The Tawawa "Chimney-
Corner Circle."
Besides the successful endeavors of Poor Ben to
establish the Tawawa Scientific, Theological and Lit¬
erary Association, he has also succeeded in placing in¬
to the hands of the reading public a number of works
pertaining to his Church. He has the following books
in manuscript form, ready for publication: "The
Lights along the Jordan," "Fifty Years in the Field,
or the A. M. E. Church, in Ohio." "The Life a4id
'Time's of Solomon H. Thompson," and "Methodism
Call to the Ministry.
14a
in Columbus, Ohio." He has yearly edited and com¬
piled the "Budget."
Literature has not been the sole business of Poor
Ben's life; he has resorted to it as a relaxation from
other arduous work, and hence it has been a pleasant
task for him to compile these various religious and
statistical works. By this means he has collected and
placed in book form much valuable Negro literature
of some the ablest and most cultured brains of the
colored American, in the form of orations, addresses,
sermons, essays and lectures. Much that is valuable in
the historical and religious epochs of the American of
color, raay be found in Poor Ben's collection of Negro
literature that cannot be found in any one collection
elsewhere. On entering his library for an hour's
reading, it reminds us of a sort of morgue; where we
can seek and find the dead ones of other years; those
of whom our fore-fathers have often spoken, an<l whose
souls we here find substantially photographed in their
writings. We here commune with them and learn
that if aught of character is to be given the posterity
of the black American, it must be reached by their ex¬
cellence in polite learning.
Mrs. H. B. Stowe truly says that: "The literature of
a people must spring from the sense of its nationality;
and nationality is impossible without selfrespect; and
selfrespect is impossible without liberty."
Providence intended us for a mighty nation. When
God would truly educate a people He compels it to
learn bitter lessons. By our enslavement we have
known all suffering, and by our freedon we have
known consolation; now through this freedom we
should rise and assert our nationality; prove that our
144
Poor Ben.
nature Is armory of genius; wipe out the assertion
that we are only imitative surface creatures; and show
that like the 3ake, beneath our surface lies a living
world of matter, millions of fathoms deep.
When we have stirred the depths of our national
pride, others will cease to ridicule, aad fear to come in
willing contact with our ei&ms.^ts.
Literary Work.
j)T is a received maxim, that to write or speak well,
I one must think well. Poor Ben had become a good
public speaker; possessed of an extensive knowledge,
of his church work as well as well disciplined intel¬
lectual powers, that made him capable of comprehend¬
ing its relation to other subjects, and to reason ably
upon it. He had learned to "look his subject into
shape," and this was highly conducive to his success
as a minister and public speaker. Like Menandes, the
Greek poet, who, when about to take part in a public
entertainment, was asked when the time drew near,
if he had finished his poem, he answered "the work ia
done all but making the verses." This shows how
large a part of any undertaking of a literary <Jiaractcr
is done, when the the plan is well formed, and diges¬
ted.
Were men simply intellectual beings, life would
soon become a monotonous state of existence. But
men have imaginations, and are succeptible of emo¬
tions. This imagination should be exercised and
these emotions excited. Thus may both pleasure
and profit be derived from them, Taste must be cul¬
tivated in order to judge of what is fitted to excite
emotions of beauty, grandeur, sublimity and awe. Ev¬
ery intellectual being cannot determine the fitness of
(145)
146
Poor Ben.
particular causes for producing particular effects.
One, from the scenes and events that have fallen under
his observation, iliay have many associations connec¬
ted with a particular object, which another may have
never formed. One may go forth in the evening and
gaze upon the starry heavens, and the moon strolling
in her majesty, and feel emotions of sublimity. If
so, we sa}' he is a man of sensibility—from the original
constitution of his mind, he is susceptible of emotioup.
and of taste to a high degree. His intellectual habits and.
the circumstances of his life, have strengthened an<i
cherished these original tendencies of his mind. As¬
tronomy has taught him the size and number of these
bodies, which is another inspiring incentive to his,
sublime emotions. Another, returning from his daily
toil, may look upon the same scene and feel no emo¬
tion of beauty or sublimity. Still, originally, both
may have been constituted with the same amount of
sensibility but such has been the lot of the latter, that
his sensibility; is lost, and he thinks only of the moon
and stars as lighting him home.
All emotions lose their strength if disregarded; anil
if entirely neglected, soon cease to be felt.
Valuable thought, extensive kn owledge, the ability
to reason justly, and good literary taste are essential
to form a thorough and systematic scholar.
The painter does not rest satisfied with a single look
at a fine picture. He emphatically studies it in its
design and execution. So every branch of knowledge,,
must be studied in order that profit and pleasure may
be desired, and imparted, and thus be rendered o£
benefit to others.
Poor Ben's original constitution of mind was sua-
Literary Work.
147
ceptable of emotions to a great degree; which cultiva¬
ted produced a tine effect on the man.
He saw the need of an organization in which the in¬
telligent men and women of the colored race might
cultivate these faculties of mind.
The subject of a summer school at Wilberforce, was
discussed in 1878—79 by a number of the leading
men of the A. M. E. Church; but rested until the
winter of 1880. In 1881, after some consultation, a
committee which had been appointed, met at Nash¬
ville, Tenn., and a constitution was adopted, and an
organization was effected, named The Tawawa Sunday
School Assembly, Theological, Scientific and Literary Cir¬
cle.
The subject was studied carefully by Poor Ben, who
was appointed General Manager. In 1883, he finally
•went to work and threw the matter into shape and
published a "Tawawa Journal," therein stating the
plan of organization, its aim, and departments, which
are given in this chapter
The following officers were elected July 24th. 1883:
President, Bishop J. P. Campbell, D. D. LLD., Phil¬
adelphia, Pa. Vice Presidents—Bishop H. M- Tur¬
ner, D. D. LL. D., Atlanta, Ga.; Bishop W. F. Dick-
crson, D. D., Columbia, S. C.; Rev. W. J. Gains, D. D.
Atlanta, Ga.; Mrs. Sarah J. Early, Nashville, Tenn.;
'Mrs C. A. [Townsend, Richmond, Ind.; Prof. C. R.
McDowell, Bowling Green, Ky.; Rev. John T. Jenifer
D. D., Boston Mass.; Rev W. J. Simmons. Louisville,
Ky.; Rev. Bishop T. M. D. Ward, D. D., Benings, D.
C.; Rev T. B. Caldwell, Louisville, Ky.
Corresponding Secretary—Rev. Thos. H. Jackson,
D. D., Wilberforce, Ohio,
148
Poor Ben.
Recording Secretary—Prof. A. D. Dclaney, A. B.,
Urbana, 0.,
Treasurer—Bishop James A. Shorter.
Director of instruction—Rev. B. F. Lee, D. D.
Gen. Manager—Rev. B. W. Arnett, D. D.
Trustee Board of Tawawa.
Trustees for 2 years—Bishop J. A. Shorter, Rev.
James M. Townsend, D. D., Rev. R. A. Johnson.
For 3 years—Prof. Samuel T. Mitchell, A. M., Prof.
W. S. Scarborough, LLD., Prof. J. P. Shorter, A. M.
For 5 years—Bishop J. P. Campbell, D. D., LLD.,
Rev. B. F- Lee, D. D., Rev. B. W. Arnett, D. D.
Executive Committee.
Rev. B. F. Lee, D. D., Rev. B. W. Arnett, D. D.,
Prof. W. S. Scarborough, LL. D., Prof. J- P. Shorter,
A. M., Prof. S. T. Mitchell, A. M.,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Rev. B. F. Lee, D. D., Wilberforce, Ohio; Rev. C,
S. Smith, M. D., Bloomington, 111., Prof. J. M. Max¬
well, Louisville, Ky.; Rev. B. T. Tanner, D. D., Phila¬
delphia, Pa.: Rev. M. B. Saulters, Savannah, Ga.; Rev,
Theodore Gould, Philadelphia, Pa.; Prof. P. B. Peters,
A.M., Columbia, Ga.; Rev. S. A. Elbert, M. D., India¬
napolis. Ind.; Rev. T. A. Thompson, B. D. Cincin*
nati, Ohio; Rev. 0. P. Ross, Louisville, Ky.; Bishop J.
P. Campbell, D. D., Philadelphia. Pa.
DEPARTMENTS —1884.
1.—The Sunday School Normal Department—Rev. C.
S. Smith, M. D., Dean, Bloomington, 111.; Rev. L. J.
Coppin, Secretary, Baltimore, Md.
Literary Work.
149
2.—Secular Teacher's Normal Department—Prof, F. S.
DeLaney, B. A., Dean, Madison ville, Ind.; Prof. E. A.
Clark, B- A., Secretary, Evansville, Ind.
3.—School of Elocution and Sacred Rhetoric—Rev. W.
B. Derrick, Dean, New York City, N. Y.; Miss H. Q.
Brown, Wilberforce, Ohio.
4.— Schpol of Languages—Prof. W. S. Scarborough,
LL. D., Dean, Wilberforce, Ohio; Rev. J. C. Waters,
D. D., Secretary, -Columbia, S. C.
5.—School of Natural Science—Mr. S. C. Scarborough,
Dean, Wilberforce, Ohio.; Miss E. R. George, Secreta¬
ry, Wilberforce, Ohio.
6.—School of Art—Prof. C. W. Bell, Prin. of Pen¬
manship, Colored School, Cincinnati, Ohio; Miss V*
M. Burks, Ass't. Prin. High School, Louisville, Ky.
7.—School of Theology—Rev. T. G. Steward, D* D.
Dean, Philadelphia, Pa.; Rev. Richard Harper, B. D.,
Nashville, Tenn.
8.—School of Philosophy—Bishop Daniel A. Payne,
D. D., LL, D., Dean; Rev. A. J. Kewshaw, Secretary.
9.—College of Music—Miss Cussie E. Clark, Dean,
Wilberforce, Ohio; Miss Bertha B. Wolfe, Secretary,
Columbia, S. C.
10.—The Tawawa Literary and Scientific Lecture
Course—Bishop J. P. Campbell, D. jj., LL. D., Dean,
Pfcladelphia, Pa.; J. P* Maxwell, Secretary, Wilber¬
force, Ohio.
11.—The Tawawa Chimney Corner Circle—Rev. B. W.
Arnett, D. D., Dean, Wilberforce, Ohio; B. W. Arnett,
Jr., Secretary, Wilberforce, Ohio-
The following persons have been invited to deliver
addresses on special subjects: Bishop J. M* Brown,
D. D., Bishop R. H. Cain, D. D., Prof. B. K. Sampson,
150
Poor Ben.
A. M., Bishop L. H. Holsey, D. D,, Bishop S. T.Jones
D. D., Mrs. F. E. W. Harper, Dr. J. M. Walden, D. D.,
Prof. W. H. Parham, Principle Colored School, Cin¬
cinnati, Ohio ; Prof. J. R. Blackburn, A. M., Principal
High school, Xenia, Ohio. Dr. Bunyan, Xenia, Ohio.
THE PLAN OF ORGANIZATION.
Is the best that we can do at this time, and if experi¬
ence shows that anything needs modifying, the mat¬
ter is in the hands of the directors, who, we trust, will
consider the matter of the work, if the organization is
worthy of their time and talent.
This organization is something new to us, though
it is a necessity. The work we have to do is to train
the race, and move back the clouds which hang over
us. We must allow nothing that will in any way as¬
sist in training the race pass, but we must grasp every
opportunity, and never let it go until we have utilized
it for the good of race and mankind But says one j
"Why not go to Chatauqua? There you will find the
best talent of the land." That is true; but when we
go to Chatauqua we only have one part of the bene¬
fits of the place. We can be pupils but not instruc¬
tors, we cannot impart that which we know. We have,
in the Tawawa, an opportunity for planning and exe¬
cuting the same. We can collect more persons toggUi-
er who stand in need of the kind of instruction that
we impart at this time. We want not only to be drill¬
ed but to be "drill-masters." We want to see what we
can do for ourselves and mankind. We want to set up
housekeeking and take the responsibility of the work
upon us. We want to awaken a new life in our young
men and women, and start them out in bands into the
Literary Work.
151
fields of research and scientific investigation and specu¬
lation. We want an army of "ten thousand" who will
resolve that they will never go to bed at night
until they know something by study which they
did not know when they arose in the morning.
Xo w if we can have them do this we will have " ten
thousand" new thoughts every day, and in one year the
"ten thousand" men and women will have collected
from the field of thought 3,650,000 new thoughts, and
in four years 14,600,000, that are to come by study; so
that you can readily perceive that by so doing we shall be
the means of our race occupying its proper place in the
amily of man.
But if we can get only one person to study in every
community, that person can have 365 thoughts every
year, and at the end of the course of study 1460, and then
add that which he will gain in a reading course, he will
have 2800 new thoughts, which will enable him to con¬
verse upon any subject with ease and intelligence,
This new organization aims to promote habits of read¬
ing and study in nature, art science, and in secular and
sacred literature, in connection with the routine of daily
life, especially among those whose educational advanta¬
ges have been limited so as to secure them the college
student's general outlook upon the world and life * and
fcD develop the habit of close, connected, persistent think¬
ing; to utilize the "Chimney-Corner" so as to make eve¬
ry a school and church; in fact, to organize in every
community a band of thinkers—those who desire to
elevate the race and to increase their knowledge and
usefulness. This organization will give an opportunity
to discover the undeveloped mental and moral power of
the race, and to bring into requisition all the available
152
Poor Ben.
forces of our men and women; and by being thus uni¬
ted, they can accomplish more for their good than they
otherwise can do as individuals; for it is intended to
use every spare moment for the improvement of the
mind—to husband our time and never to go to bed with¬
out knowing something more than when, we arose in the
morning—to learn something by study every day—to ob~
serve and think—to think and observe—" to teach the
mind to think, the heart to love and the hand to work
for God and humanity."
