Obit of Charles Derrickson sent by Jamey Hickson from the Lebanon Boone CO.,IN Library"
DEATH OF AN OLD SLAVE: One of the most widely known and unique characters in this section of the state, Charley Derrickson, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Levi Hall, on the county line west at two O'Clock Monday morning. His age is uncertain but it is supposesd to be 106 years. He leaves a family of twelve children. (Her obit says 16 so I wonder if 4 had died at birth).
The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon with services at his daughter's home and interment was made in the colored graveyard west of town.
His early life reads like a romance, he was born into slavery on the plantation of a Mr. Derrickson, in Nicolas Co., KY. He bought his freedom by faithfully working and came to this part of the country in the late 1940's.
Before coming here he had fallen in love with a little slave girl named Tillie Stout, who lived on the nearby plantation. After reaching this area, he found life without his sweetheart would be a lonesome and a dreary one indeed and he mourned her more day by day.
Alf Burk who now resides at Crawforsdville, became interested in this human interest story of love and separation and advanced him $450 with which to buy the girl's freedom. Charley was delighted and immediately sent for his sweetheart. After she had been sent to Madison, IN, he sent her more money for traveling espensese and went to Indianapolis to meet her. They were married in that city in 1838 or 39 and from there went to Darlington, where he began working for Wm. Cove on a farm. This was in 1852, many years before the civil war.
After settling down with his bride he procedded at once to earn the money with which to repay Mr. Burk. This he finally accomplished by hauling wood here to be used as fuel by the Big Four railroad, to run the locomotive engines. They had (not readable) maybe 40 or more years of happy wedded life with Mrs. Derrickson, she died about six years ago. Uncle Charley came into prominence a few years ago when John James tried to kill him in a woods near Darlington. He was with Pannel Bickman for the murder of whom James is now serving a live sendtence in the Michigan City Prison. He said at that time that the only reason James did not kill him when he shot at him at close range with a shot gun was because the "Good Lord saved me". Charley was a good and true man who was a familiar figure on the streets of Thorntown where he frequently came and he was always surrounded by a group of youths to whom he sang the songs of the old days in Kentucky.
CHARLEY DERRICKSON, Montgomery County, Indiana Crawfordsville Dailly Journal, Feb 21, 1908
Charley Derrickson "98"
There are few more picturesque pioneer characters in the state than "Uncle" Charley Derrickson, who lives on the line between Montgomery and Boone Counties. He will be remembered here as one of the chief witnesses in the James murder trial, which took place a couple of years ago. James shot the old man after having killed Pannel Beckner. Charley's description of his experience was pathetic and very tragic to him. A special from Darlington says "Uncle Charley" was born a slave nearly a century ago. His aged wife who died two years ago was also born in slavery. Charley not only bought his own freedon but that of his wife, long before the emancipation proclamation was issued. "I paid $400.00 for that old woman he was fond of saying during the lifetime fo his wife. When he came north he chose to be a farmer, and for many years he has lived on one spot, making visits to surrounding towns. It is a familiar sight here to see him walk down the middle of Main St., singing a hymn, his dog following closely behind, as witnessed by 2 or 3 generations of Darlington and Thorntown citizens. Although he is 98 years old and more he is still given to song, while he is possessed of a religious fervor rarely ever found outside the colored camp meetings of 40 years ago. He has been a preacher in his day and he is one of the best entertainers because of his naive way of putting things. After coming north and settling in a Quaker community, a white woman taught him how to read the Bible when he was 40 years old. He is a pronounced Democrat in politics, one of his Democratic neighbors through continued kindness having much influence over him. Some years ago, he was an unwilling figure in a murder scrape and he carried some of the shot from the gun which killed another man while " Uncle Charley" was standing near. His testimony proved to be the richest intellectual feast ever provided in the Montgomery County Courthouse. Uncle Charley now lives with his son in law and he fraquently walks to town about four miles away. The rest was cut off so this is the end of the story.
