Created in 1840, Benton State, located in the northwestern section of Indiana, is one of the state’s biggest areas
“The brand new Nigger Slope” Exodus and you will Conflict Told by Local Historian” (Undated newspaper blog post; provides an Editor’s Note- “That it paper try discover from the George Pence before a mutual fulfilling of your own Bartholomew State Historical People and also the Family Literary Club kept in his prize at the Procurer Playground, July 30 1927.”)
“Early Facts off African People in the us when you look at the Bartholomew State, Indiana.” [These product duplicated having Bartholomew State EAASHI venture data files, June 2014]
Robbins, Coy D. “Black Settlements when you look at the Indiana Associated with the newest African Methodist Episcopal Chapel 1840-1845,” since penned on African Methodist Episcopal Church Magazine, George Hogarth, ed. (Gathered of Minutes, Indiana Annual Conference, African Methodist Chapel, 1840-1845.)
It boasted of getting the very best and vastly fertile prairie land (VanNatta). With respect to the very early censuses, there have been no African Americans located in Benton County out-of 1840 using 1870. Within the 1880, there are six people, most of the solitary individuals from Kentucky, Indiana and you may Illinois, whoever surnames was in fact Corington, Curtes, Shelby and you will Wheat. They worked due to the fact farm laborers, housekeepers and you will barbers. Audrey Werle’s research on the African People in the us offered zero investigation to have Benton State, and there try zero evidence of an outlying payment otherwise people off African People in america.
Bibliography
Audrey C. Werle “Search Cards to the Indiana Ebony Background,” M 792, William Henry Smith Art gallery Library, Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, Indiana
The fresh nineteenth century Dark colored inhabitants for the Blackford County is restricted. Within the 1840 brand new government census conveyed all in all, 13 totally free people of colour staying in the new county delivered as follows: Washington Township, populace dos; Licking Township, people step one; and Harrison Township, population ten. The newest 10 someone into the Harrison Township stayed in just one domestic on course of the Jefferson Mountain. Your family included 2 guys not as much as ten; 3 guys ten to help you 23; step 1 male thirty-six-52; dos ladies 10 to help you 23; step 1 female 24 to help you 35; and step 1 feminine 55 to 99.
In 1850 all round black colored population from the state decrease to 11 having seven somebody remaining in Slurping Township and four individuals remaining in Harrison Township. New Jefferson Hill household try gone of Blackford County. It might appear they moved east along the state line to help you neighboring Jay Condition, Penn Township. Because of the 1850 Jefferson Slope, a good Virginia native are a beneficial 56-year-old farmer. The rest of the home integrated Delilah Hill, years forty, produced inside Ohio, around three Hill students produced in the Indiana (Henderson, decades nine; Eliza, decades six; and Lydia, ages 3). The other members of the family was in fact Sally Slope, many years 24, born during the Virginia; James Slope, decades 19, born when you look at the Kansas; and you will Sibba Hill, decades 83, created during the Virginia.
Jefferson Slope was still agriculture, and you may Sibby (Sibba) Mountain was still real time at 102! This was on the a good twenty-season age difference about prior census.
Inside the 1870 you will find all in all, 14 African Us americans in Blackford County every residing in Slurping Township. Audrey Werle’s 1870 Directory from Thoughts regarding Houses listing the following names: Larenzo Brooks, a 34 https://kissbrides.com/american-women/milwaukee-wi/ year old barber; Green Rodgers, 34; and you can James E. Frazier, thirty-six, aforementioned several which work on brand new railway.
In the 1860 this new Hill family members was still living in Penn Township, Jay County, from inside the a fairly various other arrangement
Regarding the coming age, there can be evidence of racial separation from the condition. Basic, on 1920s the fresh Ku klux Klan situated an effective visibility about county. Masked and you may robed players took part in highest public rallies. Next, abreast of this new 1940 death of the fresh well-respected administrator and you may master professional during the a beneficial corrugated report business, George Stevens, owners away from Hartford Town have been “numb with surprise” to find out that this new recognized person in their neighborhood wasn’t white.