It proposes to encourage individual study through the
organization of local circles for mutual help and en¬
couragement in study, by Summer Courses of Lectures
and "Students' Sessions" at Tawawa, and by written
reports and examinations.
An average of an hour's reading each week day will
enable the student in nine months to complete the
books required for a year. More time than this will
be spent by many persons, and for their accommoda¬
tion a special course of reading on the same subjects
will be indicated. The habits of thinking steadily
upon worthy themes during one's secular toil will
lighten labor, brighten life and develop power.
Chapter ^CUIII.
Two Years A Represen¬
tative.
fHE sympathetic term, " Poor Ben," is now illy ap¬
plicable to our subject, whose reputation is nation¬
al, and whose fame as an orator and statesman is mea¬
ger honor due him. Reader, you will not find an ob¬
ject, flimsy Representative—double-sided, without
pluck, or ballast; but a well balanced man; of vigor¬
ous mind, resolute will, strong common sense, and
buoyant spirits. His judgement is generally accurate,
and his reliance upon it implicit. He is fitted rather
to command than to obey; and his views of pure, sys¬
tematic government belong more to the patriarchal,
than the present dispensation.
The talent will reveal itself to the consciousness of
the possessor; and it also teaches the one so endowed
that, to have done a thing, is the proper proof that he
can do it, and the doing, is the only evidence of his
actual ability.
This we have found true of Poor Ben, and leaves us
at a loss whether to class him with the patriarchs 'of
the Hebrews, or the censors of the Romans.
However, this inflexible integrity, and uniform con¬
sistency of character, are self-evident through his life.
There is a well known writer, who, having a great
dislike for politicians, says, that the man who can
(153)
154
Poor Ben.
make two ears of corn, or two stalks of wheat, grow
ay here only one grew before, deserves more of mankind,
and renders better service to his country, than a
whole race of politicians. The sentiment is an unjust
one. Those who think, speak, and act, must govern
them that toil. Any industrious, progressive farmer
can, by his work alone, double his crops of grain, by
his knowledge and use of the improved methods of
agriculture. But it takes thousands of able minded
men, scores of years to form and perpetuate a perfect
State. And as a storm may devastate a farm in an
hour, so may the political work of a day lay a State in
ruin.
It is pleasant to record a character whose resplend¬
ent qualities are not darkened by any serious defects.
Adventurous and heroic, brilliant and brave, has our
subject proven. Poor, without patrons, he began his
career on the lowest step of fame's ladder; and by en¬
ergy and effort alone, reached the lofty steps so near
the summit—yet never became dizzy by elevation, nor
exhibited any of those weak or wicked passions pow¬
er and rank so invariably develop.
Poor Ben was constantly before the public,—political
committees sending him invitations wherever he went,
to address the people on the issues of the day. All the
time that he could spare from church and lodge du¬
ties was earnestly spent, by him, in leading the race
into the right road toward the ballot box of their State
and Nation.
In 1885, Poor Ben was, in the following petition,
placed before the county for office:
Greene County Primary Election, April 6, 1885*
To the Republican voters of Greene county:
Two I 'ears a Representative.
1-55
The presidential contest of '84 produced our candi¬
date. No man in the county contributed more to
achieve that wonderful victoryof Republican princi¬
ples in Ohio, than . In appreciation of the as¬
sistance thus rendered,'and to have an opportunity to
reward his ardent zeal and efficient service, many
of the leading Republicans of the county urge him to
offer himself as a candidate for State Representative
at the next primary election, and assured him that a
grateful party would not fail to return to him the full
measure of their obligation. Thus urged and assured,
is before the voters of this county.
In brief terms, we invite your attention to his claims.
is a man of wide experience, of marked abil¬
ity, and of national reputation. No colored man in
Ohio enjoys greater preeminence. He is the peer
of any candidate before you. Recurring to service
rendered:—In 1872, he made thirty-two speeches for
Grant; stumped the State for Hayes, and for Gar¬
field; supported Hon. John Little before the Spring¬
field Convention, in a speech that was regarded as the
most brilliant of the occasion; and in the canvas for
Blaine, was declared by the Cincinnati Commercial Ga¬
zette, and other leading dailies, to be one of the most
effective speakers in the State. These facts are known
to you, and we ask a comparison of this record, with
that of any other candidate.
We ask your support on other grounds. For twen¬
ty long years the colored voters have cast a solid bal¬
lot for the candidates of the party. Ten times have
they made possible the election of Republican candi¬
dates.
Estimating their strength at one fourth the entire
15G
Poor Ben.
Republican vote, they have been entitled to represen¬
tation at least twice in twenty years. They have had
none, yet they have adhered to the party Will that
party now, in the face of two decades of duty, refuse its
support to this candidate. The hour demands equal
justice. The change in administration may invite
popular favor. The colored vote will be sought. It
behooves Republicans to deal fairly with their con¬
stituents. If in Greene county, on the 6th of April, sim¬
ple justice be done, will be nominated by a
handsome majority. Voters of the county, we have
stood with you and for you in many a contest. Can
we have your vote once in twenty years?
Colored voters, of you may be justly
proud. Never have the rights of the race found him
silent. Do your duty on the 6th of April. Use your
influence at the polls. Work manfully; let not a vo¬
ter fail, because it is a primary election, to cast his
vote. Be willing to lose a half day, if need be, to nom¬
inate . Hamilton and Cuyahoga have deemed
it justice to he represented by colored men. Greene
has a right to her turn. Nominate , and the
whole country will honor Greene county in her choice.
Signed on behalf of the party at home,
J. P. Shorter, Chairman,
S. T. Mitchell,
T. H. Jackson,
W. S. Scarborough,
J. P. Maxwell,
P. 0. Connell,
A. R. Winter,
Commttee."
Two Years a Representative.
157
The voters of Greene county were true to the call,
and elected their candidate to the Sixty-eighty Grand
Assembly of Ohio; Poor Ben receiving the highest num¬
ber of votes of any official in the county except J. B.
Foraker, who received 4689, and Poor Ben 4328.
Prior to his election, the subject of this sketch was
often called upon to make campaign speeches through¬
out the State, by the Ohio Central^Committee, and re¬
sponded to the call of ten districts out of thirty-three.
Space forbids the insertion of any speech in full;
only a few quotations of Poor Ben's characteristic ex¬
pressions will be needed to portray his style of oratory.
At Columbus, when he was introduced, the dense
crowd applauded lustily, and using that as his cue, he
said that that was one of the reasons why he was a Re¬
publican, because they would cheer a colored man as
quickly as a white man. He then eulogized the char¬
acter and records of the candidates, Foraker and Ken¬
nedy. Said that Greene county Republicans would al¬
ways join hands with their brothers in ratifying nom¬
inations made at Springfield. The pioneers of Greene
county went into battle to give freedom to his
race, and their children would ever follow the precepts
of their fathers, and demonstrate the principles of the
party, by according to the black man the true recogni¬
tion of his worth—his vote. Said that the Republi¬
can party had given the black man his freedom, and
was now going to give him what few colored men had
obtained—an office—for he soon would be where he
now looked. Here Poor Ben made a pause, leaned
over the platform, and gazed toward the House of
Representatives. This expression of faith in his par¬
ty, was greeted with yells of applause.
158
Poor Ben.
Then he said "the Republican party is the only one
that took me up when I had no flag, and gave me a
flag; when I had no freedom, it gave me freedom;
when I had no vote, it gave me a vote; now I have no
office, it is going to give me an office. I speak not ego¬
tistically, but to express the sentiments of my grateful
race.
This is the only party in which every man has a free
chance in the race of life,—that is all we want."
A Wilmington, Delaware paper, commenting on Ne¬
gro qualifications, cites, as a case in point, Ppor Ben s
career. It says,—"He is a standing exemplification
of the possibilities of the colored race. He is the Re¬
publican nominee for the legislature. A nomination in
his county, which has a Republican majority of 2,300,.
is equivalent to election. His opponents for the Re¬
publican nomination were two of the most prominent
socially and politically speaking, gentlemen in Xenia>
—one, a rich banker, the other a landed proprietor.
Yet in an open field, he carried the votes of the
populace,—and it is a white population. The quest¬
ion arises hero, and in all justice it must be conceeded>
that there exists in this colored man those qualities
of leadership, personal superiority, and all the subtle
conditions of moral manhood, which are self-assertive
of leadership.
There must be that vim in him that we Anglo-sax-
ons claim solely as our birthright, to the exclusion of
the quality in the Latin races—and this is discovered
in a Negro! It is a strange ethnological revelation.
What would Darwin say of it? Heis not alto¬
gether an exceptional case either, for there are other
colored men whose records run a parallel course. II<k
Two Years a Representative.
159
lias demonstrated not an equality, but a superiority
to the white race in the moral, as distinctive from the
religious question."
The above eulogy comes from the pen of an able
writer, unsolicited. It is simply the out-pouring of a
noble Anglo-saxon's honest convictions; and speaks
volums of encouragement and praise for the race.
In June of 1885, the Ohio Republicans had a grand
rally at Columbus. Besides the candidates on the State
ticket, and members on the State Central Committees,
there were a great many representative Republicans
present from all parts of the State. Great interest was
shown in the organization, and the most encouraging
prospects reported from all quarters. The general feel¬
ing for Republican success was never better. There
was harmony and a determination to rebuke the be¬
trayal of the past, and the poor administration in Ohio
for two years.
The speakers of the day, Captain Foraker, General
Kennedy, Mr. Koshler, Captain Brown, and General
Jones were escorted to the stand by General Beatty,
Hon. Nash, Colonel Taylor, Hon. Watson, Hon. Poor
Ben, General Neil, Mr. Herbst, Hon. Hanna, and oth¬
ers. The Fourteenth Regiment Band rendered fine
music, and the Blaine and Logan Glee Club sang a
number of its patriotic songs in that perfect manner
for which it has won great fame. Each speaker, in
turn, made the welkin ring with his eloquence.
This was the opening of a campaign notable for
many things, but more particularly interesting to us,
because it made legislators of three men of our race.
In 1885, Poor Ben was elected a member of the
House of Representatives, from Greene county; and
160
Poor Ben.
during his two years of office, labored faithfully as will
be seen from the fact that he succeeded in getting two
important measures through the Legislature; thereby
augmenting his already great renown.
When he first, took his seat, Poor Ben was unusually
quiet; yet ever busy. However, he soon gained the
reputation of being the liveliest member;—bright
eyed, magnetic, prompt at repartee, and earnest in con¬
versation.
He, by persistent digging, finally made deep inroads
in the minds of the benevolent members, and his mor¬
alizing style of debating opened the flood gates of their
honest convictions, and verrified the old adage " right
is might." Thus the repeal of the Black Laws, and
the Temperance Bill, by his efforts became laws.
The bill for the repeal of the Black Laws was intro^
duced by Poor Ben during the winter of 18S6, and
passed the House, sixty-two yeas to twenty-eight nays.
Then it went over to the Senate, and on Feb. 16,1SS7
passed by an overwhelming vote pf twenty-five to
seven.
The reader cannot expect the writer to give in full the
many eloquent addresses delivered at the various jubi¬
lees, given in honor offc the death of the Black Laws,
flrand celebrations were held at Columbus, Springfield,
Cleveland, Toledo, Xenia and other places throughout
the State. Every loyal hearted citizen, black and white,
rejoiced. Certainly no one who witnessed the joyous
gatherings at Columbus and Springfield, could feel
otherwise than thankful that Ohio's statutes had the
Black Laws erased forever from them.
The people of Columbus held their jollification meet¬
ing at the city hall. The crowd streamed in from sev-
Two Years a Representative.
161
en to eight o'clock; at which time five or six hundred
citizens and visitors had assembled. On the stand was
a galaxy of distinguished men. Among them may be
named, Gov. J. B. Foraker, Senator Ely, Senator Pringle,
Dr. W. Gladden, Prof. W. S. Scarborough, Hon. Poor
Ben, Rev. J. Poindexter, Messrs. D. K. Watson, F. C.
Session, W. S. Thomas, J. Clark, and others.
After prayer by Dr. Gladden, Hon. C. L. Maxwell?
the colored lawyer of Xenia, presented Governor Fora¬
ker in the following able speech :
"My countrymen: Living as we are in the morning sunlight of
the second century of our national existence, and in the evening
twilight of the first century of the government and political ex¬
istence of the northwestern territory ; which by the ordinance of
1787 was dedicated to human freedom forever; and out of which
territory were carved the great states of Illinois, Indiana, Michi¬
gan, "Wisconsin, and our own loved and beautiful Ohio. She, the
richest and fairest of Virginia's daughters, has repeated the histo¬
ry of the "Old Dominion," in that, for lier Washington, Monroe,
and Madison, she has given to the nation her Grant, Hayes, and
Garfield; and for Virginia's Jefferson, she has to offer her most il¬
lustrious son, John Sherman. Living in such an epoch, and in the
light of such a history, is surely cause for the most sincere thanks
to Almighty God; and a source of infinite joy to every patriotic
citizen of Ohio, without regard to party, creed or color, to know
that the last vestige of slavery has been wiped from her books for¬
ever."
