Benjamin-J_-Sandridge-91366

Obituary

This faithful old colored couple, known as above, by very nearly all the people living in Burlington
between the years 1845 and 1860, are historic characters of much interest to those who knew them best.
About the time of the first date given, perhaps a little earlier, they were brought to Burlington by Mr.
Edward Wallace when he immigrated hither from the state of Kentucky. They were born in Slavery in
the state of Virginia about the beginning of the century. While yet young, and still held as slaves, they
were removed to Kentucky. Their full names were sometimes given and Benjamin and Catharine Gore,
the surname being that of a former master, but oftener Benjamin and Catherine Sandridge, from their
last master in Kentucky—though few people ever knew of their having any other names than Uncle
Ben an Aunt Kitty.
The condition upon which they were allowed to come to the free territory of Iowa was as soon as
possible after arriving here they should earn and pay to Mr. Wallace $1,000 for their freedom. Whether
Mr. Wallace had really or not bought them of their owner that he might give them the opportunity of
becoming free is not known, but that he was greatly interested in them and fully believed in their
honesty and worthiness and did stand, in a large sense, on their surety, if no more, to their master is
confidently believed, and no person, save the couple themselves, seemed gladder when the contract
was finally fulfilled and they were really free, than did he.
It was my privilege to pay the last dollar of that $1,000 commission money. It was in this wise: One
Christmas morning, say about the year 1850, after about five years of their earning and saving and
paying by installments, I met Uncle Ben on the walk on Jefferson street, when, after bowing to me
politely, which he knew as well how to do as any other man, white or black, I have ever met, and,
tiping his hat courteously, he exclaimed: “Well, Kitty, and I’s goin’ to be free to-day.” How’s that? I
asked. “Oh, to-day I makes the last payment to Massa Wallace for our freedom.” Then, said I to him
promptly, I must pay the last dollar toward it. “Oh, no,” said he, “you must not, for we have got it all,
all and more too.” “Cannot help that,” I replied; “you have both been so good and kind to m e, in so
many ways, that I will feel it a privilege and an honor to pay the last dollar. And,” I continued, “I
believe you are good stock and I believe it will be a good and paying investment. At any rate, I shall
demand the privilege.” By this time I had forced the $1 on him, which he most reluctantly received,
and we parted. About an hour afterward I met him again upon the walk, when he told me that Kitty
wished to see me at their home. I knew it best to promptly call. They then lived in a poor old frame
building standing on the site of the present north part of the Barrett house on Third street. As I entered
the door Aunt Kitty came promptly toward me and with a little something wrapped in a small piece of
newspaper and held between her thumb and finger she said: “You oughtent to give that dollar to Ben,
for we have enough. But I’m much obilged to you and here’s a Christmas present for you when you gets ome." and with these words she slipped the little something into my vest pocket. I bowed thanks
and told her I had no doubt it was something nice and I was much obliged. Soon as I could get out of
the house and out of sight I eagerly looked to see what I had in my pocket. It was $5 gold piece! Surely
I was right. Uncle Ben and Aunt Kitty were good stock and the investment did pay. It brought $5 in
about one hour! I never was, perhaps, better pleased in my life with any Christmas present I ever
received than I was with that.
The last time I ever saw this old couple was in November 1848, on the occasion when I preached my
first sermon in Burlington under Baptist auspices. The place of our meeting was dignified at that time
as “Empire hall,” and was in the chamber of the small tow-story brick building, still standing on the
east side of Third street, opposite to main entrance to Barrett house. The upper story was then all in one
room and was for two years the regular place of Baptist meetings on Lord’s day. The lower story was
meanwhile occupied as a saloon. About thirty people, nearly as I can remember, were present at this
first service, and two of hem, I observed, were colored, seated in the Amen (!) corner at my left. As
soon as meeting closed, Uncle Ben, for this was the colored man, came promptly up to me and
presented me his church letter which had dismissed him and wife from a Baptist church in Kentucky
and commended them for membership in the Baptist church in Burlington. I had to tell him that we had
no church here yet, but whenever one was organized, if ever, than his letter would admit him. About
four months afterward, on the last of March, 1849, a small organization was made, only twelve
constituting the entire constituency. Uncle Ben and Aunt Kitty were two of the number, and from that
day to their deaths were faithful, exemplary and true. No church members whom I have ever know
were ever more consistent and worthy.
