08 February 2011

Sojourner Truth: Tombstone Tuesday

Once a month I try to write a blog post sharing a piece of Battle Creek, Michigan history.  This month I have chosen Sojourner Truth's grave site.  Sojourner Truth arrived in the Battle Creek area about 1857.  She kept a residence in Battle Creek throughout her travels where she spoke out against slavery.  She can be found in the 1860 and 1870 Census records, living in Calhoun county, Michigan.  Sojourner Truth was the first black women to win a law suit against a white man when she sued for the return of her son, Peter, who had been sold illegally.   Sojourner Truth died 26 November 1883, at her residence on College Street, Battle Creek, Michigan,


Sojourner Truth
Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan
(See below for transcriptions)

Sojourner Truth
Back of Gravestone
IN
MEMORIAM
SOJOURNER
TRUTH
BORN A SLAVE IN
ULSTER CO., NY
IN THE 18TH
CENTURY
DIED IN
BATTLE CREEK,
MICH.
NOV 26 1883
AGED ABOUT
105 YEARS
'IS GOD DEAD'
                        ST

The historical marker in the first picture says,
 Sojourner Truth
 Renowned lecturer and
 reformer, who championed
 Anti-slavery, Rights of
Women and the Freedmen,
 rests here.  Beside her
 lie two of her 5
 children. 
 Elizabeth Banks Boyd
Died Jan 6  1883
Diana Corbin
Died Oct 25 1924
and two grandsons
Samuel Banks
Died Feb 24 1875
William F Boyd
 Died Nov 3 1887"

5 comments:

  1. Thanks for sending me back to the history books. Battle Creek? Man, I've forgotten a lot. I remembered Michigan though.

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  2. You're Welcome. Battle Creek was a stop on the underground railroad. When we first moved to Battle Creek many years ago, I was surprised by this. Battle Creek has honored her in many ways over the years.

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  3. This lady was a strong working women im always looking at her as a hero,i wish i could have mat.

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  4. Yes she was. I have enjoyed reading about her life and her connection to Battle Creek.

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