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That's very cool Clem......

Love your post Clem.

I would guess that the majority of us posting here have " a story about Americans". Therin lies the commonality.

My maternal Great grandparents came over from Sweden. My paternal Greats from Germany. Interesting combo, I know. Stubborness abounds in this family! As a little girl, I would sit for hours listening to captivating stories of determination, hardship, loss, love and intrinsic patriotism that created the incredible beings they were.

I do know one thing, through hard work, learning English and assimilation they became Americans and taught their children to love the country that granted them opportunity.

Congrats Clem!

When I get sometime I'll have to drive over to Longtown and take a look. Should only be about 45 minute or so drive from me.

*BUMP*

Longtown descendant discusses settlement at Garst Museum

GREENVILLE — A Darke County native spoke to a crowd of more than 100 people Sunday, discussing a little-known, but fondly remembered, settlement in the county.

Connor Keiser, a recent Wright State University graduate, was the featured speaker at the Garst Museum’s Speakers Series, where he discussed the Longtown, one of Ohio’s earliest mixed race settlements. Keiser is the great-great-great-great-great grandson of James Clemens, a freed slave from Rockingham County, Virginia.

“We have African-American history right here in Darke County, some are familiar, some are not, so that’s what I’m here to share with you,” said Keiser. “I’m a very proud descendant of the settlement.”

Clemens settled in Longtown in 1818, bringing with him his wife, Sophia Sellers, and their five children. Over time, the settlement attracted not only black settlers, but those of Native American and European heritage. At its peak, the town was home to 900 residents.

But Longtown was more than a place to live, it was a refuge. Clemens, along with others, worked with Levi Coffin in nearby Fountain City, Indiana, to help former slaves make their way to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

When the Civil War came, more than 80 men from the settlement enlisted in the Union Army. Two of these enlistees served in the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry, a unit notably featured in the film Glory. Forty of these soldiers are buried in Longtown cemeteries, although some of their grave markers have deteriorated or gone missing.

The settlement also saw the establishment of the Union Literary Institute in 1845, remarkable for its time as accepting both men and women of all races. U.S. Senator Hiram Revels of Mississippi, the first African American to be elected to the U.S. Senate, was an alum of the school.

The Institute as well as the James and Sophia Clemens Farmstead are both listed on the United States Registry of Historical Places.

“Although little remains today, it was there that history was made — African-American history, Darke County history, and for some of us, family history,” Keiser said.

Keiser and other descendants continue to work preserving the remains and the history of the settlement for future generations. For further information, go to the Remembering Freedom: James Clemens and the Longtown Settlement Facebook page.

http://www.dailyadvocate.com/news/50236/longtown-descendant-discusses-settlement-at-garst-museum

__________________

I'll be back in the area in a couple weeks, for a run-out concert. The plan is to contact the pres of the historical society in charge of the homestead preservation project, and perhaps get an informal tour.

The Homestead was once a stop on the underground railroad. Local lore tells of a series of tunnels connecting the main house, outbuilding, and the schoolhouse.

Renovation is in full swing, as they try to reconstruct both the main house and the Union Literary Institute building.

It sure would be cool to see this in person.

What's a run-out concert?

An out-of-town performance.

Run out/play/run home

When I was a kid, my nightmares consisted of falling off buildings, being chased by monsters, etc.

Nowadays- can't get to the gig.

Wake up in a sweat every time. Apparently, it's very common among those in my line of work.

Yeah it would, what is the projected completion date for the renovation?

I don't know, Ted. I hope to find out when I see Roan in a couple weeks.

*BUMP*

So... back in May, I was able to finally meet Roane and tour the homestead. Spent almost 3 hours combing through the grounds, house, barn... and the nearby Union Literary Institute (the co-ed, multiracial higher ed facility).

Fascinating.

Roane was a walking history book, dropping deep data at a constant clip the entire time. Overwhelming, at times, but inspirational in the extreme. He also gave plenty of background context into the story behind the Homestead's preservation efforts. Little man's story is nothing short of heroic. Road blocks, bureaucratic foot-dragging, fundraising- this has been an herculean undertaking.

Restoration occurs incrementally, as funding trickles in from grants, private donations and organized fundraisers. New windows (built in accordance to NHR standards) have been installed all around, and work commences on the interior late this Summer. Funds originally earmarked for interior work had to be diverted to replacing the roof, so reconstruction efforts have fallen behind schedule. Roane continues on, undeterred.

