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Created in 1840, Benton State, located in the northwestern element of Indiana, is one of the country’s largest counties

“The fresh Nigger Mountain” Exodus and you will Conflict Told by Regional Historian” (Undated magazine article; has a keen Editor’s Note- “So it papers is understand of the George Pence ahead of a shared meeting of the Bartholomew County Historical Area together with House Literary Bar kept in his award at Donner Park, July 29 1927.”)

“Early Records regarding African Us americans in Bartholomew County, Indiana.” [Any of these materials duplicated getting Bartholomew County EAASHI opportunity data files, June 2014]

Robbins, Coy D. “Black colored Settlements inside the Indiana Associated with new African Methodist Episcopal Church 1840-1845,” since published throughout the African Methodist Episcopal Church Mag, George Hogarth, ed. (Built-up from Moments, Indiana Yearly Conference, African Methodist Church, 1840-1845.)

They boasted of having the most truly effective and you may vastly fertile prairie residential property (VanNatta). Depending on the very early censuses, there had been no African Americans residing Benton County from 1840 thanks to 1870. In the 1880, there have been six some body, all the solitary individuals from Kentucky, Indiana and you can Illinois, whose surnames had been Corington, Curtes, Shelby and you will Wheat. They did as the farm laborers, housekeepers and you will barbers. Audrey Werle’s look for the African Us citizens considering zero analysis to have Benton State, there was no evidence of a rural settlement otherwise people regarding African People in america.

Bibliography

Audrey C. Werle “Research Notes into the Brussels women dating sites Indiana Ebony Records,” Meters 792, William Henry Smith Memorial Library, Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, Indiana

The fresh new 19th century Ebony society inside the Blackford County is restricted. In 1840 the newest federal census shown all in all, thirteen totally free individuals of color residing in the new county delivered as follows: Arizona Township, people dos; Licking Township, society step 1; and you can Harrison Township, people 10. The fresh ten somebody into the Harrison Township lived in an individual family headed because of the Jefferson Hill. Your family provided 2 guys significantly less than 10; 3 men ten to help you 23; step 1 male thirty six-52; 2 ladies ten so you can 23; step one women 24 so you’re able to thirty-five; and you will step 1 female 55 so you can 99.

Inside the 1850 the general black colored people on the state decrease so you’re able to 11 having 7 people staying in Licking Township and you may five individuals residing in Harrison Township. New Jefferson Mountain household is went of Blackford County. It could are available it moved east over the state line so you’re able to surrounding Jay County, Penn Township. Of the 1850 Jefferson Hill, a good Virginia native are an excellent 56-year-dated farmer. The remainder domestic integrated Delilah Hill, years forty, born during the Kansas, around three Mountain students created during the Indiana (Henderson, decades nine; Eliza, decades 6; and you may Lydia, ages step three). Another people in the household was basically Sally Mountain, many years 24, created from inside the Virginia; James Slope, years 19, produced into the Ohio; and you may Sibba Hill, ages 83, created in the Virginia.

Jefferson Slope was still farming, and Sibby (Sibba) Mountain had been alive from the 102! It was throughout the a twenty-seasons many years improvement throughout the early in the day census.

During the 1870 discover a total of fourteen African People in america in Blackford County all staying in Licking Township. Audrey Werle’s 1870 Index away from Thoughts off Households directories the next names: Larenzo Brooks, a 34 year old barber; Environmentally friendly Rodgers, 34; and you will James Elizabeth. Frazier, thirty six, the second a couple just who run new railway.

In 1860 the Mountain family relations was still residing in Penn Township, Jay State, during the a somewhat different arrangement

From the future ages, discover proof racial isolation throughout the county. Very first, on 1920s new Ku klux Klan situated a powerful presence about county. Masked and you may robed users took part in highest societal rallies. 2nd, on the newest 1940 death of the newest highly regarded administrator and you will master professional from the an excellent corrugated papers team, George Stevens, people regarding Hartford Urban area was basically “numb that have shock” to learn that brand new acknowledged member of the society wasn’t white.