Press-Democrat Special
Broadlands, Ill., Jan. 6.—The life of George W. Smith, the aged and wealthy colored man, who died a few days ago near this village, was unusually interesting and remarkable in many ways. The fact that Smith had no early opportunities and yet succeeded so well in the material things of this world should be an inspiration to others of his race.
He was born a slave near Selmar, McNairy county, Tennessee, Dec. 3, 1836. At the early age of nine years, together with his six brothers and sisters, he was sold from his mothers side. As a chattel he brought the sum of $501.50. It was his duty then to accompany his purchaser's children to school and to act as their playmate. During study hours he was allowed with other slave boys if they so liked to sit on a bench in the rear of the room. Even at that age he saw that education was something worth having and he sat there and absorbed all that went on. To spur a laggard, the teacher one day jokingly remarked that even George knew the answer to a question. When asked, George did know it and especially all sums in Arithmetic put to him thereafter. His aptness was the pride of the children, but the slave-owners, hearing of it, gave the teacher orders to keep young George out of the school room. It was then a penal offense to teach a slave to read and write and often, to destroy the ability to write, the offending slave's first finger on the right hand was cut off. He was considered to young to punish. The interested teacher slipped the bright boy a book with orders to hide it in his shirt when he heard anyone coming. This was the extent of his schooling, but he saw to it that his children received a good training even to the extent of a state university education, if they so desired.
Shortly afterwards he was set to work as assistant to the miller, a skilled and paid employee. He was not assistant long, in a few years the miller was let out and George Smith became the miller. Milling was his task until the spring of 1862. Then he learned that a party of Confederates were coming with the avowed purpose of killing him because he knew too much. So he took down his squirrel rifle (he was an expert marksman) and tramped off to Shiloh where he saw his first service a scout in the Union army under General McCleland. He acted as guide for General Logan in Tennessee and Mississippi. Losing his health, he came to Springfield, Ill., where he met and married Mrs. Mary E. Gaines, who was a fitting companion in his successful efforts to establish a home and to rear an honorable family.
With keen foresight he chose farming for his wife-work. At first, it was on a small scale; he farmed, in summer and chopped wood in winter. The day was never too cold for him to work, up long before daylight he would often walk four miles to the woods, wait for daylight to come, work until noon, eat his frozen lunch, chop a hole in the river ice for a drink, and when night would come, three to three and on-half cords of wood would be the result of his day's labor.
In the spring of 1876 he moved to the Broadlands tract of land and the following December settled on that part of his farm which has ever since been his home. At that time Broadlands was wet and swampy, and the paying for the first 80 acres was the most difficult task of his career. But he paid for it and continued to buy until his farm property called "The Trail" consisted of 440 acres together with personal property of an estimated valuation of $16,000. He was among the very first to adopt tile drainage, to appreciate the value of clover as a crop. He was remarkably successful in growing corn and in raising hogs. On account of their quality, his light and heavy hogs were widely known. And during these years he did not forget the meager educational opportunity of the little boy sitting behind the school house ready to hide his book in his shirt. He spent more money than any other man in the township and considered it well invested.
Physically, he was an athlete. Six feet and more in height, broad of shoulder, deep in chest, supply in movement, he had the strength of two men.
Wealthy Colored Man Is Called
Danville Press-Democrat Saturday December 30, 1911 page 3
George W. Smith, One of the Prominent Men Of His race in the State Passes Away.
----------------------
Press-Democrat Special
Homer, Ill., December 29.-George W. Smith, one of the wealthiest and most prominent colored man in this section of the state, died at his home two miles north and one mile west of Broadlands, at an early hour this morning, following a long illness. The deceased was about 75 years of age and was a prominent member of the Republican party, having taken an active part in its councils in Champaign county. Mr. Smith located in that vicinity about 28 years ago and purchased land when it was cheap. He was a successful farmer and made money rapidly, owning in the neighborhood of 400 acres of the richest land in the county at the time of his death. He is survived by his widow, four sons and two daughters as follows: Fred Smith, a prominent colored attorney at Omaha, Neb.; W. W. Smith with the American Portland Cement Works at Philadelphia, Pa.; Charles and John, residing near Broadlands; Mrs. Salome Sexton, of St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. James Neal, of Broadlands. Mr. Smith was born a slave in Tennessee and came to Illinois first settling at Springfield.
The funeral will probably be held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the house and the burial will follow in the Ridge cemetery about midway between Broadlands and Newman. The funeral will probably be one of the largest ever held in that section of the country.