Governor Foraker arose amid a storm of applause,
and in a thirty minutes speech, showed how like a
miracle the American Negro has risen from the depth
of a debasing servitude, to a station of citizenship v^here
he enjoys all the rights enjoyed by the whites of this
broad land. He said that he was happy to know that
the great State of Ohio had finally made the colored
man the equal of any white man in the land; and had
162
Poor Ben.
blotted from its statutes the discriminating laws, which
made separate schools possible. He said he received
letters daily, complaining that the repeal of these laws,
which to him and all sensible citizens were extremely
obnoxious, was detrimental to the prosperity of the
Republican party of this State. He, for one, knew
this to be untrue. He said,
"There was a time when the black laws of Ohio provided that
no colored man should be allowed to become a resident unless he
carded with him a certificate that he was a free man, and in addi¬
tion to that, furnish a bond of five hundred dollars. That same
statute made it a penal offense for any man in Ohio to employ a
colored man, to even give him a day's work, in order that he mighty
earn something to live upon, until he had first entered upon his
bond. Such is the index of public sentiment with respect to this
grand question of human rights, as it was placed on the statute
books by our fathers, ( Cries—Shame! Shame !) But that has
long been swept away. And so it is, that we have been progress¬
ing, step by step, until in the matter of legislation, we have now
reached a point where our book is clean from such legislation.
(Tremendous applause.)
In Southern Ohio where I was, when a boy, I can remember a
church,—it was called a church, but it was only a log hut built by
the colored people; and such was the sentiment of that communi¬
ty in regard to colored people, that they built it without a window,
that they might be safe from violence in the worship of God.
There was only a hole in the wall, through which the light might
come; but not large enough to admit a stone. Such hatred exist¬
ed that they could not worship in peace.
Fellow citizens, we are growing better, and we, white people
may rejoice that we have progressed, until we can recognize "the
brotherhood of man, and the fatherhood of God," and say to our
colored brethren step up to the full measure of your manhood, and
to the enjoyment of that absolute political equality with us, ta
which you are now entitled ( Cheers and applause.) If however
any of you get to be Governor, I think you will find that we have
a great State, that is full of letter writers, from the rivers to the
lakes. And I don't care what a General Assembly does, the Govern-
Two Years a Representative.
163
or will the next morning, be deluged with letters about it. I have
had ray full share about this repeal of the black laws, and this
intermarriage of races.
A few years ago, we saw banners carried full and high, inscribed
"Save our daughters from Negro husbands!" (Laughter.) The
daughters for whom these banners were borne were in no danger.
Neither are they who are complaining now. My observations of
the colored people are, that they have tastes of their own; and that
in consequence you could not with a writ of mandamus compel
such marriage, as were prayed to be saved from. (Applause and
laughter.)
But, that is not all. There is no danger from the other feature
of this legislation, whereby separate schools have been done away
with. To-day, I got a letter of bitter complaint. It then occur¬
red to me to put the matter to the test of practical experience. So
I called in my boy, fourteen and a half years old, and my three little
girls, all of whom are in attendance at the mixed schools of Col¬
umbus. I asked them about the matter. The boy said that there
were a number of colored boys in the class with him. ' Do they
disturb you in any way?' 'Oh, no,' he said, 'they don't bother
me any, except all of us are bothered to keep up with one of them,
who seems to have a notion that he must lead the class. If that
boy was only out of the class, I wouldn't have a bit of trouble with
them." (Great applause.) I stopped the inquiry right there. I
thought if that was all the difficulty that could be seen by so ob¬
serving a boy as mine, this whole matter of mixed schools would
take care of itself for the future. Whatever is right will take care
of itself."
Governor Foraker, after a fine eulogy on Grant, in¬
troduced Hon. G. H. Ely, a member of the senate,
who rose amid long continued applause, and respond¬
ed in an earnest speech. He was followed by Rev. J.
Poindexter, Senator D. K. Watson, Poor Ben and W.
Thomas. Letters were read from Senator Sherman,
Hon. W. Lawrence and Dr. I. S. Tuppins.
At Springfield the platform was enstarred with many
brilliant speakers. Among whom were Hons. J. W.
164
Poor Ben.
Keifer, C. M. Nichols, A. S. Bushnell, Mayor Good¬
win, J. F. McGrew, Esq., Rev. Zeigler, Rev. Warren, J*
K. Mower, Esq., James Buford, Prof. Scarborough, Sen¬
ators Ely and Pringle, and Poor Ben.
Again we shall only quote a few of the many striking
things said by the different speakers.
Rev. W. H. Warren said: "Another victory has
been gained by right and justice, in the body politic.
What is for the elevation of one class is none the less
so for the other. All legislation recognizing any dif¬
ference between men born of different races, orj nation¬
alities, or creeds is eternally wrong and should be
swept away."
Gen. J. W. Keifer said: " Lincoln recorded that the
slave should be free. The thirteenth amendment re¬
cords the judgement of war; the fourteenth recognized
citizenship; The fifteenth made all equal at the ballot
box; but the law just enacted, in Ohio, that says that
there shall be no distinction of race or color in the
great free schools of the country, is the best and final
one."
Rev. Poindexter said that Poor Ben reminded him
of Thomas Corwin, the wagon boy, and he did not like
to follow such a man in a speech. "I am not here
gimply to rejoice that God recognize.? the colored man,
as the white man. I am fighting for a principle high¬
er than that. I look to the South and see what pre¬
vails there; and I maintain that, unless the Northern
states wipe out the existing differences, the people of
the South will keep the black man in what they are
pleased to term—his place,—and that a very narrow
place. How often must Ave adopt the language of the
great Lincoln, "Root hog, or die."
Two Years a Representative.
165
J. F. McGrew paid a glowing tribute to those who
So ably discussed the question of mixed schools.
Prof. Scarborough said: "There was a great princi¬
ple at stake in the battle that has been going on—the
principle of equality. The Black Laws have been
erased, and that principle is established.
Hon. Pringle said that he and his friend Ely had
made a speech on this question, that counted for more
than any made that night. And it was only one
word. " We voted aye, at Columbus."
Gen. Bushnell linked the longing of the American
Negro for civil equality to the longing glances of the
Israelites toward the promise land.
H. C. Smith, encouraged the colored people to take
heart, hope, and work for the best; citing the satisfac¬
tory experience of Cuyahoga county.
Hon. Rawlins said that he had Avorked long to at¬
tain this end, and was glad to be present.
C. M. Nichols*said: "I have the great honor in my
day of being on the unpopular side of so many great
questions. I thought I would sit still and let the pro¬
cession get up to me. It has gotten to me. You have
your rights, and I hope to live to see the day, when
Ireland also shall be free."
James Buford simply thanked God that "this day
has come."
Senator Ely said: "I am glad to realize that the words
of St. Paul, uttered under the shadow of the acrobates,
at Athe"ns, centuries ago—'God hath made of one blood,
all nations on the face of the earth,' had at last been
realized. Though the world has been very slow, it has
at last come, and many hearts are happy to-night."
Poor Ben, the author of the bill, was the next speak-
166
Poor Ben.
er, and in words of eloquence that cannot be record ed*
congratulated his fellows on the triumph, at last, of
justice long delayed He said: "Mr. Chaikman anb
Fellow Citizens:
By the favor of the Republican party, I have a great
deal to say,, and yet I cannot find language to express
myself on this occasion. I am happy to begin with
—I am more than happy, I am glad. I am more than
glad, I am overjoyed. I am glad to meet you, and see
so many fellow citizens come together to rejoice at th§
victory of the last battle for human liberty in the State
of Ohio.
I am old enough to know something of the battle-?
and the heroes of the past. I know something of the
cost of the liberties that we now enjoy, and have some
idea of their increased value. I remember, in the years
of my childhood, there was a song then, sung in Penn¬
sylvania, 'Roll on, Liberty's Ball.' I was but six years
old, and how could I know any thing about it? But
there was something in my young soul that told me
it would roll, and thank God I have lived to see Ohio's
brave sons 'Roll on, Liberty's Ball.' In 1840, when
John G. Burney started this ball to rolling, in the
United States, there were only 7,1-50 who dared to say*
'Roll on, Liberty's Ball!' In 1844, 167,000 said 'Roll
on, Liberty's Ball!' In 1848, when Fremont's party
was born, 246,000 sang the same song. In 1852, John
P. Hale and George W. Julian started out shouting
the same strain. Then my poor mother lifted up her
Voice and sang 'Roll on, Liberty's Ball!'
In 1856, when Fremont was a candidate, that grand
old organization, the Republican party, started out
and 1,300,000 men voted for John C. Fremont, shcait-
Two Years a Representative.
167
ing the while, 'Roll on, Liberty's Ball!' This ball was
growing larger, and the South knew that it was com-
mg. Our fathers prayed, and the Republicans voted*
The Southerners framed constitutions to keep the ball
from rolling; but prayer is a mighty thiyg, for over
2,000,000,.in 18G0, shouted, 'Roll on, Liberty's Ball!'
Then the war cloud rolled on. We kept on praying,
and it brought rain. They fought and voted, then
said, 'Come and help us boys.' Our boys said, 'Give
us a flag,' and they got it. The boys in the blue fought
the battles and gained the victory; though it was a
country in ruins. Then every man and woman cried
'Roll on, Liberty's Ball!'
Now, the joy of this* day is like getting married, the
wedding day, and the pound-cake. [Tremendous
cheering.] But now we can expect no more from Ely
and Iveifer, and no more pound-cake from the Repub¬
lican party. It can no longer be said that our chil¬
dren's teeth are on edge because their parents ate sour
grapes. The schools are open; the churches are open;
and the penitentiary is open. [Applause.] What I
mean my friends, is this; if you do wrong they will
punish you as other men; and if you do right, the3T
will honor you. But the opportunities, blessings and
privileges of this day bring with them corresponding
responsibilities; and to make this victory secure, our
race must vindicate itself in thfe State and country.
With education for your heads, religion for your hearts
and money for your pockets, you can stand up in your
own innate powers. Ohio, third in population, now
etand sfirst in human rights, with the immortal John.
Sherman in the lead."
Poor Ben's was one of the most eloquent speeches
168
Poor Ben.
given in Springfield, for it came from tlie heart of a
man, who felt all he said. It was punctuated through¬
out by great applauses.
Good music was rendered at intervals during the
speeches by the Cadet Band.
The demonstration of both white and colored citi¬
zens at the wigwam and at the banquet at the St. James
Hotel, over the repeal of the Black Laws, was one of
the most significant occurrences ever known in that
city. The immense audience represented all races,
and the utterance from the platform were most sensi¬
ble, practical and inspiring. Both black and whito
men declared that now the American citizen of African
extraction was the equal of any white man, under the
law; they had their own future in their own hands,
qjid were expected to be the architects of their own
future. The sentiments of the occasion, though earn®
est and fervid, were in good taste, courteous, magnani¬
mous, and in every way befitting. The committee of
arrangements of the jubilee meeting, deserve the thanks
of the thousands of citizens who enjoyed the addresses,
and of the fortunate few who were invited to the ban¬
quet. Here toasts were responded to in rapid success¬
ion, and showed no inferior order of intellect, or lack
of wit and humor. The guests were many of Spring¬
field's most prominent citizens. At two o'clock A, M,
the company began to disperse, dismissed with the
benediction. Thus befittingly closed the labors of
Poor Ben for the repeal of the Black Laws.
In February, 1887, Representative Ben introduced
the Educational Bill, prepared by the W. C, T, U,
Mrs. Fannie Leiter had been in Columbus more than a
month trying to find some man with courage enough
Two Years a Representative.
169
to introduce a bill that tended toward the proper edu¬
cation of Ohio's boys and girls. Not an Anglo-Saxon
Was found to champion the measure. All honor to
Poor Ben, the Anglo-African, who dared to do right,
Regardless of what whiskey politicians might say.
The Columbus Dispatch says of this bill: "Poor
Ben is credited by his hearers with having made the
Strongest speech that has been made in the Ohio House
of Representatives for many years. There are always
a few very able men in that body. The fact that he
Was a colored man, and advocated a bill to add to the
text books of the public schools, one showing the phy¬
sical effects of alcohol and tobacco on the human sys¬
tem, are matters of no little interest. His eloquence
and arguments were loudly applauded by the mem¬
bers of both parties. Crowds of ladies haunted tire
chambers with the persistancy of crusaders."
They were on hand to hear Poor Ben, and their en-
thuiasm was kept up until the vote was taken, showing
that the bill had passed by a vote of 62 yeas to 27
Hays. 46 Republicans and 16 Democrats to 8 Repub¬
licans and 19 Democrats.
This Announcement was greeted with cheers from
the ladies, all of them having taken off their gloves so
as to clap their hands the louder. And for once the
Women of the State gained a victory through the earn¬
est efforts and unanswerable debates of Poor Ben.
Mr. Hull congratulated Poor Ben on being the only
man on the Republican side, who had the courage to
speak his convictions. Col. Harlan of Hamilton coun¬
ty, acted as interlocutor and made the chief argument
against the bill. As it was one colored member against
another the House listened with rapt attention. CoL
170
Poor Ben.
