After the war of 1812, Pvt. Mark Strickland, one of the men in Hosbrook's company at Ft. Amanda (Feb. - Aug. 1813) went on to become a noted abolitionist whose home was a safe house on the underground railroad. Little is known about his personal life other than he had several children, outlived 3 wives and helped create a school (The Clermont Academy) for children of all ages and colors in Clermont County, Ohio. Included in this blog are excerpts from a journal of a teacher at the school and her observations of the children at the academy. It includes personal insights into the lives of some of the children at the school, description of their interactions and describes the fear and apprehensions about the upcoming war between the states and the sad story of how one young girl hung herself. She talks about the the congregation at the Presbyterian church in New Richmond and the rush to see the soldiers loading onto boats and the crying mothers and wives saying goodbye to their loved ones.
Strickland,
Mark (b. abt. 1792 –d. 1883)
Mark Strickland was a 21 year old private
in Captain Hosbrook’s company at Fort Amanda.
He was born about 1792 in Upper Township, Cape May County, NJ, the son
of Michael and Eleanor (Cullen). Michael
Strickland was born in Connecticut and Eleanor was
born in Ireland.
HIS PARENTS
In 1790, Michael Strickland (b. 1765)
was working as a blacksmith at Jobs Point, New Jersey. On September 13 that year, the business
burned to the ground so Michael moved to Egg Harbor, N. J. for a short time
before moving on to Philadelphia where he again found employment on November,
5, 1791
Note: a day earlier and 500 miles to the west ¼ of
the United States army had been slaughtered at the battle at Fort Recovery,
Ohio) In a battle lasting less than 4
hours, 632 officers and men were killed or were dying on the field, and another
264 wounded, an astounding casualty rate of 98%. In addition 200 women and 50 children were
also murdered in the attack.
Michael Stricklands business was a
lucrative one. Records list him as
weighing 153 pounds. The 1913 History of Brown Cty, Ohio says this of Michael
Strickland:
He came to
Clermont County in 1809 where he secured 600 acres of land in THE “Jersey Settlement
in Tate Township and erected the first brick house on Popular Creek in
1811. Michael Strickland was a fine
mechanic and could construct almost any article made with tools. A fine stone sundial made by him is still in
existence. He was also an extensive
farmer and stockman and took great pleasure in transforming the wilderness of
his possessions into a valuable property.
He spent the remaining years of his life in Clermont County, where his
death occurred on March 8, 1851 at the age of eighty-seven. He and Eleanor are buried the Old Bethel M. E. Church Cemetery.
Old Bethel M. E. Church Cemetery
Old Bethel M. E. Church Cemetery
 |
| Michael Strickland 1760 - 1851 |
Eleanor Strickland (Marks mother)
was an original member of the Bible Society, whose function was producing
religious materials. She gave the
materials to her children, whose job was to actually distribute the
materials. Mark, Paul, Daniel, and
daughters, Hope, Sarah, Betsy, Maria, Harriet and Hannah. Eleanor died June 15, 1860 at the age of
85.
Mark Strickland
Mark Strickland, worked in his
father’s blacksmith business until he was called to duty in 1812. He was assigned to Captain Daniel Hosbrook’s company
and was stationed at Fort Amanda on the Auglaize. One of
Strickland’s daughters married a man named Ogden and it is possible it was a relative of Lt.
William Ogden mentioned in Schillinger’s Journal. Ogden died at the age of 20 at Ft. Defiance. The Ogden’s and Strickland’s lived in the
same general area.
After the war
Strickland started his own blacksmith business and was very successrul. He followed it for some years until he
decided to move to Louisiana. He sold
his property and moved to Caddo Parish, Louisiana where he remained only a
short time. Louisiana being a slave state was too much for
Strickland so he left and moved back to Clermont County.
The 1913 History of Clermont and Brown counties says this about Mark Strickland:
“Mark
Strickland was a noted Abolitionist, and his home was a station on the underground
railroad, many slaves being assisted to freedom by his help. Byoccupation,
he was a blacksmith at New Richmond where he had a very lucrative
business. He was a most interesting character, very active and high minded and
upright in all his conduct. He was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church,
very strict in his beliefs and always ready to assist all worthy enterprises.
He was a trustee of New Richmond from 1831 to 1832 an of Ohio Township from
1835 to 1836. Mr Strickland was three
times married the first union with Tryphosa Newton, daughter of Ebenezer
Newton, a Clermont pioneer and author of a textbook on spelling. To this union was born two sons and two
daughters (Paul, Francis, Alice and Eleanor).
His second marriage was with Margaret Quinlan and his third wife was
Elizabeth Snyder, who bore him two daughters (Belle and Emma). He survived all three wives.”
In July 1836 , the members of the Presbyterian Church in New Richmond passed a "Resolution to withhold from Communion all persons holding men , women , or children as property or those advocating the system." Seven years later in 1843 , in continued action , the same church demanded that the Cincinnati Presbytery take similar action and threatened to "dissolve all connections with any organizations supporting this mother of abominations(slavery.)" Many of the members of the Anti Slavery Society were members of the Presbyterian Church and Harriet Beecher Stowe's brother , the Rev. George Beecher was preaching at that church (And also at nearby rural Nicholsville church. when the 1836 statement to the Cincinnati Presbytery was delivered.
Mark Strickland was also involved in the creation of The Clermont Academy (or Parker's Academy , as it was familiarly known) , located at Clermontville near New Richmond. It enrolled colored students in its first class in 1839 and continued to do so until it closed and the public high school system replaced it. It is said that some of these students remained in the area and contributed to New Richmond's history. The following has been included in this posting because it reflects the feelings and emotions of the times and what Mark Strickland may have experienced.