The Union Institute is on life support. A shaky foundation has led to 2/3 of one exterior wall collapsing. Contractors have been called in for estimates to shore up the foundation and reconstruct the north wall. When those structural improvements have been made, work on the interior can begin. The goal is to completely rebuild the interior to match the descriptions found in historical records, then open the facility to the public as an historic living museum.

After dinner, I had to say my goodbyes to Roane, as I had a concert to play in less than an hour. I thanked him for taking time from his schedule to give me the private tour saying that he had no idea how important this was to me. He then thanked me. "I was about to give up and leave this job to somebody else before your phone call. It's getting harder and harder to keep up this pace. I have congestive heart failure, and this last Winter really hit me hard. It's getting harder to bounce back after I have these health dips. Your visit has energized me again. So thank you, Bobby."

I took tons of pics, and will link them once I open a Photobucket (or similar service) account.


________________________

Two questions have been asked; one by Ted and earlier, by Devil.

Ted: completion dates for both locations are fluid and uncertain. Renos are notorious for revealing hidden (and costly) problems. As Roane put it: "It's two steps forward/one step back." Could be a couple more years, depending on what each phase of reno uncovers and how steady the funding flows.

Devil: got an answer for you. Roane sent me this link earlier today. I'll excerpt it here for you, but also provide the link. Plenty interesting data there beyond my family's involvement.



http://www.grupoclifton.org/ruralsettlements.html


More as it comes in, folks. This story is still being written.

best,
Clemmy

Cool stuff Clem.

I have done a lot or research in to my family history. I can carry it back on my fathers side to the mid 1400's before it gets cloudy and you have to make guesses.

You have a proud history my friend. I feel for you man. I can tell you are very interested in this, as am I. I hope you can carry it back further, but the cloud of slavery and forced relocation make it hard, if not impossible. Records weren't kept. Only stories passed on from grandparents to the children. Only so many generations can be remembered.


So James Clemens.



So you can go back to a Abe Sellers, in 1817 freed his slaves. Ok, good for Abe....any idea how old James was at the time? That might give you a clue. The name Clemens isn't a African/ South American name. Probably a earlier slave holders name....maybe James father or GF slave holder.


Anyway, you can trace back to 1817. That is pretty impressive on any front. I know a lot of white folks who don't know a darn thing about their great-great grandparent.

I don't know, you probably have that beat by at least one Great.


I would research Clemmons slave holders. If you can get some idea, you might be able to at least find a logical port of entry for whoever it was who got sent over here in the first place. Most slave traders shipped to the same places

Slave holders names Clemens..http://www.familytree.com/search-results/

Yeah, this has been a trip, for sure.

Over the years, I've encountered these spellings:

Mine. (*-ens)

Clemans
Cleamens
Cleamans
Clemons
Clemmons

There are so many iterations, I'm afraid it's close to impossible for me to chase down an absolute origin.

Age: I'll have to dig deeper. I do know from visiting the family cemetery, that Charles W. (their son) was born in 1808. The family plat was established after James & Sophia had already died. They are not interred at the family resting place. It is believed that they are buried on the homestead in graves that are no longer marked. (Back to the libraries for me, I guess....)

_________________

I remember being in college when I first read Alex Haley's 'Roots' and later saw the TV miniseries. I always found it miraculous that he could trace his origins back across the Atlantic. I'm not convinced I could ever do such a thing, for the very reasons you mentioned.

Here's where I am right now: I want to help Roane and the Darke Co. Crew take these restoration projects forward, help them complete/open the museums, and visit the new Smithsonian Annex in DC... where My Family's and America's Black History is alive and growing with each new discovery.

I now get to see My Family as free Americans of Afro- Euro- and First Nation roots when America was but 40 years old... a full generation+ before it was necessary to fight a civil war to bring along the rest of America.

What's cooler than anything else? My Moms' family story. It is so similar. They sprang from the confluence of Freemen, escaped/emancipated slaves and Euro- and First Nation peoples, as well. Drive 20 miles west from Longtown, and find yourself 10 miles into Indiana. Turn right, drive 70 miles straight north, and you'll find yourself in the area that was home to the Findleys, Johnsons and Pompeys- My Mom's clan. Pictures of My Mom as a young ingenue reveal the Native influence: flowing, jet-black hair, earthy, olive-hued skin, ovoid face, long-ish nose, beautiful symmetry. A stunner.