Harlan's questions seemed only to inspire Poor Ben to
greater liglits of eloqnence, and drew from his soul the
most withering fire of keen retort, that had been heard
in the House, completely silencing his opponent, and
fully vindicating the race from the aspersion, sought
to be put upon its representatives. Poor Ben was well
primed, and his answers to Col. Harlan's factious ques¬
tions were quick and distressingly pointed. His witty
retorts brought roars of laughter, and round after round
of applause. When Col. Harlan took his seat he al¬
most wished that he had not contested for his place in
the House, and that the election frauds of Hamilton
county had not been so favorably settled for him.
Twenty seven states had already passed similar bills,
and the following one of I'oor Ben's made Ohio the
twenty-eighth.
The Scientific Educational Bill was as follows:
Section 1. Be it en cm ted by the General Assembly of the
State of Ohio, That the nature of alcoholic drinks and
narcotics, and special instruction as to their effects up¬
on the human system, in connection with the several
divisions of the subject in physiology, shall be includ¬
ed in the branches of study taught in the common or
public schools; and in all educational institutions sup¬
ported wholly or in part by the State; and shall be stud¬
ied by, and taught to all pupils, in all schools, as thor¬
oughly as other like studies required, are studied and
taught in said schools.
Section II. That it shall be the duty of the proper
officers in control of any school described in the fore¬
going section, to enforce the provisions of this act;
and to any such officer, school director, committee,
superintendent or teacher, who shall refuse or neglect
Two Years a Representative.
171
to comply with the requirements of this, or shall neg¬
lect or fail to make proper provisions for the instruct¬
ion required, and in the manner specified by the first
Section of this act, for all pupils in each and every
School under his jurisdiction, shall be removed from
office, and the vacancy filled as in other cases.
Section III. That no certificate shall be gran ted.to
any person to teach in the public schools of the State
or any of the educational institutions, receiving mon¬
ey from the State, after the first day of January, 1889,
who has not passed a satisfactory examination in phy¬
siology and hygiene with special reference to the na¬
ture and effects of alcoholic drinks and other narcotics
upon the human system.
Poor Ben had been in his seat regularly all the ses¬
sion, and had said so little; but he soon disabused any
mind that deemed him mute, when these two bills,that
so interested him, came up for discussion.
No withstanding the many opposers of the measure
in the Senate, and their various objections, Poor Ben
championed the bill nobly, and it passed.
His term of office as a legislator was now drawing
to a close; and he was being warmly urged by both,
white and colored friends to announce himself a can¬
didate for reelection to the office of Representative.
Ex-Representative Gest's paper, "The Torchlight/1
which had not been favorable to our Greene county
member, on account of the bill he fathered, waved
its objections, and paid him a very modest compli¬
ment, under the circuity tan ces. W e give the editorial;
"In view of Hon. candidacy, we desire to say
that the Torchlight has not and will not be in any
manner connected with any movement or scheme that
172
Poor Ben.
may be inaugurated for the purpose of defeating Mm,
He has made, so far as we are informed, a capable and
industrious Representative; and it is eminently just
to him, that a second term for him be considered in
that light. The Torchlight will not oppose, or fight
against him, because he is a colored man, or indirectly
foster or excite prejudice against him by reason of that
fact; or the legislation of which he is the reputed fath¬
er. This statement we consider is just to , and,
at the same time, an honorable position for us to oc¬
cupy."
Of Hon. Poor Ben's candidacy1, little or nothing was
positively known, until March 9, 1887; as he had re¬
fused on all occasions, to state whether or not he would
be a candidate for reelection.
In answer to a letter addressed to him by a number
of friends, on the subject, he said:
House of Representatives, Columbus, Ohio,
March 9, 1887.
To C. L. Maxwell Esq.,
Dear Friend,
According to promise, I send you my final decision,
on the question of my candidacy. I have come to the
conclusion, that I will not stand for a reelection. My
business relations are such, that I cannot attend to my
duties as I ought. Therefore, you can inform my
friends, who may inquire, that I am not a candidate;
but feel to be under many obligations to my friends
and the party, for having done so much for me and
my race. I am more than thankful to them, and will
in the future, as in the past, do all that'lies in my
power to forward the interest qjf the party, and help my
friends of Greene county.
I am Yours for God and the race,
Poor Ben."
Two Years a Representative.
173
Poor Ben found that tlie duties of another term
"would interfere with his labor as Secretary and Treas¬
urer of the African A. M. E. Church, and would be a
hindrance to the fulfillment of the requirements of the
high office of Bishop, to which it was universally un¬
derstood he was to be elected. His withdrawal was
not on account of the opposition created by the repeal
of the Black Laws, for he still could have secured
the nomination of Greene county, whose loyal citizens
are not apt to forget his great service in time of need
to the Republican party. How, by his matchless ora¬
tory and eloquence, he had on many occasions aroused
the latent patriotism in the hearts of thousands, black
and white, when it most needed stirring up. Neither
will they soon forget, when all over the 7th Congress¬
ional District, there was fraud and treachery practised,
as well as reckless disregard to duty, on the part of
many Republicans, Poor Ben dropped important work
on the Pacific coast and hastened home, entered the
political strife, and worked day and night for the suc¬
cess of Hon. John Little, and the entire Republican
ticket. The fact that, notwithstanding, the bogus col¬
ored conventions gathered by Campbell and the
Schwab gang, flushed with money, only three colored
men in Xenia deserted the party, is a sufficient evi¬
dence of what Poor Ben's services were worth. Wheth¬
er he made a mistake in the repeal of the Black Lawe,
or whether his snccess is the master stroke of his poli¬
tical life, the Republicans will ever hold Poor Ben in
honor. If we are not mistaken in the credit, to use his
own language, "Republics may be ungrateful, but Re¬
publicans never."
On March 7th, 1887, Poor Ben returned home from
174
Poor Ben.
his labors, and was received with cheers and gratitude.
A grand reception was tendered him at the Xenia Op¬
era House, by the citizens. The gathering was solely
to do honor to the man who had done his whole duty
as Representative of Greene county.
The platform was occupied by Hon. John Little,
Poor Ben, Dr. Jackson, Elder Graham and Lawyer C.
L. Maxwell. Short but eloquent addresses were deliv¬
ered by each gentleman. Mr. Maxwell then intro¬
duced Poor Ben to the audience, and with finely word¬
ed remarks, presented him with an elegant gold-bead¬
ed cane, on behalf of his constituents. Poor Ben, in
response, spoke as only he can. He felt that while a
member of the House of Representatives, he had been
treated with a courtesy, by the members, not excelled
by the annual conferences of his own Church and peo¬
ple. In returning the trust imposed upon him by
Greene count}7-, he did so without the smell of corrup¬
tion, or taint of fraud thereon. His address was full
of fiery Republicanism. Hon. Poor Ben was, at first,
very much affected on receiving the cane.
A few of the good things he said were: "Republi¬
cans of Greene county, I have not words to express
my thanks for this precious gift from those who in
their hearts feel kindly toward me for the humble part
I had the honor to perform as their Representative in
the Legislature. For reasons over which I had no
control, I felt it my duty to decline a reelection. It
affords me no small pleasure to know that I have not
disappointed my constituents. True, I have not been
able to satisfy all; neither would have any one else
you might have sent."
He then reviewed the work of the Assembly, urged
Two I 'airs a Representative.
175
Ms friends of color to stand up in their manhood, and
use every endeavor to advance their race. In closing,
he again tendered his thanks for the handsome cane
presented to him; not only for himself, but on behalf
of his sainted mother, whose spirit has ever been an
inspiration, leading him to do right; and on behalf of
his wife and children; and lastly in the name of his
race.
His closing remarks were very touching and beauti¬
ful. With the adjournment of this reception closed
the career of Poor Ben as a Legislator.
As at the beginning, he was showered with many
congratulatory telegrams and letters, so the close of his
labors was showered with essages bearing compli¬
ments of the highest order from more friends than
can be mentioned here.
It is peculiarly noteworthy that Representative Poor
Ben was chosen to represent a county entitled to only
one member, and yet he was the sole representative.
His case is the only one in the United Ktales of a col¬
ored maij being the only representative of a white con¬
stituency, by selection and election.
During his term of office, he was chairman of the
Committee on Temperance. He was also called upon
to preside over the Republican Legislative caucus at
Columbus, a position which he filled with markSd abil¬
ity and dignity.
Poor Ben, all though life seems to be fated to re¬
ceive the honors so justly do him, by keeping his
good name unscathed and his honor out of peril,
has caused his name to become a pseudonym for clubs,
lodges, camps, churches and schools, ages after lie wiD
be gone.
176
Poor Ben.
During Poor Ben's stay at the capital, the David
Jenkins Club gave a grand banquet in honor of the
three colored representatives. Never in the history
of the city had there been a fairer representation of
Columbus people than gathered at the parlors of Ruhl
and Corbott that -Thursday evening.
Letters of regret were received frrm Governor Forak-
er, Hon. Fredrick Douglas, Hon. B. K. Bruce, Prof.
C. A. Cottrill, Hon. P. H. Clark, T. Thomas Fortune,
and others.
At the head of the table sat Riley F. Williams, the
President of the Club, surrounded by its special guests;
Hon. Poor Ben of Green County, Hon. J. A. Brown of
Cuyahoga County, and Hon. Robert Harlan of Ham¬
ilton County. Among the other gentlemen entertained
Iby the Club were Secretary of State Robinson, State
Treasurer Brown, Adjutant-General Axline, and the
representatives of the press. Mr. Williams, as presi¬
dent, delivered the address of welcome.
Mr. I. D. Ross, as toast-master of the evening, called
upon Mr. Walter S. Thomas to respond to the senti¬
ment: "Our Honored Guests." The well known
young colored orator and politician made remarks
which were entirely extemporaneous, but he handled
the subject in an unusually happy manner. He be¬
gan with Colonel Robert Harlan, and told his listeners
•of the many acts which that gentleman had perform¬
ed in behalf of his race, beginning with the first work
■done towards obtaining an appropriation from the
State for colored schools, at a time when it was an of¬
fense to teach a colored person to read and write. He
followed this with a sketch of the Colonel's work down
to the present time, and touched upon the handsome
Two Years a Representative.
177
indorsement given him by the people of Hamilton
County. Poor Ben's progress from the coal mine to
the christian ministry, and Jere A. Brown's jump
from the carpenter's bench to the legislator's seat,
were described in that peculiarly happy style which
belongs alone to Mr. Thomas, bringing forth round
after round of applause.
Colonel Robert Harlan's life-long efforts to obtain
School entrance for the colored children of the State
tnade the toast "Common Schools" a very appropriate
■one for him to respond to, and the manner in which
he handled the topic was fine and well received. He
appealed to the few hundred Negro schoolteachers of
the State not to stand in the way of the abolition of
separate schools for colored children, and pointed out
to them the vast opportunities for noble work among
the members of their race in other states of the Union.
Daniel A. Rudd, the young colored editor, was
thought to be the fittest member of the Club to tell
about "Our National Guard," of which he was a mem¬
ber. He pointed out the glorious things the Ohio
National Guard had done, and made an eloquent ap¬
peal for its proper treatment by the people and the
legislators of the State. In conclusion he told the
David Jenkins Club that the Guard appreciated the
compliment paid them in being remembered on the
list of toasts. Said he: "We sing of our silent sold¬
iers, 'Dead, but their souls go marching on.' When I
look over the list of Ohio statesmen who now repose
in the bosom of an uuknown eternity, and reach the
name of David Jenkins, your intellectual brilliancy
sends back the answer, 'Dead, but his soul goes march¬
ing on."
178
Poor Ben.
Hon. Poor Ben was one of the best speakers of the-
evening and spoke upon "The Negro in Politics" in
the powerful and eloquent style which makes his ora"
tory so effective. He said:
Mr. President and Members of the David Jenkins Club:
Accept my hearty congratulations for the honor joa
have conferred on me personally, and the thanks of
my constituency, whom you honor by honoring their
representative.
Green county is the banner Republican county of
the State, for in that county we hold more offices than
in any other county in Ohio. All honor to the noble
Republicans of that county. May their numbers in¬
crease, until every county in the State recognizes that
the Negro is in the politics of the State to stay, and
work for the success of the principles of liberty and,
equality, and may he be as loyal in the future as in
the past.
I wish I had the time to inquire as to the origin of
the Negro, to find his ancestry, to inquire into his
social and political status, of his moral and religious
habits,of his intellectual achievements and culture, and^
finally, to bring to the attention of this audience some
of his ancient glory. For I am credibly informed that
there was a time in the history of man that the Negro
was the master in the commonwealth of letters, and
was sovereign of the kingdom of the civilized world*
Then it was that the music of his sons and the songs,
of his daughters were only excelled by the orchestra of
nature, and was the only true type of the harmony of
earth and the symphony of heaven. Alas! he be^
came subject to the laws of other men, with whom he
aimed to be in harmony in devising a plan for the.
Two Years a Representative.
179
government of earth, he was displaced, his subjects
were enthralled, and the sons of kings became the ser¬
vants of servants. The herdsmen were enthroned on
the seat of power. The Negro was the first politician of
the world. The first city built by man was built by the
ancestry of the Negro, and from that day until now he
has always had something to do with the politics of
the nations. Who was it that first announced the di¬
vision of governments? Hobab, the father-in-law of
Moses, was the first to set captains over tens of hun¬
dreds, tens of thousands and tens of hundreds of
thousands. Thus we have municipal government,
"county government, state government, and finally
national government.
