The Bone and Sinew of the Land Read online

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2018 by Anna-Lisa Cox

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  PublicAffairs

  Hachette Book Group

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  First Edition: June 2018

  Published by PublicAffairs, an imprint of Perseus Books, LLC, a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group, Inc. The PublicAffairs name and logo is a trademark of the Hachette Book Group.

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Cox, Anna-Lisa, author.

  Title: The bone and sinew of the land: America’s forgotten black pioneers and the struggle for equality / Anna-Lisa Cox.

  Other titles: America’s forgotten black pioneers and the struggle for equality

  Description: First edition. | New York: PublicAffairs, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2017056938| ISBN 9781610398107 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781610398114 (ebook)

  Subjects: LCSH: African Americans—Northwest, Old—History. | African Americans—Indiana—History—19th century. | African Americans—Ohio—History—19th century. | Frontier and pioneer life—Northwest, Old. | Frontier and pioneer life—Indiana. | Frontier and pioneer life—Ohio. | African Americans—Social conditions—Northwest, Old. | Northwest, Old—History—1775-1865. | Northwest, Old—Race relations.

  Classification: LCC E185.925 .C64 2018 | DDC 977/.0496073—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017056938

  ISBNs: 978-1-61039-810-7 (hardcover), 978-1-61039-811-4 (ebook)

  E3-20180517-JV-PC

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Map

  African American Farming Settlements in the Northwest Territory States, 1800–1860

  Author’s Note

  Introduction

  1

  “Life, Liberty”

  2

  Interlude: “We hold these truths to be self-evident”

  3

  “The pursuit of Happiness”

  4

  “And secure the blessings of Liberty”

  5

  “To secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”

  6

  “Burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people”

  7

  “The right of the people peaceably to assemble”

  8

  “For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments”

  9

  “A history of repeated injuries and usurpations”

  Conclusion:

  “All men are created equal”

  About the Author

  Notes

  Index

  For Leora

  and

  Stephan

  With hope for the future

  African American Farming Settlements in the Northwest Territory States, 1800–18601

  [No asterisk] = Settlement with at least one African American farmer owning less than two hundred acres or with property valued at less than $2,000

  * = Settlement with at least one African American farmer owning two hundred acres or more or worth $2,000 or more

  ** = Settlement with at least one African American farmer owning four hundred acres or more or worth $4,000 or more

  *** = Settlement with at least one African American farmer owning 1,000 acres or more or with property worth $10,000 or more

