Various Stories about Slaves
from the
Page News & Courier
from 1919 through 1929
Article from 1919 in the PN&C
"Frank Veney Dead"
"Frank Veney, colored, whose age no one in these parts knows, died at his home in West Luray on Sunday. Perhaps no one of his race has ever been discussed in recent years more than Frank Veney, not on account of any of the remarkable things that he did, but solely on account of his great age. With many of the facts at hand to establish the great age claimed by Veney, there are many who believe that the old man had not reached the century mark. At numerous times in his life the venerable negro has given what he claimed was authentic information concerning his age. This he placed at 119, claiming that he was born in the year 1801. How he obtained this information no one knows, but this date is where the old man always stood ‘pat.’ Certain it is that he had attained a great age according to information given by Miss Mary J. Davis, who died in Luray five or six years ago, she claiming according to Veney’s relatives , that he at that time was one hundred and four years old. If this be correct , Veney at the time of his death was somewhere in the neighborhood of one hundred and eight and one hundred and ten years old. This version of his age is furnished by ‘Cy” Dixon, who married a step-daughter of Veney. To further fortify his antiquity, John N. Chapman, who thirty years ago was a sheriff of this county, was sure that at that time Veney was somewhere about eighty years old. His would make him about one hundred and three years of age. Further establishment of his age was given by the old man not long before his death saying that when the New Market and Sperryville Turnpike was built through this county he was the blacksmith in charge of the tools used in the construction of the thoroughfare, declaring that at that time he was more than forty years of age. Add the seventy one years since the road was built to the forty that the old man claimed that he attained at that time is easy to trace 111 years to his longevity. There are citizens in Luray who declare that fifty years ago he lived in his humble home about two miles north west of Luray. At that time they say he was decrepit and bent with age (illegible) the appearance of a man who was then more than fifty. To gather a further idea of his age the twenty years that he has lived in Luray should be added to his accumulation of years at that time. A few days ago, Veney gave what he claimed was his age to Census Enumerator J.B. Martin, placing it at 119 years. According to Mr. Martin, the old negro says that he recalls the time when he was placed on a boat with five hundred other colored men and set sail for America, landing in New York. If this be true, it is apparent that Veney came direct from Africa, his facial appearance indicating that he was a descendant of the purest natives of the Dark Continent. He said that when he landed in New York, he found the weather too cold to be comfortable and that he soon made his way southward, landing in Virginia, later going to Mississippi, where he knew President Jefferson Davis of the Southern Confederacy. With a liberal allowance for all the discrepancies attending the number of his years, there is every reason to believe that he had attained an age seldom reached by any one in these times."
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE ABOUT FRANK VENEY IN ANOTHER ARTICLE
Article from 1920 in the PN&C
"Cooked for Page Confeds"
"Charles Brown, colored, of Pennsylvania, a native of this county, is a specimen of his race with a record for push and progressiveness. Way back in the year 1846, Brown was born near Rileyville and was the property of Miss Sophia Wood, falling to her by the distribution of slaves during the division of her father’s effects. Brown, who is in Luray on a visit after an absence of twenty-five years, was born on the river west of Rileyville, at the place once owned by the late Minor Conn, who was the grandson of Joshua Wood, at one time a leading land owner of the northern part of Page County. The venerable specimen of his race recalls many of the stirring things that were co-temperaneous with his boyhood days in the Rileyville section, telling how often at the midnight hour he had crossed the Shenandoah river in a frail craft in search of the most popular ‘medicine’ that was known in those days and which he says was a panacea for all ills. This, the old man says, always brought the patient around alright and he says it did not have its modern successor – a ‘bursting’ headache. Brown says along about the year ’62, when this country was in strife Captain David C. Grayson, of Washington; Dr. T.H. Lauck, of Texas, and the late Lee Bell, of Lynchburg, learning of his goodly cooking qualities, sought his services as a cook in the Confederate army. Through a part of the war Brown went with these men looking after their welfare on this line. He was with them at the battle of Spotsylvania Court House, assisting in the burial of Confederate dead. The old man, crippled by his 74 years, says that the only difference he has been able to see between slavery days and the present were the restrictions that were thrown around him going where he wanted though this he believes was offset by the plentitude of all things good to eat in those times. Brown claims his part in the awakening of Luray thirty and forty years ago, for he says he was the first man that ever struck a pick for the excavation for the famous Luray Inn and the passenger station at this place., declaring also he took part in building the stations between Charles Town. W.Va. and Luray, later going to Roanoke where he did similar work while in the employ of the late Julius C. Holmes, of Charles Town, who it is known had this work in hand. After working in Roanoke for a while, Brown was stricken with ‘Pennsylvania fever,’ going to Washington, in that State, where he has ever since resided as a janitor of a number of public buildings and to which he will return as soon as he has looked over he scenes that brought happiness to him in the days when he was a Page pickaninny."
