Reply by V…- MAIL – Letters from Clifton Graham 1945 WW 2

January 25, 2014Grahams, sepia saturday#Mershell C. Graham, Cliff Graham, V-mailKristin

Clifton Graham was the son of my Grandfather Mershell Graham’s “play” brother, that is they were not blood relatives but considered each other brothers because they were both Grahams from Montgomery, AL. I don’t have much information about him and was unable to find much online. He was born May 28, 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama. By 1920 he and his family were in Detroit, Michigan. Below is a photograph of John Clifton (always called Clifton) and his brother Lewis with my Aunt Mary V. and my Uncle Mershell Graham, as children. They were all living in Detroit and I would guess it was taken on Memorial Day or the 4th of July at Belle Isle, a park in the middle of the Detroit River. My mother was probably a baby at the time and too young to be in the photograph. Read more here V…-mail.

Clifton, Mary V, Lewis, Mershell Graham. Abt 1923 — Clifton, Mary V, Lewis, Mershell Graham. About 1923. Click to enlarge.

The two letters below were written to my Grandparents in March and July of 1945 by John Clifton Graham from Europe during WW 2.

March 29, 1945

Dear Folks,

Time permits me to drop you a line or two and let you know that I am well, even though I am somewhat in the inner confines of Germany, a country that has been completely pulverized and at present being subjected to the terror of our Air Forces.

There is much to tell but due to censorship, I am restricted to a great extent, which you no doubt know. The weather the past few days has been grand and spring is in evidence at ever turn in this war torn country. We are getting a rest for the time being but it is like the lull before a storm, thus by the time this letter reaches you much will have passed under the bridge.

I received a long letter from M.V. last week and will answer today, while time still permits. I must close now so as to time my correspondence due over a period of 2 weeks, My regards to Grandma Turner, Alice, Aunt Daisy,

Love Cliff Jr.

What was happening in March 1945

March 29: The Red Army enters Austria. Other Allies take Frankfurt; the Germans are in a general retreat all over the centre of the country.
March 30: Red Army forces capture Danzig.
March 31: General Eisenhower broadcasts a demand for the Germans to surrender.

June 25 1945

Dear Folks,

Received your letter of June 9th and appreciated the fact that you dropped me a line or two. I heard from M.V. yesterday and she is quite well, likewise my pin up gal Diane.

I have passed the convalescent stage and fit as fiddle once more. I have been transferred out of my present ward and now await transportation to a replacement depot, up somewhere near Paris from there, I shall be assigned to either my original unit or another unit altogehter.

I hope that I can come home from here but at present the outlook isn’t too optimistic but I shall keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. Give my regards to Grandma Turner, Daisy and Alice and all my love to both of you. Write again soon.

Your nephew Cliff Jr.

June 5, 1945 – Allies divide up Germany and Berlin and take over the government.
June 26, 1945 – United Nations Charter is signed in San Francisco.July 1, 1945 – American, British, and French troops move into Berlin.
July 16, 1945 – First U.S. atomic bomb test; Potsdam Conference begins.
July 26, 1945 – Atlee succeeds Churchill as British Prime Minister.

Cliff did survive the war and return to make a life for himself in Detroit. I’m trying to find more specific information but so far I have only found several church booklets from Plymouth United Church of Christ in the 1960s that show he was very active in the church. There are even a few group photographs. Unfortunately they aren’t labeled so I don’t know which is him. Found a photograph of him in 1973 with my grandfather, Mershell Graham. Taken just a few months before my grandfather died.

"Clifton and Daddy at Cliff's house - Summer 1973. My last good picture of Daddy" written by my mother, Doris Graham Cleage. — “Clifton and Daddy at Cliff’s house – Summer 1973. My last good picture of Daddy” written by my mother, Doris Graham Cleage.