Note: This monument commemorates the site of the Parker Academy, a private school organized in 1839. It was open to students of both genders (co-ed) and all races. Edwin Mathews, a former slave of James G. Birney, was the first black student enrolled. Plantation owners brought their bi-racial children here to be educated. Many of the children of Clermont’s abolitionists were also enrolled. On at least one-occasion slave hunters came to the school in search of a fugitive. 1,500 students attended the school during its fifty-three year history. (1324 Clermontville-Laurel Rd.)
The Clermont Academy (or Parker's Academy , as it was familiarly known) , located at Clermontville near New Richmond enrolled colored students in its first class in 1839 and continued to do so until it closed and the public high school system replaced it. It is said that some of these students remained in the area and contributed to New Richmond's history.
Sarah Preston Baker Parker relates the details in her writing, "A Brief History of Clermont Academy ,Together with a Few Items from the Lives of its Founder and Principal." This precious old manuscript was written in 1889 , the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the academy. Sarah Parker was the wife of James K. Parker , who was the teacher and head of the academy , a son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Parker , founders of the school. In her "brief history" Mrs. Parker referred to the student register, which she evidently had at hand , and commented on each student (some were young; some were old; some were colored) who had ever attended the academy.
I have extracted the following accounts regarding black history and the colored people who attended Clermont Academy. I quote verbatim from her "brief history", in order to pass on the exact feelings that Mrs. Parker expressed in her writing.
________________________________________
November 4 , 1839: "then came Edwin Matthews (third student enrolled) , a colored young man who was working for Mr. Strickland came and made application for him.In the great conflict raging at the time , the Strickland’s and the Parkers and many of the leading families had become abolishonists. Now came the test of this principal. While the family were discussing the question of his admission , Elmer Denham , an English Baptist minister , was visiting them; he said, "Do this thing and you honor God and lose patronage." They did it and the prophesy came true."
May 6 , 1844: "Sarah Jane Richmond and Elizabeth Richmond were colored girls from Memphis, Tennessee. They were very interesting girls indeed , who learned rapidly and were very affectionate. our eldest daughter Frankie had their most devoted attention , especially the younger one "Dizzie" as she was called. Mother Parker said that they scarcely ate a meal without hearing something from "Dizzie" about "the teacher's baby."
November 4 , 1845: Fifth year of school begins: "Zachariah M. Landsdowne was a young minister , newly married to Miss Mary Hoover. He became interested in the moral questions of the day , especially in the liberation of slaves. He became a warm partisan as it was not his nature to take things by halves."(It is not stated that Landsdowne was colored; probably just interested in the slavery question because he was a sincere minister.)
Novemeber 4, 1845: Ephraim Hayden was a colored boy from New Richmond. His parents wre slaves if the noted Arthur THome of Augusta , KEntucky. When they wre emancipated they came to New Richmond , and for a long time were members of the Presbyterian Church. Ephraim is now a barber in New Richmond.
November 4 , 1845 Term: Thomas Richmond , a brother of Sarah and Elizabeth Richmond , was as bright and teachable as his sisters. Before he came home he was requested not to sing any of his comic Negro melodies , and well kept his promise for a long time , but unfortunately one day some of the boys in the filed heard Tom singing and solicited him to sing. He told them no , he could not , that he had promised his folks at home not to sing; but they persisted in begging him and when he began it was difficult for him to stop. They boys were so delighted that they wanted the old folks, the teachers, and the girls to hear him. Tom did not like for his sisters to hear him , as they know that he had broken his promise. The boys succeeded some way in bringing him before the whole audience, much to the delight of all except Tom's sisters, and they did not seem to object so much when they found Tom was so well received. It certainly was equal to any collection of Negro melodies that we had ever heard.
November Tem 1846: "James W. Rariden was a very clever , earnest student. He was also from Kentucky. He became displeased because some colored students came into the school from Kentucky, and he left us rather abruptly."
November 1847: "On the 12th of January that term Milton Taylor came from a farm back of Maysville , Kentucky, with his three children , John J. , Phebe Ann , and Matu Jane Taylor. He was a white man , their father , and their mother was a colored slave. This question had been settled some years before , by the New Testament teaching that God was not a respector of persons neither would we be , and the commission of Christ is "Teach all Nations." They were accepted but there was great commotion in the school when it was known they were coming, James Adams (A student) was so frank a fellow that he told his convictions and experiences all out. He came into our room and spoke to the writer one day in a very angry manner, saying "I could kill that man and all his children and be glad to do it."He was taught that if he cherished that kind of feeling he was a murderer and that he had better calm himself, and write a letter to his father. The great flood of December 1847 was then on hand and he could not get home, so he remained and before an answer came from his father the Taylors had gotten here through the perils of ice and snow and flood. When they came I could scarcely recount to you the excitement , the warm debates , the ernest struggle. A school is a little world of in itself , and as they were all free to speak each his mind , there were some great debates; but when the Taylor children came to school they wre comely , polite well dressed , and withal had been taught in John Rankins school. They were somewhat advanced. John Taylor was a good mathmetician and he was not in school a day until James Adams and others were asking help of him in Algebra. We should also state that there were students in school at this time of excitement that went on in the even tenor of their way and recited every day as though nothing in particular was going on. Not so with all. Several good young men of Kentucky left and bore the inconvenience of ice and snow and flood and got home. Finally old Mr. Adams letter came, and he very calmly told his boy that he had better stay where he was for he might meet the same thing in other schools in Ohio"....