From the time of the organization of the church, until his death in 1855, he was, with slightest
interruptions, its sexton, for two years first in Empire hall, and then for about four years in the new
home built by the church on Fourth street. And with few exceptions, all the services were rendered free.
He regarded this as a little he could do for his Heavenly Father and his church. Nor was that all. When
the new house was built he gave a good sum toward it, and very seldom ever was a collection called for
but what, if he being occupied as sexton had missed his chance, he would come up afterward with his
offering. And she was his full support in all these benevolences.
They were both the faithful servants of the whole population; so ready and willing to work, doing all so
promptly and well, that their services were in constant demand, and good wages were generally paid
them and many presents frequently also made them by the more able families. They always, therefore
had plenty and were hospitable to callers and charitable to all. It is my own opinion that such
toothsome fried chicken, etc., as Aunt Kitty could set out are seldom in this world enjoyed by even a
preacher.
In 1856, Uncle Ben, while tending upon a man sick with small-pox, himself contracted the disease, and
in a few days died. It was a matter of profound grief to me that I could not visit him in that last sickness
and hear his dying testimony for the Savior he truly loved and trusted. But if his funeral was lonely, the
memorial service I conducted on the following Lord’s day in the house where he had so faithfully
served, and worshiped, too, was far from it. The house was entirely filled, and with many people, too,
who ordinarily were never seen there—members of other congregations and non-church-goers, who
came from regard for the one who was gone and profound respect for his memory.
After Uncle Ben’s decease, the church gave to Aunt Kitty a free life lease of the rear end of their
church lot with permission to erect thereon a dwelling for herself. She had a plain structure reared and
that was her home until her death in 1863. It was soon found after her death that she had made a will
conveying to one and another her little effects, and among the rest, was the home in which she was
living and $100 in cash to her church. The house was for years afterward generally occupied by the one
serving as sexton and was frequently sufficient to pay for the entire service be rendered. Soon as the
church received the $100 it was voted that it be appropriated toward procuring a bell for the tower of
the house of worship and it was done, and enough more put with it, and the bell was procured that still
rings for all the church services. It is known among the older membership as “Aunt Kitty’s bell.”
When Uncle Ben died Aunt Kitty caused a marble slab to be erected at his grave in Aspen Grove
cemetery on which was the following inscription:
“In memory of Benjamin Sandridge, commonly known as Uncle Ben. Born a slave in Virginia and held
in bonds about forty-nine years. Died a freeman by the laws of his country and by the grace of his God,
in Iowa, November 7, 1855, being about fifty-three years of age. ‘Unto him that hath made us kings
and priests unto God be glory and dominion forever. Amen.’”
Thirty-one years after Uncle Ben’s death, and twenty-four after Aunt Kitty’s death, the writer returned
to Burlington and to the pastorate of the church he and they had once helped to organize and build up.
There he found the monument on Uncle Ben’s grave, yet in good condition, but none of Aunt Kitty’s
right at the side of his. One Sunday morning, a few months since, at the close of my sermon, I told the
congregation of this fact, with some others which I have here narrated, and asked that they at once help
me to put at her grave a companion monument to the one she had put on her husband’s. In three
minutes the collection boxes contained the required sum, and a slab now stands at her grave the
superscription thereon reading thus:
“In memory of Catharine Sandridge, commonly known as Aunt Kitty. Born a slave, the wife of Uncle
Ben and with him made free by their payment of $1,000 to their master. Both became members of the
First Baptist church, Burlington, Iowa, at its organization in 1849, and were faithful as such to the end.
Died September 10, 1863, being about 60 years of age. “To depart and be with Christ is far better.”
Erected by contributions of friends in 1887.”
This wedded pair had children—just how many I never knew, but several. I was often told by them
were probably living, torn from them in their infancy and carried to parts unknown and sold to other
masters. Wonder not that they intensely hated slavery and believed liberty a blessing. Nor wonder that
Aunt Kitty, as if inspired from above, should declare as she did positively when the war of the rebellion
first broke out that its end would be the death of slavery. She lived to see her prophecy fulfilled: In
January 1863, Abraham made the proclamation of universal emancipation of all the enslaved in our
country, and in September after, amid the glad amens and rejoicings of millions that American slavery
was dead, she passed on to the home of the eternally blessed in Heaven
1887--12-11 Burlington Hawk Eye p5 - Aunt Kitty tribute.odt