  Ohio

  1 Painesville, Lake County

  2 Bloomfield, Trumbull County

  3 Mesopotamia, Trumbull County

  4 Farmington, Trumbull County

  5 Youngstown, Mahoning County

  6 Austintown, Mahoning County

  7 Goshen, Mahoning County

  8 Smith, Mahoning County*

  9 Knox, Columbiana County

  10 Lexington, Stark County

  11 Atwater, Portage County

  12 Charlestown, Portage County

  13 Ravenna, Portage County

  14 Stow, Summit County

  15 Bainbridge, Geauga County*

  16 Independence, Cuyahoga County*

  17 Middleburgh, Cuyahoga County

  18 Grafton, Lorain County

  19 Russia, Lorain County

  20 Brownhelm, Lorain County**

  21 Fitchville, Huron County

  22 Sharon, Richland County

  23 Greenfield, Huron County**

  24 Perkins, Erie County

  25 Sandusky, Sandusky County

  26 Tiffin, Seneca County

  27 Seneca, Seneca County*

  28 Big Spring, Seneca County

  29 Crawford, Wyandot County

  30 Delaware, Hancock County

  31 Perry, Allen County*

  32 Bath, Allen County

  33 Washington, Paulding County

  34 Willshire, Van Wert County

  35 Centre, Mercer County

  36 Jefferson/Macon, Mercer County*

  37 Butler, Mercer County

  38 Granville, Mercer County

  39 Carthagena, Mercer County

  40 St. Marys, Auglaize County

  41 Moulton, Auglaize County

  42 Washington, Auglaize County

  43 Van Buren, Shelby County*

  44 Lake, Logan County

  45 Jefferson, Logan County*

  46 Perry, Logan County***

  47 Monroe, Logan County

  48 Thompson, Delaware County

  49 Concord, Delaware County**

  50 Perry, Franklin County**

  51 Radnor, Delaware County

  52 Peru, Morrow County

  53 Harmony, Morrow County*

  54 Washington, Morrow County*

  55 Morris, Knox County

  56 South Bloomfield, Morrow County

  57 Hilliar, Knox County

  58 Mount Vernon, Knox County

  59 Virginia, Coshocton County

  60 Cadiz, Harrison County

  61 Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County*

  62 Meigs, Muskingum County**

  63 Roxbury, Washington County

  64 Wayne, Pickaway County

  65 Urbana, Champaign County

  66 Spring Creek, Miami County

  67 Washington, Miami County

  68 German, Darke County***

  69 Concord, Miami County

  70 Union, Miami County

  71 Xenia, Greene County

  72 Sugar Creek, Greene County*

  73 Wayne, Warren County*

  74 Union, Warren County**

  75 Caesar’s Creek, Greene County

  76 Perry, Fayette County

  77 Greenfield, Highland County

  78 Fairfield, Highland County***

  79 Han
sbrough Settlement, Liberty, Highland County

  80 Paint, Highland County

  81 Concord, Highland County

  82 Eagle, Brown County

  83 Pebble, Pike County*

  84 Chillicothe, Ross County

  85 Jackson, Pike County**

  86 Seal, Pike County

  87 Liberty, Jackson County

  88 Jackson, Jackson County

  89 Franklin, Jackson County

  90 Lick, Jackson County

  91 Berlin Crossroads, Milton, Jackson County**

  92 Huntington, Gallia County

  93 Raccoon, Gallia County

  94 Poke Patch, Lawrence/Gallia Counties

  95 Decatur, Lawrence County

  Indiana

  96 Huggart Settlement, Union, St. Joseph County

  97 Smith, Whitely County**

  98 Blue Creek, Adams County

  99 Mill, Grant County

  100 Union, Grant County Union

  101 Weaver Settlement, Liberty, Grant County

  102 Greene, Grant County

  103 Clay, Howard County*

  104 Ervin, Howard County*

  105 District 9, Carroll County

  106 Honey Creek, Clinton County

  107 Roberts Settlement, Jackson, Hamilton County***

  108 Adams, Hamilton County

  109 Marion, Boone County

  110 Walnut, Montgomery County

  111 Center, Marion County*

  112 Warren, Marion County

  113 Franklin, Marion County

  114 Sugar Creek, Hancock County**

  115 Brandywine, Hancock County

  116 Vernon, Hancock County

  117 Worth, Hancock County

  118 Jackson, Hancock County

  119 Ripley, Rush County***

  120 Greensboro, Henry County*

  121 Harrison, Henry County

  122 Dudley, Henry County*

  123 Jefferson, Wayne County

  124 Blue River, Henry County

  125 Stoney Creek, Henry County**

  126 Cabin Creek Settlement, Randolph County**

  127 Snow Hill, Randolph County

  128 Greensfork, Randolph County*

  129 Franklin, Wayne County**

  130 New Garden, Wayne County

  131 Wayne Township, Wayne County*

  132 Clay, Wayne County**

  133 Connersville, Fayette County*

  134 Union, Rush County***

  135 Laurel, Franklin County

  136 Posey, Franklin County

  137 Salt Creek, Franklin County

  138 Fugit, Decatur County

  139 Columbus, Bartholomew County

  140 Washington, Brown County

  141 Washington, Morgan County**

  142 Washington, Owen County

  143 Grayson/Marion, Owen County

  144 Lost Creek, Vigo County**

  145 Nevins, Vigo County

  146 Raccoon, Parke County**

  147 District 85, Parke County

  148 Otter Creek, Vigo County

  149 Harrison, Vigo County

  150 Honey Creek, Vigo County

  151 Underwood Settlement, Linton, Vigo County**

  152 Busseron, Knox County*

  153 Washington, Daviess County**

  154 District 61, Knox County

  155 Patoka, Gibson County*

  156 Montgomery, Gibson County*

  157 Black, Posey County*

  158 Union, Vanderburgh County

  159 Knight, Vanderburgh County

  160 Patoka, DuBois County

  161 Perry, Lawrence County

  162 Marion, Lawrence County*

  163 Orleans, Orange County

  164 Orangeville, Orange County

  165 Paoli, Orange County

  166 Stampers Creek, Orange County

