Marian, Lovina 1810-1897

MARIAN, HAYS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/7/2005 at 21:04:27

The Newton Record 30 Apr 1897
Close of an Eventful Life

Marian, Lovina

Mrs. Lovina Marian, one of the oldest colored ladies of our city, died at the home of her son, Anderson Hays, last Saturday night, April 24th, about nine o’clock, of dropsy and heart disease.

Grandma Marian was born in slavery near Cape Girardeau, Mo., in the fall of 1810, and was owned by a planter by the name of Amos Hays. Anderson Hays of this city ­ who retained his master’s name ­ was her first-born child, and was sold away from his mother when but six months old. Years rolled by and mother and son never heard from each other. When the war broke out Anderson had grown to manhood, escaped from his master, and, coming north, enlisted in Capt. Geo. Work’s Company E, 60th U. S. Colored Infantry.

In 1865, as his company was coming north at the close of the war, the boat had to stop at Cape Girardeau for supplies and Anderson by inquiry found his way to his old home and the mother whom he had been so ruthlessly torn some thirty odd years before. The joy of their meeting cannot be told a brief realization of a dream which neither had ever dared to hope for. Their reunion was but for a few hours, when Anderson’s regiment left for the North and he with it.

About eleven years ago he brought her to Newton and in his family she has ever since found a happy home, surrounded with all necessary comforts, and loving hands to minister to her every want.

When but a girl of sixteen years she became a member of the M. E. Church and has served the Master with all the fervency so peculiar to her race. She was the mother of twelve children, only five of whom survive their mother.

Funeral services were held in the A. M. E. Church at 1:30 p. m., Monday, April 26th, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Waldon, the choir of the church furnishing excellent and appropriate music.

Originally submitted on Sat Jul 27 10:53:31 2002