We have heard it said that there were only three
steps from Africa to England—from Africa to Greece,
from Greece to Rome, from Rome to England. Thus
"we have judicial, executive and legislative departments
■of government, the sense being African.
When we consider him in politics, there are many
things to consider in relation to him as an individual,
in his family relations, in his social status, in his rela¬
tion to art, science and religion, for on these depend
his place in politics.
In this country of freedom, we have intellectual
^>ower, social power, spiritual power and political pow¬
der. Then there is, what is termed by some, commer-
•cial power. The Negro has exercised to some extent
all of these. How successful he has been is not a ques¬
tion of debate. There is not a man, who has any
knowledge of "the history of this country, but will give
frnm credit for his industry The cities of the South
&re monuments of his skill as a mechanic. The bloom-
180
Poor Ben.
ing gardens and the cultivated fields are the evidences
of his industry as an agriculturist. The many inven¬
tions which has been credited to his name, and his mas¬
ter's, where he is not mentioned, are monuments of
his genius. The happy homes and cultured families
are the signs of his frugality.
There never was a day in the history of this country
that the Negro was not the most influential member
of all political parties. He has been in every conven¬
tion since the days of Washington. He has elected
more men to places of trust and honor and emolu¬
ment than any other power in politics. He has de¬
feated the ambition of many a thousand, who have not
loved him nor his children. He has been in, on or under,
every platform of all the parties in the last century.
He was in the Whig and under the Democratic, but
not until the days of the Free Soil and the Republican
parties, in and on the platform, and from that day until
now he has been a full participant in the body politic.
The Negro in politics during the Reconstruction in
the South was called upon to take charge of the con¬
stitutional conventions. He wTas required to make a
constitution where he was formerly prohibited from
reading the Declaration of Independence. He was
called on to provide for the legislative, executive and
judicial departments of State, and he had to be teacher
and pupil at the same time. He was unacquainted
with the duties of government, but there was one thing
he did know, he knew what freedom was, and with
him the best and sweetest consolation was the liberty
of his race, and the supremacy of the Union. He did
his duty well. Some persons speak of him as a fail"
ure, but, when we consider the school in which he was
Two Years a Representative. 181
educated, we think he has done nobly. In twenty-five
years he has filled every position in the government,
except one.
We have had two United State Senators, Revels and
Bruce; one Registrar of the United States Treasury,
who was required to sign the money of the country.
He was one of the race whose unrequitted toil had en¬
riched the Nation.
We have had fifteen congressmen, and fourteen hun¬
dred who wanted to be congressmen. We have had
one chairman of the National Republican convention;
we have had the chairmanship of State and county
conventions; seven lieutenant governors in the South¬
ern States, and one acting Governor of Louisiana.
The following will show what success the Negro has
had in the political field. If any man can show a bet¬
ter record for any people since the day Nimrod became
the first monarch of the earth, let him produce it, but
until then we claim the first place in the temple of
success.
Rev. John W. Asbury was on the State ticket in
Kentucky, and was a Congressional candidate in the
Henry Clay District of Kentucky.
1870—Joseph H. Rainey was elected a member of
Congress from South Carolina and served eight years;
R. H. Revels, United States Senator from Mississippi,
first colored Senator in the United States. In 1871—
Robert C. Delarge, member of Congress from South
Corolina; R. Brown Elliott, member of Congress from
South Carolina, served two terms; Benjamin S. Tur¬
ner, member of Congress from Alabama; J. Milton
Turner, appointed Minister to Liberia. 1869—E. D.
Bassett, appointed Minister to Hayti. 1872—First
182
Poor Ben.
National Convention admits colored men. 1873—
John R. Lynch, member of Congress from Mississippi;
re-elected in 1875 and 1880; P. B. S. Pinchback, Uni¬
ted States Senator from Louisiana. 1877—Frederick
Douglass, first colored U. S. Marshal; JohnF. Quarles,
first colored Consul to Spain, Oscar J. Dunn, of Louisi¬
ana, first colored Lieutenant Governor in the United
States; J. B. Smith a colored member of the Massa-
chusett Legislature, introduced and secured the passage
of the resolution to erase from the records the resolu¬
tion of censure against Charles Sumner; Hon. John
R. Lynch, temporary chairman of the National Repub¬
lican Convention, at Chicago, 111., June, 1884; Rev.
Jno. T. Jenifer, first colored man in the State of Ohio
appointed postmaster, at Wilberforce University, by
Andrew Johnson, President, in 1866. 1881—Sidney
Hinton, first colored Legislator in Indiana, secures re¬
peal of Black Laws; Prof. R. T. Greener, Dean, How¬
ard University, Washington, D. C,; Henry Highland
Garnett, appointed Minister to Liberia. 1882—Wm.
H. Hardin, first colored Representative in Wyoming,
secures repeal of Black Laws; Blanche K. Bruce, ap¬
pointed Register U. S. Treasury; J. P. Green, colored
Representative, called to the Speaker's chair of the Ohio
House of Representatives; J. F. Smythe, reappointed
Minister to Liberia; C. C. Astwood, appointed Consul-
General to San Domingo. 1877—J. W. E. Thomas, first
colored man elected to the Legislature of Illinois:
State Officers.—Oscar ^J. Dunn, Lieut. Gov. of
Louisana; P. B. S. Pinchback, Lieut. Gov. and acting
Gov.; C. C. Antoine, Lieut. Gov. Alonzo J. Ranson,
Lieut. Gov. of South Carolina; Richard H. Glenn
Lieut. Gov.; F. L. Cardoza, Sec. of State and State Treas-
Two Years a Representative.
183
urer; Alex Davis, Lieut. Gov. of Mississippi; James
Lynch, Sec. of State; J. C. Gibbs, Sec. of State, Florida;
John McCabe, Auditor of State, Kansas; W. H. Brown,
Supt. Public Instruction, Louisiana; J, C. Corbin,
Supt. Public Instruction, Kansas.
Department of Justice, 7; Department of State, 20;
Navy Department, 40; Department of Interior, men,
10G, ladies, 9; Post Office Department, 54; Treasury
Department, 342; War Department, 44. Total, 620.
The Assistant Librarian of Congress; The Assistant
Law Librarian of the Supreme Court, J. F. Wilkinson,
a friend of mine.
•James S. Tyler and W. S. Thomas were the first
clerks in the State House. Rev. Jas. Poindexter, the
now silverhaired pioneer, was the first colored man to
run for the Legislature of this State. Prof. Peter H.
Clark was a candidate for the Constitutional Conven¬
tion of 1872. William Boyd was a member of the City
Council of Urbana, and was president of that body in
1878-'79. C. L. Maxwell was City Clerk of Xenia for
six years. Wm. Hunter has been elected three times
Street Commissioner of Xenia. Dr. Lindsey is one
of the Police Commissioners of the same city. Chil-
licothe elected Rev. W. J. Johnson, a member of the
School Board, and this year elected a Councilman.
The town of Jackson elected a City Clerk and Clerk
of Township. S. G. Brigham is a member of the
School Board at Springfield.
Then, as to other places, the Negro is in nearly every
department of the State. In Guernsey county they
elected a colored Township Clerk last year, and this
year he was re-elected with an increased majority. J.
R. Hawley was re-elected to the City Council of Wil-
184
Poor Ben.
mington. In this State, we have for the first time
three members of the General Assembly. They repre¬
sent the intelligence, wealth and industries of this
State—the Queen City of the West and Forest City of
the Lakes—one by the Hon. Col. R. Harlan and the
other by Hon. Jere A. Brown. What a grand change,
what a grand old party, that made it possible to see
and witness such unparalleled advance as has been the
case with the Negro in politics.
The most important part of the Negro in politics is
the part he occupies as to the representatives in Con¬
gress and in the Electoral College
More than one half of the Nation's illiteracy is in
the South, and our race, if left to his own free will in
casting its ballot, would always be on the side of jus¬
tice and liberty.
Lieutenant Rudd, the gallant young soldier, has
just recounted to you the deeds of valor performed by
colored men—deeds written on the page of history
with the sword and bayonet. Lieutenant Rudd's
words have left their impress on my soul.
There is one thing that I desire to call the attention
of the gentlemen present to. That is, we, as politi¬
cians, have neglected one duty that we owe to the men
who made it possible for us to go into politics. I
mean the gallant soldiers of the Union, the colored
men, who were told that it was a white man's war
when the first gun fired; but when the war cloud hung
low, and the nation was trembling from center to cir¬
cumference, when the minnie ball was whistling its
song of death, then the colored men, who had been de¬
nied a place in the ranks of the Nation's defenders,
forgetting the insults and wrongs of the past, said,
Two Years a Representative.
185
"Give us a flag so free, without a slave, and we will fight
to defend it as our fathers did so brave." The order
was issued and they were enlisted from the prairies of
the West, from the pine forest of Maine, and finally
from the Savannah of the South, the loyal sons of the
race came, as fair as the moon, as clear as the sun, and
as terrible as any army with banners, and sent up a
shout that was heard around the world: "Onward, boys,
onward! It's the year of Jubilee! God bless Ameri¬
ca, the land of liberty."
We must see that a.monument is built to their mem¬
ory in the National Capital, so that all the nations of
the earth may know that our forefathers won for them¬
selves an honorable place on the roll of fame, and wrote
their names in blood as precious as was ever shed on
fields of ancient or modern warfare. We want our
children, as they walk on the streets of our National
Capital, to see something to remind them of the part
the colored soldiers took in the war for the Constitu¬
tion and the Union.
We want something to enable them to say with
the pride of an American, our country, our father's
country.
The men who took part in the Revolutionary war
have nothing to show in the National Capital that
their strong arms were used to wring from Great Bri-
tan, the Queen of the Western Hemisphere.
But, sir, we intend to see that there is a suitable
monument erected in the city of Washington to the
memory of the heroic dead.
Let every Union soldier of the race assist in this
matter. We want a convention of the veterans and
appoint a committee to have charge of the matter, and
186
Poor Ben.
collect money, receive designs and then have the mon¬
ument built and dedicated.
Then our children can come from near and far and
kindle the fires of soul and body fanned with the breath
of the young and rising generations, and the old vete¬
rans could once more meet at the Capital they suffered
" o save. What a grand time this would be to have
the heroes of Fort Wagner and Port Hudson, the he¬
roes of Nashville and Miliken Eend; march together
in their front the banner of freedom redeemed to their
sons and to the present and future generations.
Think of it, no monument to the men who were
firs' to march into Richmond; no monument to the
men led on by Capt. Callieux; no monument to the
gallant Sergt. Carny and Major Delaney, who enlisted
in the battle's van and cried 'rally I boys, for God and
Gov. Anderson.' They must and will, so help me
God, have a monument.
What shall we say of the Negro in politics? He has
been an eminent success. He has done much good to
the race and his country. He was loyal when others
were disloyal. He was true while others were false to
the country. He has exhibited to the world what it is
possible for men to do. The Negro in politics means
the Negro in human government. Where is his place
and what is his position? Why, he must secure his
place by his intelligence, industry, courage and char¬
acter, wherever that puts him. The day has passed
when we want a place for a colored man on account of
his color, but for his worth as a man and political factor.
But we do not want him thrown aside because he is a
colored man, nor do we want him advanced on his race
connection alone; but give us a fair show in the race of
Two Years a Representative.
187
life and for office. Let us beat them if we can, and they
beat us if they can. All we ask at the hands of the polit¬
ical parties is to give us equal laws, equal opportunity,
and then, if we cannot keep up let us fall to the rear,
and take our place as followers and not leaders.
Gentlemen, I see before me the hope of the rising
generation—young, intelligent men, who will not stop
until every law discriminating against the race is
wiped from the State and National statutes; until
every man can enjoy his rights of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, no matter whether in Ohio or
Mississippi.
Gentlemen, think of it! Twenty years of freedom,
and not a foot of ground purchased for a monument
for the men who laid down their lives that the nation
should be preserved and a race redeemed! Twenty
years of advancement and education, and no statute
of brass or column of marble to the memory of the
heroes of three wars!
Twenty years in the legislative halls and in the
school-house, and no corner-stone of a monument by a
grateful race!
Twenty years in the land of Canaan, yet no memo¬
rial on the plain of Gilgal!
I entreat the members of the David Jenkins Club to
dedicate the work of the young and rising generation
to the rearing of a monument to the memory of our
hero dead. Let contributions come up from every State
and from every county in the States, the free-will of¬
ferings of a redeemed people. Let Ohio lead the train
of free-will offering, and every man, woman and child
gend their mite, and raise a shaft of beauty and glory
to the gallant soldiers of the race, and send the word
188
Poor Ben.
from generation to generation that the 'black troops
fought nobly.'
There are in the Southern States about 12,000,000
whitens, and about 6,500,000 Negroes.
In these states, with one-third of the Nation's popu¬
lation, are found nearly three-fourths of the Nation's
illiterates.
Thirty per cent, of the white minors, from 10 to 21,
and seventy per cent, of the Negroes of the same ages
are illiterate in the South.
The illiterate voters in the South, where one hundred
and fifty-three of the two hundred and one electoral
votes necessary to elect a president are cast, number
1,354,974.