  167 Southeast, Orange County

  168 Harrison Township, Harrison County

  169 Franklin, Floyd County*

  170 New Albany, Floyd County**

  171 Jeffersonville, Clark County

  172 Charlestown, Clark County

  173 Silver Creek, Clark County

  174 Lafayette, Floyd County

  175 Wood, Clark County

  176 Washington, Washington County**

  177 Driftwood, Jackson County

  178 Jackson, Jackson County

  179 Redding, Jackson County

  180 Spencer, Jennings County

  181 Geneva, Jennings County***

  182 Vernon, Jennings County

  183 Lancaster, Jefferson County

  184 Smyrna, Jefferson County

  185 Republican, Jefferson County

  186 Hanover, Jefferson County**

  187 York, Switzerland County**

  Illinois

  188 East and West Galena, Jo Daviess County

  189 Wheeling, Cook County

  190 Maine, Cook County

  191 District 32, Iroquois County

  192 New Albany, Coles County

  193 Grandview and Embarrass, Edgar County**

  194 Darwin, Clark County

  195 Newton, Jasper County

  196 Pinkstaff, Lawrence County*

  197 “Not Stated,” Wabash County

  198 “Not Stated,” Edwards County

  199 Wabash, Gallatin County

  200 Shawnee, Gallatin County

  201 Cane Creek, Gallatin County

  202 Equality, Gallatin County

  203 Curran, Saline County*

  204 Eagle, Gallatin County

  205 Monroe, Saline County

  206 “Not Stated,” Hardin County*

  207 Miller Grove, in the Shawnee Hills, Pope County

  208 “Not Stated,” Pulaski County

  209 District 2, Union County**

  210 District 2, Johnson County

  211 Stonefort, Saline County

  212 Township 8/“Not Stated,” Williamson County

  213 Township 8, Jackson County

  214 T6S R5W, Randolph County

  215 T4S R5W, Randolph County

  216 T6S R7W, Randolph County

  217 T6S R8W, Randolph County

  218 Prairie du Rocher, Randolph County

  219 Mitchie, Monroe County

  220 New Design, Monroe County

  221 Turkey Hill, St. Clair County*

  222 Lebanon, St. Clair County

  223 Ridge Prairie, St. Clair County

  224 Centreville, St. Clair County

  225 American Bottom, St. Clair County

  226 T3N R10W, Madison County

  227 T3N R7W, Madison County

  228 T4N R7W, Madison County

  229 T4N R9W, Madison County*

  230 T5N R9W, Madison County

  231 Rocky Fork Settlement, Godfrey, Madison County

  232 “Not Stated,” Bond County

  233 Southwest of District 22, Montgomery County

  234 “Not Stated,” Macoupin County*

  235 Between Macoupin and Apple Creeks, Greene County

  236 Hadley, Pike County**

  237 T1S R3W, Brown County

  238 Buena Vista, Schuyler County

  239 Hickory, Fulton County

  240 “Not Stated,” Tazewell County

  241 T11 N4E, Knox County*

  242 T11 N1E, Knox County

  243 “Not Stated,” Hancock County

  Wisconsin

  244 Peshtigo, Oconto County

  245 Shawano, Shawano County

  246 Richmond, Shawano County

  247 Freedom, Outagamie County

  248 Neenah, Winnebago County

  249 Rushford, Winnebago County

  250 Brothertown, Calumet County*

  251 Stockbridge, Calumet County

  252 Stantonville, Chilton/Calumet Counties*

  253 Charlestown, Calumet County

  254 Hubbard, Dodge County**

  255 Waukesha, Waukesha County*

  256 Caledonia, Racine County**

  257 Norway, Racine
County*

  258 Eagle, Waukesha County

  259 Dunkirk, Dane County*

  260 Plymouth, Rock County

  261 Avon, Rock County

  262 Beetown, Grant County

  263 Prairie du Chien, Crawford County

  264 Willow, Richland County

  265 Washington, Sauk County

  266 Westfield, Sauk County

  267 Fort Winnebago, Columbia County

  268 Woodland, Sauk County

  269 Forest, Bad Ax County

  270 Adrian, Monroe County

  271 Newark Valley, Adams County*

  272 Plainfield, Waushara County

  273 El Paso, Pierce County

  274 Trimbelle, Pierce County

  Michigan

  275 St. Clair Ward 1, St. Clair County

  276 Burtchville, St. Clair County

  277 North Branch, Lapeer County

  278 Lapeer, Lapeer County

  279 Burton, Genessee County*

  280 Wheatfield, Ingham County

  281 Vevay, Ingham County*

  282 Unadilla, Livingston County*

  283 Hamburg, Livingston County

  284 Royal Oak, Oakland County*

  285 Springwells, Wayne County

  286 Romulus, Wayne County

  287 Canton, Wayne County*

  288 Superior, Washtenaw County

  289 Pittsfield, Washtenaw County**

  290 York, Washtenaw County**

  291 Manchester, Washtenaw County

  292 Woodstock, Lenawee County

  293 Somerset, Hillsdale County

  294 Rollin, Lenawee County

  295 Amboy, Hillsdale County

  296 Ovid, Branch County

  297 Fawn River, St. Joseph County**

  298 Sherman, St. Joseph County

  299 Lockport, St. Joseph County

  300 Porter, Cass County*

  301 Howard, Cass County**

  302 Niles, Berrien County*

  303 Sodus, Berrien County

  304 Pipestone, Berrien County

  305 Decatur, Van Buren County

  306 Volinia, Cass County

  307 Penn, Cass County**

  308 Calvin, Cass County**

  309 Newberg, Cass County

  310 Marcellus, Cass County

  311 Porter, Van Buren County**

  312 Lafayette, Van Buren County*

  313 Lawrence, Van Buren County

  314 Arlington, Van Buren County*

  315 Waverly, Van Buren County

  316 Almena, Van Buren County*

  317 Cheshire, Allegan County

  318 Pine Grove, Van Buren County

  319 Alamo, Kalamazoo County

  320 Oshtemo, Kalamazoo County**

  321 Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County

  322 Brady, Kalamazoo County

  323 Fredonia, Calhoun County*