It Never Happened in Our County. . Yes it Did!

James Denson/Dunson was born a slave about 1825 in Russell County, Virginia. His last owner was Alex Preston of Abingdon Virginia. One of James’ daughters later said that her parents had cooked for the soldiers during the Civil War. After the War, in 1866 James Denson, then a free man, lived with his wife and children in Saltville, Virginia and was a farmer.

His wife was Sarah Baker, also a slave of Alex Preston.  Along with their children Joseph, Aaron, James, Louisa, Henry, Catherine, Jackson, and Margaret, James and Sarah Dunson moved to Lawrence County Illinois before the 1870 census. All their children except Margaret had been born into slavery but freed by the War.

By 1800 additional children had been added, Sarah E, William, and John all born free.  Several deeds show real estate owned by the Dunson family in Lawrence County.

Sarah Dunson died March 31, 1889, at age 57 and was buried in Portee Cemetery.  James Dunson died March 7, 1902, in Lawrence County, Illinois at age 83. 

After James's death, a writer for the Sumner Press wrote about James and Sarah enrolling their daughters in school.

Researchers believe even though this article was published in the Sumner Press, the female school that is being discussed was one in Lawrenceville.

Page  8 of Sumner Press, published in Sumner, Illinois on Thursday, April 3rd, 1902

The death last week of James Dunson a worthy and aged negro residing near here, calls to mind what a row was raised when Uncle Jim’s two girls were the first colored pupils to attend the public schools in this county.  It was we believe about 1873 when they entered the female school in the east part of town, for at that time the sexes went to separate schools. At once upon the entrance of the Dunson girls twenty-three white girls all members of the Democratic families got up and left the school and did not attend during the term.  The next winter the directors crowded all the white pupils into the east or female school, the west building being kept for the four or five colored children, the latter having a teacher hired at $30 per month. 

What amused a great many people was the fact that several of the girls who left school had been in the habit of going with their Mammas to visit Aunt Sally Dunson and partake of her good cooking.  One family who were so indignant had been in the habit of entertaining John Thomas, the negro brick mason.  After the school episode, Aunt Sally had fewer white friends spend the afternoon and remain for supper.  John Thomas was also “persona no grata” with his white friends.