In the midst of such ignorance, a popular election
is but little more than a miserable farce. The Negroes
are at the mercy of a few designing men, and the coun¬
try is the sufferer, for the effect of the ballot is felt to
the utmost extremity of the body politic, it touches
every industry and trade, it accelerates or retards the
wheels of commerce and fills the avenues of trade with
life and general activity, such as is found in no other
country.
We have here 4,923,451 persons who are unable to
read the bible or ballot, and a man who can neither
read the bible for instruction, nor his ballot so that he
may know for whom he is voting, is at the mercy of
his fellow-men, and is not competent to discharge the
duty that he owes to his country.
The time allotted will prevent me from entering in¬
to the details of the various Congressional Districts and
examining the methods by which the people are de-
nied their just rights in the body politic.
Two Years a Representative. 189
The relation of the Negro in the politics in the country
may be seen by the following from the census of 1880:
Total number of white persons twenty-
one years and upward 21,984,202
Total number of white persons twenty-
one years and upward unable to write.. 56,463
Percentage whites twenty-one and up¬
ward unable to write 9.4
Total males twenty-one years and up¬
ward, estimated 11,343,005
Total number males twenty-one and un-
ward unable to write 886,656
Percentage male twenty-one and up¬
ward unable to write 7.8
Total number of females twenty-one
and upward, estimated 10,641,197
Total number females twenty-one years
and upward cannot write 1,169,804
Percentage females twenty-one and up¬
ward cannot write 11.0
Total number colored persons twenty-
one years and upward 2,937,235
Total twenty-one years cannot write 2,147,900
Percentage 73.1
Total males enumerated 1,488,344
Total unable to write 1,022,151
Percentage 68.7
Colored females twenty-one years and
upward 1,349,891
Total enumerated unable to write 1,125,749
Percentage 77.6
Thus you see, that in the government of general
government we ought to have more than two congress-
190
Poor Ben.
men. "VVe now only have the Hon. J. E. O'Hara, frora
North Carolina, and gallant Capt. Robert Small, of
South Carolina. Think of it! Only two when we ought,
at the least calculation have ten men at the seat of
government to represent the cause of the laborers of
the South and the interest of human liberty!
One of the grandest men of the century is the illus¬
trious citizen, the prince of orators, Frederick Doug¬
las, the first man of our race to receive an appoint¬
ment that was one of honor, trust and emolument,,
and in its very nature material, and international
in its execution. He has long represented our
longoppressed and suffering people. When there
was no arm to save, when there was no heart to pity,
when there was no eye to see our wrong, and when w©
were voiceless in the councils of the Nation, he was our
clansman—the voice of one crying in the wilderness
Prepare ye the way for my people! The hour of do-,
liverance has come, and we all rejoice in his light, as a.
true and tried leader.
Gentlemen, while we rejoice to-night over the vie-*
tories of the moral heroes in the past, over the rac&
prejudice of a century, we must not forget what it has
cost in blood and treasure, what is the price of this ban-*
quet, no one can tell; who can estimate what has been
paid, and what yet remains to be paid, for the hospi»
tality of this David Jenkins Club.
Who can bring the labor of ,my dead mother, who,,
in other days, furnished me bread, sometimes com
bread, that it might be possible for me to eat at this
banquet, where tl^e choice viands of the season are
waiting for us?
Two Years a Representative.
191
What care was exercised by her to impress on my
mind a love of race, and my duty to man. I wish I
■could have her here to join with me.
Let us thank God for kind mothers, who were de¬
voted to the interest of the race, and gave us our early
lessons of manhood.
We should not forget the disinterested labors of the
fathers of the past, men, who. without a hope of re¬
ward, were true to all the interest of the race, and went
forth weeping, bearing precious seed; men who sowed
in tears, that we might rejoice in the fruition of the
hope of the race. We have the man who made the
first run in this State for the Legislature, James Poin-
dexter, the pioneer in all efforts to elevate man, and to
secure equality for all men. He has been permitted
to live to see the day of redemption, and to-night he
joins with us in our rejoicing, and is now willing to
pass the banner of liberty into the hands of the young
men who are to assist in governing this, the greatest
nation of the earth, and say to them: "Young men,
this old banner has never trailed in the dust, nor has i'o
•ever protected a traitor to the race nor to the old flag/'
Gentlemen, let us be united in the great work of race
elevation. Let each member of this organization be a
moral, intellectual and political force in his communi¬
ty. We must dedicate ourselves to the patriotic duty
'■of erecting a monument to the living. We must use
the powers of race elevation; we must have education
for the head, love for our hearts, and money for our
pockets. God bless the David Jenkins Club, of Colum¬
bus, Ohio.
Hon. Jere A. Brown, the member from Cleveland,
is himself a horny-handed son of toil, and knew where-
192
Poor Ben.
of he affirmed when he talked about "Our Relations
to Labor." While a strong defender of the right of the
labor cause, and of labor organizations, he is conserva-
tive and sensible, and his recommendations, delivered
with a fervid eloquence, were received with enthusi¬
asm by the members and guests.
Mr H. C. Smith, of Cleveland, editor of the Clever
land Gazette, issued in the interest of the colored race>
made a strong speech about the "Press," in which he
showed the importance of that factor of civilization,
and promised the support of his paper to everything
having in view the betterment of the colored man.
Mr. G. A. Weaver as the best looking man present,
responded to the sentiment, "The ladies." Had any
of the fair sex been present they must have been high¬
ly pleased with the eloquent praises given them by the
young orator, and even the fifty-three men who lis¬
tened to him were compelled to give noisy evidence
of the coincidence of their views with his.
Mr. C. L. Maxwell ended the toasting by respond¬
ing to a call from the master of ceremonies to tell about
•'The David Jenkins Club." His speech was eloquent
and loudly applauded.
General J. S. Robinson, Adjutant General Axline,
Rev. Jas. Poindexter and State Treasurer J. C. Brown
were called upon, and spoke in glowing terms of the
Negro's past and future.
Between toasts splendid music was furnished bj'tho
Clipper Quartette, composed of Messrs. John Brown,
Ben. F. Payne, George Redd and Walter Spotswood,
After their first song they were encored three times,
on one occasion giving a song in which Mr. Redd was
Two Years a Representative.
193
given a chance to show his qualities as a warbler. It
was pronounced as fine as any professional's warbling.
Mr. Dan F. Smith, of the Exchange Hotel clerical force,
sang the bass solo.
The banquet was in every respect a success, and re¬
flected great credit upon the management.
Chapter
The A. M. E. Church.
fOOR BEN became a member of the General Con-
ferenceof the A.M.E. Church in 1872 at Nashville,
Tenn., and served it in the position of assistant secre¬
tary. He was elected secretarv-in-chief of the General
Conference of 1876, which convened at Atlanta, Ga.
In 1880, the General Conference met at St. Louis, Mo.,
and he was elected to serve a second term.
Of this gathering of noble men and christians,
the uG'obe Demo, r,it,y which was the only city'pa¬
per that gave its readers full and copious reports of the
proceedings of the Conference, paid it this high coi. -
pliment:
" During tlie past two weeks, the Quad;ennial Conference i, I 3
African Methodist Episcopal Church, has been in session, and tlie
occurrence is one which deserves more than a passing notice. Our
readers are able to judge for themselves of the high personal char¬
acter, the religious activity, and the genial intelligence which have
marked the conduct of the members and the proceedings of the
Conference. But, to our mind, the most remarkable part of it is
not that the meeting should be a body of so much worth, but that
there should be such a thing as a Conference of the African Meth¬
odist Episcopal Church.
During the session, the delegates have been noticed on the streets
and on 'Change, anil elsewhere, and their appearance has created
an universally favorable impression. Their grave, wise, kindly,
thoughtful faces, dignified bearing, courteous manners, and espe-
(194)
The A. 31. E. Church.
195
cially something in the rich deep tones of voice, so common, even
among the lowliest of the African race, have done much to dissi¬
pate old prejudices, and to give a better and juster idea of the Ne¬
groes in this country. Seeing them carrying on important delib¬
erations, handling immense responsibilities, ecclesiastical, pecuni¬
ary and social, managing great trusts, and all with order and suc¬
cess, it is impossible not to admit that the future of the African
race, in this country, far from being a danger or a menace, is some¬
thing which needs only time and opportunity to convert it into a
source of national strength."
And yet it has only been twenty years since the
time, when in St. Louis, slavery was looked upon as
the natural condition of this race. Only forty }Tears
since the General Conference of the Methodist Episco¬
pal Church, held in Cincinnati, formaly rebuked two
ministers for preaching against slavery. Twenty years
ago, the bishops and the delegates who are now wel¬
comed in St. Louis, as pillars of a free church, would
have been put under surveillance as "free niggers," and
anything like a meeting of such a dangerous class
would have been impossible. The world has moved
somewhat in twenty years, and in that time something
has been done for humanity and freedom, and for the
equal rights of man. Though we have made it an in¬
flexible rule never to mix politics with our religiony
it is very hard to resist the impulse now, to say a few
plain words against that slaveholding, persecuting
spirit of Democracy, which has not moved quite as
fast as the world has in the last twenty years, and
which, if it had its way to-day, would make things live¬
ly for any conference of the A. M. E. Church it might
come across.
The General Conference of 1880 elected Poor Ben to
the office of financial secretary. At this time he had
charge of the St. Paul Church at Columbus, 0. The
196
Poor Ben.
"Sunday Capitol" of that city made this comment on
his election:
" Rev. has been for the last three years the popular and
well known pastor of the St. Paul A. M. E. Church, located on
Long St., and now his labors come to a close, and he takes his de¬
parture to enter upon a new work. At the last General Confer¬
ence of the A. M. E. Church, held at St. Louis, Mo., —was
honored by being elected financial secretary, an office second only
in importance to that of a bishop. His bond is $10,000, which
shows the magnitude of the position. His bond is signed by
some of the leading white men of Columbus, an emphatic compli¬
ment to the reverened gentleman.
He goes to Nashville, Tenn., where his general office is located;
but he will do considerable traveling. He has just returned from
Washington, D. C., where he went to qualify for his new position.
Coincidently, it is said, that made his trial sermon on
April 9, 1865, the day of Lee's surrender. Also, just fifteen years
ago, he was licened to preach and ordained in the very church at
Washington, where, the other day, he was inducted into the office
of grand secretary.
The well wishes of many friends follow into his new field
of labor."
Poor Ben's first term of office in this capacity ex¬
pired in April, 1884, and at the General Conference of
the year which convened at Baltimore, Md., he was re¬
elected by an almost unanimous vote. His financial
summary for the four years being $169,389.75, and the
percentages retained by the several conferences amount¬
ing to $54,500.51, he having traveled during that time
over 51,000 miles.
Poor Ben was elected Bishop of the A. M. E. Church,
May 19th, 1888, and ordained May 24th at »the Quad¬
rennial Conference of the Church which convened at
Indianapolis, Indiana.
He was appointed to the Seventh Episcopal District,
composed of the States of South Carolina and Florida.
The A. If. E. Church.
197
He made his first visit to this district, July, 1888, and
Bince his episcopal residence in South Carolina, he has
done much toward building up Allen University, and
has increased the number of students to three hundred
and ninety. Through his efforts a new chapel has
been built and paid for.
The following statement will show the financial
progress made during the first two years of Poor Ben's
administration:
Increase in Dollar Money.
Columbia, in two years, has increased $2,646.37
S. Carolina, " " " $1,244.06
Florida, " " " $1,227.45
E. " " " " $3,073.58
Total, $8,191.46. "
Dollar Money Table op Yearly Increase.
1880.
1890.
Columbia,
$3,594.15
$4,301.00
South Carolina,
$2,813.00
$4,127.00
Florida,
$1,207.95
$1,870.00
East Florida,
$2,423.25
$4,463.85
Totals,
$10,038,35
$14,791.85.
$10,038.35.
Increase,
$4,753.50.
For tlie support of the educational department of
the Church, Poor Ben has been laboring earnestly and
"with great success financially for the last two years in
the district over which he presides. The following
statement will show the large sums collected at the va¬
rious annual conferences of the States of South Caro¬
lina and Florida: The Florida conference has given
for education alone, the sum of $1,793.00, the East
198
Poor Ben.
Florida conference, $2,504.47, making a sum of
47 given by the State of Florida, The Columbia,. &
Carolina, conference has given $3,378.00 for Allen Uni¬
versity; the South Carolina conference has given
$2,040.50. Both conferences have given for the ediv-
cation of the race $9,715.98.
During the past few years of episcopal duties, Poot
Ben has not only attended the conferences of his dis¬
trict, but has shown by his labors that he is intensely
interested in the educational work of the church arul
largely instrumental in aiding in founding and en¬
dowing various schools, and in selecting efficient teach¬
ers for both the colleges and public schools of the South,
Although his term of episcopal service has been very
short, yet he has traveled extensively, met in all ths
sessions of his district conferences, preached many
sermons, ordained eighty-five deacons and eighty-fou^
elders; besides rendering services on various special
occasions. He is an indefatigable worker in churchy
school and state, as well as society; and has already
acquired a national reputation in the bishopries
poor Ben's Home.
nwi
Chapter
His Home.
|S a husband and father, Poor Ben claims a notice
laave been chronicled, and we have followed him
through the many vicissitudes of nearly fifty years, and
now view him as a man of family, of varied intelli_
gence, of religious and political notoriety, occupying
positions of highest note and trust. Now as the mid¬
day of life is verging into the evening, we behold him
Surrounded by warm friends, who stretch forth their
liands in friendly greetings, from every division of this
our glorious Union.
