01/07/1944: Slavery Days in Parkville and Vicinity

1944.01.07 Parkville Slaves Memory's Lane The_Platte_County_Gazette_1944_01_07_1.jpg

1944.01.07 Parkville Slaves Memory's Lane The_Platte_County_Gazette_1944_01_07_1.jpg

Entry/Object ID

NP.1317

Collection

Newspaper Articles

Archive Items Details

Description

Down Memory's Lane by Dr. Donald D. Parker - - (excerpted from longer article) - - "Slavery Days in Parkville and Vicinity” - - Many a slave in Parkville could have said, “Many times I have seen wagons creaking their way down Main Street loaded with colored men, women and children - just as we see them now loaded with hogs - on their way to the slave market. Stricken faces blanched with terror and foreboding - I do not like to think of them.” James Gazaway Johnson, a familiar figure to many present-day residents of Parkville, was born in 1851 in Clinton County, was transferred to Mississippi in 1861 from which state he did not return until 1874. He states that slave traders and speculators used to come to Parkville on business. On one occasion a tiny slave girl was apparently unwanted, as a trader loaded his cargo at the wharf in Parkville. A family offered to take her and she grew up and lived for many years with the family north of town. Her name was Hunter.

Date(s) of Creation

1/7/1944

Other Names and Numbers

Other Names

Name Type

Enslaved

Other Name

James

Name Type

Free Blacks

Other Name

Johnson, James Gasaway

Other Numbers

Number Type

Source Citation

Other Number

The Platte County Gazette (Parkville, MO, 1885-1970): 01/07/1944, p. 1

Copyright

Copyright Details

© 2026 BAAC All Rights Reserved

Research Notes

Research Type

Researcher

Person

Bill Nichols

Date

7/6/2026

General Notes

Note

Parkville, Missouri

Note

1944.01.07 Parkville Slaves Memory's Lane The_Platte_County_Gazette_1944_01_07_1.jpg

Note

BAAC workbook: 1839-(open) Newspaper Articles CatalogIt version.xlsx [Newspapers begun 04.16.26]

Create Date

September 2, 2026

Update Date

September 16, 2026

Name/Title

01/07/1944: Slavery Days in Parkville and Vicinity