Nomination for African Jackson Cemetery

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior Inventory - Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms and/or common - not for publication city, town - Piqua X vicinity of - State- . district - public - unoccupied - building(s) .commercial - park - structure work in progress X site entertainment - . religious - object _ in process - yes: restricted - government X. yes: unrestricted X other: Cemetery Rossville-Springcreek Historical Society c/o Helen Gilmore, President street & number has this property been determined eligible? - yes X no both Troy Accessible museum transportation Category educational code National Register of Historic Places industrial historic Status federal Ownership (3-82) scientific Ohio being considered 5. Location of Legal Description 3. Classification date 1979 4.

Owner of Property Public Acquisition date entered private residence 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Administration Building 1. Name Type all entries-complete applicable sections Present Use African Jackson Cemetery National Park Service For NPS use only agriculture NPS Form 10-900 military - county - private street & number 8280 McFarland Street - local street & numberZimmerlin Road. title Ohio Historic Inventory 039 - excellent _deteriorated _ unaltered X original site .ruins X altered _ moved X fair from the cemetery to the Miami River and to the north. Fires, demolitions and the The nominated area consists ofan acre rectangular cemetery measuring approximately was the date the ex-slaves formally obtained title to the cemetery land. and others displaced.

The overall character of the lot is, however, one of The cemetery was originally divided into 128 plots with five east-west "streets." the Free Randolph Slaves, Placed June 14, 1980, by the Piqua Chapter DAR." 1866 7. Description century and contemporary ranch-style residences in varying states of repair.The alterations have seriously affected the historic integrity of those remaining. case with many semi-isolated cemeteries, some of the stones have been vandalized small veterans' stones and several tall sandstone tablet form stones.As is the The African Jackson Cemetery is a small cemetery located in the northern limits of 360'by 120'.

The eastern end is approximately twenty feet higher in elevation and Check one Randolph Slave Settlement was established in 1846 and eventually extended south Condition reads "(African)-Jackson Cemetery." A small boulder with a bronze plaque is located The few remaining gravestones are located at the western end and include several 1913 flood have reduced the 19th century houses to a relatively small number and date unexposed general care.The graves date from the 1840's to the 1930's. Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below _ archeology-prehistoric _ community planning - prehistoric . conservation . economics - sculpture . social/ .music .theater - politics/government _transportation _ invention other (specify) Specific dates ca. 1847 to 1934 Builder/Architect N/A Statement of

Statement of significance

/Architect N/A Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) During the antebellum period, Ohio had a substantial free black population in rural including white hostility and economic opportunities in urban centers, most of these small farming communities have disappeared. Today only a handful of these isolated important not only for the notoriety of their eccentric Virginia statesman owner whose contested will resulted in their freedom; but for the difficult circumstances among the settlements which remain since it is still an active black community whose difficulties in accurately documenting the history and structural integrity of many associated with the initial freed slave occupation. John Randolph "of Roanoke" (1773-1833) was a Virginia statesman renowned for his the 19th century.

He wrote several wills during the 1820's and 1830's which included contrary provisions for the treatment of his slaves upon his death. A long litigation over his wills was not concluded until 1845 when it was determined that his slaves, County near the black community of Carthegena, numbering at that time over 500 Connecticut educator in 1835 specifically to teach freed blacks. It is estimated that approximately 383 slaves emigrated to Ohio in 1846, coming via wagon train, riverboat, and finally canal boat on the Miami and Erie Canal. When they disembarked at New Bremen, the nearest point on the canal to their land, a group of Mercer County settlers had organized to oppose the landing and forced the ex-slaves to return south but was again thwarted by hostile whites. Ultimately, some black families were woods which became known as Knowles Addition of the Village of Rossville.