"The three Taylor children - John married a respectable woman, had a large family. He has been for a long time in business on Fifth Street in Cincinnati. Phebe married an artist of celebrity , named Robert Duncanson. (Robert Duncanson's restored murals may be seen in the Taft Museum in Cincinnati today,1996. A.M. Whitt) Mary Jane married a man who deserted her, then after some years she was married to the son of a Presbyterian minister names Rodgers.
November Term 1848: "Sophia Houston was a pretty little girl familiarly called Alabama because she came from that state. Her story was a sorrowful one, There landed at New Richmond a master and his slave Emma, and her little boy , they , and with them this little girl , Sophia. They started from their home in Alabama in their own wagons and camped out at night. They were not a very happy company. The young woman thought she wanted to be free , yet longing for her friends that she left behind her, and being timid about going into a strange land made her sad , murmuring, fretful. She had seen the little girl literally torn from the arms of her mother and grandmother and by force placed in the wagon amid groans, the tears, the anguish of the parents, and the wild screams of the child. This little girl mourned so continually for her home and friends that she was sick , she would not eat , and they feared she would die. At night she seemed particularly grieved and frightened, and they lulled her to sleep each night by the promise that the next day she should be taken home , but each day she was still farther away; each night the same promise came. The master came to Mr. Martin Ryan's public house, and there he told to Mr. Ryan his purposes and desires, concerning his children. Mr. Ryan became their guardian. In his house was born the second child of the young woman. He was called Harry Houston. The woman Emma lived in Mr Ryan's home for several years and was a good , kind woman , except at times she would say hard cutting things and they would correct her and bear with her and they would take good care of her,and her children. But one day , Emma was particularly unkind in her talk , and Mrs. Ryan thought it best to tell her that she could no and would not bear such talk any longer. Emma went across the street to Mr. Ryan's neice, waiting for a new place. We (the Parker family) needed help and went to Mr and Mrs Ryan. They frankly told us of her good qualities and her faults, but commended her heartily , thinking her experience would od her good. They very kindly helped her prepare to go with us , and seemed really happy to think that she was to be established in a home again. And this history is the story of our Emma who lived with us for several years, a very useful , good woman. She will be remembered, no doubt by many of the students and with great kindness. She never forgot Mr. and Mrs. Ryan's kindness. They were friends to her as long as they lived. Emma and her children’s words and ways are mingled with many a merry time. One Christmas Mother Parker had a straw man to represent Santa Claus. They stepped up to him in the dimness of the early morning and addressed Santa thus, "Santa Claus where you had to?" Evidently he meant "where have you been, tell me the story of your travels," but the students laughed so hard at that he could not have heard, even if the straw man had told him. We have dwelt on this story, a slave story, long because in it we see that the best efforts of a good men could not cure the direful effects of that dreadful system. The master went home and died soon after. Little Alabama had to be taken from school. Mr Ryan , her guardian , placed her in his sisters family where she was very kindly treated and well brought up."
(In her discussion of students enrolled in the November 1849 term , Mrs. Parker distresses and tells:"In the spring of 1857 , we left our school and went to Wilberforce University, near Xenia, Ohio to care for a colored school for a time." She further realities that , while there , they received many letters asking them to return to Parker Academy.)
May 1851 Term: David Devore came from a farm near Higginsport, Brown County. He was one those jolly, openhearted souls that everybody delights on. He was the some of Peter DeVore who often came to our neighboring church to preach. Though we thought so much of him, we had to part with him. There was a young colored girl in the school at that time and some of the citizens of that place were unwilling that Uncle Joe Staten's children should go to school in their own district. The parents had been slaves and did not know how to read and write, so of course the children would have been left in ignorance if some one did not teach them. Mrs. Nancy Thompson , when she had a school in her own house , used to teach them , and they were admitted to the Academy, but this young man (DeVore) said - " I cannot go to school where the colored are admitted." He was young and did not realize the power of Christ's word upon us,as teachers. Under his great commission we re commanded to "Teach the Nations." We feel that it is just as much our duty here in our quiet little valley to follow out that injunction as though we were in Africa or Asia. As neither could yield we parted as friends, but after this his sisters , Amanda and Mary E. DeVore came into the Academy in the winter of 1856. They were like their brother, very amiable and companionable in their natures."
May 1852 Term: (Here Mrs. Parker tells that Christian , Emily and Anna Donaldson , children of Thomas and Susanna Doonaldson enrolled. "The mother in the family is the sister of the principal." She goes on to relate:" The school was founded through prayer. Religious services were held in the Academy by Rev. John Powell. Among the first meetings three of the Parker family were baptized, Mrs. Donaldson , William Tell Parker , and Charles Parker. After these were baptized, Mr. Donaldson , while witnessing the scene, became interested and desired to be obedient and asked the minister to baptize him. He and his wife joined the First Baptist Church of New Richmond and were members there for several years , and left because they thought the church was not anti slavery enough." This is just another of many references to how strong the anti slavery and abolitionist feelings were in the New Richmond area.)
May 1852 Term: "Julia Staten was the daughter of Uncle Joe Staten of Point Pleasant and was among the students quite a number of times. Some of the best families of Point Pleasant were willing that Uncle Joe's children should attend their school , but there were some opposed. Julia was a good girl and died while quite young in the Christian faith. Uncle Joe Staten and his wife Chrisie had been slaves and neither could read or write, and if their children could not have teachers, they must go ignorant. We felt they ought to be instructed and we taught them. Uncle Joe sent all his children and one of his grandchildren to the Academy."