------------------
Broadlands, Ill., Jan. 6.—The life of George W. Smith, the aged and wealthy colored man, who died a few days ago near this village, was unusually interesting and remarkable in many ways. The fact that Smith had no early opportunities and yet succeeded so well in the material things of this world should be an inspiration to others of his race.
He was born a slave near Selmar, McNairy county, Tennessee, Dec. 3, 1836. At the early age of nine years, together with his six brothers and sisters, he was sold from his mothers side. As a chattel he brought the sum of $501.50. It was his duty then to accompany his purchaser's children to school and to act as their playmate. During study hours he was allowed with other slave boys if they so liked to sit on a bench in the rear of the room. Even at that age he saw that education was something worth having and he sat there and absorbed all that went on. To spur a laggard, the teacher one day jokingly remarked that even George knew the answer to a question. When asked, George did know it and especially all sums in Arithmetic put to him thereafter. His aptness was the pride of the children, but the slave-owners, hearing of it, gave the teacher orders to keep young George out of the school room. It was then a penal offense to teach a slave to read and write and often, to destroy the ability to write, the offending slave's first finger on the right hand was cut off. He was considered to young to punish. The interested teacher slipped the bright boy a book with orders to hide it in his shirt when he heard anyone coming. This was the extent of his schooling, but he saw to it that his children received a good training even to the extent of a state university education, if they so desired.
Shortly afterwards he was set to work as assistant to the miller, a skilled and paid employee. He was not assistant long, in a few years the miller was let out and George Smith became the miller. Milling was his task until the spring of 1862. Then he learned that a party of Confederates were coming with the avowed purpose of killing him because he knew too much. So he took down his squirrel rifle (he was an expert marksman) and tramped off to Shiloh where he saw his first service a scout in the Union army under General McCleland. He acted as guide for General Logan in Tennessee and Mississippi. Losing his health, he came to Springfield, Ill., where he met and married Mrs. Mary E. Gaines, who was a fitting companion in his successful efforts to establish a home and to rear an honorable family.
With keen foresight he chose farming for his wife-work. At first, it was on a small scale; he farmed, in summer and chopped wood in winter. The day was never too cold for him to work, up long before daylight he would often walk four miles to the woods, wait for daylight to come, work until noon, eat his frozen lunch, chop a hole in the river ice for a drink, and when night would come, three to three and on-half cords of wood would be the result of his day's labor.
In the spring of 1876 he moved to the Broadlands tract of land and the following December settled on that part of his farm which has ever since been his home. At that time Broadlands was wet and swampy, and the paying for the first 80 acres was the most difficult task of his career. But he paid for it and continued to buy until his farm property called "The Trail" consisted of 440 acres together with personal property of an estimated valuation of $16,000. He was among the very first to adopt tile drainage, to appreciate the value of clover as a crop. He was remarkably successful in growing corn and in raising hogs. On account of their quality, his light and heavy hogs were widely known. And during these years he did not forget the meager educational opportunity of the little boy sitting behind the school house ready to hide his book in his shirt. He spent more money than any other man in the township and considered it well invested.
Physically, he was an athlete. Six feet and more in height, broad of shoulder, deep in chest, supply in movement, he had the strength of two men.
Wealthy Colored Man Is Called
Danville Press-Democrat Saturday December 30, 1911 page 3
George W. Smith, One of the Prominent Men Of His race in the State Passes Away.
----------------------
Press-Democrat Special
Homer, Ill., December 29.-George W. Smith, one of the wealthiest and most prominent colored man in this section of the state, died at his home two miles north and one mile west of Broadlands, at an early hour this morning, following a long illness. The deceased was about 75 years of age and was a prominent member of the Republican party, having taken an active part in its councils in Champaign county. Mr. Smith located in that vicinity about 28 years ago and purchased land when it was cheap. He was a successful farmer and made money rapidly, owning in the neighborhood of 400 acres of the richest land in the county at the time of his death. He is survived by his widow, four sons and two daughters as follows: Fred Smith, a prominent colored attorney at Omaha, Neb.; W. W. Smith with the American Portland Cement Works at Philadelphia, Pa.; Charles and John, residing near Broadlands; Mrs. Salome Sexton, of St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. James Neal, of Broadlands. Mr. Smith was born a slave in Tennessee and came to Illinois first settling at Springfield.
The funeral will probably be held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the house and the burial will follow in the Ridge cemetery about midway between Broadlands and Newman. The funeral will probably be one of the largest ever held in that section of the country.