Hugh Cleage Skiing

January 24, 2014Cleages, sepia saturday#Hugh Cleage, #IdlewildKristin

Back in the day, my uncles Hugh and Louis Cleage used to go up to Idlewild and ski. Sometimes my boy cousins got to go with them, but never any of the girls. It was a male bonding time, I guess. Anyway, we never did learn to ski, my sister and I, while the boy cousins became quite good at it. They sometimes went to Caberfae, a skiing resort very close to Idlewild. You can read about the history of Caberfae, with photographs, here Caberfae Peaks: 75 Years of Michigan Skiing.

My kids went cross country skiing there a few time. I wonder if I have any photos. Don’t seem to.

Getting ski’s on next to Louis’ cottage.

Hugh skiing on Lake Idlewild.

2014.01W.06 — For more snowy photos, CLICK!

Fannie Mae Turner Graham’s Bible – Part 2

January 11, 2014sepia saturdayKristin

I wrote about my maternal grandmother’s Bible and the things I found in it in an earlier Sepia Saturday post, here Fannie Mae Turner’s Bible. Today, I posted some of the articles, prayers, postcard and a church bulletin that were in the Bible, along with all the swatches of hair. Click to enlarge.

A Cleage Family Photo – 1951

January 8, 2014CleagesKristin

Several years ago I received this photograph of my grandparents with all of their children and 3 of their 7 grandchildren. My sister and I must have been at our maternal grandparent’s house. We do appear in the header photograph in front of the same house and the same year.

Front: Warren Evans, Henry Cleage, Pearl Cleage holding Dale Evans; Dr. Albert B. Cleage Sr holding Ernest Martin. Back: Gladys Cleage Evans; Louis Cleage; Anna Cleage; Albert B. Cleage Jr; Barbara Cleage Martin; Hugh Cleage. Summer 1951. 2270 Atkinson, Detroit, MI. — Front: Warren Evans; Henry Cleage; Pearl Cleage holding Dale Evans; Dr. Albert B. Cleage Sr holding Ernest Martin.
Back: Gladys Cleage Evans; Louis Cleage; Anna Cleage Shreve; Albert B. Cleage Jr; Barbara Cleage Martin; Hugh Cleage.
Summer 1951. 2270 Atkinson, Detroit, MI.

“Negro Literature For Negro Pupils” 1922

January 8, 2014poetry & literatureKristin

Today I received the following article from my friend historian Paul Lee via email. I will let him introduce the article.

“Alice Dunbar-Nelson was the first wife of famed poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Sadly, until recently, Dubar-Nelson’s own considerable gifts as a poets, as well as her journalism and political activism, were overshadowed by her illustrious first husband’s (overblown) legend.

The Black Dispatch was one of the most respected “black” newspapers of its time. It was published by the estimable Roscoe Dunjee, who was independent-minded enough to be a card-carrying member of the NAACP, but also remain an open (if occasionally gently critical) admirer of Marcus Garvey and a strong supporter of Mr. Garvey’s program of ‘African Redemption.’

Mr. Dunjee, who was proud to be one of Oklahoma’s ‘black’ pioneers, opened the pages of his paper to regular reports from the branches, chapters and divisions of Mr. Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which had a vital presence throughout the Sooner State.

‘Negro Literature for Negro Pupils’, The Black Dispatch (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Feb. 16, 1922, p. 1.”

Cleages In Black and White

January 6, 2014African-American Genealogy & Slave Ancestry Research, Cleages, Investigations#slaveryKristin

Several days ago, I found the will of Alexander Cleage, which mentioned my Cleage Ancestors: Frank, Juda and Lewis Cleage by name, as he willed them to his wife. After finding the will, I did two things. First, I went back through the other documents I have concerning the white Cleages and slavery. I found a bill of sale wherein David Cleage and his sister Elizabeth sold some of their inherited slaves (including my great-great grandfather, Frank) to Alexander. I had believed that my family went from Samuel Cleage to son David, and remained with him, after Samuel’s death. This cleared that up.

Next, I set up a tree for the white Cleages on Ancestry.com. Through the shakey leaves I found another will. This one for Elijah Hurst, father of Alexander’s wife Jemima Hurst Cleage. In the will, Elijah deeds Jemima my great-great grandmother, Juda, who (along with several other slaves) he had already given her when she married. There was a wealth of information and documentation available on Ancestry which I am going through now.