The image of his childhood home must still be un¬
barred in memory, and ever dear to him; yet, now,he
lias but to look about him and see a still dearer home
-—a home blest with the presence of an accomplished
\\ife and mother, and dutiful children. A home so
iitted that the lives of his dear ones are brighter and
better than those of his parents and their little ones
Were.
Had his whole life-work been solely the establishment
of this kingdom, this grandest of all institutions, a per¬
fect home, Poor Ben Avould have accomplished a grand
Some of the incidents of his life
(199)
200
Poor Ben.
work, and been worthy of the appellations husband
and father in their fullest sense.
Aided by his noble wife, who possesses such a con¬
stellation of virtues, he ha^ fitted up and ruled his
kingdom with seven loving children as subjects. Chil¬
dren who, in after years, when father's 'and mother's
eyes are to be looked into no more, when their voices
may not be heard, nor their touches felt, will then be
thankful that they made much of the bountiful gifts
of good parents.
Only in coming years can they rightly "read the
expressible love in their mother's eyes, construe the
gentleness lavished in her touch, the unbounded good
in her firmly administered punishments, and sound
the unfathomable gulf of generosity, from which fath¬
er bestowed all his favors for the cultivation of their
talents and virtures.
When they see their dear monuments of decay,
touched by the finger of their Builder, crumble and
fall, and the long entombed spirits rise through the
immensity of space, it is then that the child drinks
with a chilling sadness the real essence of human and
paternal love.
The residence of Poor Ben is a spacious and lovely
one, located at Wilberforce, Ohio, three miles from the
city of Xenia. There is an air of peace and rest to be
inhaled as one approaches the long and wide gravel
drive leading to the entrance of this quiet country seat
of Poor Ben's, this Tawawa Chimney Corner.
The sharp, angular character of the architecture of
the building is softened and beautified by the mass of
forest trees and evergreen foliage in which it seems to
repose.
His Home.
201
It is indeed a picturesque and home-like place, with
its broad varandas, wide door-ways and substantially
shuttered windows, without any of the varied and
exciting colorings of our most recent villas. On
entering, you find long comfortable halls and recesses,
roomy parlors finely furnished, while beaming from
every wall, are the many portraits of prominent men
and women of our race. Passing on further, you will
find yourself in the cheerful and spacious dining-room,
within the walls of which, tri-daily may be heard that
" Over powering knell,
That tocsin of the soul—
The dinner bell."
To the rear of this is the well stocked and kept kitchen,
and adjoining store and wash rooms.
The rear of the lots contains the stable, cowsheds,
and the hennery; animated respectively by Annie and
her colt, old Sallie and her rollicking calf, and little
Alphonso's and Flossie's host of pet chickens.
As you return and pass up the broad stairway, and
through the upper halls, you have on either side large
airy chambers, familiarly known by their numbers.
On this floor are the sleeping appartments of the fami¬
ly, the spare rooms for the frequent guests of Poor
Ben, his office and his library.
His library requires two rooms in which to be
shelved. Every side is lined with books of all de¬
scriptions; ancient and modern, historic and religious;
works of art and science. Nor are these works all
culled from the white man's brains,now written by
his pen, but hundreds of volumes of Negro literature
fill two large book cases, and compare favorably with
202
Poor Ben.
the genius and talent of the volumes penned by hands
of a fairer hue.
As one passes from the larger library, where the aix-
seems perfumed with an A. M. E. fragrance, into the
smaller room at the left of a small recess, he is struck
most sensibly with the intense odor; for now on©
breathes the atmosphere of a purely African Metho¬
dist Episcopac}'. Like an inhalation of ether, it per¬
vades the whole system. First a musty swiff, then a
fresh sup, then a commingling, and gradually one be¬
comes so intoxicated with the spirit of African Meth¬
odism, that he exclaims, "If I were not an E. I would
be an A. M. E."
The President, W. J. Simmons, D. D., of the State
University of Kentucky, on a visit to Poor Ben's home,,
called it the "Mecca of African Methodism." No
fitter appellation could adorn its arched gateway.
You have followed the writer's pen as it has pointed
out to you a traveler, and the many road-side pictures,,
and more remote scenes along the highway of this
beings life, whose fall name you shall soon learn.
His whole life shows, incontestibly, what a poor
creature, man, would be, however highly polished he
may become, if he be destitute of the knowledge and
experience of those comforts which true religion yields.
It teaches what egregious fools men are, who squander
a life time in worldy pleasure; seeing only the gay
exterior, dazzled by its glare, without glancing inward¬
ly and caring for the soul.
The man or woman who leads a godly life cannot
utterly fail to gain the success that must belong to the
servant of Christ; and such can mark the contrast be-
His Home.
203
'tween tlie anticipations of the reward of the soldiers
of Jesus, and those of the wornout servants of sin.
We have not tried to wrap our subject up in lan¬
guage of profound research, nor in writing have we
laeld to the unvarying gravity and dignity of an histori¬
an ; but have indulged in familiar anecdotes, and mixed
Poor Ben's very self freely with his personal affairs,
and then added to the mixture of character and events
the public affairs which his life commemorates.
With the double aim in view, first, of presenting
him in pleasing simple story form to be read by the
old, but more especially by the young; and second, of
furnishing the future historian of the great and good
pioneer men of our race a valuable storehouse replete
with names, dates and events as well as other needed
material, the writer hopes, in a measure, to have suc¬
ceeded.
Poor Ben, throughout the varied occupations of his
boy-hood days, evinced the same traits that now shine
forth in the spring of man-hood.
The fortitude and courage displayed under his several
misfortunes still holds its place in his nature as he
nerves the summit of life's hill. His power of learn¬
ing and teaching, preaching*and organizing are ever
ready and asserting themselves. His love of race,
Church and benevolence still swells his soul to over¬
flowing.
At the dawn of man-hood, Poor Ben began taking
active part in the political campaigns of that day.
Although he was not then seeking nor holding any
public office, he was an open and ardent advocate of the
Republican party, the Union, of peace and the recon¬
ciliation of the two elements, black and white. He
204
Poor Ben.
has labored faithfully, and at all times in the field,
except when his Church and official engagements
prevented.
' Few men of any nationality in his state have at¬
tained a better standing politically; although it is un¬
doubtedly true that church duties, to which he owes
much, have divided his attention, and detracted from
the exercise of his full powers and abilities in the
strict line of politics. Yet public opinion still accred¬
its him with the rank of an able politician.
His oratory is of that logical, earnest and persuasive
kind, mixed with anecdote, satire and keen wit, which
render a speaker popular on the stump, before the
macs of people, and effective in legislative halls.
Poor Een has been a beneficial worker in the cam¬
paigns of 1876, 1880,1884, besides each Ohio campaign
dating from 1872 to the present.
Notwithstanding his statesman-like turn of mind,
he is never found making his religious calling and
church offices subordinate to State or national inter¬
ests, but paramount to all else. If he stumped during
the week, Le preached more eloquently on the Sabbath.
He has been, and still is an ardent laborer for com¬
mon schools, and benevolent orders; a friend of educa¬
tion in all its branches, and few men are more fully
trusted and highly esteemed in such interests in the
community where he resides, and by his race through¬
out the Union.
Much more might be written in his praise, but such
is his modesty that we forbear, lest we might inflict a
wound where we simply aim to do justice.
The duties of the high and responsible position of
financial secretary of the African Methodist Episcopal
His Home.
205
denomination of America lie eve^ discharged with the
modesty and address which has characterized him in
all his official and professional callings, together with
his various labors for the up-building and aggrandize¬
ment of his race.
To all who know Poor Ben personally, or have
learned of his true character through these pages, it is
evident that his works will be a monument of which
his native state, Pensylvania, as well as Ohio, and the
entire United States, but more especially the A. M E.
Church may well have cause to be proud.
AVe have given you, reader, all we could glean of
the life work and surroundings of Poor Ben during
the eventful epochs in which he has annually peeped
over the shoulders of time, and caught sight of the
back of fifty one years, as they fled in terror from the
unrolled scroll of futurity.
It seems but a short time since we presented you
a tiny subject, thg infant little Bennie, whose existence
began in the humble cot, near the banks of Dunlap
creek, Brownsville,Pa. Now you recognize him in the
broad shouldered man, six feet in height, remarkably
well proportioned, and gracefully formed. His features
of boy-hood days remained but little changed, and un¬
hidden by a beard. His temperament active, his
muscles of purest steel, his brain large, his forehead
high, his eyes bright, cheerful and full of genial, soul¬
ful friendship, his mind full of quick apprehension,
and his will strong, followed instantly by his con¬
victions. His imagination active and creative, and
by a mysterious combining of all these faculties, pro¬
pensities and acquirements, with divine assistance,
206
Poor Ben.
Poor Ben has been lifted above the ordinary level of
life among us as a race.
In the days of genius, when poets were born, not
made like Caedmon, who a mere cow-boy, void of any
form of education was aroused from sleep to compose
verses on the creation, did so in admirable versifica¬
tion. Men may possibly have been " born not made,"
but in this day the true, noble man must not only be
bom, but he must afterward be made. Made like our
subject by force of adverse circumstances, and by an
imperative surmounting of every barrier, be made.
When in future years, family and friends mourn the
absence of Poor Ben's sustaining and comforting pres¬
ence, may his spirit still linger over the Church to
which he faithfully administered, over the campaign
fields and party he defended. May his name be en¬
rolled on the heart register of his race in this Republic,
and his illustrious deeds become a part of our race
glories, to be cherished and perpetuated.
In every sphere, in every transmutation, from the
cradle to the grave may his character be as free from
reproach as the world now knows it to be, glowing
with all th£ active virtues of a noble manhood.
You have learned the prelude of a life whose author
is God. On earth we are permitted to hear the only
concordant and discordant chords of the prelude to that
wonderful master-piece, man. In heaven it shall be
ours to enjoy the grand harmonic theme of each life.
Indulgent reader, Poor Ben shall hereafter be known
to you by the more familiar and dignified name,
which his rank and age merit: Hon. and Rt. Rev. Benj a-
min W. Arnett, D. D., Bishop of the A. M. E. Church.
Under these titles, thousands greet him as an honored
His Home.
207
ex-member of the Ohio Legisture, bishop and friend.
Nearly a half million of Church menbers grasp his hand
in fellowship, as a member of their church and ministe¬
rial fraternity, and as their ex-financial secretary, while
nearly every benevolent order recognizes a brother in
name.
Are you of humble birth, ignorant and obscure?
"Go thou and do likewise I"
Q?apter $0,
Practical Lessons.
"Honor and shame from no condition rise;
Act well your part; there, all the honor lies."
HEN Demosthenes was asked what was the first
part of an orator, what the second and what the
third, he answered, "Action." This may he said of a
well spent life. Its every part is God-like action.
By true and noble action is achieved all that we call
fame and success. Each being, who has reached the
years of accountability, first, by thought and contem¬
plation, generates within self that which is good or ill;
then, by action,propagates it; and thus strengthens the
good or bad faculties of mind, body and soul. Thesfe
actions, good or bad, may not, to the outer world, give a
just estimate of the noble or ignoble qualities of the
being; but they must clothe him with an immortal
mantle, intensely loathsome, or infinitely glorious.
Perhaps we may find a man in whom the principle
of honor is overstrained; too scrupulous in the eyes of
the majority. Honorable to such a degree that the
possession of the trait is a loss to him financially.
There are profits to be made with another's means that
will in no way effect the capitalist's interests, whose
(208)
Practical Lessons.
209
Wealth lie handles. Shall he speculate and at the stip¬
ulated time turn over the amount and profits which
Iris employer expects, and receive the praise, "well
done," and at the same time shake down into his deep
pocket the surplus of gain, which may, questionably,
be called his own? Says one, yes; there is no dishonor
in appropriating another's capital to your own use
With the intention of returning it. Another says, the
dishonor lies in appropriation without consent. Here
are examples of what the majority would call honor
in the one; overstrained honor in the other. In almost
^very application of the latter type, its consequences
are good. It inculcates a chivalrous, noble feeling that
fenders its possessor incapable of a mean, unworthy
action. Years of such life will impart strength to and
confirm the fact in man, that all honor he has acquired
lias been useful to him in every action.
The first step is the detection of the need of a good
character, which is the essential foundation of every
business transaction with our fellowmen, and which
•aids in the unraveling of that tangled skein which
makes up human motives, and by which mortality is
ioaost justly judged.
To have in early life that inborn sense of high
iionor, and to cultivate and augment it, while climb¬
ing up the steep ascent to manhood, and then like a
Head of ermine, securely protect and retain it in that
dangerous descent from manhood's prime to the mar¬
ble vault that awaits it at the base of life's hill, is a
Virtue so seldom found in man or woman that, when
found, makes the being a rare variety, and a sort of
deity among his tribe. Such honor as this is not a nec¬
essary conjunction with praise. The few of this type
210
Poor Ben.
that the world has produced, may have passed away
without being accredited with but little of their share
of praise, and sleep without a slab to mark their dust.
One Alexander lives while thousands are forgotten.
Notwithstanding true honor may not receive its full
share of merit, it is worth more to possess it than it
costs to get it.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and before honor is humility.