April 1853: "John W. Winn was a colored boy from Arkansas. He had naturally a bright mind, and he had learned much by observation and work on the farm at home, but was wholly uneducated as to books. He could read a little in the first reader. Although he was the size of a man, yet he had to take the books of a little child. All of these he went through with remarkale rapidity and ease and exhaustiveness. He took the Gazette and read it regularly with enthusiastic interest. When he had been two years in school he was with the best students in Grammar , Philosophy, and Mathmatices. We began to think it would be better to let boys run the farm without knowledge of books until they were almost grown men and then send them to school. His case was remarkable.
Same term: "Abner Williams was a colored student sent here by old Judge Esty. The Judge supplied him with all the money that was necessary for his comfort and he made commendable progress.
April 1854 Term: William and Oliver Hardin with their sisters Virginia and Almeda were brought here by their father, a wealthy slave holder of Texas. Their mother had been his slave. He was one of those tenderhearted slave holders who could not sell his children, and who happily had wealth enough to set them free and leave them in comfort. This Major Hardin did. William , the oldest , did not learn as fast as the other children , but he was a good honest fellow. Virginia and Almeda were excellent girls. They progresses very well in their studies. The sad intelligence came to us later that Almeda had hung herself in the barn. These children were all agreeable, pleasant students, except for a time Oliver was very contrary; but he was suspended from schoool and in a little while he came to his senses and applied for restoration. We gladly gave him again the privileges of the school, and he ever after that behaved as a gentleman. The other children were always cheerfully obedient to every requisition of the school."
November 1854 Term: "Cary Campbell was a colored young man from Ripley , Ohio. He was named and , I believe, brought up by Mr. Campbell of that place. He also proved to be a good student. He is a teacher now in Clermont County , and we meet him at the Institute. He is a good useful man."
April 1855 Term: "Edinburg, Charles and Lucy A. St. John were unusually intelligent, polite, pleasant colored children whose mother brought them here from New Orleans., Louisiana. The mother was an interesting , neat, honest and clever woman....Lucy St. John had given the baby (evidently the Parker's baby, Hassie) a very handsome gold ring. She (the baby) had poked it under the stair carpet."
October 1856 Term: "Samuel Wilkins was pious old colored man , who had been a slave and who came to learn to read the Bible , and he did learn to read it. He left us triumphantly, carrying away a great Bible that could read. I doubt if we ever had anotehr student who was more grateful than Samuel Wilkins.,"
"Andrew J. Napier was a colored student, a very handsome, modest young man, who came from a farm on Twelve Mile."
"Paulina and Rebecca Lott were colored girls from New Richmond of more than ordinary enterprise. They had an excellent mother. They were sprightly active girls, both in work and study. Soon after the girls left school their father went to Haiti and we have known nothing of them since."
"Ellen Waters was a young colored girl who was rather peculiar in being very wicked and very religious at the same time. She sighed deeply one day and on being asked what made her so sad replied that she was sorry that she was a Christian."Why are you sorry for that?"asked one."Oh", she replied "there is to be a dance at one of our neighbors and I want so bad to dance." One suggested that if that were true, very likely she was not a Christian at all. That thought stirred her deeply and wonderfully. She said," Oh, if you could only hear my Christian experience you would never say that about me. I have a most wonderful experience." We hope that she is a good woman now and that she has a true experience.(Note by A.M.W.: Evidently Mrs. Parker considered dancing to be "wicked", as did many religions of the time. I hope Ellen got to dance and keep her religions at the same time. I don't agree with Mrs. Parker that she was "rather peculiar" at all. Aileen M. Whitt)
"Aurelia Woodson was a nice little colored girl from Batavia. She did not remain with us long."
"Our blacksmith at this date was a colored man , a local M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) minister. A good man and full of charity. He took into his hosuehold a widowed sister with six children, and when his wife's sister and her husband died , leaving another set of six children, he took them in also, thus making a household of fifteen persons. They were all industrious and neat and prospered wonderfully well. They all loved the generous uncle and were all called by his name. They sent Sarah , the oldest girl of the children, to school.(Mrs. Parker does not give the name of the family; perhaps a study of the 1860 census would identify a black head of household , who was a blacksmith/minister with 15 children in the household , one of them named Sarah."
" At the close of this term we were urgently solicited to take charge of an enterprise begun by the Cincinnati Conference of the M.E. Church. They had purchased buildings of Tawa Springs in Green County near Xenia. Here they designed to establish a school for the colored, and they succeeded. TO find a man able to teach an Academic course of study, and know how to treat colored people with respect, and also having the ability to exercise the strict discipline necessary to make an orderly school was not an easy task. They solicited the teacher of our Academy. We locked up our houses with their goods in them. We took clothing, books and musical instruments with us and went for a short stay at Wilberforce University. In the summer of 1858 we returned home."
Fall 1855 Term:"Phillip Smith was an agreeable colored student from a farm near Twelve Mile."
1859: "Martha Smith was a very pleasant colored girl. She and her brothers made agreeable students."
(At this point n the "brief history" Mrs. Parker gives a heart-rending description of the effects of the Civil war on the Academy and the country, excerpts of which follow:)
"we are just at the opening of the great rebellion. Mutterings of war , thunderings, are deep, sullen and full of hate. Discussions are held at every man's fireside. We (our country) had to professed in freedom and yet we have supported the vilest style of slavery upon the earth. We did this with our eyes fully opened to all the abomination that was in it..We trembled, but aroused ourselves, and the North sprang into arms at the first sound of alarm. We see that these disturbances affect our school, for last year at the opening we had 46 young men, this year about 35. But this is a goodly number considering the tumultuous times which we were passing through.