1600-1699 1700-1799 communications 1500-1599 1400-1499 commerce engineering industry humanitarian 8. Significance archeology-historic literature science Period architecture agriculture law 1900- of the houses, the cemetery was chosen for nomination as the resource most clearly which surrounded their initial relocation that is representative of the hardships _education eccentric and idiosyncratic orations within the U.s.Congress in the first decade of numbering almost 600,should be freed and transported to "a free State or Territory north of Piqua on land owned bya local farmer,William W.M.McFarland.It has been military -art landscape architecture _ religion - philosophy The Jackson Cemetery is significant as the primary historic resource remaining from freedmen. The St. Marys Manual Labor School had been established there by a on the canal.

Stopping near Piqua the executor, who had accompanied the group, attempted to locate the freedmen near a "well behaved negro colony" in Shelby County assisted by several Quaker communities in Miami County, but a large number settled the Randolph Slave Settlement, a major freed black community established in the 1840's. settlements whose personal landholdings were extensive. For a number of reasons Xexploration/settlement within the United States."The executor purchased 3200 acres in southern Mercer speculated that McFarland was interested in a labor force for his farm.The area residents can trace their ancestry back to the original freedmen.Because of Ohio Historic Preservation Office, 1982. Rossville-Springcreek Historical Society, 1981. Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name - Quadrangle scale . UT M References west by McFarland Road; and on the south and east by an alley.

See enclosed plat. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state N/A name/title David A. Simmons date May 1982 street & number I-71 & 17th The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: - national .local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated State Historic Preservation Officer signature For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register - i Keeper of the National Register Chief of Registration code county Northing Easting date Columbus One telephone 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Attest: Ohio 11. Form Prepared By 1:24000 10. Geographical Data 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Piqua East city or town Gilmore, Helen Dehlia. according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. 1414|418 /61510 OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service African Jackson Cemetery, Piqua, Miami County, Ohio Continuation sheet Item number 8 In 1905 some of the remaining Randolph slaves from the original group initiated unsuccessful litigation in the Mercer County courts to obtain title to the lands still live in Rossville. Several early 19th century houses thought to date to the settlement period remain in the area, but all have serious questions of physical integrity.

One house, for example, was believed to be built in 1847 by Gabral White as a story and a half double, but half burned and was demolished leaving only half the building standing. Another house built ca. 1850 by York Rial has been remodeled with additions and still retains its 19th century appearance and has clearly established links to the With the exception of a few relatively obscure articles, the role of these black settlers in the development of antebellum Ohio has gone unnoticed by historians historical society and developed plans to promote the recognition and restoration Malone, Dumas. "John Randolph," in Dictionary of American Biography, 10 vols. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1935. PP. 39-59. Page received (3-82) Inventory-Nomination Form National Register of Historic Places of their community.

NPS Form 10-900-a date antered For NPS use only originally purchased for them in the county. Today a few of their descendants flood which destroyed approximately half the settlement. The cemetery, however, 9. Bibliography continued. Page 2 Sherwood, Henry Noble. "The Settlement of the John Randolph Slaves in Ohio." Randolph Slaves. - RETURN Recom. /Criteria Reviower - - soo continuation sheet - technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below - ruins - unaxposod 2. Location Working No. REJECT 7. Description Miami County alterations/integrity clarity 3. Classification Action: completeness summary paragraph resubmission Date 5. Location of Legal Description Discipline African Jackson Cemetery owner objection nomination by person or local government 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Federal Agency: boundary selection 1. Name 4. Owner of Property Fed. Reg.

Date: .Nomination returned for: National Park Sovice 2.1.83 Substantive Review: - uneitered - moved sample NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES excollont good 8. Significance Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph resource 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property UMT References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is _ national Questions concerning this nomination may be directed Phone: 202 272-3504 completeness Signed context clarity checked Date Other Maps Photographs applicable criteria justification of areas relating significance to Bullder Architect local Specific dates relationship of integrity Quadrangle name State Historic Preservation Officer signature title state Miami County, Ohio Photo: David Simmons, 1982 View of cemetery entrance looking east Negative: Ohio Historic Preservation Office African Jackson Cemetery, Piqua Vicinity, Miami County, Ohio Photo: David Simmons, 1982 Negative: Ohio Historic Preservation Office View of Esther White's grave African Jackson Cemetery, Piqua DICD A.D.1S00 Miami County, Ohio Photo: David Simmons, 1982 Negative: Ohio Historic Preservation Office African Jackson Cemetery, Piqua Vicinity, View of Archie Giles grave dated 1875 Miami County, Ohio Photo: David Simmons, 1982 View of cemetery from northeast corner Negative: Ohio Historic Preservation Office African Jackson Cemetery, Piqua Vicinity, PIQUA EAST QUADRANGLE | 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STATE OF OHIO DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PIQUA EAST, OHIO UNITED STATES 12 BTM AFRICAN CEMETERY "JACKHON CEMETERY R.R.