Article was sent to me by Kathy Henderson who is a grt. grt. granddaughter of his brother.
DEATH OF AN OLD SLAVE: One of the most widely known and unique characters in this section of the state, Charley Derrickson, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Levi Hall, on the county line west at two O'Clock Monday morning. His age is uncertain but it is supposesd to be 106 years. He leaves a family of twelve children. (Her obit says 16 so I wonder if 4 had died at birth).
The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon with services at his daughter's home and interment was made in the colored graveyard west of town.
His early life reads like a romance, he was born into slavery on the plantation of a Mr. Derrickson, in Nicolas Co., KY. He bought his freedom by faithfully working and came to this part of the country in the late 1940's.
Before coming here he had fallen in love with a little slave girl named Tillie Stout, who lived on the nearby plantation. After reaching this area, he found life without his sweetheart would be a lonesome and a dreary one indeed and he mourned her more day by day.
Alf Burk who now resides at Crawforsdville, became interested in this human interest story of love and separation and advanced him $450 with which to buy the girl's freedom. Charley was delighted and immediately sent for his sweetheart. After she had been sent to Madison, IN, he sent her more money for traveling espensese and went to Indianapolis to meet her. They were married in that city in 1838 or 39 and from there went to Darlington, where he began working for Wm. Cove on a farm. This was in 1852, many years before the civil war.
After settling down with his bride he procedded at once to earn the money with which to repay Mr. Burk. This he finally accomplished by hauling wood here to be used as fuel by the Big Four railroad, to run the locomotive engines. They had (not readable) maybe 40 or more years of happy wedded life with Mrs. Derrickson, she died about six years ago. Uncle Charley came into prominence a few years ago when John James tried to kill him in a woods near Darlington. He was with Pannel Bickman for the murder of whom James is now serving a live sendtence in the Michigan City Prison. He said at that time that the only reason James did not kill him when he shot at him at close range with a shot gun was because the "Good Lord saved me". Charley was a good and true man who was a familiar figure on the streets of Thorntown where he frequently came and he was always surrounded by a group of youths to whom he sang the songs of the old days in Kentucky.
CHARLEY DERRICKSON, Montgomery County, Indiana Crawfordsville Dailly Journal, Feb 21, 1908
Charley Derrickson "98"
There are few more picturesque pioneer characters in the state than "Uncle" Charley Derrickson, who lives on the line between Montgomery and Boone Counties. He will be remembered here as one of the chief witnesses in the James murder trial, which took place a couple of years ago. James shot the old man after having killed Pannel Beckner. Charley's description of his experience was pathetic and very tragic to him. A special from Darlington says "Uncle Charley" was born a slave nearly a century ago. His aged wife who died two years ago was also born in slavery. Charley not only bought his own freedon but that of his wife, long before the emancipation proclamation was issued. "I paid $400.00 for that old woman he was fond of saying during the lifetime fo his wife. When he came north he chose to be a farmer, and for many years he has lived on one spot, making visits to surrounding towns. It is a familiar sight here to see him walk down the middle of Main St., singing a hymn, his dog following closely behind, as witnessed by 2 or 3 generations of Darlington and Thorntown citizens. Although he is 98 years old and more he is still given to song, while he is possessed of a religious fervor rarely ever found outside the colored camp meetings of 40 years ago. He has been a preacher in his day and he is one of the best entertainers because of his naive way of putting things. After coming north and settling in a Quaker community, a white woman taught him how to read the Bible when he was 40 years old. He is a pronounced Democrat in politics, one of his Democratic neighbors through continued kindness having much influence over him. Some years ago, he was an unwilling figure in a murder scrape and he carried some of the shot from the gun which killed another man while " Uncle Charley" was standing near. His testimony proved to be the richest intellectual feast ever provided in the Montgomery County Courthouse. Uncle Charley now lives with his son in law and he fraquently walks to town about four miles away. The rest was cut off so this is the end of the story.
Article was sent to me by Kathy Henderson who is a grt. grt. granddaughter of his brother.
