First name & nickname sent by CARRM, (#48628478)
Wabaunsee County News, Sept. 19, 1889, page 3:
Mike Alley
John Gardenhire, a thrifty farmer of Alma township, called at the News office Monday and gave us the following facts concerning the life and history of his grandfather, the late Mike Alley, who departed this life on the 3rd of last month.
Mike Alley was born in Virginia May 10, 1792. He was a slave owned by Matt Alley, who was said to be his father.
He lived in Virginia seven years and was then carried to Overton county, Tenn., where he resided for 70 years. But during his sojourn in Tennessee he was sold again and compelled to part with his dearly beloved companion and four little children. In some way Mike learned to read a little and spent most of his time poring over his Bible, which aroused his better nature. He soon became convinced that the slave business was wrong and that no man had a right to own his brother as his property. He read in Malachi, 2d chapter and 10th verse, that God is the father of us all and that we are all brethren, and he wondered why every man should be set against his brother. Incited by these thoughts, Mike Alley sought his freedom before being delivered into the hands of a new master.
One evening, as he was on his way to his new home, he asked the privilege of stopping at the home of a certain colored family near where his custodians were to stop. As Mike had proved to be a trusty servant and had shown no signs of unwillingness to accompany them, his request was granted. By this means he escaped from his masters and remained a fugitive for four years and a half, wandering over hills and valleys and through forests, many nights having nothing for shelter but the starry heavens. Yet he was not without friends, some of whom kept him in their cellars and in secret places in their houses when he was hard pressed by his pursuers. At one time they were in a house making inquiries for him while he stood behind a door, but he escaped from his pursuers as did the spies of Israel from the people of Jerico, by the heroic deeds of a good woman. He thanked God for His care over him and trusted to His guidance. While Mike Alley was fleeing from place to place God noted his condition and heard the groans and cries of his people which had come up before Him on account of their cruel task masters, and when the time had fully come that they should be delivered He used Abraham Lincoln as his instrument in His hands in giving freedom to the ebony sons and daughters of Ham. On Jan. 1st, 1861, the memorable Emancipation Proclamation was issued freeing over a million souls, the offspring of a race which had been in bondage about 244 years. Then Mike Alley returned to his family, being able to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. Here he reared his family of twelve children, and in 1869 came to Kansas, bringing with him his wife, one daughter, and granddaughter. His faithful wife died in 1874.
Mr. Alley, now being old, decrepit and unable to see after his own business, cast his lot with his grandson, John Gardenhire, willing to him all his property. John performed the part of a dutiful son and tenderly cared for his old grandfather the remainder of his days. He was a Christian, zealous in the work of the Lord, and as the end drew near he said he was willing to go when his Master called. Thus he died Aug. 3d, 1889 at the ripe age of 97 years, 2 months and 23 days. "We all do fade as a leaf."
Wabaunsee County News, Sept. 19, 1889, page 3:
Mike Alley
John Gardenhire, a thrifty farmer of Alma township, called at the News office Monday and gave us the following facts concerning the life and history of his grandfather, the late Mike Alley, who departed this life on the 3rd of last month.
Mike Alley was born in Virginia May 10, 1792. He was a slave owned by Matt Alley, who was said to be his father.
He lived in Virginia seven years and was then carried to Overton county, Tenn., where he resided for 70 years. But during his sojourn in Tennessee he was sold again and compelled to part with his dearly beloved companion and four little children. In some way Mike learned to read a little and spent most of his time poring over his Bible, which aroused his better nature. He soon became convinced that the slave business was wrong and that no man had a right to own his brother as his property. He read in Malachi, 2d chapter and 10th verse, that God is the father of us all and that we are all brethren, and he wondered why every man should be set against his brother. Incited by these thoughts, Mike Alley sought his freedom before being delivered into the hands of a new master.
One evening, as he was on his way to his new home, he asked the privilege of stopping at the home of a certain colored family near where his custodians were to stop. As Mike had proved to be a trusty servant and had shown no signs of unwillingness to accompany them, his request was granted. By this means he escaped from his masters and remained a fugitive for four years and a half, wandering over hills and valleys and through forests, many nights having nothing for shelter but the starry heavens. Yet he was not without friends, some of whom kept him in their cellars and in secret places in their houses when he was hard pressed by his pursuers. At one time they were in a house making inquiries for him while he stood behind a door, but he escaped from his pursuers as did the spies of Israel from the people of Jerico, by the heroic deeds of a good woman. He thanked God for His care over him and trusted to His guidance. While Mike Alley was fleeing from place to place God noted his condition and heard the groans and cries of his people which had come up before Him on account of their cruel task masters, and when the time had fully come that they should be delivered He used Abraham Lincoln as his instrument in His hands in giving freedom to the ebony sons and daughters of Ham. On Jan. 1st, 1861, the memorable Emancipation Proclamation was issued freeing over a million souls, the offspring of a race which had been in bondage about 244 years. Then Mike Alley returned to his family, being able to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. Here he reared his family of twelve children, and in 1869 came to Kansas, bringing with him his wife, one daughter, and granddaughter. His faithful wife died in 1874.
Mr. Alley, now being old, decrepit and unable to see after his own business, cast his lot with his grandson, John Gardenhire, willing to him all his property. John performed the part of a dutiful son and tenderly cared for his old grandfather the remainder of his days. He was a Christian, zealous in the work of the Lord, and as the end drew near he said he was willing to go when his Master called. Thus he died Aug. 3d, 1889 at the ripe age of 97 years, 2 months and 23 days. "We all do fade as a leaf."
