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OWEN MILLION

Monday June 10, 1931
The Muncie (Indiana) Evening Press

To the schhol boy and girl slavery in the United States seem to belong to a dim, distant past but this past is directly connected with the present by Owen Million, colored, 1817 E. Kirk St., Muncie, IN who servied as a slave seven miles norht of Richmond, KY until nearly of age. Million bears that name because his master's name was Million. For the same reson, his father's name was changed several times, each time he was sold, two of the names being Walker and Hill. Million's mother came from South Carolina and was traded to Master Million in exchange for hogs. She married a slave from a neighboring plantation. Owen Million's father being permitted ot visit his wife and family on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

"Lost Trace of Father"
The father, who was said to be part Indian, was "sold down the river" when Owen was a small boy and the son never heard from his father after that. When the father was sold, Owen's mother took him to see his father for the last time, but Owen was too small then to realize what the transaction meant. Owen's father was sold "down the river" because he refused to let the wife of a new owner whip him, although he did not object to being whipped by the woman's husband.

Owen's owner was kind, never whipping him unless he deserved it, according to the former slave, and then he was whipped only with a switch and not a cowhide, as were more unfortunate Negroes. Owen used a hoe six days a week until he was old enough to plow, but Master MIllion gave all his slaves Sundays to themselves. Sundays were spent by young Owen in playing along the creek with other slave boys and white boys. Hence when the Civil War broke out, it meant little to the Million slaves. They were being treated well. It was a less noble but a quite practical cause that prompted Owen to enter the army.

For two years he had suffered with a snag in his foot. His owner had taken him to a local doctor who said the splinter could not be removed. When a Union man came along and invited Owen to enter the Union ARmy, promising medical aid, Owne went, The foot was healed and Owen entered the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, serving three years. At the close of the war he was a free man, but, having servied all his life as a slave, did not know what to do with his freedom. He went back to the plantation. When nearly there he met his master on the road. "Where are your going, Owen?" the master asked. "Back to Million's" "Well, com on." There was never a word of reproach from the rformer owner becasue Owen had beeen in the army of the Union side.

Owen hired to Mr. Million for $12 a month, then a substantial sum. This was the first money Owen had earned except when he had worked for other men on Sundays during his slave days, for 25 or 50 cents a day.

Own married a former slave girl form a neighboring plantation. He worked for Mr. Million for 2 years then worked for his wife's former master. He then rented a cabin and groung from Mr. Million and farmed for himself. After his wife died he moved to Ohio, where he farmed, and came to Muncie 26 years ago, buying 8 lots adjacent ot his present property.

In Ohio he married again. His second wife, who is still living, also a fromer slave. She had been visiting the family by whom she was raised in Kentucky, during the last wee. Own had 13 children by his first wife, none by his second, Only three of the 13 are living, George, Will and Lloyd. Despiet his years 89, Owen is more active than many men of 60. He looks at least 10 years younger than he is. but he knows he hasn't many more years to live. "People tell me I'll to be 100 years old", he says, "but I'm not dissillusioned." He is the only colored member of Williams Past, G.A.R.
End of article

Obituary reads
Jan. 2, 1333 Funeral services ofr Owne Million, 91, colored, Civil War veteran, who died Saturday afternnon at Ball Memorial Hospital, will be conducted Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Shaffer Chapel A.M.E. Church by the Rev. JE Redrick. Burila will be in Beech Grove Cemetery. Mr. Million a resident of Muncie for 26 years, served during the Civil War with Company L, Fifth Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry. Surving are the widow, Liza; three sons, Lloyd, of Muncie, and George and William Milllion of Lexington, KY.

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