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From an interview with Rudolph D. O'Hara, son of the subject of this sketch
"Where is that lazy negro this morning?" said James W. O'Hara, master of a large plantation near Horse Cave, Kentucky. "If my slaves do not show a more helpful spirit hereafter, I am going to change my will and not let Louisa free them at her death."
James W. O'Hara blew a long blast from a cow's horn bugle and was answered by slaves from his own and neighboring plantations. Soon many men were patrolling field and forests but it was a useless search. "Jes lak de groun had swallowed im up," said his old grandmother, house slave to Mrs. Louisa O'Hara.
Grief settled down over Cynthia O'Hara wife of the fugitive slave. She had three small sons, James W., Willis and Ruben. Cynthia would know many days of worry trying to control her sons. She felt no uneasiness concerning Florence. She knew Mistress Louisa would take her into her home and teach her 'Manners' so she would be a valuable seamstress and house maid, but the boys presented a different problem altogether.
No word came from the father and within a few years the master and mistress passed away and as the slaves had been promised, they received their freedom. Cynthia O'Hara came to Evansville with other liberated slaves and worked harder to support her children than she had ever worked as a slave on the O'Hara plantation.
Death ended her struggle before the Civil War started and her sons and daughter remained at Evansville.
James W. O'Hara, her son, had been a slave until 11 years of age. He had been taught to read and write as well as any boy in the city and became a useful citizen. He was a member of the Evansville Light Infantry, a Christian that cooperated with all movements calculated to uplift his race. His son, Rudolph D. O'Hara of Evansville, is a practicing attorney having an unusual clientelle among the negro population of the city and Vanderburgh County.
Up from slavery they came, a race of men and women to take their places as citizens, soldiers and attorneys at law, exhibiting initiative after many generations of bondage.
Parrott, Richard As told by W. F. Parrott 202 Highland Ave., Muncie, Indiana (W. W. Tuttle Delaware County, Indiana)