.On April 1 , 1861 , 21 young men and 16 girls came into the school. Of these 21 (men) but 7 remained to complete the term. The air was all astir with animation concerning the war. Sometimes teacher and all would go to New Richmond to see the departure of the soldiers. The first time we did this the public meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church. Oh, how the people spoke! Everybody that was an orator then had a tongue of fire. The house was crowded. As the meeting closed we were starting to to the river to see the soldiers embark. The crowd rushing out broke down the floor in the vestibule. This made great confusion; many rushed to the back door, tumbling pell-mell over each other. Someone proclaimed at the front door."Be not afraid, no one is hurt, only the floor is broken". All was in a moment calmed We were soon out on the street, moving in masses to the river, there to see the soldiers go aboard. But, oh, sorrowful the sight. Many brave women quietly wiped the tears away that afternoon; but there was one old German mother who could not restrain her tears; her piercing cries sounded far up and down the street, finding an echo in many a wounded heart. The boat was testless, whistling, puffing, soldiers were hastening on. Some of their friends were going on as far as they could with them.")
(At this point in her writing Mrs. Parker makes note, dating it Jan 21 , 1889,"Last year , 1888,the severe illness of the Teacher (her husband James K. Parker) compelled the stoppage of this writing." She resumed her narrative comments on the students enrolled after 1860, but with briefer remarks. There is no further mention of which students enrolled were colored , and no further comment of interest to black history. We wish Mrs. Parker had continued to comment on the colored students from 1860-1889,but we are grateful that she recorded as many tid bits as she did, as her remarks greatly enhance our picture of that period in history.
These stories are just a few of the items and records of interest to the history of the black people of the New Richmond area. Further research would tell their continued involvement and participation in the history of the area to the present day.
Slavery
In July 1836 , the members of the Presbyterian Church in New Richmond passed a "Resolution to withhold from Communion all persons holding men , women , or children as property or those advocating the system." Seven years later in 1843 , in continued action , the same church demanded that the Cincinnati Presbytery take similar action and threatened to "dissolve all connections with any organizations supporting this mother of abominations(slavery.)" Many of the members of the Anti Slavery Society were members of the Presbyterian Church and Harriet Beecher Stowe's brother , the Rev. George Beecher was preaching at that church (And also at nearby rural Nicholsville church. when the 1836 statement to the Cincinnati Presbytery was delivered.
The Clermont Academy
Mark Strickland was also involved in the creation of The Clermont Academy (or Parker's Academy , as it was familiarly known) , located at Clermontville near New Richmond. It enrolled colored students in its first class in 1839 and continued to do so until it closed and the public high school system replaced it. It is said that some of these students remained in the area and contributed to New Richmond's history. The following has been included in this posting because it reflects the feelings and emotions of the times and what Mark Strickland may have experienced.
Note: This monument commemorates the site of the Parker Academy, a private school organized in 1839. It was open to students of both genders (co-ed) and all races. Edwin Mathews, a former slave of James G. Birney, was the first black student enrolled. Plantation owners brought their bi-racial children here to be educated. Many of the children of Clermont’s abolitionists were also enrolled. On at least one-occasion slave hunters came to the school in search of a fugitive. 1,500 students attended the school during its fifty-three year history. (1324 Clermontville-Laurel Rd.)
The Clermont Academy (or Parker's Academy , as it was familiarly known) , located at Clermontville near New Richmond enrolled colored students in its first class in 1839 and continued to do so until it closed and the public high school system replaced it. It is said that some of these students remained in the area and contributed to New Richmond's history.
Sarah Preston Baker Parker relates the details in her writing, "A Brief History of Clermont Academy ,Together with a Few Items from the Lives of its Founder and Principal." This precious old manuscript was written in 1889 , the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the academy. Sarah Parker was the wife of James K. Parker , who was the teacher and head of the academy , a son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Parker , founders of the school. In her "brief history" Mrs. Parker referred to the student register, which she evidently had at hand , and commented on each student (some were young; some were old; some were colored) who had ever attended the academy.
I have extracted the following accounts regarding black history and the colored people who attended Clermont Academy. I quote verbatim from her "brief history", in order to pass on the exact feelings that Mrs. Parker expressed in her writing.
________________________________________
November 4 , 1839: "then came Edwin Matthews (third student enrolled) , a colored young man who was working for Mr. Strickland came and made application for him.In the great conflict raging at the time , the Strickland’s and the Parkers and many of the leading families had become abolishonists. Now came the test of this principal. While the family were discussing the question of his admission , Elmer Denham , an English Baptist minister , was visiting them; he said, "Do this thing and you honor God and lose patronage." They did it and the prophesy came true."
May 6 , 1844: "Sarah Jane Richmond and Elizabeth Richmond were colored girls from Memphis, Tennessee. They were very interesting girls indeed , who learned rapidly and were very affectionate. our eldest daughter Frankie had their most devoted attention , especially the younger one "Dizzie" as she was called. Mother Parker said that they scarcely ate a meal without hearing something from "Dizzie" about "the teacher's baby."
November 4 , 1845: Fifth year of school begins: "Zachariah M. Landsdowne was a young minister , newly married to Miss Mary Hoover. He became interested in the moral questions of the day , especially in the liberation of slaves. He became a warm partisan as it was not his nature to take things by halves."(It is not stated that Landsdowne was colored; probably just interested in the slavery question because he was a sincere minister.)