SPIKE FOUNO RANGE S-6277 MIAMI Pigua Vicinity ROSVILLE OCTOBER 10,1978 UNINCORPORATEO VILLAGE E ZIMMERLIN ROAD County, Ohio. R.R. SPIKE SET COLATT - TRISSELL - ENGINEERS ALLE SURVEY LOT RECORO TOWNSHIP PAGe LLLo Buecker Jan. 17/80 We do feel, along with Mr. Wm. B. Woods"Arrowston" very worthy of preservation as it is truly from an era once an old farm house, and was bought and renovated in Piqua, OH RE: "Arrowston" (William Boal Wood House and Estate past. Washington, D. C. We do appreciate any consideration you give us. Richard J. Beucker Uur homehas been referred to as "High Acres".It was for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

United States Department of the Interior playhouse and rathskellar and as you can tell we are very Dear Carol Shull: We are honored to know our properity has been nominated It isa spacious New England styled home and is surrounded much in love with the house. to their son W. B.Wood and his bride as a wedding gift. Jnteriors MIaMI Co. 1222 Park Avenue tiful and has been well cared for.It has a very unique THE NATION. L REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES SPONSE (ATTACHED) INITIALS TLL (ATTACHED) DATE REC'D_JAN 2 2 1980 IAL SENT STATE OHIO Kindleberger, Frederick, Stone House and Barn Oxford Railroad Depot and Junction House Honorable Howard M. Metzenbaum Honorable John H. Glenn, Jr. Honorable Clarence E. Miller Mr. David Brook Honorable Clarence J. Brown Honorable Thomas N. Kindness Columbus, Ohio 43211 For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401.

Location Oxford Sarahsville Name Butler County Miami County Mahoning County Young-Shaw House Kenton-Hunt Farm Monroe County Thematic Resources Savage-Stewart House Clark County Canaanville vicinity Clarington vicinity Springfield vicinity Also Notified Youngstown Piqua Honorable Tennyson Guyer ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Noble County Honorable Douglas Applegate State Historic Preservation Officer Athens County Date Entered The Ohio Historical Society Honorable Lyle Williams Seven Early Office Buildings at Central Square Interstate 7l at 17th Avenue FEB 2/13/80 FEB81980 October 26, 1982 Ms. Carol Shull, Chief Department of Registration National Register of Historic Places 440 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C.

20240 All the appropriate notification procedures have been followed for the new The Salem China Company Eight Black History Resources in Cleveland Sandusky Street Historic District Great Southern Hotel and Theatre African Jackson Cemetery St. John's Lutheran Church St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal Church St. Henry Roman Catholic Church Serquet, Emanuel and Frederick Farm Capital University Historic District Valley Dale Ballroom Please let me know if you have any questions. W. Ray Luce State Historic Preservation Officer WRL: BP:dd X.c: Regional Coordinators (5) Encl. Montgomery County Noble Miami Columbiana Hamilton Delaware Cuyahoga Franklin Muskingum Stark Ohio Historic Preservation Office NATIONAL REGISTER New Submissions Theodore Krumberg Building Dear Carol: Schlee-Kemmler Building Enclosed are twelve new National Register nominations and two resubmissions.