------------------
Press-Democrat Special
Broadlands, Ill., Jan. 6.—The life of George W. Smith, the aged and wealthy colored man, who died a few days ago near this village, was unusually interesting and remarkable in many ways. The fact that Smith had no early opportunities and yet succeeded so well in the material things of this world should be an inspiration to others of his race.
He was born a slave near Selmar, McNairy county, Tennessee, Dec. 3, 1836. At the early age of nine years, together with his six brothers and sisters, he was sold from his mothers side. As a chattel he brought the sum of $501.50. It was his duty then to accompany his purchaser's children to school and to act as their playmate. During study hours he was allowed with other slave boys if they so liked to sit on a bench in the rear of the room. Even at that age he saw that education was something worth having and he sat there and absorbed all that went on. To spur a laggard, the teacher one day jokingly remarked that even George knew the answer to a question. When asked, George did know it and especially all sums in Arithmetic put to him thereafter. His aptness was the pride of the children, but the slave-owners, hearing of it, gave the teacher orders to keep young George out of the school room. It was then a penal offense to teach a slave to read and write and often, to destroy the ability to write, the offending slave's first finger on the right hand was cut off. He was considered to young to punish. The interested teacher slipped the bright boy a book with orders to hide it in his shirt when he heard anyone coming. This was the extent of his schooling, but he saw to it that his children received a good training even to the extent of a state university education, if they so desired.
Shortly afterwards he was set to work as assistant to the miller, a skilled and paid employee. He was not assistant long, in a few years the miller was let out and George Smith became the miller. Milling was his task until the spring of 1862. Then he learned that a party of Confederates were coming with the avowed purpose of killing him because he knew too much. So he took down his squirrel rifle (he was an expert marksman) and tramped off to Shiloh where he saw his first service a scout in the Union army under General McCleland. He acted as guide for General Logan in Tennessee and Mississippi. Losing his health, he came to Springfield, Ill., where he met and married Mrs. Mary E. Gaines, who was a fitting companion in his successful efforts to establish a home and to rear an honorable family.
With keen foresight he chose farming for his wife-work. At first, it was on a small scale; he farmed, in summer and chopped wood in winter. The day was never too cold for him to work, up long before daylight he would often walk four miles to the woods, wait for daylight to come, work until noon, eat his frozen lunch, chop a hole in the river ice for a drink, and when night would come, three to three and on-half cords of wood would be the result of his day's labor.
In the spring of 1876 he moved to the Broadlands tract of land and the following December settled on that part of his farm which has ever since been his home. At that time Broadlands was wet and swampy, and the paying for the first 80 acres was the most difficult task of his career. But he paid for it and continued to buy until his farm property called "The Trail" consisted of 440 acres together with personal property of an estimated valuation of $16,000. He was among the very first to adopt tile drainage, to appreciate the value of clover as a crop. He was remarkably successful in growing corn and in raising hogs. On account of their quality, his light and heavy hogs were widely known. And during these years he did not forget the meager educational opportunity of the little boy sitting behind the school house ready to hide his book in his shirt. He spent more money than any other man in the township and considered it well invested.
Physically, he was an athlete. Six feet and more in height, broad of shoulder, deep in chest, supply in movement, he had the strength of two men.
Wealthy Colored Man Is Called
Danville Press-Democrat Saturday December 30, 1911 page 3
George W. Smith, One of the Prominent Men Of His race in the State Passes Away.
----------------------
Press-Democrat Special
Homer, Ill., December 29.-George W. Smith, one of the wealthiest and most prominent colored man in this section of the state, died at his home two miles north and one mile west of Broadlands, at an early hour this morning, following a long illness. The deceased was about 75 years of age and was a prominent member of the Republican party, having taken an active part in its councils in Champaign county. Mr. Smith located in that vicinity about 28 years ago and purchased land when it was cheap. He was a successful farmer and made money rapidly, owning in the neighborhood of 400 acres of the richest land in the county at the time of his death. He is survived by his widow, four sons and two daughters as follows: Fred Smith, a prominent colored attorney at Omaha, Neb.; W. W. Smith with the American Portland Cement Works at Philadelphia, Pa.; Charles and John, residing near Broadlands; Mrs. Salome Sexton, of St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. James Neal, of Broadlands. Mr. Smith was born a slave in Tennessee and came to Illinois first settling at Springfield.
The funeral will probably be held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the house and the burial will follow in the Ridge cemetery about midway between Broadlands and Newman. The funeral will probably be one of the largest ever held in that section of the country.