Novemeber 4, 1845: Ephraim Hayden was a colored boy from New Richmond. His parents wre slaves if the noted Arthur THome of Augusta , KEntucky. When they wre emancipated they came to New Richmond , and for a long time were members of the Presbyterian Church. Ephraim is now a barber in New Richmond.
November 4 , 1845 Term: Thomas Richmond , a brother of Sarah and Elizabeth Richmond , was as bright and teachable as his sisters. Before he came home he was requested not to sing any of his comic Negro melodies , and well kept his promise for a long time , but unfortunately one day some of the boys in the filed heard Tom singing and solicited him to sing. He told them no , he could not , that he had promised his folks at home not to sing; but they persisted in begging him and when he began it was difficult for him to stop. They boys were so delighted that they wanted the old folks, the teachers, and the girls to hear him. Tom did not like for his sisters to hear him , as they know that he had broken his promise. The boys succeeded some way in bringing him before the whole audience, much to the delight of all except Tom's sisters, and they did not seem to object so much when they found Tom was so well received. It certainly was equal to any collection of Negro melodies that we had ever heard.
November Tem 1846: "James W. Rariden was a very clever , earnest student. He was also from Kentucky. He became displeased because some colored students came into the school from Kentucky, and he left us rather abruptly."
November 1847: "On the 12th of January that term Milton Taylor came from a farm back of Maysville , Kentucky, with his three children , John J. , Phebe Ann , and Matu Jane Taylor. He was a white man , their father , and their mother was a colored slave. This question had been settled some years before , by the New Testament teaching that God was not a respector of persons neither would we be , and the commission of Christ is "Teach all Nations." They were accepted but there was great commotion in the school when it was known they were coming, James Adams (A student) was so frank a fellow that he told his convictions and experiences all out. He came into our room and spoke to the writer one day in a very angry manner, saying "I could kill that man and all his children and be glad to do it."He was taught that if he cherished that kind of feeling he was a murderer and that he had better calm himself, and write a letter to his father. The great flood of December 1847 was then on hand and he could not get home, so he remained and before an answer came from his father the Taylors had gotten here through the perils of ice and snow and flood. When they came I could scarcely recount to you the excitement , the warm debates , the ernest struggle. A school is a little world of in itself , and as they were all free to speak each his mind , there were some great debates; but when the Taylor children came to school they wre comely , polite well dressed , and withal had been taught in John Rankins school. They were somewhat advanced. John Taylor was a good mathmetician and he was not in school a day until James Adams and others were asking help of him in Algebra. We should also state that there were students in school at this time of excitement that went on in the even tenor of their way and recited every day as though nothing in particular was going on. Not so with all. Several good young men of Kentucky left and bore the inconvenience of ice and snow and flood and got home. Finally old Mr. Adams letter came, and he very calmly told his boy that he had better stay where he was for he might meet the same thing in other schools in Ohio"....
"The three Taylor children - John married a respectable woman, had a large family. He has been for a long time in business on Fifth Street in Cincinnati. Phebe married an artist of celebrity , named Robert Duncanson. (Robert Duncanson's restored murals may be seen in the Taft Museum in Cincinnati today,1996. A.M. Whitt) Mary Jane married a man who deserted her, then after some years she was married to the son of a Presbyterian minister names Rodgers.
November Term 1848: "Sophia Houston was a pretty little girl familiarly called Alabama because she came from that state. Her story was a sorrowful one, There landed at New Richmond a master and his slave Emma, and her little boy , they , and with them this little girl , Sophia. They started from their home in Alabama in their own wagons and camped out at night. They were not a very happy company. The young woman thought she wanted to be free , yet longing for her friends that she left behind her, and being timid about going into a strange land made her sad , murmuring, fretful. She had seen the little girl literally torn from the arms of her mother and grandmother and by force placed in the wagon amid groans, the tears, the anguish of the parents, and the wild screams of the child. This little girl mourned so continually for her home and friends that she was sick , she would not eat , and they feared she would die. At night she seemed particularly grieved and frightened, and they lulled her to sleep each night by the promise that the next day she should be taken home , but each day she was still farther away; each night the same promise came. The master came to Mr. Martin Ryan's public house, and there he told to Mr. Ryan his purposes and desires, concerning his children. Mr. Ryan became their guardian. In his house was born the second child of the young woman. He was called Harry Houston. The woman Emma lived in Mr Ryan's home for several years and was a good , kind woman , except at times she would say hard cutting things and they would correct her and bear with her and they would take good care of her,and her children. But one day , Emma was particularly unkind in her talk , and Mrs. Ryan thought it best to tell her that she could no and would not bear such talk any longer. Emma went across the street to Mr. Ryan's neice, waiting for a new place. We (the Parker family) needed help and went to Mr and Mrs Ryan. They frankly told us of her good qualities and her faults, but commended her heartily , thinking her experience would od her good. They very kindly helped her prepare to go with us , and seemed really happy to think that she was to be established in a home again. And this history is the story of our Emma who lived with us for several years, a very useful , good woman. She will be remembered, no doubt by many of the students and with great kindness. She never forgot Mr. and Mrs. Ryan's kindness. They were friends to her as long as they lived. Emma and her children’s words and ways are mingled with many a merry time. One Christmas Mother Parker had a straw man to represent Santa Claus. They stepped up to him in the dimness of the early morning and addressed Santa thus, "Santa Claus where you had to?" Evidently he meant "where have you been, tell me the story of your travels," but the students laughed so hard at that he could not have heard, even if the straw man had told him. We have dwelt on this story, a slave story, long because in it we see that the best efforts of a good men could not cure the direful effects of that dreadful system. The master went home and died soon after. Little Alabama had to be taken from school. Mr Ryan , her guardian , placed her in his sisters family where she was very kindly treated and well brought up."
