goldfields

Jennie occasionally used stories from her husband’s life to illustrate her writings. In 1866 she had married Dennis Drummond Carter in Nevada County, California. Dennis was born free in Virginia in 1814. After the death of his father, his mother took her family to Philadelphia to preserve their freedom. He came to California around 1852, not long after the harrowing incident recorded here.

He was a popular musician and band leader in Nevada City. He was also considerably taller than the average man. In the following column Jennie calls him Mr. Trask (since she wrote as Ann J. Trask).

Mud Hill, December 12, 1868.

Mr. Editor.– “Six feet two inches;” so said Mr. Trask to an inquiry in regard to his height. I told him I thought he was mistaken; he said not, for he was measured, and had his measurement recorded at Harper’s Ferry in the summer of ’51, as he was returning from Sulphur Springs, Va., where he had been for several weeks with the other members of Frank Johnson’s band.

Judge his indignation when he arrived at Harper’s Ferry; he was asked who he belonged to, if he had any scars upon him, and then measured, and told he would have to stay over night as no colored person could travel after 4 o’clock P.M. He stood up and in his wrath I guess he was six feet three inches, he pronounced curses on that State. They then threatened him with the lash, and he told them to proceed, that the first one to lay hands on him would die. And their courage was no greater then than years after, when John Brown, with a handful of men frightened the whole State, for they told Mr. Trask they knew he was a free nigger, he was so independent, and they have long since suffered all the curses Mr. Trask pronounced upon them. . .

Born free, living in Philadelphia, associating with men and women, respected as a gentleman, the insult will never be forgotten. And when anyone asks him his height he will say six feet two inches, and think of that occurrence.

Jennie Carter: A Black Journalist of the Early West, p. 53

I wish I could find a photograph of Dennis and Jennie Carter but I haven’t seen one so far. Dennis Carter was active in community affairs, serving on juries, running for office, active in the Republican Party and the Masons. He died in 1894, having survived his wife by 13 years.

Some time ago I wrote about Jennie Carter, who lived in Nevada City and wrote letters and columns for the Elevator (San Francisco) newspaper. At the time I didn’t have a book about her, but now I do, and I plan to give you more of her enjoyable and encouraging writings.

The book is Jennie Carter: A Black Journalist of the Early West, edited by Eric Gardner and published by the University Press of Mississippi. Gardner has collected all the columns he could find, but some issues of the Elevator are missing, and Jennie may have written for other periodicals under other names. Like many 19th century writers, she used a nom de plume. At first she called herself Ann J. Trask, and claimed to be a woman some twenty years older than she really was, living at “Mud Hill” in Nevada County. Most of her columns are signed “Semper Fidelis.” Who knows what other pseudonyms she may have used for other publications.

Her early columns were directed at children, but she soon found herself writing for everyone. She had great hopes for the young rising generation, free from the bondage of the past. She wrote:

Children, you hear a great deal said about color by those around you, see attention given white persons by your friends that is wholly unmerited, while those of darker skin are treated with cool neglect. Such are wrong, and that you may avoid like mistakes I write this for you to read. Let your motto be, civility to all, servility to none. Those reminders of bondage we must get out of the way as soon as possible; and while we would treat all with respect, we should not talk about color, light and dark, black and white.

It is a mistake to think we are elevated by having white associates. Ten to one they are ashamed to be seen in our company, and only endure us for the help we give them in doing their drudgery. . . .

Now children, we do not expect to get the older ones right in this matter, but we want you to come up right, for nations and people, like individuals, have to form characters. I wish to impress it upon all that we are passing through a transition state, forming a character that shall tell on millions yet to come, and this world is looking on with over critical eyes to see us assume our places among men. . . .

Throw away prejudices of caste and color. Strive to grow in ways mental, moral, as well as physical. Let our young men adopt none of the vices of the Anglo-Saxon; our young women have all refinements of those around them, and the dear children every encouragement to study. Oh, that we might awake to the importance of a thorough, universal education. It is already acknowledged that we have the capacity; let not the world say that we lack the energy.

Jennie Carter: A Black Journalist of the Early West, pp. 4-5

Wise words! But Jennie didn’t always write in a moralizing mood. She often told stories drawn from her childhood, and painted pictures of everyday life. In the next few days I’ll give you more from “Semper Fidelis.”