Article from 1920 in the PN&C
"When John Brown came to Luray"
"Just before John Brown, the famous Kansas abolitionist, started his (illegible) for freeing the slaves at Harpers Ferry, he spent several days at Luray and while here was discovered tampering with the slaves and instructing them what to do when he had inaugurated the (illegible) insurrection.
Brown came here disguising his real purpose and as that was a day when strangers were few and hospitality was the universal rule, he found entertainment in the home of John Lionberger, one of the most prominent men in Luray. Mr. Lionberger was an anti-secessionist like numerous people in Virginia, and possible Brown sought him out for this reason.
Brown enjoyed real hospitality at the Lionberger home which was the brick property at the corner of Main and Hawksbill streets, now owned by Mrs. Mary C. Rosser, widow of W.M. Rosser, former sheriff of Page County.
All at once the doors of the Lionberger home were closed to the insurrectionist [John Brown] for Mr. Lionberger detected the mysterious guest often engaged in conversation with the slaves at his home and elsewhere. A very urgent invitation to leave town was at once extended the abolitionist who but a few weeks later was captured after the famous episode at Harpers Ferry and later was hanged. At that day slaves were owned by nearly every Luray citizen of means [1860 slave schedules reveal that 1 in 4 families in Luray owned at least one slave]. It is not known how far Brown’s schemes were carried here or whether the colored people manifested any active sympathy with his fanatical plans. He was a dangerous firebrand and had much to do with starting the war. Abolitionists leaders claimed to mourn his death as that of a martyr, to freedom and in the South he was taken as an example of the real sentiments and intentions of the North.
The facts about Brown’s visit to Luray are given us by Mrs. Mary Yager who was not a resident of Luray at the time but who in later years frequently heard the Lionberger family speak of the incident . . . . "
From the December 1921 issue of the PN&C
"Venerable Colored Man Goes to His Reward"
"Noah Thornton, whose age with exactitude it would be hard to tell, was found dead at his home in West Luray last Friday morning, December 23rd. he had been ill only a short time, his wife having noticed that he was alive a short time before death. Where he came from and when there is not a person living in Luray who is able to say. He was a colored man who was highly respected, had many friends, was genial, and, in his younger days was one of the hardest working men of his race that has ever been known in this place. In former years a threshing machine outfit in this county with Noah Thornton absent from the straw carrier, wearing over his mouth and nose a sponge to prevent inhalation of dust, was an oddity. He was never satisfied with any other place about the machine, and even when he was sixty and seventy years of age he took delight in this dusty post. During the war he took sides with the Federal army, traveling with and being the body guard of many distinguished men on that side. At one time he was able to call the names of many men with whom he came in contact during that unhappy period. Residents of this town say that the old man had all the marks of age fifty years ago that characterized him at the time of his death. There are men living in Luray who place his age anywhere between 85 to 95 years. For years he had been a pensioner of the Federal government. The old man was a noted butcherer in his younger days, and it is recalled that he was a familiar object in these parts in every hog killing season. About twenty years ago he was injured by the bite of a hog in the hand and ever since that time his physical powers have been waning, his great age then making him unequal to cope with his rough experience."
From the February 20, 1925 issue of the PN&C
"Luray Colored Man Aged 104 Dead"
"Ben Moseby, colored, who claimed to have seen 'the stars fall' in 1833 when he was twelve years old, died on Wednesday at the home of Lena Cyrus, wife of John Cyrus, at Luray. Ben was a slave in Fluvanna county when the shooting meteors of Nov. 18, 1833, lit up the heavens with the brilliancy of day and struck consternation to the hearts of the people, the fright by no means being confined to those of Ben’s color. With the exception of the fall of the stars the old colored man had no first-hand recollection of historic events of importance. He belonged to Benjamin Flannagan of Culpeper county, who owned a big landed estate as well as twenty-five slaves. Charles W. Flannagan of Charlottesville, Va., a nephew of Benjamin Flannagan, is a brother-in-law of Charles S. Landram of Luray. The latter is able to verify a good many of the facts as Ben gave them.
Nobody is able to take issue with the old negro as to his great age. Until a week before he died he was able to be about and looked after the garden and other work about the house of Lena Cyrus whom he raised in his prime he was a man of powerful physique. He came to Page county about 1900 and ran the blacksmith shop at the White House, then belonging to Cletus M. Brubaker, deceased. He was a skilled workman and while a slave was employed regularly as a blacksmith, his master getting the proceeds of labor until he was freed as a result of the war. He came to Page county from Culpeper where he followed his trade for many years. Ben always bore a good character. He belonged to Bethel Baptist Church. The funeral will be held at the church on the hill by his pastor, Rev. G.W. Thomas today, the body being interred in the colored Odd Fellows cemetery near the Jake Kelly place."
From the September 28, 1928 issue of the PN&C
"Page County Ex-Slave Lives at the Age of 109"
"John P. Washington, ex-slave who lives near the Bixler’s Ferry road, on the northwestern suburbs of Luray, says that Mary Powell, a colored woman, who left here about 1867, is still living in Ohio at the age of 109 years. For many years she worked for a white family in Wheeling, W.Va., who out of appreciation for her long and faithful service provided a permanent home for her old age and placed her in comfortable surroundings in Ohio. Ellen Powell was a Mason before her marriage.
