Description
“106 Years Old” In the Kansas City Star there recently appeared an article on Mrs. Lucy Bailey, a former slave, who quietly observed her 106th birthday anniversary at a rest home in Kansas City. She is now in a wheel chair, but two years ago she could walk without the aid of cane or crutch. According to historical notes on Parkville, Lucy Bailey was born in Platte County on the farm of George Roberts near the present site of Park College – her parents having been brought here with other slaves from Virginia. Her memories of Civil War days included helping “Master Roberts” and his family bury their valuables in a peach orchard on the farm just before the outbreak of fighting. After the war, Lucy found the ring which was part of the price Master Roberts got when he sold her mother. All other valuables washed away with the rains. She remembered watching slaves loaded on steamboats at the foot of Main Street in Parkville to be shipped down the river. She has in her possession a blue passport issued to her and her husband to got to Africa as missionaries. At the last moment they gave up the trip because of their age. She can’t remember that date. Lucy could, in earlier life, speak Spanish and Italian. She learned while living in Mexico a few years. She claims her long life was willed by the Lord. She has witnessed many changes in progress through her period of life.Date(s) of Creation
10/23/1959