James Smith
Daily Commonwealth, Monday, May 19, 1879, page 1
Death, Burial and Memorial of "Old Uncle Jimmy"
James Smith, familiarly and affectionately known as "Old Uncle
Jimmy" died on Friday morning, May 16, 1879 at his home and surrounded by the
comforts that the grateful hands of those he had served so long and so
faithfully had provided. According to the statement of Col. James Taylor,
he was one hundred and two years of age when he died.
Throughout this long and eventful life he was an honest, industrial servant, a moral and tender-hearted man, and a pure and conscientious Christian. Black though he was, his superior character won him the respect and confidence of all who knew him, and his life as a sermon reaches out in its purifying and elevating influences to a larger congregation than and to an infinitely greater fruition that is accorded to the efforts of many who wear the robes of divine mission.
He was born in Carolina County, Virginia, the slave of Colonel James Taylor, of that county, father of General James Taylor, formerly of Newport, Ky. During his life he had seen many changes and would often, as he thought of the good old times gone by, deprecate the demoralization and viciousness of the present time. His memory, even to the last, was clear, and it was a rare treat to sit and listen to the white haired old man. as with dimmed years staring into vacancy, he would relate incidents which such familiar detail that to us, that almost mystical days of Madison, Lafayette, Jackson and Washington seemed to have been conjured up again and were passing in panoramic review before him.
His death was the result of old age; the machinery had worn out, and the sands had run out. His last words were of concern for the salvation of the world and faith in a future of eternal peace and glory.
The funeral which took place yesterday afternoon at the Bellevue-street Baptist Church was largely attended, the church being crowded to its repletion. Among those present were some of our best citizens, who took the opportunity to show their respect for a man among men. A very touching and beautiful sermon was preached by the Rev Blackburn of Covington after which the remains were taken to Evergreen Cemetery. Upon the grave of the latest and most fragrant blossoms of 1879 were strewn upon the remnant of 1777.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 May 1879, page 8
A Remarkable Person-His Life and Death
Yesterday afternoon all that was earthly of James Smith, familiarly and affectionately known as Old Uncle Jimmy, the oldest lifetime colored servant of the Taylor family, was laid to rest. The better and immortal part passed away last Friday to that "undiscovered country from whose bournend traveler returns."
He was born in Caroline County, Virginia, the slave of Colonel James Taylor, of that county, father of General James Taylor, formerly of Newport, Kentucky, and was over a hundred years of age. He had seen many of the household gathered to their fathers, while he lived on. His senses dimmed, but his loyalty to the family that owned him undiminished. In his declining years he was most solicitous for the destiny of the immortal souls of those he loved. "I want you all to get to heaven" he would say, exhorting them never to leave off prayer for either praying would make them leave off sinning or continuing in sin might make them leave off praying.
He earned the respect of all men by his long and devoted services to the household in which he was brought up. How often have we heard his young masters speak of his careful watchfulness over their school boy days, how he assisted them in their plans for catching rabbits or hunting quails, and in mature years brushed off their clothes and burnished them up so they might shine resplendent in the eyes of their lady loves, or home returning from college or foreign tour, met them with joyous greetings.
He well remembered President Madison, who was a cousin of his master and had the honor of driving General Lafayette when he visited Lexington Ky. in 1825. A century of years has been counted by the grand horologe of time and the gray headed old gentleman has passed away and sleeps peacefully in eternity. His last thoughts were full of kindness for the family in which he had lived so long. In the days of hi decrepitude, when his hands had ceased their labors, hi words arose in prayer to the Great Incomprehensible Being who hides himself from the wise and prudent and reveals himself to the simple and lowly of heart.
Uncle Jimmy was remarkable for his sobriety, and might say with "Adam" in As You Like It:
"For in my youth I never did apply
Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood
Nor did not with unbashful forehead woo
The Means of weakness and debility."
He was a Baptist and hs always lived a life of truth and honesty. We can almost hear the spirits of shadow land uttering the greeting: "Good old man, thou art right welcome home."
On the occasion of casting his first vote he went to the polls actuated by higher motives than most men. What to him were the names of Democrat or Republican? From the fullness of his heart speaking he said, "I want to vote for my old master." They hold him his old master was not running for office. "Are none of my young masters running?" he said. "Then I will vote for the man my master votes for." The second election he walked boldly up to the polls and said; "James Smith gives his vote to Lawyer Tilden." Under the old regime in Kentucky all gentlemen had titles and to be a lawyer was one of the highest and the old man knew that a candidate for the Presidencty ought to be a lawyer, if he was not.
The funeral took place yesterday afternoon from the First Baptist Church on Bellevue street. The remains laid in state all morning at the church. During the day the church was visited by hundreds of people of all ranks, rich and poor, black and white, who had come to pay a last tribute of respect to a good old man, whose name and memory is coupled with the history of Newport. The floral offerings that covered the handsome casket were of the rarest and most beautiful kind.
The funeral obsequies commenced by the singing of various hymns, after which Rev Mr. Blackburn of Covington, preached an eloquent discourse on the noble and generous qualities of the deceased, sketching his early life and tracing it up to the time of his death. At the conclusion of his sermon several other old gentlemen, who had known Old Uncle Jimmy for years made some remarks on his life. Colonel Jas Taylor said he had known Uncle Jimmy since he (Colonel Taylor) was eleven years old and that from figures and records, he was 102 years old, that he was a man of noble Christian character and that he had often taken counsel from him. Uncle Jimmy, Taylor said, frequently came to his room and offered up prayer with him, that in all the years he had known him, he could not say other than that Uncle Jimmy was the soul of honor. Concluding his remarks, Colonel Taylor burst into tears and was unable to speak further. The whole congregation were moved to tears and the scene witnessed will not soon be forgotten.
Among the members of the Taylor family present were Colonel and Mrs. Taylor, John Taylor and wife, Barry Taylor, Colonel Abert, Mrs. Dr. Saunders. Mrs. Barry, Mrs. Colonel Jones, Mr. James T Jones, Mr. and Mrs. H C Timberlake, Mrs. Judge Berry and Mrs. Golding.
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