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Reference: (A) Mrs. Lillian Hunter, a negress at Hanover
Upon being asked if her grandparents were in slavery, Mrs. Hunter told me the following story:
"My ancestors were not in slavery so far as I know, but my great-great-grandfather was a slave owner in or near Oberlin, Ohio." Mrs. Hunter told me she was not pure blood. Her father was a full blooded negro, while her mother's people were mixed Scotch, Indian and negro. A picture was shown of the slave-holding ancestor and he looked like a typical Scotchman with his snowy hair and bear.
Mr. Copeland, although holding slaves, was a hater of negroes. He was very cruel to them, and would curse them with little provocation. Mrs. Hunter said her mother often told her how the old gentleman met his death.
"One bright, sunshiny day there wasn't a cloud in the sky and my great-great-grandfather was standing by his dining room window when one of his slaves passed through the room. He immediately began cursing the man unmercifully, when a bolt of lightning struck him, killing him instantly. The slave was nor injured although he was in the same room. Our family always considered this as a punishment sent direct from God." (A)
(Mrs. Hunter spoke with a Scottish accent, so that it was hard to understand her.)
Jenkins, Mattie Vigo County, Indiana (Charles Willen)