After going through those documents, I will modify the timelines I have for Frank and Juda Cleage. I am also going to be looking for traditions surrounding giving ones daughter a couple of slaves to take with her when she married. This is the second case of that I have found in my family. My great great grandmother Eliza was given to Edmund Harrison’s daughter Martha Harrison, when she married Milton Saffold.

This is the year that I plan to devote some real time to writing up my family history. More about that later.

Article of Agreement Between Samuel Cleage and Overseer – 1834

Cleage Bricks

The Will – 1860

Elijah Hurst Last Will and Testament – 1848

January 5, 2014African-American Genealogy & Slave Ancestry Research, Cleages#Hurst, #slaveryKristin

This Will was written by Elijah Hurst, the father of Jemima Hurst Cleage, who married Alexander Cleage, who enslaved my 2X great grandparents and their 5 children. In it he leaves Juda (my 2X great grandmother) to Jemima. She already had possession of her.

State of Tenn. McMinn Co.Will of Elijah HurstMcMinn Co Will Book D, Mar 1841-Dec 1848, Microfilm roll 104, TSLA, pp 245-255.

Dec 2 1844. Elijah Hurst Will Recorded.

I Elijah Hurst do make and ordain this my last will and testament.

1st It is my will and desire that all my just debts be paid.
2nd I give and bequeath to my son Russel R. Hurst my negro boy Harry during his life; and at his death it is my will and desire that said boy Harry go to his heirs.
3rd I will and bequeath to my son John L. Hurst my negro boy Jeff during his life; and at his death I give and bequeath said boy Jeff to his heirs.
4th I will and bequeath to my son Russel my Cate Tract of land during his life; and at his death I desire the same to go the heirs of said Russel; and in consideration thereof he is to pay a debt I am owing the bank for said tract of land.
5th It is my will and desire that my executor manumit my negro woman Rachel when her tenth child shall have attained the age of ten years; and it is my wish that she remain in McMinn County and that my executors support her out of my estate when she gets too old to support herself.
6th I will and bequeath to my wife Mary the following negroes during her natural life: Big Peter, Auston, Tom, Nancy, Judi, and Jerry; and at her death I wish them equally divided among my four children; and I will and bequeath to my dear wife Mary all my household and kitchen furniture and such of my farming utensils as my executors may think necessary for her convenience together with all my stock of horses, cattle, and hogs.
7th I will and bequeath to my daughter Jemima Cleage and her heirs forever the four negroes she has had possession of Big Anny, Judi (my great great grandmother), Jane, and Matilda together with all the other property I have given her.
8th It is my wish that my daughter Sarah Ann Calloway have and enjoy all the property conveyed heretofore in trust for her benefit and I will and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Ann Calloway my baroush carriage and harnesses in consideration of some losses Sarah sustained on my account.
9th It is my wish and desire that my executors get my mother and sister Delilah to remove from Claibourne County to the County of McMinn and that they attend to them carefully: For that trouble and for taking care of my dear wife Mary, I have given them Harry and Jeff.
10th It is my will and I do hereby release my son Russel R. Hurst from all debts and accounts he is owing me on the condition that he attends to the interest of my wife while she lives.
11th It is my will and desire that nothing be ex______ in this my last will and testament to interrupt the partnership existing between my son John L. Hurst and myself until the five years have expired.
12th I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons Russel R. Hurst and John L. Hurst my executors of this my last will and testament and do authorize and desire that they should act without giving bond and security for the trust, re_____ signed, sealed, published and declared to be my last will and testament this 12th day of December 1833. Signed Elijah Hurst (Seal). Witnesses: Justus Steed, Andrew John, W. F. Keith.

Alexander Cleage’s Last Will & Testament – 1860

January 4, 2014African-American Genealogy & Slave Ancestry Research, Cleages#Athens, #Juda Cleage, #Lewis Cleage, #slaveryKristin

Athens, Tennessee about 1919. Probably taken by my grandfather Albert B. Cleage, SR. Men unknown.

