My husband inherited this book from his grandfather, who was born in 1885. When I first laid eyes on it, I wept. This precious book, gift, gives insight into the lives of Black people in early, America.

PREFACE.

To PRESUME to multiply books in this day of excellent writers and learned book-makers is a rash thing perhaps for a novice. It may even be a presumption that shall be met by the production itself being driven from the market by the keen, searching criticism of not only the reviewers, but less noted objectors. And yet there are books that meet a ready sale because they seem like “Ishmaelites” – against everybody and everybody against them. Whether this work shall ever accomplish the design of the author may not at all be determined by its sale. While I hope to secure some pecuniary gain that I may accompany it with a companion illustrating what our women have done, yet by no means do I send it forth with the sordid idea of gain. I would rather it would do some good than make a single dollar, and I echo the wish of “Abou Ben Adhem,” in that sweet poem of that name, written by Leigh Hunt. The angel was writing at the table, in his vision, (The names of those who love the Lord.) Abou wanted to know if his was there – and the angel said “No.” Said Abou, (I pray thee, then, write me as one that loves his fellow-men.)

That is what I ask to be recorded of me.

(The angel wrote and vanished. The next night It came again, with a great awakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blessed. And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.

I desire that the book shall be a help to students, male and female, in the way of information concerning our great names.

I have noticed in my long experience as a teacher, that many of my students were wofully ignorant of the work of our great colored men – even ignorant of their names. If they knew their names, it was some indefinable something they had done – just what, they could not tell. If in a slight degree I shall here furnish the data for that class of rising men and women, I shall feel much pleased. Herein will be found many who had severe trials in making their way through schools of different grades. It is a suitable book, it is hoped, to be put into the hands of intelligent, aspiring young people everywhere, that they might see the means and manners of men’s elevation, and by this be led to undertake the task of going through high schools and colleges. If the persons herein mentioned could rise to the exalted stations which they have and do now hold, what is there to prevent any young man or woman from achieving greatness? Many, yea, nearly all these came from the loins of slave fathers, and were the babes of women in bondage, and themselves felt the leaden hand of slavery on their own bodies; but whether slaves or not, they suffered with their brethren because of color. That “sum of human villainies” did not crush out the life and manhood of the race. I wish the book to show to the world – to our oppressors and even our friends – that the Negro race is still alive, and must possess more intellectual vigor than any other section of the human family, or else how could they be crushed as slaves in all these years since 1620, and yet to-day stand side by side with the best blood in America, in white institutions, grappling with abstruse problems in Euclid and difficult classics, and master them? Was ever such a thing seen in another people? Whence these lawyers, doctors, authors, editors, divines, lecturers, linguists, scientists, college presidents and such, in one quarter of a century?

Another thing I would have them notice, that the spirituality of this race was not diminished in slavery. While in bondage, it may have been somewhat objectionable, as seen in the practices of our race, it must be remembered that they copied much from their owners, they never descended to the level of brutes, and were kind, loving and faithful. They patiently waited till God broke their chains. There was more statesmanship in the Negro slaves than in their masters. Thousands firmly believed they would live to be free, but their masters could not be persuaded to voluntarily accept pay from the government, and thus save the loss they afterwards bore through the “Emancipation.” They went to war and fought “the God of battles,” but the slaves waited, humbly feeding the wives and children of those who went to battle to rivet their chains. To my mind, one of the most sublime points in our history is right here. We never harmed one of these helpless women and children – they testified of that themselves. And yet they tell stale lies of ravishing now, when the war was over, and freedom gained, and when the men are all home. No, God has permitted us to triumph and through Him. He implanted in us a vigorous spiritual tree, and since freedom, how has this been growing? Untrammelled, we have, out of our ignorance and penury, built thousands of churches, started thousands of schools, educated millions of children, supported thousands of ministers of the Gospel, organized societies for the care of the sick and the burying of the dead. This spirituality and love of offspring are indubitable evidences that slavery, though long and protracted, met in our race a vigorous, vital, God-like spirituality, which like the palm tree flourishes and climbs upward through opposition.

Again, I admire these men. I have faith in my people. I wish to exalt them; I want their lives snatched from obscurity to become household matter for conversation. I have made copious extracts from their speeches, sermons, addresses, correspondence and other writings, for the purpose of showing their skill in handling the English language, and to show the range of the thoughts of the American Negro. I wish also to furnish specimens of Negro eloquence, that young men might find them handy for declamations and apt quotations. It was hard to draw the line in making many selections, and I do not claim that a better selection might not be made. Indeed, I am aware that many are entitled to a place here, and the reader may think I did wrong in selecting some of my subjects; but I ask no pardon for the names I present. They me be the judgment of a faulty brain, and yet there is much to admire in all. The extent of our country makes it impossible to secure all who may be “eminent, progressive and rising.” I trust I have presented a representative of many classes of those who labor. The book may therfore be a suggestion for some one to do better.

The illustrations are many, and have been presented so that the reader may see the characters face to face. This writing has been a labor of love, a real pleasure. I feel better for the good words I have said of these gentlemen. There is no great literary attempt made. I have not tried to play the part of a scholar, but a narrator of facts with here and there a line of eulogy. The book is full; and has already passed the limit of first intentions. I am in debt to many gentlemen for their kindness – especially to Rev. Alexander Crummell, D. D., for the use of books; Hon. James M. Trotter for the loan of cuts taken from his work ‘Music and Some Highly Musical People;’ Rev. R. De Baptiste for assistance in securing sketches; Rev. B.W. Arnett, D.D., loan of books; Hon. John H. Smythe for assistance in sketches and pictures of E.W. Blyden and President W.W. Johnson; General T. Morris Chester, for picture of Ira Aldridge and facts on his life; Professor W. S. Scarborough for many kind helps; Rev. J.H. Greene, for cut of Augustus Tolton and facts in his life; William C. Chase, John W. Cromwell, T. McCants Stewart, Hon. D.A. Straker, Marshall W. Taylor, D.D., Hon. P.B.S. Pinchback, Hon. H.O. Wagoner, Rev. Rufus L. Perry and many others, and pre-eminently do I feel grateful to Bishop H.M. Turner, my distinguished friend, who trusts his own good name by associating it with this poor effort. May God bless him for this kind act to a beginner in book-making. This book goes out on the wing of a prayer that it will do great good.

William J. Simmons.

May, 1887.

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE WOMEN OF OUR RACE, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE DEVOTED, SELF-SACRIFICING MOTHERS. WHO MOULDED THE LIVES OF THE SUBJECTS OF THESE SKETCHES, LABORING AND PRAYING FOR THEIR SUCCESS. IT IS SENT FORTH WITH THE EARNEST HOPE THAT FUTURE MOTHERS WILL BE INSPIRED TO GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE TRAINING OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEREBY FIT THEM FOR HONORABLE, HAPPY AND USEFUL LIVES.