First name & nickname sent by CARRM, (#48628478)
Wabaunsee County News, Sept. 19, 1889, page 3:
Mike Alley
John Gardenhire, a thrifty farmer of Alma township, called at the News office Monday and gave us the following facts concerning the life and history of his grandfather, the late Mike Alley, who departed this life on the 3rd of last month.
Mike Alley was born in Virginia May 10, 1792. He was a slave owned by Matt Alley, who was said to be his father.
He lived in Virginia seven years and was then carried to Overton county, Tenn., where he resided for 70 years. But during his sojourn in Tennessee he was sold again and compelled to part with his dearly beloved companion and four little children. In some way Mike learned to read a little and spent most of his time poring over his Bible, which aroused his better nature. He soon became convinced that the slave business was wrong and that no man had a right to own his brother as his property. He read in Malachi, 2d chapter and 10th verse, that God is the father of us all and that we are all brethren, and he wondered why every man should be set against his brother. Incited by these thoughts, Mike Alley sought his freedom before being delivered into the hands of a new master.
One evening, as he was on his way to his new home, he asked the privilege of stopping at the home of a certain colored family near where his custodians were to stop. As Mike had proved to be a trusty servant and had shown no signs of unwillingness to accompany them, his request was granted. By this means he escaped from his masters and remained a fugitive for four years and a half, wandering over hills and valleys and through forests, many nights having nothing for shelter but the starry heavens. Yet he was not without friends, some of whom kept him in their cellars and in secret places in their houses when he was hard pressed by his pursuers. At one time they were in a house making inquiries for him while he stood behind a door, but he escaped from his pursuers as did the spies of Israel from the people of Jerico, by the heroic deeds of a good woman. He thanked God for His care over him and trusted to His guidance. While Mike Alley was fleeing from place to place God noted his condition and heard the groans and cries of his people which had come up before Him on account of their cruel task masters, and when the time had fully come that they should be delivered He used Abraham Lincoln as his instrument in His hands in giving freedom to the ebony sons and daughters of Ham. On Jan. 1st, 1861, the memorable Emancipation Proclamation was issued freeing over a million souls, the offspring of a race which had been in bondage about 244 years. Then Mike Alley returned to his family, being able to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. Here he reared his family of twelve children, and in 1869 came to Kansas, bringing with him his wife, one daughter, and granddaughter. His faithful wife died in 1874.
Mr. Alley, now being old, decrepit and unable to see after his own business, cast his lot with his grandson, John Gardenhire, willing to him all his property. John performed the part of a dutiful son and tenderly cared for his old grandfather the remainder of his days. He was a Christian, zealous in the work of the Lord, and as the end drew near he said he was willing to go when his Master called. Thus he died Aug. 3d, 1889 at the ripe age of 97 years, 2 months and 23 days. "We all do fade as a leaf."
Wabaunsee County News, Sept. 19, 1889, page 3:
Mike Alley
John Gardenhire, a thrifty farmer of Alma township, called at the News office Monday and gave us the following facts concerning the life and history of his grandfather, the late Mike Alley, who departed this life on the 3rd of last month.
Mike Alley was born in Virginia May 10, 1792. He was a slave owned by Matt Alley, who was said to be his father.
He lived in Virginia seven years and was then carried to Overton county, Tenn., where he resided for 70 years. But during his sojourn in Tennessee he was sold again and compelled to part with his dearly beloved companion and four little children. In some way Mike learned to read a little and spent most of his time poring over his Bible, which aroused his better nature. He soon became convinced that the slave business was wrong and that no man had a right to own his brother as his property. He read in Malachi, 2d chapter and 10th verse, that God is the father of us all and that we are all brethren, and he wondered why every man should be set against his brother. Incited by these thoughts, Mike Alley sought his freedom before being delivered into the hands of a new master.
One evening, as he was on his way to his new home, he asked the privilege of stopping at the home of a certain colored family near where his custodians were to stop. As Mike had proved to be a trusty servant and had shown no signs of unwillingness to accompany them, his request was granted. By this means he escaped from his masters and remained a fugitive for four years and a half, wandering over hills and valleys and through forests, many nights having nothing for shelter but the starry heavens. Yet he was not without friends, some of whom kept him in their cellars and in secret places in their houses when he was hard pressed by his pursuers. At one time they were in a house making inquiries for him while he stood behind a door, but he escaped from his pursuers as did the spies of Israel from the people of Jerico, by the heroic deeds of a good woman. He thanked God for His care over him and trusted to His guidance. While Mike Alley was fleeing from place to place God noted his condition and heard the groans and cries of his people which had come up before Him on account of their cruel task masters, and when the time had fully come that they should be delivered He used Abraham Lincoln as his instrument in His hands in giving freedom to the ebony sons and daughters of Ham. On Jan. 1st, 1861, the memorable Emancipation Proclamation was issued freeing over a million souls, the offspring of a race which had been in bondage about 244 years. Then Mike Alley returned to his family, being able to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. Here he reared his family of twelve children, and in 1869 came to Kansas, bringing with him his wife, one daughter, and granddaughter. His faithful wife died in 1874.
Mr. Alley, now being old, decrepit and unable to see after his own business, cast his lot with his grandson, John Gardenhire, willing to him all his property. John performed the part of a dutiful son and tenderly cared for his old grandfather the remainder of his days. He was a Christian, zealous in the work of the Lord, and as the end drew near he said he was willing to go when his Master called. Thus he died Aug. 3d, 1889 at the ripe age of 97 years, 2 months and 23 days. "We all do fade as a leaf."
Inscription
No stone indicated on burial records.
Family Members
Children
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
