Ketcham - Cassie - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal April 30. 1892

Our Colored Centenarian Dies Quietly On Saturday Evening of Old Age. Aunt Cassy Ketcham, who would have been 102 years old had she lived until next October, died quietly of old ago about five o'clock Saturday evening at the residence of Zack Williams, on east Wabash avenue. The funeral occurred Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock and was attended by a largo concourse of tho deceased's friends, both white and black. After services at the residence the remains were laid away to the final rest at Oak Hill Cemetery. All of our older citizens and most of our younger ones knew old Aunt Cassy. She was a full blooded negress but having been associated all her life in the homes of educated and refined people as house servant and nurse, she spoke pure English and was a most entertaining conversationalist. For the last few years of her life she lived with Zack Williams who provided for her admirably and gave her "very comfort necessary. Aunt Cassy was brought here by the father of Gen. Richard Canby, whoso tragic death at the hands of tho bloody Indian chief, Capt. Jack, precipitated the groat Mococ war. Aunt Cassy was Canby's nurse and up to the time of her death revered his memory as he was always kind to her and she loved him as a child of her own. Aunt Cassy had papers which established the question of her age beyond doubt and gave credence to the story of her life, which she gave The JOURNAL about one year ago.

The story, which is an entertaining one, is as follows: "I was born a slave in Prince George county, Maryland, on October 13, 1790. I knew very little of my parents, my mother, dying while I was a baby and my father living on a distant plantation and the property of a man named John Allen. I remember of seeing him only once or twice, but remember my sister and two brothers quite well. I was owned in Maryland by Miss Nancy Spriggs She was an old maid and very rich, owning hundreds of colored folks. As my mother was dead I was placed with an old mammy, .who took care of the orphans, and was allowed to play all I wanted to. One night I woke and found the quarters on fire. There was a row half a mile long burned down, but God spared all us little children that time. When the quarters burned. Nancy took me for a house girl to the mansion. There I learned to knit and carry cool water to the ladies as they sat on the verandas in the warm sunny afternoons. The work was easy and I played most of the time. Miss Nancy would entertain elegant folks from Washington and would go there herself sometimes. When she came back she would come toting a whole parcel of Jerusalem apples (tomatoes) and other truck. She liked to bring things home from Washington even though she could get them right at home. I can't remember so much about my life in Maryland because children in those days were not like the children now.' No one told them anything and they were not allowed to ask questions. What I remember best is the fruit, the strawberries and peaches which were finer than I have ever seen since. I never saw General Washington but Miss Nancy used to drink to him and all the ladies bow and smile. I remember the war, too, and how one warm afternoon the soldiers with red coats and white breeches, went marching by on the dusty road from Bladensburg, looking tired and worn. Folks all laughed and said they had to go back because they were whipped, but the night before they didn't talk that way. They were all scared and didn't laugh until they heard the men in the red coats had been whipped in the dark at Bladensburg. Then everyone joked and laughed loudly at the soldiers as they hurried back to the sea The men in red coats did nothing but hurried on and I have not seen them since, and I reckon they are all dead now. Miss Nancy was mighty good to us and would never sell anyone. She rented a man named Tom once, though, to John Mercy and when he came home he was wearing a tow shirt. Miss Nancy saw him across the yard and in her wide hooped dress she stood on tho veranda and shook her fan at him saying, 'Tom, Tom, go to the quarters and put some clothes on don't go dressed like that.' Then Miss Nancy talked about trifling John Mercy, who whipped his folks and gave them tow shirts to wear until her black eyes shone like beads. Those were happy days. But one day Miss Nancy died and all the black folks were weeping around while the relatives buried her and came back to divide the property.

Dr. Canby was Miss Nancy's young cousin and I was given to him as he was going to Kentucky The night before we left my father came over from Allen's plantation and I told him and my brothers and sister good bye. I never heard one word from any of them afterwards and reckon they are all dead by this time. We made the trip from Maryland to Boone county, Kentucky, in wagons and the journey was a long one, through the woods and down the Ohio river.

In Boone county I had a good time always and married twice, once to John Griffin and last to Andy Ketcham. Dr. Canby finally removed to Madison, Indiana, and took Andy and me with him. We lived there some time and one day General Jackson, who had recently been made President, passed through on his way to Washington from New Orleans. He visited Dr. Canby and a­ppointed him land agent at Crawfordsville, to succeed Mr. Whitlock, the Whig. We came in wagons and again had to go through the woods. We made our last stop at Jimtown. There was only one house there then, owned by a blacksmith named Wick.

Crawfordsville was a very small town then and Dr. Canby was a great man in it. His house stood where the central school building is now and the present school yard was his door yard. He build a big house with 40 rooms in it and the folks called it "Canby's Folly." The Doctor was married twice and had nine children. Dick Canby, who was killed by the Indians, was the best one of all. I remember so well when he was born, and I nursed him when he was a baby. Many a night I sat up with him and nursed him and he was always good to me. He was smart and hot headed and I remember once he had a fuss with his school teacher. In the morning when school time came the doctor said, 'Richard, it is time for you to go to school.* Dick replied, 'I am not going any more.' 'Tut, tut, tut,' cried the Doctor, 'pick up your books and off with you, young sir!" Dick did it and after that got along with his books and teacher. He finally went off by tho stage to West Point and after that I saw but little of him. I finally bought the lot where George Hurley now lives from Dr. Canby, and lived in my house many years. My last child, Kitty, married Henry Wilson, and he died of the small pox. Then at length Kittie died too, and I sold out to Mr. Hurley For the last 16 years I have lived here waiting for the call of the good Master. I'm a Methodist and leave my future to the Lord. He has always been kind to me and although I lived in bondage I was freer and happier than many who had masters.. Happier, I'm sure, than all who were not servants of tho Lord. I do not want to die but I am ready to go when the great Taskmaster says well done.' - thanks so much to Kim H - I've had a great fascinastion with AUnt Cassie for many years so this is a great addition :)

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Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Tuesday 24 June 1890

Aunt Cassie Ketcham, who at present is making her home at Zack Williams’, is nearly one hundred years old. She was born a slave in Maryland on the 15th of October 1790, is a hale and hearty old lady and bids fair to pass her hundredth milestone and many more besides. Except Mr. Krug, who is her senior by about one month, she is the oldest person in the city.

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Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Tuesday 14 Oct 1890