Obit of Charles Derrickson sent by Jamey Hickson from the Lebanon Boone CO.,IN Library"
DEATH OF AN OLD SLAVE: One of the most widely known and unique characters in this section of the state, Charley Derrickson, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Levi Hall, on the county line west at two O'Clock Monday morning. His age is uncertain but it is supposesd to be 106 years. He leaves a family of twelve children. (Her obit says 16 so I wonder if 4 had died at birth).
The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon with services at his daughter's home and interment was made in the colored graveyard west of town.
His early life reads like a romance, he was born into slavery on the plantation of a Mr. Derrickson, in Nicolas Co., KY. He bought his freedom by faithfully working and came to this part of the country in the late 1940's.
Before coming here he had fallen in love with a little slave girl named Tillie Stout, who lived on the nearby plantation. After reaching this area, he found life without his sweetheart would be a lonesome and a dreary one indeed and he mourned her more day by day.
Alf Burk who now resides at Crawforsdville, became interested in this human interest story of love and separation and advanced him $450 with which to buy the girl's freedom. Charley was delighted and immediately sent for his sweetheart. After she had been sent to Madison, IN, he sent her more money for traveling espensese and went to Indianapolis to meet her. They were married in that city in 1838 or 39 and from there went to Darlington, where he began working for Wm. Cove on a farm. This was in 1852, many years before the civil war.
After settling down with his bride he procedded at once to earn the money with which to repay Mr. Burk. This he finally accomplished by hauling wood here to be used as fuel by the Big Four railroad, to run the locomotive engines. They had (not readable) maybe 40 or more years of happy wedded life with Mrs. Derrickson, she died about six years ago. Uncle Charley came into prominence a few years ago when John James tried to kill him in a woods near Darlington. He was with Pannel Bickman for the murder of whom James is now serving a live sendtence in the Michigan City Prison. He said at that time that the only reason James did not kill him when he shot at him at close range with a shot gun was because the "Good Lord saved me". Charley was a good and true man who was a familiar figure on the streets of Thorntown where he frequently came and he was always surrounded by a group of youths to whom he sang the songs of the old days in Kentucky.
CHARLEY DERRICKSON, Montgomery County, Indiana Crawfordsville Dailly Journal, Feb 21, 1908
Charley Derrickson "98"
There are few more picturesque pioneer characters in the state than "Uncle" Charley Derrickson, who lives on the line between Montgomery and Boone Counties. He will be remembered here as one of the chief witnesses in the James murder trial, which took place a couple of years ago. James shot the old man after having killed Pannel Beckner. Charley's description of his experience was pathetic and very tragic to him. A special from Darlington says "Uncle Charley" was born a slave nearly a century ago. His aged wife who died two years ago was also born in slavery. Charley not only bought his own freedon but that of his wife, long before the emancipation proclamation was issued. "I paid $400.00 for that old woman he was fond of saying during the lifetime fo his wife. When he came north he chose to be a farmer, and for many years he has lived on one spot, making visits to surrounding towns. It is a familiar sight here to see him walk down the middle of Main St., singing a hymn, his dog following closely behind, as witnessed by 2 or 3 generations of Darlington and Thorntown citizens. Although he is 98 years old and more he is still given to song, while he is possessed of a religious fervor rarely ever found outside the colored camp meetings of 40 years ago. He has been a preacher in his day and he is one of the best entertainers because of his naive way of putting things. After coming north and settling in a Quaker community, a white woman taught him how to read the Bible when he was 40 years old. He is a pronounced Democrat in politics, one of his Democratic neighbors through continued kindness having much influence over him. Some years ago, he was an unwilling figure in a murder scrape and he carried some of the shot from the gun which killed another man while " Uncle Charley" was standing near. His testimony proved to be the richest intellectual feast ever provided in the Montgomery County Courthouse. Uncle Charley now lives with his son in law and he fraquently walks to town about four miles away. The rest was cut off so this is the end of the story.
