“OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE” - RICHARD. BARRINGTON ( encore edition )

ONCE upon a time in old Monroe( back when White people “ LITERALLY OWNED” Negroes as their private property ), there lived a respectable Negro slave named, Richard Barrington. It is reported that he came to America via a slave-ship called, “The Hunter.” At the tender age of 16, young Richard was sold to Solomon Downs of Ouachita Parish[ in Louisiana ]. He went back to Monroe, Louisiana with Solomon Downs to live on the Down’s Plantation { about 3 miles south of Monroe }. It was on the Down’s Plantation that Richard learned to read and write.He took full advantage of his master’s extensive library.When Solomon Downs was elected as Senator of Louisiana in 1847, he took his trusted slave,Richard Barrington along with him. Richard would serve Senator Downs in many capacities, including cook,butler, barber,body servant,private secretary, and treasurer. Upon his death, Senator Downs granted “FREEDOM” to Richard and his family. It was also reported that Richard Barrington bought the tombstone for his former master’s grave( the grave is here in Monroe at Riverview Cemetery ). Richard Barrington is also known to have operated a fine barbershop, which was located on South Grande St. in Monroe. Richard Barrington died on November 19, 1904. Some of the White folks were said to have liked Richard Barrington so much that they had his obituary printed in The New Orleans Times newspaper. Some of the citizens of Monroe, Louisiana who can be traced back to Richard Barrington include Maurice Johnson[ a former band director of Carroll High School and Grambling State University ], and Richard Zemry Johnson Sr, a former band director of Richwood High School . In closing, it is saddening that many Blacks in Monroe do not know that Richard Barrington was the founder of one of the first schools for Negroes in Monroe, Louisiana. The school was named “ The Wisner School.” It was reportedly located on the same site as the Black Charter School founded in Monroe by Roosevelt Wright( Excellence Academy ). It’s a shame that our young Black men in Monroe, Louisiana know more about the history of the National Football League, than they know about their BlACK ancestors that lived and paved the way for us today! EXRTA INFO : Since Richard Barrington was designated a "House-Slave" by his master, he got to stay in the "Big House" and learn to read as well.His wife's name was Letitia and the couple had 3 children.His son Frank Barrington would go on to finish college in St. Louis, and then returned to Monroe,Louisiana to help his father start the Wisner School. The Wisner school housed all 12 grades and Frank Barrington became the school's first principal.In 1922, Monroe Colored High replaced the Wisner School( and later Carroll High School would replace Monroe Colored High as the High School for Colored People in the city of Monroe ). Also, in 1894 Richard Barrington was interviewed by a reporter from the Daily Picayune Newspaper.During the Interview, Richard Barrington elaborared to the reporter about his experiences as a slave, and the events he encountered while traveling with his master. This is how the article about the interview started : The Daily Picayune (New Orleans, LA), November 4, 1894, Page 23 RICHARD BARRINGTON : The Story of a Faithful Old Colored Servant,Several state papers carried his obituary, including the New Orleans Times-Democrat (November 20, 1904, Page 9). Then, Here's the obituary for Richard Barrington that was published in the New Orleans newspaper. MONROE.Louisiana : Death of an Old and Respected Negro. Special to The Times-Democratic. Monroe, Nov. 19. – There died to-day at his humble home near this city a notable character, a negro respected by all who knew him, white and black alike. Richard W. Barrington, aged eighty-five years, was the best and highest type of negro. Before the war he was the body servant of Gen. Solomon W. Downs, and while his master represented his State in the United States Senate during slavery days, he always accompanied and tended him. With his master, he met all the celebrities, Webster, Clay, Calhoun and others, and many were the interesting anecdotes he told of them and Washington life. his demeanor toward the whites was always respectful. The funeral will take place to-morrow at 12 o’clock from his home, east of town, the burial to be in his family burying ground.