Commercial Building Ohio Historical Center 1-71& 17th Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 (614) 466-1500 Sincerely ARTICLES ON JOHN RANDOLPH SLAVES CINCINNATI (DAILY) GAZETTE July 2, 1846 July 11, 1846 July 23, 1846 Aug- 1, 1846 October 14, 1982 Ohio Historical Society Notes taken by African Jackson Cemetery Beverly Kelley Ohio JOHN RANDOLPH SLAVES Cincinnati (Daily) Gazette - 1846 About 300 Negroes pass through Cincinnati July 1 - all sizes, ages - cause little attention the calls of death... Next to send them to Ohio, that they may be free! From taking possession of the lands up to give security that they shall not become a charge upon the Negroes remain on Col.

Johnson Farm near Piqua Condemns citizens of Mercer for taking "last dollar" ($32,000.) for land then raising an armed force to prevent their taking Says those loudest in threats were those who sold the land, township." "Pouring in upon us their helpless" expected. "Already several colored settlements" "And, now the poor creatures are among us - July 15: "leaves them ignorant and unprepared" "Why does not Virginia and Kentucky retain their freed blacks?" possession of the land. nor our duty, to add to the ignorance of our state in any way." While strongly anti-slavery-very critical of Randolph last act, resting upon his soul" before their arrival (paraphrase). quoted or taken from "Sidney Aurora" July 2: July 11: Why - we have nothing to do with slavery...Neither our interest The first step is to free their slaves...

encamped in wood near Lockport on Canal paper is outraged - "participants should be punished." Of Virginians: "Whenever their eyes get opened, because hear Later Negroes near Piqua - Judge Lee (Leigh probably) "has gone John Randolph Slaves Cincinnati (Daily) Gazette - 1846 Page 2 to return to Virginia. 387 Negroes; large portion are small, includes children of all Negroes characterized as honest, industrious - "profoundly it will be in single families - each to look after itself. Thinks it a great pity they were not sent to Liberia. of self-government) (and) throws them upon a community only to and given them quarters...they will not suffer...arrangements Aug. 1: Quoted from Troy Times Were first prevented by mob - from taking possession in Mercer - Then purchase made in "the black settlement" of Shelby County" - by Judge Leigh - citizens refused to allow them to settle.

ages, all complexions." been absorbed" suffer tenfold the horror of that system." returned to Piqua. "Tis a mistaken philanthropy that liberated slaves(with no idea Negroes appear to have abandoned their land;retracing steps from here" July 23: (From Sidney, Ohio, July 18, 1846) be molested. "Bought several hundred acres about 8 miles Sees all this (trouble/uproar - whatever) as "wretched consequence are being distributed along the canal in families, pairs, singly "as best" the agent can. ignorant" - implies Randolph intentionally kept them this way. July 31: Had wanted to settle in a single community-"if they remain" About $30,000 was 1eft to them.$9,000-10,000 -"has already Some(Negroes)have gone there;large number still in canal John Randolph Slaves Cincinnati (Daily Gazette - 1846 Page 3 employ them. "Old man John" - returned to Virginia with family except three Aug.

24: quoted from Piqua Register (regarding Negroes) An uneasy feeling still manifest in parts of Miami County. Says Judge Leigh will eventually move them to Liberia. A disturbance will give the township a bad name. of white's and blacks - especially blacks" colonizing emancipated slaves while opposed also to citizens' maltreatment of Negroes. not let them stay especially if it's only for a year?" Does not want the South(Virginia and Kentucky)to use Ohio for sons in love with girls that are staying-will not 1eave) Uneasiness - but - "no unpleasantness has occurred." Opposes those trying to drive Negroes away-(paraphrase)"Why MAR 15 Newsletter of the Great Miami River Corridor Committee - Miami/Shelby Counties VOLUME V NUMBER 3 ROSSVILLE HISTORICAL MUSEUM Land Street in Rossville: * The Rossville Historical Mu- facts of the late 1800's. It with special group tours be-. Mrs.

