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Author: KevinEslinger78
Surnames: Eslinger
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
About the issue of Casper owning slaves... I have been doing research on Indiana during
the time that Casper lived there. It would have been impossible for him to own slaves
while living in Indiana. According to the book "Biographical and Historical
Souvenier for the Counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison (Casper's County), Jefferson,
Jennings, Scott, and Washington. Indiana." published 1889 page 121:
"Slavery.-The Indiana Territory, as has already been stated, was organized under the
ordinance of 1787, which prohibited the introduction of slavery into any of the domains of
Northwest Territory, and as we have seen, many of the early settlers come here to escape
the evils of negro slavery. Some few, however, brought negroes with them, and if slaves,
at once took steps to liberate or emancipate them. The old court records are encumbered
with many entries on the subject, which no doubt will be of interest to the reader of
to-day."
So I believe the Census interpreted as Casper owning slaves is incorrect.
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