(In her discussion of students enrolled in the November 1849 term , Mrs. Parker distresses and tells:"In the spring of 1857 , we left our school and went to Wilberforce University, near Xenia, Ohio to care for a colored school for a time." She further realities that , while there , they received many letters asking them to return to Parker Academy.)
May 1851 Term: David Devore came from a farm near Higginsport, Brown County. He was one those jolly, openhearted souls that everybody delights on. He was the some of Peter DeVore who often came to our neighboring church to preach. Though we thought so much of him, we had to part with him. There was a young colored girl in the school at that time and some of the citizens of that place were unwilling that Uncle Joe Staten's children should go to school in their own district. The parents had been slaves and did not know how to read and write, so of course the children would have been left in ignorance if some one did not teach them. Mrs. Nancy Thompson , when she had a school in her own house , used to teach them , and they were admitted to the Academy, but this young man (DeVore) said - " I cannot go to school where the colored are admitted." He was young and did not realize the power of Christ's word upon us,as teachers. Under his great commission we re commanded to "Teach the Nations." We feel that it is just as much our duty here in our quiet little valley to follow out that injunction as though we were in Africa or Asia. As neither could yield we parted as friends, but after this his sisters , Amanda and Mary E. DeVore came into the Academy in the winter of 1856. They were like their brother, very amiable and companionable in their natures."
May 1852 Term: (Here Mrs. Parker tells that Christian , Emily and Anna Donaldson , children of Thomas and Susanna Doonaldson enrolled. "The mother in the family is the sister of the principal." She goes on to relate:" The school was founded through prayer. Religious services were held in the Academy by Rev. John Powell. Among the first meetings three of the Parker family were baptized, Mrs. Donaldson , William Tell Parker , and Charles Parker. After these were baptized, Mr. Donaldson , while witnessing the scene, became interested and desired to be obedient and asked the minister to baptize him. He and his wife joined the First Baptist Church of New Richmond and were members there for several years , and left because they thought the church was not anti slavery enough." This is just another of many references to how strong the anti slavery and abolitionist feelings were in the New Richmond area.)
May 1852 Term: "Julia Staten was the daughter of Uncle Joe Staten of Point Pleasant and was among the students quite a number of times. Some of the best families of Point Pleasant were willing that Uncle Joe's children should attend their school , but there were some opposed. Julia was a good girl and died while quite young in the Christian faith. Uncle Joe Staten and his wife Chrisie had been slaves and neither could read or write, and if their children could not have teachers, they must go ignorant. We felt they ought to be instructed and we taught them. Uncle Joe sent all his children and one of his grandchildren to the Academy."
April 1853: "John W. Winn was a colored boy from Arkansas. He had naturally a bright mind, and he had learned much by observation and work on the farm at home, but was wholly uneducated as to books. He could read a little in the first reader. Although he was the size of a man, yet he had to take the books of a little child. All of these he went through with remarkale rapidity and ease and exhaustiveness. He took the Gazette and read it regularly with enthusiastic interest. When he had been two years in school he was with the best students in Grammar , Philosophy, and Mathmatices. We began to think it would be better to let boys run the farm without knowledge of books until they were almost grown men and then send them to school. His case was remarkable.
Same term: "Abner Williams was a colored student sent here by old Judge Esty. The Judge supplied him with all the money that was necessary for his comfort and he made commendable progress.
April 1854 Term: William and Oliver Hardin with their sisters Virginia and Almeda were brought here by their father, a wealthy slave holder of Texas. Their mother had been his slave. He was one of those tenderhearted slave holders who could not sell his children, and who happily had wealth enough to set them free and leave them in comfort. This Major Hardin did. William , the oldest , did not learn as fast as the other children , but he was a good honest fellow. Virginia and Almeda were excellent girls. They progresses very well in their studies. The sad intelligence came to us later that Almeda had hung herself in the barn. These children were all agreeable, pleasant students, except for a time Oliver was very contrary; but he was suspended from schoool and in a little while he came to his senses and applied for restoration. We gladly gave him again the privileges of the school, and he ever after that behaved as a gentleman. The other children were always cheerfully obedient to every requisition of the school."
November 1854 Term: "Cary Campbell was a colored young man from Ripley , Ohio. He was named and , I believe, brought up by Mr. Campbell of that place. He also proved to be a good student. He is a teacher now in Clermont County , and we meet him at the Institute. He is a good useful man."
April 1855 Term: "Edinburg, Charles and Lucy A. St. John were unusually intelligent, polite, pleasant colored children whose mother brought them here from New Orleans., Louisiana. The mother was an interesting , neat, honest and clever woman....Lucy St. John had given the baby (evidently the Parker's baby, Hassie) a very handsome gold ring. She (the baby) had poked it under the stair carpet."
October 1856 Term: "Samuel Wilkins was pious old colored man , who had been a slave and who came to learn to read the Bible , and he did learn to read it. He left us triumphantly, carrying away a great Bible that could read. I doubt if we ever had anotehr student who was more grateful than Samuel Wilkins.,"
"Andrew J. Napier was a colored student, a very handsome, modest young man, who came from a farm on Twelve Mile."
"Paulina and Rebecca Lott were colored girls from New Richmond of more than ordinary enterprise. They had an excellent mother. They were sprightly active girls, both in work and study. Soon after the girls left school their father went to Haiti and we have known nothing of them since."