------------------
Broadlands, Ill., Jan. 6.—The life of George W. Smith, the aged and wealthy colored man, who died a few days ago near this village, was unusually interesting and remarkable in many ways. The fact that Smith had no early opportunities and yet succeeded so well in the material things of this world should be an inspiration to others of his race.
He was born a slave near Selmar, McNairy county, Tennessee, Dec. 3, 1836. At the early age of nine years, together with his six brothers and sisters, he was sold from his mothers side. As a chattel he brought the sum of $501.50. It was his duty then to accompany his purchaser's children to school and to act as their playmate. During study hours he was allowed with other slave boys if they so liked to sit on a bench in the rear of the room. Even at that age he saw that education was something worth having and he sat there and absorbed all that went on. To spur a laggard, the teacher one day jokingly remarked that even George knew the answer to a question. When asked, George did know it and especially all sums in Arithmetic put to him thereafter. His aptness was the pride of the children, but the slave-owners, hearing of it, gave the teacher orders to keep young George out of the school room. It was then a penal offense to teach a slave to read and write and often, to destroy the ability to write, the offending slave's first finger on the right hand was cut off. He was considered to young to punish. The interested teacher slipped the bright boy a book with orders to hide it in his shirt when he heard anyone coming. This was the extent of his schooling, but he saw to it that his children received a good training even to the extent of a state university education, if they so desired.
Shortly afterwards he was set to work as assistant to the miller, a skilled and paid employee. He was not assistant long, in a few years the miller was let out and George Smith became the miller. Milling was his task until the spring of 1862. Then he learned that a party of Confederates were coming with the avowed purpose of killing him because he knew too much. So he took down his squirrel rifle (he was an expert marksman) and tramped off to Shiloh where he saw his first service a scout in the Union army under General McCleland. He acted as guide for General Logan in Tennessee and Mississippi. Losing his health, he came to Springfield, Ill., where he met and married Mrs. Mary E. Gaines, who was a fitting companion in his successful efforts to establish a home and to rear an honorable family.
With keen foresight he chose farming for his wife-work. At first, it was on a small scale; he farmed, in summer and chopped wood in winter. The day was never too cold for him to work, up long before daylight he would often walk four miles to the woods, wait for daylight to come, work until noon, eat his frozen lunch, chop a hole in the river ice for a drink, and when night would come, three to three and on-half cords of wood would be the result of his day's labor.
In the spring of 1876 he moved to the Broadlands tract of land and the following December settled on that part of his farm which has ever since been his home. At that time Broadlands was wet and swampy, and the paying for the first 80 acres was the most difficult task of his career. But he paid for it and continued to buy until his farm property called "The Trail" consisted of 440 acres together with personal property of an estimated valuation of $16,000. He was among the very first to adopt tile drainage, to appreciate the value of clover as a crop. He was remarkably successful in growing corn and in raising hogs. On account of their quality, his light and heavy hogs were widely known. And during these years he did not forget the meager educational opportunity of the little boy sitting behind the school house ready to hide his book in his shirt. He spent more money than any other man in the township and considered it well invested.
Physically, he was an athlete. Six feet and more in height, broad of shoulder, deep in chest, supply in movement, he had the strength of two men.
Wealthy Colored Man Is Called
Danville Press-Democrat Saturday December 30, 1911 page 3
George W. Smith, One of the Prominent Men Of His race in the State Passes Away.
----------------------
Press-Democrat Special
Homer, Ill., December 29.-George W. Smith, one of the wealthiest and most prominent colored man in this section of the state, died at his home two miles north and one mile west of Broadlands, at an early hour this morning, following a long illness. The deceased was about 75 years of age and was a prominent member of the Republican party, having taken an active part in its councils in Champaign county. Mr. Smith located in that vicinity about 28 years ago and purchased land when it was cheap. He was a successful farmer and made money rapidly, owning in the neighborhood of 400 acres of the richest land in the county at the time of his death. He is survived by his widow, four sons and two daughters as follows: Fred Smith, a prominent colored attorney at Omaha, Neb.; W. W. Smith with the American Portland Cement Works at Philadelphia, Pa.; Charles and John, residing near Broadlands; Mrs. Salome Sexton, of St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. James Neal, of Broadlands. Mr. Smith was born a slave in Tennessee and came to Illinois first settling at Springfield.
The funeral will probably be held Monday morning at 10 o'clock from the house and the burial will follow in the Ridge cemetery about midway between Broadlands and Newman. The funeral will probably be one of the largest ever held in that section of the country.
------------------
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