I hadn’t planned yesterday to go to Family Search and look for the Will of Alexander Cleage, but I did.

“I give and devise to my beloved wife Jemima Cleage for and during her natural life the following described Negro slaves – to wit: … Juda and her five children to wit: Charles, Angelen, Lewis, Laura and Frank… I also give and bequeath to her for her natural life a negro man called Frank the husband of Juda…”

30th day of May 1860 Alexander Cleage

Juda and Frank Cleage were my two times great grandparents. Their son Lewis Cleage was my great grandfather, my own grandfather Albert B. Cleage’s, father. I have several other documents that trace them through slavery – a letter to the overseer in 1838 and a bill of sale that mention Frank in 1852, a marriage record for Frank and Juda Cleage in 1866 and the 1870 census, Lewis’ death certificate in 1918.

By the time the will was probated 1 March 1875, my people had been free for 10 years.

These records give me a bare bones outline of their lives. I have no photographs, no stories. Nobody’s memories. These bones and their names. I read the will over and over until I felt it inside of me. I saw my cousins faces, my children’s faces. All descended from these two people – Frank and Juda Cleage and their son, Lewis Cleage. I wish I could see their faces. I wish I knew their stories. I wish someone had shared memories. One thing I know is that I will tell the parts of their stories that I can piece together and I will say their names. Frank Cleage born 1816 in North Carolina. Juda Cleage born 1814 in Tennessee. Lewis Cleage born 1852 in Athens Tennessee and died 1918 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

You can see a copy of the will here: Last Will and Testament of Alexander Cleage

You can see a copy of Elijah Hurst’s Will leaving my enslaved great great grandmother Juda Cleage to his daughter, Jemimah Hurst Cleage Elijah Hurst’s Will-1848

Dr. Albert B. Cleage – A Speech for Dunbar Hospital Nurses

January 2, 2014CleagesKristin

Dunbar_Memorial_Hospital_1930 — Dunbar Memorial Hospital’s medical staff, trustee board and corps of nurses standing on the steps of hospital. Handwritten on front: “Medical Staff, Trustee Board and Corps of Nurses, Dunbar Memorial Hospital, Detroit, Mich., Sept. 14, 1930, [Jackson Photo].” Handwritten on back: “1. Henderson, 2. Dr. John Thomas, 2. Cleage O. [two people identified as #2], 3. Greene, 4. Henry Owen, 6. Greenridge, 7. Burton, 7. Osby.” Top left corner cut off. Stamped on photo back: “Harvey C. Jackson, photographer, 2614 Beaubien St., Detroit, Mich. OLIF 1431 J.” – See more at: http://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora:162372#sthash.GhieIUUZ.dpuf Note: My grandfather, identified as 2. Cleage O. is not in the picture. Do not know what the O. stands for.

My cousin Jan recently sent me a copy of the speech below. It was given by my grandfather, Dr. Albert B. Cleage, Sr on the occasion of the graduation of the first class of nurses from Dunbar Hospital. Dunbar was founded by a group of 30 black doctors in 1918 because they were not allowed to treat their patients at white hospitals in Detroit without special permission, and sometimes not even then. The hospital also served as a training school for nurses. My grandfather isn’t pictured in the 1930 photo of staff above, but you can see him in the header photo which was taken in 1922. He is seated on the steps of Dunbar Hospital – first row, far right.

Click on the pages below to enlarge.

Sign on side of former Dunbar Hosptial. Photo by Paul Lee, Sept 2014.

Births, Deaths, Doctors and Detroit

1967 – “Year of Transition from Action to Organization”

December 31, 2013Cleages#Albert B. Cleage Jr, articleKristin

This is a copy of an article my father, Rev. Albert B. Cleage aka Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman, wrote, I believe, for a column in the “Michigan Chronicle” for January 1967. You can read the sermon notes for his New Year’s Day sermon that year here “The Faith of a Mustard Seed”.

Click on these pages to enlarge.

Finding Eliza