By Eileen Matzek Davis, Researcher
Osage County Historical Society
Most of us have heard of Sojourner Truth, a remarkable African-American woman who was born into slavery around 1776 in New York State. She endured a life of privation and hardship, several name changes – she changed her name to Sojourner Truth later in life, and no formal education. But she achieved prominence as an outspoken supporter of emancipation for Black people.
But how many of our readers know that Sojourner Truth once traveled to Kansas? She did, and she gave lectures in Leavenworth, Topeka, Emporia, and Osage City. Yes, Osage City! Newspaper items tell us the story: “Sojourner Truth, now 103 years of age, is coming to Kansas to see the colored people and learn how the exodites get along. We remember this old heroine years before the war, when she attended the anti-slavery meetings in Ohio, and although she had been a slave and was without education, her appeals in behalf of her race were full of terse, strong sense, plantation wit and a pathos seldom excelled by the white educated speakers who occupied the same stage.” Topeka Daily Capital, Topeka Kansas, August 20, 1879, p2. Note: “exodites” is a term we recognize today as “Exodusters,” African-American people who migrated to Kansas after the Civil War.
“Sojourner’s Journey: What the Old Lady Hopes to Accomplish Out in Kansas. (From the Chicago Times.) Sojourner Truth is in this city visiting her friends, Mr. and Mrs. Ford, at No. 22 Fortieth street. She is on her way to Kansas, but she will be in the city several days, and will be glad to have any friends call.
“She is said to be 103 years old, but to see her ready motions and to hear her conversation, makes one doubt this somewhat. There is nothing whatever senile in her speech; on the other hand she frequently manifests the enthusiasm of a reformer of 40 or 50; and her conversation is always connected and entertaining. She was born in Ulster county, New York, when slavery was still a custom in New York. The master under whom she was born was named Ardenburgh …” (Cherryvale Globe, Cherryvale, Kansas, August 23, 1879, p1.) Note: This article, which ran originally in the Chicago Times, appeared in many newspapers all over Kansas.
Ms. Truth’s lecture began in Leavenworth on Friday, October 3, 1879, where she spoke to a large audience in the Westminster Presbyterian Church as reported a week later in the Hays City Sentinel. She quickly moved on to Topeka as the following article indicates. “Sojourner Truth spoke at the Little Zion, colored church, last evening, and made some interesting remarks. She will speak to the colored people tomorrow evening, on First street. Admission free. She will also address the white people some evening this week, due notice of which will be given.” (Topeka Daily Capital, Topeka Kansas, October 6, 1879, p4.)
She must have spent some time in Topeka because mention of her appearance in Osage City doesn’t occur until October 30, 1879, and, while there were several reports of other activities in Topeka, I found nothing about appearances in other cities. (I did find a complaint in a Lawrence newspaper that wondered why she had not been invited there!)
“Sojourner Truth spoke to the people of our city, at the Presbyterian church on Tuesday evening. She had a full house. The proceeds were for the M.E. Church. Sojourner is a colored lady, 106 years old, speaks with a loud, strong voice, and very interesting. She lectures this evening, in the colored folk’s church, and tomorrow night again in the Presbyterian church for the benefit of the Ladies’ Aid Society. Price of admission, 25 cents.” (Osage City Free Press, Osage City, Kansas, October 30, 1897, p5.)
The following week she appeared November 4 and 5 in Emporia, where the Emporia Daily News remarked, “During the anti-slavery times she lectured all over the country in connection with Wendell Phillips, Sumner, Garrison and other distinguished leaders. Notwithstanding her great age she retains her powers perfectly and is as quick and fresh in thought and repartee as ever.” (Emporia Daily News, Emporia, Kansas, November 5, 1879, p3.)
Completion of her stay in Kansas is noted as follows: “Mrs. Titus and Sojourner Truth are stopping at present with Mrs. E. C. Burt, at the foot of Eighth street, Dunn’s Building, where they will remain for a few days and then depart for Michigan, their home.” (Topeka Daily Capital, Topeka, Kansas, December 3, 1879, p4.)
Are you wondering why she spent time in Osage City, since Leavenworth, Topeka and Emporia were much larger and more established? (Remember, Osage City was just beginning to grow in 1870.) A search of the 1880 United Census of Osage City gives one answer. About 10 percent of the population had B for Black beside their names. There were other Exodusters who had settled in Burlingame and Agency Township, but the largest group of them had settled in Osage City, and Ms. Truth had come to their aid!
There is a final, somewhat cryptic note that I found. “Sojourner Truth, 105 years, recently went 175 miles across the prairies of Kansas in an open wagon to help needy colored immigrants.” (Osage City Free Press, Osage City, Kansas, February 19, 1880, p3.)
Why wagon? Why not train? Trains were running by then. Research nearly always begets more questions!
Eileen Matzek Davis is a researcher at Osage County Historical Society. She can be contacted at researchosagechs@embarqmail.com. For more information, contact OCHS at 785-828-3477, or visit at 631 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, Kan., or see www.osagechs.org.
Postcard photograph from Library of Congress.