Helen Gilmore (513) 773-6789 donor. contact: Rossville Historical Society household furnishings of the along the Great Miami River, For additional information, ed that the Historical Soci- item and acknowledging the dicating the history of the Historical Society is plan- ing arranged upon reauest will also include documents, seum will display photos of 8280 McFarland Street Photo by Marilyn Helman ning to open a museum this newspaper articles, and books Historical Society, has stat ety would accept donations of open on Saturdays and Sundays Piqua Daily Call depicting the journey and Located north of Piqua The Rossville - Sprinqcreek the York Rial home on McFar dolph Slaves in Rossville. be identified by a plaque in the Randolph Slaves and arti eventual settling of the Ran- Mrs.

Helen Gilmore, President this museum will be housed in late 1800 items to be used as of the African Jackson Cemetery The Museum is scheduled to be Miami County, Ohio cry 1. Slave - Lot Born 1816 2. Slave - Louis Musco 3. Slave - Ed Crowder Slave - George R. Rial 12. Slave - Johnson Crowder - Born 1824 13. Child of slave William Rial 1882-1934 14. Slave - P. Mitchell 17. Slave - Nancy Tibbs 42. Slave - Gabriel White - Death 1906 44. Jordan Williams - Died free 49. Slave - Ed Lee Ohio ROSSVILLE SPRINGCREEK HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND CIVIL WAR VETS Child of Slave - Richard White AFRICAN JACKSON CEMETERY DEATH LIST 8280 MCFARLAND STREET PIQUA, OHIO 45356 African Jackson Cemetery 15. Child of Slave - Minerva Rial 16. Slave - Isaac Rial - 1811-1891 38. Slave - Wade Reese 41. Slave - R. Smith Death 1919 45. Slave - Shadrac White - Born 1816 47. Slave - Willis White 48.

Slave - Peter Johnson Born 1780 1839-1911 1867-1931 Born 1789 Entered Service 1863 discharged 1866 50. Slave - J. Delany 51. Slave - William Nickens Slave - Preston Huggard Slave - William Armstrong Slave - Robert Shipp 56. Slave - John Bally Slave - William Williams - Veteran - Entered service 1865 - 3 years 59. Slave - Arny Rocco Slave - Peter Bray Slave - Sidney Vicks - Veteran - Entered service 1864 Discharged 1865 62. Child of Slave George Smith 1867-1931 67. Stillborn Johnson Baby 71. Slave Susan Hunt 1832-1913 Hanson Johnson Child of Slave - 1860-1928 John Henry Jones 1846-1918 Freed Slave Child of Slave Ralph Lee 1911-1913 100. Child of Groa Johnson 101. Child of Isabella Johnson Child of Earl Jones 1919-1919 106.

Stillborn Slave Robert Smith Child of Slave Nelson Clark Slave-Michael Roberts-Veteran-Entered service 1864 Discharged 1865 Infant Jones Slave Sarah Ann Roberts 1832-1910 Baby Lee Child of Slave May Johnson 1882-1917 66. Child of Slave Raper Delany 79. Child of Slave Jabella Williams Henry Clinton Blackburn 1921-1921 Slave Benjaman J. Roberts 1839-1921 89. Child of Slave Mary Jane Brown 107. Slave David Hughes - Veteran 68. Edith Rial Hardin 1862-1913 Child of Slave 69. Child of Slave Priscilla Gillard - 1851-1910 Slave Henry Clay - Veteran - Entered Service 1864 Discharged 1864 102. Child of Josephine Johnson 103. Child of Margaret Johnson 104. Child of Nathanel Johnson 105. Child of William Johnson 1880-1919 100. 1861-1865 1911-1911 103. 104. 1850-1913 Slave Death 1896 Child of Slave Child of Slave Philip Andrew White 10-19-1 C. Brown 119.

Nelson Clark Child of Slave 120. Slave Mary Ann Johnson 121. Slave Norma Roberts 1832-1910 122. Child of Theodore Lee 1868-1924 115. Stillborn Baby Johnson George Davis-Veteran-Entered Service 1864 Discharged 1865 Baby Jones 113. Slave James Gillard 1838-1913 117. Slave Rick Parson 1843-1917 1836-1912 120. 119. 117. 114. 122. 116. 118. 121. Slave Bourben Gillem