"Ellen Waters was a young colored girl who was rather peculiar in being very wicked and very religious at the same time. She sighed deeply one day and on being asked what made her so sad replied that she was sorry that she was a Christian."Why are you sorry for that?"asked one."Oh", she replied "there is to be a dance at one of our neighbors and I want so bad to dance." One suggested that if that were true, very likely she was not a Christian at all. That thought stirred her deeply and wonderfully. She said," Oh, if you could only hear my Christian experience you would never say that about me. I have a most wonderful experience." We hope that she is a good woman now and that she has a true experience.(Note by A.M.W.: Evidently Mrs. Parker considered dancing to be "wicked", as did many religions of the time. I hope Ellen got to dance and keep her religions at the same time. I don't agree with Mrs. Parker that she was "rather peculiar" at all. Aileen M. Whitt)
"Aurelia Woodson was a nice little colored girl from Batavia. She did not remain with us long."
"Our blacksmith at this date was a colored man , a local M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) minister. A good man and full of charity. He took into his hosuehold a widowed sister with six children, and when his wife's sister and her husband died , leaving another set of six children, he took them in also, thus making a household of fifteen persons. They were all industrious and neat and prospered wonderfully well. They all loved the generous uncle and were all called by his name. They sent Sarah , the oldest girl of the children, to school.(Mrs. Parker does not give the name of the family; perhaps a study of the 1860 census would identify a black head of household , who was a blacksmith/minister with 15 children in the household , one of them named Sarah."
" At the close of this term we were urgently solicited to take charge of an enterprise begun by the Cincinnati Conference of the M.E. Church. They had purchased buildings of Tawa Springs in Green County near Xenia. Here they designed to establish a school for the colored, and they succeeded. TO find a man able to teach an Academic course of study, and know how to treat colored people with respect, and also having the ability to exercise the strict discipline necessary to make an orderly school was not an easy task. They solicited the teacher of our Academy. We locked up our houses with their goods in them. We took clothing, books and musical instruments with us and went for a short stay at Wilberforce University. In the summer of 1858 we returned home."
Fall 1855 Term:"Phillip Smith was an agreeable colored student from a farm near Twelve Mile."
1859: "Martha Smith was a very pleasant colored girl. She and her brothers made agreeable students."
(At this point n the "brief history" Mrs. Parker gives a heart-rending description of the effects of the Civil war on the Academy and the country, excerpts of which follow:)
"we are just at the opening of the great rebellion. Mutterings of war , thunderings, are deep, sullen and full of hate. Discussions are held at every man's fireside. We (our country) had to professed in freedom and yet we have supported the vilest style of slavery upon the earth. We did this with our eyes fully opened to all the abomination that was in it..We trembled, but aroused ourselves, and the North sprang into arms at the first sound of alarm. We see that these disturbances affect our school, for last year at the opening we had 46 young men, this year about 35. But this is a goodly number considering the tumultuous times which we were passing through.
.On April 1 , 1861 , 21 young men and 16 girls came into the school. Of these 21 (men) but 7 remained to complete the term. The air was all astir with animation concerning the war. Sometimes teacher and all would go to New Richmond to see the departure of the soldiers. The first time we did this the public meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church. Oh, how the people spoke! Everybody that was an orator then had a tongue of fire. The house was crowded. As the meeting closed we were starting to to the river to see the soldiers embark. The crowd rushing out broke down the floor in the vestibule. This made great confusion; many rushed to the back door, tumbling pell-mell over each other. Someone proclaimed at the front door."Be not afraid, no one is hurt, only the floor is broken". All was in a moment calmed We were soon out on the street, moving in masses to the river, there to see the soldiers go aboard. But, oh, sorrowful the sight. Many brave women quietly wiped the tears away that afternoon; but there was one old German mother who could not restrain her tears; her piercing cries sounded far up and down the street, finding an echo in many a wounded heart. The boat was testless, whistling, puffing, soldiers were hastening on. Some of their friends were going on as far as they could with them.")
(At this point in her writing Mrs. Parker makes note, dating it Jan 21 , 1889,"Last year , 1888,the severe illness of the Teacher (her husband James K. Parker) compelled the stoppage of this writing." She resumed her narrative comments on the students enrolled after 1860, but with briefer remarks. There is no further mention of which students enrolled were colored , and no further comment of interest to black history. We wish Mrs. Parker had continued to comment on the colored students from 1860-1889,but we are grateful that she recorded as many tid bits as she did, as her remarks greatly enhance our picture of that period in history.
These stories are just a few of the items and records of interest to the history of the black people of the New Richmond area. Further research would tell their continued involvement and participation in the history of the area to the present day.
The End of His Life
The 1860 census lists the 69 year old Strickland as working as a Blacksmith in Miami township, Clermont County, Ohio.
In 1870 he was living near Stonelick with his 47 year old daughter Elizabeth and her family.
By 1880 Strickland had moved to Manchester in Adams County, Oh. where the census that year lists him as a retired farmer and his health as “old age.” He died 3 years later (1883).
While his burial site is unknown, it most likely is in Manchester, Oh
What a appropriate thing it would be for schools to take a field trip to Fort Amanda during Black History Month and tell the kids about the first African-American to live within the confines of Auglaize/Allen County; a man named David who lived there during the winter of 1812. And tell them about Pvt. Mark Strickland, a 21 year old blacksmith from southern Ohio who went on to dedicate his entire life to ending slavery including putting his own safety in peril by keeping a safe house for run away slaves. How cool would that be?
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