African Americans of Vanderburgh Co., IN
"History of Vanderburgh Co., IN," 
Published in Madison, WI by Brant & Fuller, Apr 1889
Transcribed and Submitted by Liz Dalton


 
Page 341:      Five colored people were brought into court on a wit of habeas corpus in 1836.  They were Delila Leach and her four children, who obtained their freedom upon the death of their master, James Leach of Mississippi, through the terms of his will, which also directed his executor to send them to Indiana or Liberia as they might choose.  They arrived in Evansville with a copy the late master's will and letters from executor, and were taken into posserssion by Dr. William Trafton, who claimed they were not emancipated by the will according to the laws of Mississippi, and that by the latter of executor he was requested to take charge of them.  The court, upon hearing the facts, discharged them from the custody and power of Dr. Trafton.
 
Page 384:  McFarland Lodge (Colored Masons) - This lodge is the result of a consolidation of Liberty and Olive Branch lodges, which, beginning about 1866, worked for some ten years.  Those chiefly instrucmental in establishing Masonry amond the colored people in this city were:  Albert Shannon, Rev. Green McFarland, Adam Rouse, J. J. Johnson, Abner Cloud, John Banks and A. W. Finley.  Names in honor of Rev. Green McFarland, the lodge now working was established in September, 1876.  It has been very prosperous, its present membership being fifty-six.  Its worshipful masters have been G. G. Robinson, Rev. G. McFarland, Rev. Dennis Rouse, Anthony Garnett and Lewis Anderson.
 
Page 385:  Pythagoras Lodge, No. 11 (Colored Masons) - was organized with thirty-one charter members in 1887.  Edward James and Nathaniel Allen were the chief instruments in founding it.  Its first, and present officers are:  Rush Carr, W. M.; John Neville, S. W.; George Austin, J. W. ; W. A. Rucker, Sec.; B. York, Treas.
 
Paage 387:  Vanderburgh Lodge, No. 1702, G. U. O. of O. F. (colored Odd Fellows), was instituted in December, 1875, and organized in the following January.  Those chiefly instrumental in establishing the order were:  Philander Cooper, Thomas Brown, William H. Beecher, William H. Rowen, R. T. White, H. K. Adams and others.  It began with about thirty members and now has seventy-five.  Among its noble grands have been:  Philander Cooper, Adam Rose, John Coffee and Benjamin Paxton.  The lodge has been prosperous, its affairs having been conduted by some of the best of Evansville's colored citizens.  Its present officers are:  Andrew Wooden, N. F.; P. Cooper, N. G; John Catlett, V. G.; Ben Paxton, Sec.; Robert L. Babb, Treas.; Esic Roach, chaplain.
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