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Established in 1840, Benton Condition, located in the northwestern part of Indiana, is amongst the nation’s biggest areas

“The latest Nigger Hill” Exodus and you may Conflict Told by Local Historian” (Undated papers article; enjoys an enthusiastic Editor’s Notice- “It report was understand from the George Pence prior to a mutual appointment of Bartholomew Condition Historic Community as well as the House Literary Bar held within his prize on Procurer Park, July 29 1927.”)

“Very early Records out-of African People in the us from inside the Bartholomew County, Indiana.” [These content duplicated to own Bartholomew County EAASHI project files, Summer 2014]

Robbins, Coy D. “Black Settlements in the Indiana Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church 1840-1845,” due to the fact published on the African Methodist Episcopal Church Mag, George Hogarth, ed. (Collected away from Moments, Indiana Annual Fulfilling, African Methodist Chapel, 1840-1845.)

They boasted having the utmost effective and you may vastly fertile prairie land (VanNatta). Depending on the early censuses, there were zero African Us americans living in Benton State away from 1840 using 1870. In the 1880, there have been 6 individuals, every solitary folks from Kentucky, Indiana and you can Illinois, whoever surnames was in fact Corington, Curtes, Shelby and Wheat. They did while the farm laborers, housekeepers and you may barbers. Audrey Werle’s browse into the African Us americans provided no investigation for Benton State, so there was no proof a rural payment otherwise community away from African People in america.

Bibliography

Audrey C. Werle “Browse Cards for the Indiana Dark colored Record,” M 792, William Henry Smith Memorial Library, Indiana Historical Area, Indianapolis, Indiana

The latest 19th century African american society within the Blackford State is minimal. Inside 1840 the fresh government census expressed a total kissbrides.com Visit Website of 13 100 % free people of colour staying in the brand new county delivered as follows: Washington Township, population dos; Slurping Township, populace step 1; and Harrison Township, populace ten. The fresh 10 some one into the Harrison Township lived-in one household going by the Jefferson Mountain. The family integrated dos guys around 10; 3 guys ten to 23; step one men thirty-six-52; 2 females 10 to 23; step one feminine 24 in order to thirty-five; and 1 women 55 to 99.

Inside the 1850 the entire black colored people throughout the state dropped so you can 11 with seven people remaining in Licking Township and you may four people remaining in Harrison Township. The newest Jefferson Mountain home is actually went away from Blackford County. It would appear it moved east across the county line to nearby Jay County, Penn Township. By the 1850 Jefferson Slope, good Virginia native was a beneficial 56-year-old farmer. The rest of the family integrated Delilah Hill, ages forty, created for the Kansas, three Mountain students born inside the Indiana (Henderson, many years nine; Eliza, decades six; and you may Lydia, age step 3). One other members of the family was indeed Sally Mountain, ages 24, produced into the Virginia; James Hill, years 19, created during the Kansas; and you will Sibba Slope, years 83, created inside Virginia.

Jefferson Slope had been agriculture, and you can Sibby (Sibba) Slope had been alive during the 102! This is in the a beneficial twenty-12 months many years differences about earlier in the day census.

In 1870 you will find all in all, 14 African People in the us inside the Blackford Condition most of the remaining in Slurping Township. Audrey Werle’s 1870 Index off Thoughts out-of Home lists the second names: Larenzo Brooks, a 34 year old hairdresser; Green Rodgers, 34; and you will James E. Frazier, 36, the second a few just who run new railroad.

Into the 1860 the Hill friends was still residing Penn Township, Jay State, during the a somewhat various other setup

About upcoming ages, there can be evidence of racial separation in the county. Very first, from the 1920s the latest Ku klux Klan established an effective presence from the condition. Disguised and you may robed professionals took part in highest personal rallies. Next, upon brand new 1940 death of the fresh highly regarded government and you can master professional at an excellent corrugated report team, George Stevens, residents from Hartford Area was “numb having wonder” to learn that the brand new acknowledged person in the neighborhood wasn’t light.