Tazewell County, IL Genealogy Trails
Peter Logan
Submitted by:
James M. Richmond
Source: Taken from the
"Early History of Washington, Ill.", page 106-107
T
he following incident came to Peter Logan, whom I have seen
and
my parents knew well. He was owned by a man in Arkansas, who
gave
him a chance to buy
his own freedom and also that of his sister Charlott and her daughter
Nancy. When on their way north they were captured in
Missouri
and taken back.
Their master said, "They are free and shall be
privileged to go unmolested".
They came and located near Tremont, where he was for many years in the
employ of the Dillons and was known for miles around as Uncle Peter
Logan.
He could neither read nor write, but he could sing.Once at our home he
asked father to read the Bible to him, which he did.
He then sang "Jerusalem My Happy Home" and "The Year of Jubilee Am a
Comin'" in plaintive tone that only the "bond-man" can express.
Charlott's services were in great demand at all home and neighborhood
feasts, for she was an excellent cook.
Nancy was bright in school, and would get on a stump and
preach a sermon to her white schoolmates.
These colored people were honorable and were highly respected
citizens throughout their long lives.
Sanford P. Gorin's brought "Black Jack" with them when they moved here
from Kentucky, where he lived during his lifetime and was laid to rest
in their family lot in the old cemetery in October 1869, aged 52
years. When the slaves were emancipated he refused to leave
the
Gorins. He owned a team, farmed for himself and did some
hauling. He was a sexton of the Christians when they held
services in their brick church. I first learned who he was
when
he drove past "Greenridge" school house with a wagon load of women and
children (Gorins, Burtons, Wells, Eccles, Cranes, Andrews, and
Danforths) who were going out to their Uncle John and Aunt Ann
McClintock's for a picnic in their grove on a balmy day in
June.
The children of the whole town found a friend in him, and he was
respected by all who knew him. Calvin Dunnington says my father worked
for Sanford P. Gorin when a small boy. Something
went wrong
with the horses. Mr. Gorin came into the barn and
took down
a harness tug and began beating father. Black Jack was there
and
said: "Mars Gorin, you hit that boy one more lick and you will have me
to lick, too". Mr. Gorin began on father, and Jack
did his
part and whipped Mr. Gorin. At Jack's death John Dunnington
bought his old gray horses.
"Principles have achieved more victories than
horsemen and chariots".
BACK