Along the high way of life each one must encounter
that which is in the way to meet him. He is a fool
who stands still, and allows life to flow past him like
a panorama; he is a greater one, who, minus honor
and respect for his Creator, seizes life's machinery,
checks its proper action, and tries to change its
pictures for others better suited to his depraved, dis¬
honored propensities. He can only distort and injure;
yes, ruin them. When the destruction is complete,
he must only look back upon awful shadows of scen¬
ery in ruins, the work of a dishonorable, Godless life.
He must plod along and let remorse teach him that it
is better to accept nature as it is, have confidence in
God, and in his own powers as the gift of God; better
to trust in work than in money. He learns that to
trust in work is to trust in strength—strength of body
—strength of mind—strength of soul—self existent,
original strength, which is God alone.
Man only begins to be strong when he has learned
that separated from the essential life, which is God, he
is weakness itself. Weakness is inability to do, to have,
to be; it is incapable of action, being or state. In
God alone he lives. Man is strength, if he be one
with his origin—God.
Practical Lessons.
211
The strong man—strong in honor, strong in action,
strong in faith in God,—is happy and gloriously hope¬
ful as he see his sun going down behind the hill he is
ascending toward the eastern sky of life; and, as lie
returns through old age to the second childhood, goes
to meet the rising sun, the new day, the better life,
which shall not be taken awTay.
Honorable, God-like action, leads a man from a lower
to a higher condition in life—out of its earthy, away
from its animal, mineral matter, into its air. Honor
and faith teach him to live above the baser elements.
Action and hope carry him from a plane of noble ex¬
istence to a higher, while humanity and charity, per¬
suade him to reach down a helping hand and draw up
the strugling ones from the lower world. To know
God as the beginning and the end, to recognize Him
in all things and conditions of existence—is life. To
do God's will in anything that reveals itself to us as
duty, whether it be simple or mighty, is faith.
The being who has life and faith, however adverse
his circumstances may be, need not be hungry long,
nor have an empty pocket all his days.
Willingness and earnestness in labor.—Willingness
and earnestness in labor is a trait which we see
most vividly portrayed in the foreign element,
with which our country is flooded. They are more
especially characteristic of the German and Scandina¬
vian, than of the French and Italian. There is no
class of labor in which these people will not engage.
Even the women and children go to work with a joy¬
ous good will, that is seldom displayed by the colored
people.
212
Poor Ben.
I believe that it was Twickenham's great poet, that
said, "Get place and wealth if possible with grace; if
not, by any means get wealth and place." This seems
to be the theory adopted by the foreigner, the moment
he steps on the shores of our Republic. The black
American ought then to drink deep of the spirit that
fills his native air, and " get wealth and place by means
of grace/' as readily as the European, and Asiastic*
The chief reason of our despicability is not our igno*
ranee nor color alone, but our poverty. Every rich
black man stands shoulder to shoulder with his white
brother of equal wealth and ignorance. Every willing,
earnest and respectable black laborer, ranks as high as
his white co-laborer in the same vocation, with equal
bulk of capital. The one is as highly esteemed by the
wealthy class as the other. Whenever a colored citizen
shows his equality or superiority in every feature of
mind over a white citizen, then he becomes a co-laborer
with or ruler over that white citizen, and the whit©
man's views become coalescent with or subservient to
those of the black brother. The truthfulness of this
has been proven in many instances, during the past two
decades. Now if this be true of individuals, it must
be true of us as a distinct branch of humanity. If we,
by the acquirement of morality, wealth and education,
ghow our heretofore, slavery-dwarfed brains to be equal,
to those who, for hundreds of years, have been accum¬
ulating brain capital, then we may pull equally with
them in harness, and accomplish the great work of
life. If the whites continue in the advance, and we
remain as we are, we must ever expect to be poor, de¬
pendent, despised; mere dust to be scraped from the
heel, and discarded at the entrance of the door to 'opu-
Practical Lessons.
213
lence and ease. But if we by rapid strides, the use of
ready hands and willing minds, work earnestly at any
honorable paying employment, studying and praying
before and after the heaviest work is done, we shall in
the next two decades, take the reins; and seated in
God's great revolutionary wagon, drive on until we
have been recompensed for the sweat and blood of our
forefathers. Not returning evil for evil, we would
carry a whip of kindness and mercy, and as we drive
from Egypt to Canaan, seek shady roads and cooling
streams for all. In such a revolution will be shown
the hand of Justice rewarding the transgressors of
former days.
Longfellow's "Retribution" comes to mind,and this
beautiful passage seems applicable:
"Though the mills of God grind slowly,
Yet they grind exceeding stnall;
Though with patience, He stands waiting,
"With exactness, He grinds all."
Ambition, worthy and unworthy.—However high a
point of excellence we may attain, however greatly es¬
teemed by the world we may become, we must bear in
mind that there have been, and ever will be, others
equally or more excellent and esteemable.
"Hills peep o'er hills and alps on alps arise." An¬
cient, mediaeval and modern history present striking
examples of unworthy ambition, and its disastrous
consequences. Such was the curse of Caligula and
Nero. Inhuman sports, tyranny and extortion were
the food of their ambition, which reached a height so
great that they declared themselves gods; then as sud-
enly fell from that greatness to the level of the brute
creation, and died at the hands of their slaves.
214
Poor Ben.
Cardinal Wolsey's ambition led him to aspire to the
papal chair, a worthy ambition, perhaps, had it not
caused him to swerve from right and commit an act
so base to please his king that the unworthy deed in¬
stead of aiding, thwarted him; and when unworthy
ambition had blighted his life, dying remorse lead him
to exclaim, "Had I bnt served my God with half the
zeal I served my king, in this hour, He would not
have forsaken me."
So every desire which tends alone to selfish ends is
sooner or later rewarded or foiled in its execution.
That ambition which sacrifices the rights of family,
neighbor and fellow-citizen, for the sake of reaching
its goal, is unworthy; and he who possesses it, must
ignobly fail in accomplishing his end. Rockets like
this sort of ambition ascends; stick-like, descends.
Again this tendency to rise displays itself in another
way. Many }roung persons who feel a spirit to be and
to do,yet say. "Oh well! as each day comes and goes, I
find no time or means for improvement and elevation
above my present situation." Enviously they sit and
watch the progress of others, and make no attempt to
rise. Later in life another fit of jealous ambition
seizes them; they madly thump their cobwebbed
brain for business skill to come; for scientific knowl¬
edge to aid them; for even dear old mother wit; then
the purse of gold, but not one of these wond'Tful as¬
sistants is at home to answer the call. So the door
remains locked to the end of time. Debarred from the
circles of intelligence, wit and wealth, such beings
turn their faces fateward, and find themselves—living,
dead men.
Practical Lessons.
215
Still another sort of unworthy ambition exists, and
is the ruling passion of the largest class of ambitious
people. It is an ardent, egotistic thirst for praise and
honor. It so often debases the possessor that he will
creep and cringe in order to soar in the future, he will
be lead by it to commit evil deeds under the appear¬
ance of principle. This ambitious passion is the most
inflexible that lurks in the human breast.
That ambition only, is worthy, which seeks the
good of others as well as that of its possessor. It is
that trait wrhich the apostle urged the Roman christ¬
ian to cultivate—an ambition that "condescends to
men of low estate;" an ambition that builds a bridge
over that great chasms which so widely separates the
rich and poor, the learned and ignorant, the black and
white. Thatambition only is worthy and good which
teaches" mortality to prepare for immortality; teaches
the human to cultivate the divine; teaches all that
existence here is only a preparatory step toward life
eternal.
Success.—Man esteems a fellowman who is success¬
ful in an honest attempt; woman loves him; the
world worships his name and lauds his successful
achievements; God aids him in every good effort of
self and race aggrandisement. Such a man is called
smart, shrewd, and often lucky. The word luck in its
general meaning, however, has little to do with a suc¬
cessful life. A man may seem to be lucky; but, when
we so call him, we only mean that he possesses those
faculties and characteristics, which rightly employed,
almost invariably lead him to, success.
Pages might be filled with instances of the charac¬
ters of those who spring at rare opportunities for
216
Poor Ben.
securing wealth, or making a fortune and gaining
fame in any enterprise. When such cases are met
with, the cry comes, "Oh, he has had a streak of luck!
Good luck runs in that family's blood!" These in¬
stances-do smack strongly of luck; but, if it be chance
or good luck, be assured that the man himself possessed
prior to his streak of luck great qualifications for the
business in which he was so successfully engaged. He
accepted an offer under no more favorable circum¬
stances than any other being has offered him, at least
once during his life time. But by ambitious effort,
earnestness in scheme, willingness in labor, or by a sort
of a go-a-head-ative-stick-to-a-tiveness, he masters the
plan of work before him, and becomes what the world
proclaims him—a successful man.
We admit that while the times and peculiar sur¬
roundings amidst which a man moves, have much to
do with his achievements; still he must have the
means of prosperity within himself, or he will never
be permanently successful. A man's work is born
with him.
The name that ranks first with the gold kings, to¬
day, once said that he didn't want an unlucky man to
come near him. He may have been superstitious, and
to his avaricious soul an unfortunate creature may
have seemed like a frightful thief of his fortunes. It
is not well to encourage a superstitious idea; yet no
one should make a partner of a systematically unlucky
person. There is no chance work in success or failure.
The unsuccessful man is wanting in his make-up.
He lacks perception or caution, discernment or hon¬
esty; as a business man he is sadly deficient. The
time spent by the successful partner in correcting the
Practical Lessons.
217
faults, preventing the poor investments of his unqual¬
ified colleague, dwarfs his own facilities for success,
and finally is ruinous to their enterprise. Then, the
cry of the superstitious is, " I told you A would fail if he
formed such a partnership; for B is an unlucky man."
Luck has little to do—at least it never brings suc¬
cess. On the contrary, success brings luck. For suc¬
cess is man's while he yet lolls along on all fours, with
nose to the ground in hope of finding a bit of refuse meat
luckier curs have passed. When found, it strengthens
his better endeavor. No kind hand of luck then
throws him even a dry bone. But, when by dint of
perseverance and indefatigable fixity of purpose, he
finds that which luck refused to give him, and in time
becomes successful and wealthy. Then it is that luck
meets him on the road, pauses in his vaunting pride
to fawn upon the "lucky dog," to extol him on the
success and power so rapidly acquired, to shower him
with the choice bits from the best game, to give him
orders for quarters in the most prominent oxtails of
political preferment, to introduce him favorably to the
"bulls and bearsfinally to kill the fatted calf and
make the "lucky dog" a permanent guest at luck's
mansion.
The man who, like the subject, rises above ignorance
and other adverse circumstances through his own en¬
deavors, thanks kind Providence for his failures in
earlier life. His reduction to abject poverty was his
most potent incentive. Driven by necessity, he be¬
came successful.
But for the evils of poverty and other misfortunes,
scores of the most eminent men of the Nation, whose
names and deeds are burned into the tablets of every
21S
Poor Ecn.
memory, would now be living lives of obscurity, with¬
out name, honor or wealth.
The past history of departed worth presents no
more striking illustration of unlimited success in the
life of a man than that of Benjamin Franklin's rise
from small and low beginnings to such high rank and
noted consideration. Yet, amid all the honor, fame
and riches with which his success had crowned him,
he retained that christian-like humility which teaches
man not to love fortune alone, for it soon palls, nor
that vain glory which only unfits him for the part
assigned him.
Franklin proved his greatest success in the acknowl¬
edgement of his gratefulness to God for all the ills and
fortunes of life, and for victory over death.
Though nearly a century has rolled above his ashes,
yet he lives to-day a monument of prosperity. The
words Benjamin Franklin and success are synony¬
mous. This prophetic ephitaph written by him has
become a revelation:
"THE BODY
OF
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,
PRINTER.
Like the cover of an old book,
Its contents torn out,
And stripped of its lettering and gilding,
Lies here, food for worms."
The ultimate destiny of the subject herein presented,
cannot but be just such an example of sliccess to the
Practical Lessons.
219
colored American as Franklin was to the white Amer¬
ican of former days.
A deep vein of genuine piety and gratefulness to
his Counselor and Guide, pervades the words, actions
and very life of Poor Ben.
Few public speakers have had more influence in
politics and religion than he. Ity close study and
deep reflection, he has developed an extraordinary
force of intellectual power. He is concise without be¬
ing abrupt, and, though not always eloquent, never
montonous, for he appeals more to the understanding
and common sense than to the imagination and fancy
of those whom he addresses.
We have traced his eventful life from its beginning
through its many vicissitudes to the present. In placing
a sketch of this man's life into the hands of the intel¬
ligent classes, whether black or white, native or foreign,
we place before you a bold refutation of the many
misrepresentations which have been hurled against us
as a race. Those who so dearly love to descant on the
unatural inferiority" of the Negro are either ignorant
of the characteristics of our race, or else too base and
ignoble to acknowledge that truth which has already
been proven, and which is as inevitable as the grave.
The Negro, like all other races, has risen from bar¬
barism. There is naught in race, blood, color or fea¬
tures that imparts susceptibility of improvement to
.one class of people over another. Knowledge is not
innate. The mental faculties, left to themselves from
infancy, remain blank. It is development that makes
the mind of man. He, who thinks that the Negro
labors under some incurable, natural inferiority, is
220
Poor Ben.
more inferior in hip perceptive faculties than the brute
creation that recognizes man as man regardless of his
race or color.