Forum Host- Joined
- May 12, 2010
- Location
- Now Florida but always a Kentuckian
Elijah Marrs was born in Shelby County, Kentucky to a free black father and a slave mother, so legally, he was a slave. He learned to read and write at night and in Sunday School. Later, when the Civil War started, he read the newspapers to other slaves so they would know what was going on.
In 1864 when he was 24 years old, Elijah led 27 other slaves away from their owners and into the Union army. Marrs "felt freedom" for the first time and on that first day he wrote: "This is better than slavery". In the army he met the son of his former owner. "We talked freely of old slave times", said Marrs. They parted friends and the son gave Marrs a box of cigars.
Marr's army unit moved all around central and south-central Kentucky and even participated in some small battles. At one time, the Unit was captured by Confederates and the men worried because they were former slaves, they might not be treated well, but they were. After their release Marrs helped lead 750 Bowling Green, Kentucky blacks to the safety and protection of Camp Nelson.
When the war ended, Marrs used the $300 he had saved to start a new life as a free man. Marrs taught school in Simponville, New Castle, and LaGrange, Kentucky. Usually, he was the only teacher for 100 to 125 students. He went to college briefly and then decided to start a new college in Kentucky. In 1879, Marrs and his brother began what became known as State University in Louisville, Kentucky. It was the first African American-led college in the state.
Marrs became a Baptist preacher in Louisville and still spoke out for black rights. He died in 1910, still fighting for the goal of equal rights for blacks. Freedom had been won, but still, there was s a long way to equal rights.
In 1864 when he was 24 years old, Elijah led 27 other slaves away from their owners and into the Union army. Marrs "felt freedom" for the first time and on that first day he wrote: "This is better than slavery". In the army he met the son of his former owner. "We talked freely of old slave times", said Marrs. They parted friends and the son gave Marrs a box of cigars.
Marr's army unit moved all around central and south-central Kentucky and even participated in some small battles. At one time, the Unit was captured by Confederates and the men worried because they were former slaves, they might not be treated well, but they were. After their release Marrs helped lead 750 Bowling Green, Kentucky blacks to the safety and protection of Camp Nelson.
When the war ended, Marrs used the $300 he had saved to start a new life as a free man. Marrs taught school in Simponville, New Castle, and LaGrange, Kentucky. Usually, he was the only teacher for 100 to 125 students. He went to college briefly and then decided to start a new college in Kentucky. In 1879, Marrs and his brother began what became known as State University in Louisville, Kentucky. It was the first African American-led college in the state.
Marrs became a Baptist preacher in Louisville and still spoke out for black rights. He died in 1910, still fighting for the goal of equal rights for blacks. Freedom had been won, but still, there was s a long way to equal rights.
Bringing the