Article was sent to me by Kathy Henderson who is a grt. grt. granddaughter of his brother.
DEATH OF AN OLD SLAVE: One of the most widely known and unique characters in this section of the state, Charley Derrickson, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Levi Hall, on the county line west at two O'Clock Monday morning. His age is uncertain but it is supposesd to be 106 years. He leaves a family of twelve children. (Her obit says 16 so I wonder if 4 had died at birth).
The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon with services at his daughter's home and interment was made in the colored graveyard west of town.
His early life reads like a romance, he was born into slavery on the plantation of a Mr. Derrickson, in Nicolas Co., KY. He bought his freedom by faithfully working and came to this part of the country in the late 1940's.
Before coming here he had fallen in love with a little slave girl named Tillie Stout, who lived on the nearby plantation. After reaching this area, he found life without his sweetheart would be a lonesome and a dreary one indeed and he mourned her more day by day.
Alf Burk who now resides at Crawforsdville, became interested in this human interest story of love and separation and advanced him $450 with which to buy the girl's freedom. Charley was delighted and immediately sent for his sweetheart. After she had been sent to Madison, IN, he sent her more money for traveling espensese and went to Indianapolis to meet her. They were married in that city in 1838 or 39 and from there went to Darlington, where he began working for Wm. Cove on a farm. This was in 1852, many years before the civil war.
After settling down with his bride he procedded at once to earn the money with which to repay Mr. Burk. This he finally accomplished by hauling wood here to be used as fuel by the Big Four railroad, to run the locomotive engines. They had (not readable) maybe 40 or more years of happy wedded life with Mrs. Derrickson, she died about six years ago. Uncle Charley came into prominence a few years ago when John James tried to kill him in a woods near Darlington. He was with Pannel Bickman for the murder of whom James is now serving a live sendtence in the Michigan City Prison. He said at that time that the only reason James did not kill him when he shot at him at close range with a shot gun was because the "Good Lord saved me". Charley was a good and true man who was a familiar figure on the streets of Thorntown where he frequently came and he was always surrounded by a group of youths to whom he sang the songs of the old days in Kentucky.
CHARLEY DERRICKSON, Montgomery County, Indiana Crawfordsville Dailly Journal, Feb 21, 1908
Charley Derrickson "98"
There are few more picturesque pioneer characters in the state than "Uncle" Charley Derrickson, who lives on the line between Montgomery and Boone Counties. He will be remembered here as one of the chief witnesses in the James murder trial, which took place a couple of years ago. James shot the old man after having killed Pannel Beckner. Charley's description of his experience was pathetic and very tragic to him. A special from Darlington says "Uncle Charley" was born a slave nearly a century ago. His aged wife who died two years ago was also born in slavery. Charley not only bought his own freedon but that of his wife, long before the emancipation proclamation was issued. "I paid $400.00 for that old woman he was fond of saying during the lifetime fo his wife. When he came north he chose to be a farmer, and for many years he has lived on one spot, making visits to surrounding towns. It is a familiar sight here to see him walk down the middle of Main St., singing a hymn, his dog following closely behind, as witnessed by 2 or 3 generations of Darlington and Thorntown citizens. Although he is 98 years old and more he is still given to song, while he is possessed of a religious fervor rarely ever found outside the colored camp meetings of 40 years ago. He has been a preacher in his day and he is one of the best entertainers because of his naive way of putting things. After coming north and settling in a Quaker community, a white woman taught him how to read the Bible when he was 40 years old. He is a pronounced Democrat in politics, one of his Democratic neighbors through continued kindness having much influence over him. Some years ago, he was an unwilling figure in a murder scrape and he carried some of the shot from the gun which killed another man while " Uncle Charley" was standing near. His testimony proved to be the richest intellectual feast ever provided in the Montgomery County Courthouse. Uncle Charley now lives with his son in law and he fraquently walks to town about four miles away. The rest was cut off so this is the end of the story.
Article was sent to me by Kathy Henderson who is a grt. grt. granddaughter of his brother.
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