Joe Wilson

WILSON

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/10/2010 at 17:37:48

Well Known Negro Dies

Joe Wilson, colored, passed away at the Louisa county farm Saturday morning at 5 o'clock, death being due to the infirmities of old age.

"Nigger Joe" as he was known to all, was a familiar character in this neighborhood for forty years. He was a unique old negro, living for at least thirty years in a covered wagon drawn by an old horse. That was his only home, and he spent the nights on the public highway, in a farm yard or wherever he could find lodging for himself and faithful old horse. In later years he took up his abode in a stretch of timber on the bluff near Harrison hill, where he seemed to enjoy life. Several years ago he was compelled to give up his hermit life on account of old age, and went to the county farm, where he remained until his death.

Little is known of the early life of this eccentric character, and he, himself, did not know his age, though he claimed for the last ten years that he was over 100 years old. He was a good natured old fellow and was especially fond of children, the most of whom in this community knew him in his more active years and liked him. It used to be a familiar sight to see him coming up the street in his covered wagon with his old yellow dog trotting along underneath it, and hear the kids all yell, "here comes Nigger Joe, let's go over and talk to him," and it would not be long until he was surrounded by a crowd of children. In later years he became a less frequent visitor to town and finally we almost entirely forgot him until his death brought his familiar countenance and customs to mind.

The remains were interred in the Kammerer cemetery near Port Louisa on Saturday afternoon.

Source: LCHS scrapbook; newspaper clipping with hand-written date of Aug. 19, 1916