Two other aged colored women Ellen Gordon and ‘Happy Jane’ Jackson, sisters about ninety years of age , who are still living in Wheeling, W.Va. left here about 1867, practically at the time of the departure of Mary Powell.
All three of these women were slaves, Washington thinks they belonged to the Keysers in Springfield district, but his mind is not clear as to which Keyser. Probably it was Col Andrew Keyser or Joseph Keyser.
Ellen Gordon referred to above was the daughter of Phoebe Gordon, who lived on a bluff on the Hawksbill in Springfield district. Washington has some recent information about these old slaves from descendants of Fred Lacey, a slave from descendants of Nicholas Yager, who live in Wheeling or vicinity. Fred, who has been dead for a great many years, built the second or third of the houses of colored people on Bixler’s Ferry road near Washington’s present home.
Washington himself who was a boy eight years old when the war closed was a slave of Daniel Koontz a wealthy farmer of near Alma. He is an ardent Old School Baptist, the faith of his fathers, and was the leader in establishing a church of that persuasion here a few years ago.
It is a pity that the recollections of these old colored folks cannot be preserved. They saw the world from a different angle and have the faculty of remembering things of a certain kind with a vividness that others do not equal. As far as Washington’s recollections of the ages of these women is concerned, he says he knew them well and they let here directly after the war and were then persons of mature age with a number of children. Evidence like this has a convincing quality.”
From the Sept. 21, 1928 issue of the PN&C
“Ex-Slave of Page Wants to Hear of People Long Dead"
"Mary Powell of Columbus, Ohio, an aged colored woman who seems to have belonged to the Almonds of this county in slave times, some time ago wrote a letter addressed to ‘The Old Baptist Church and David Almond, Luray, Va.’ in which she made inquiry of the people she knew in her younger days spent in Page. In our Aug. 31 issue reference was made to this old woman in an article dealing with the old ex-slaves of the county, who are still living. That article based on information given by John P. Washington, colored, said that Mary Powell left here about 1867, and lived for years with a family at Wheeling, W.Va. who made provision for her support in an institution for the aged in Ohio, Washington’s report that she is 109 years old is not sustained in the letter which is reproduced below:
This letter makes inquiry of people who without an exception have passed away , some of them fifty years ago. It well shows how the minds of the old dwell in the past. The letter was doubtless written for the old woman by some one else.
Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1928
Mr. Almond: - I felt like I wanted to write to you to know who all is living. Is Tommy and Ida living and is their mother living? Is Mrs. Bell Borst living? Is her husband living? Is Mrs. Betty Ashby living? Is Dr. Almond living. Are any of the Lionbergers and Jordans living? Any of the Buracker family?
I am putting all of the old pastors of the church down by name. I want you to know that I have not forgotten all of the old pastors. There was Ambrose Booton, Is preacher Lauck living?
The 18th of last May I was 96 years old, and the only letter I had was from this church. Give my best regards to anyone I ever knew. I expect to die in the Lord. If any of the boys are living tell them to send me something for Christmas.
Mary Powell
Henry Powell’s widow
1240 E. Long St.
Columbus, O.”
From the December 29, 1929 issue of the PN&C
“John P. Washington, Slave of Koontz Family, Dies"
"John P. Washington, one of the patriarchs on the hill, died on Dec. 21st at the home of Homer Tyree in Egypt Bend, at the age of 82 years. Washington was one of the few old colored people of Page county who were born in this county. He was a son of Aaron and Lucindy Washington, slaves of Daniel Koontz, of Alma and was himself born a slave. In his boyhood he was bound out to Perry Broyles, of Luray, who had the benefit of his services until he was twenty-one. He lived for thirty-five years at Steelton, Pa., where he was employed in a steel plant, made good wages and was an active and enthusiastic member of colored fraternal organizations in which at that palmy period of his life he took a huge delight . He was injured there and the steel company retired him on a pension. He lived for many years in single blessedness but in the latter part of his life he married Eliza Coleman, widow of Yancey Coleman, of Luray. She died some years ago.
Ten years ago Washington having returned to Luray joined the Old School Baptist Church and thereafter became the leader amongst the colored Old School Baptists at this place. He was instrumental in holding regular preaching on the hill and boosted his cause in many ways. At the same time he attended churches of other denominations, was a participant in their services and did some preaching. Washington was a man of big stature, jet black, good natured, harmless, honest, talkative, self-assertive in a crowd, one who had been around and seen much but was entirely uneducated. He leaves a daughter who married Robert Cyrus. Secret orders and public functions were his hobbies, He was feeble and failing in mental power for a long time, but was physically active till two weeks before his death, when his last illness began. He was buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery on Dec. 23rd, Eld. Allen Williams of the colored Old School Baptists conducting the services. Eld. Arthur Campbell, a white minister, talking briefly at the funeral.”
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