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Evening iNDIANA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1889.AUNT LUCY NICHOLS.HISTORY OF A DISTINGUISHED COLORED WOMAN.A Staunch Friend of the Old Twenty-Third Indiana Infantry Residing in West Union.How She Ran Away From Her Mistress to Join the Federal Soldier8.-Gre8ham’s Servant.Residing in West Union, is a colored woman whp during the war was a veritable daughter of the regiment, the command she lays claim of haring belonged to being the Twenty-Third Indiana infantry. Her name is Lucy Nichols, and she is the wife of John Nichols, a fireman at the DePauw glass works.With the ex-soldiers Lucy is a great favorite. Her circle of acquaintances is not confined to the privates who did the fighting, but she is also on intimate terms with such men as Gen. Walter Q. Gresham, Gov. Alvin P. Hovey, and with dozens of colonels, majors and captains.Before the war broke out, Lucy was a slave and belonged to Miss Prudence Higgs, a wealthy young lady who resided on the Mississippi Central railroad, between Bolivar, Teno., and Hotly Springs, Miss. Lucy was married to George Higgs according to the slave custom and had one child by him. Early in the year 1862, the Seventeenth Army Corps took up its quarters at Bolivar. The soldiers had been there but a short time, when Miss Higgs became fearful that by some means her slaves would be taken from her, and so decided to remove them to Atlanta. Lucy knew of the preparations being made, and resolved that she would not go with the other slaves when they left. After collecting a few articles of clothing, she took her child in her arms and fled from the house at midnight, leaving her husband and others behind. Wrapping her dress around the child, she fought her way through the bushes and early in the morning reached the camp of the Twenty-third, tired and bleeding from the effects of her trip. She went direct to the quarters of Cpl. .Sanderson, who referred her to Dr. Brooker, the regimental surgeon, and from that time until the close of the war Lucy became a fixture amoDg the soldiers.She remained with Dr. Brooker, doing such work as was required of her, and was at the siege of Vicksburg, where she assisted greatly in attending to the wants of the wounded, carrying water, dressing wounds, and administering medicines. During her stay at that point, her child died from the exposure incident to camp life, and was buried by the soldiers. After the capture of Vicksburg, the Twenty-third joined Gen. Sherman, remaining in his command in the cain-gaign against Atlanta. Lucy continued with the regiment through all of the fights.The regiment arrived at Louisville, July 23, 1865, and was mustered out of service, but proceeded to Iudianapolis as a whole and was relieved from duty with high honors, a public reception being tendered by the citizens. The soldiers began to return to their homes, and, as Lucy was in a strange land, she was at a loss to know which way to turn. She heard a good many of the men say that they were residents of New Albany, and so decided to go there. She has remained here ever since. Gen. Gresham lived here when she established herself in New Albany, and she was gHen a home with him. Several years ago she concluded that her slave husband was either dead, or that she would never hear from him, and decided to marry her present husband. What became of her companion in slavery, she does not know, as she has never received any information of him. A reporter visited Lucy, at her home, and found her comfortably established in a neat little cottage, which is owned jointly by her and her husband. The exterior is nicely painted, and the interior has much better furniture than can be found in the ordinary residences of colored people. Lucy is now fifty-eight years of age, and while she is a person of little or no education, she is a very pleasing conversationalist.About her house she has a number of relics brought from the battle-fields, and several articles of clothing given her byand she is always welcomed by the soldiers. Lucy is personally acquainted with Gen. Harrison, and is now making preparations to. attend the inauguration next month.CONDENSED LOCAL NEWS.The city council will meet to night.The Daisy trains yesterday were crowded with people.The New Albany Browns has reorgan ized for the season of 1889.The river at this point is falling with 11 feet 10 inches in the canal, and 9 feet 8 Inches in the Indiana chute.John Emory was up before Mayor Richards this morning on charge of drunkenness and was lined $8.25.The fifty-third anniversary of New Albany Lodge, No. 1, will be celebrated tonight at their hall in excellent style.The remains of Allen White and Thomas Duncan, well known colored men were buried yesterday, the last named with Masonic honors.The remains of Andrew B. Huntington, whose death occurred Saturday morning, were interred in the cemetery at 3 o’clock this afternoon,Sheriff John Thornton went to Indianapolis this morning, for the purpose of returning with Lncy Mazola, an inmate of the insane asylum and who is pronounced cured.John L. Zimmerman, aged fourteen months, son of Henry Zimmerman residing on Pearl street hill died yesterday. The funeral took place from the residence this morning at 10 o’clock.Billy Green a night engineer at the glass works, went to Louisville yesterday and fell among the Philistines,— Result, financial lops and a badly broken head. Moral, attend church in your own city.Iu order to accommodate the many persons who are engaged in revival services, the lecture to be given by the Rev. Olympia Brown at Temperance hall tomorrow night, will not begin nntil 8:15. Doors will be open at 7:30.An unknown man supposed to be from Louisville was assaulted by three men Saturday night at the corner of West and Main streets. The police were unable to discover the assaulting party or the name ot the party assaulted.NOTES ABOUT PEOPLE.Mrs. W. C. McKay is very ill.Mrs. A. Bauer is visiting at Bloomfield.W. B. Godfrey has returned from St. Louis,Charles Jewett left this morning for Indianapolis.Harry Thurman was down to Corydon Saturday baying horses.George Bornwasser has left English, Ind., and re-located in this city.E.G. Henry and James P. Applegate returned to Indianapolis this morning.Charles L. Bradley continues very ill at his residence, 359 East Spring street, with neuralgic affection.Mrs, Charles B. Webber left this morning for Chicago, wh6re she will remain several days visiting friends.Mrs. Nickel, State President of the W. C. T. U. will lecture at the Second Presbyterian church to-morrow evening.Mr. aud Mrs. John Renshaw left for Athertonville, Ky., to-day, where Mr. Renshaw has secured employment.Ray S. McPheeters and Lizzie Lang were granted marriage license Saturday and were married yesterday at Greenville.Thomas Love, who was called here from Bowling Green, Ky., by the illness of William Harley, returned home yesterday.William Harley, who was stricken with paralysis last week and his life despaired of m consequence, is said to be improving.Mrs. Anna B. Danz is much improved.Dr. F. C. Greene will leave to-morrow for Chicago to attend the Illinois State Dental association.
Newspaper Details
New Albany Evening Tribune
New Albany, Indiana, US
Mon, Feb 04, 1889
Page 1
Full Page
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New A.
Indiana, USA 16 Feb 2025
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