Her family raised educators, political figures, clergy, business execs, mathemeticians, and members of the Bar. My Uncle Maurice was even a Tuskegee Airman and the model for this national promotional poster:



Euros-, Afros-, First Nation peoples... all were interacting and
shaping the Northwest Territories' earliest communities. I'm proud to be raised by two stellar family trees who planted their roots early in America's story, and involved themselves, every step of the way.

I could spend the rest of my days going no further than 1800, and have plenty to embrace. I'll take your inspiration under advisement, but feel compelled to find all I can from 1800- present. I get the feeling there's so much more just around the corner.

Gettin' my 'historical bloodhound' on,
Clem

A renaissance family for sure.

I dug through my photo album and scanned this in:



My ancestors immigrated from Europe to NY. When my Grandma passed, I inherited this old suitcase full of old photos.

Some of the people in the photos I can identify. Some my Dad / Mom explained to me.

This is an old photo from a long time ago. My great grandfather was in the NYC PD. I think this photo is of his father. Upper left guy.

But I think this is a good representation of old times Americana. Him and his bros hunting group.

Glad you got to tour the place Clem, I've been meaning to get over that way and see the place myself but I haven't found the time. (It's less then an hour away from me.) Do they have a place people can donate too?

Lemme ask around, 66.
I'll get back to you.

You don't look like him do you?


That will ruin the image!

No. My cousin looks like him, though.

my father born and raised in Rome Italy.
my mothers family on fathers side
immigrated from Rome circa 1867
to Bangkok Thailand in regards to King Rama.
mothers mom was Thai.
so Im Italian and Thai.
not the most common combination.

pretty cool combo

So, you're 'thaitalian amarican'? Or 'itathai american'?

Italian Thai. i was born in Bangkok. then came over to.the states.
its a intresting combination but in my childhood
it brought me trauma and isolation.
being surrounded by people of Scottish Irish and British ancestory I stood like a Browns fan in Western Pa.
I looked different. Caucasion girls avoided me cause i didnt have fair skin blue eyes etc
most boys only accepted me cause i played 2 sports
i never got invited to parties.
i looked so different a older teen found me so exotic he decided to molest me over the summer of
1981.
but when i moved to Berlin Germany i was accepted
then when i moved back to the States..
the black girls took a jntrest in me.
so for a long time now ive been in inter racial relationships
all in all a intresting dating life

I'm sure you are aware, but.........I was simply joking.

So far in my Ancestry search the farthest back I've gotten is William Evans B 1755 Wales UK. I've also been accepted into the Sons of the American Revolution by being a relation to at least 3 members of the American revolutionary forces.

Thanks for sharing, Pauly!

William Landrine Eggers



My Patriot Ancestor.. We kicked George III Ass

j/c

So, I'm finally able to post some pics from my May visit.

After 3+ years of seeing pictures of this place online, my head was swimming as I pulled the car onto the property.
I'll share the highlights, but I took tons of pics that day.

The driveway bisects the property. The barn is to the east (left of my car) This is the first view of the house.






We entered the house through its rear entrance, located where the 'L' and main meet (inside porch area). Entrance to the main house is out of frame, to the left of this pic.




Phase One of reno consisted of 'roughing in' to protect the interior.. That meant all new windows- and quite a few doors.




This is a view from the front. The road/drive that passed this façade is long, long gone. I was standing at the southernmost property line with my back 6 ft from a cornfield when I took this shot.

This was considered about as grand a home as one could find in the area, a testament to James' stature in the community. At one time, he owned 370+ acres and two other nearby properties.



A view of the west façade. A porch once extended from the 'L' beneath that middle panel. It was originally a door, of course- but was closed down, and the door was retrofit into a window. Plans are to restore the original floor plan- and restore the door. The two remaining windows on either side are the next part of the rough-in. See those two 'basement' windows? Essentially a (very) deep crawlspace that runs the width of the 'L.' According to lore, there exists a tunnel that leads east to the barn and west to the property line. James was a railroad captain and opened his home as a stop to routes west (into the Northwest Territories) and North to Canada.



Looking south again.






Next installments:

Interior

Union Literary Institute

Family Cemetery

Very cool. I love historic homes.

Even better when it is tied to our DT fam.

Cool pics Clem.


fyi - I sent a check out this past Friday.

wow.

just- no words.

.