Jackson Purchase Historical Society

An Evening Upstairs at the McCracken County Library will present Reverend Newton Bush: Freedom at a Terrible Price at 7:00 p.m. on February 28th in the Second Floor Meeting Room.

January 1, 1863 was an historic day in United States history. President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation took effect, freeing most slaves in the United States. But for enslaved men living in Kentucky and other border states, it was a bittersweet occasion. Lincoln desperately wanted to keep Kentucky loyal to the Union. It was not until 1864, when Kentucky became the last state allowing their enlistment that slaves could join the Union Army. Like many Kentucky-owned slaves, Newton Bush risked his life to escape from his owner and travel to Camp Nelson and enlist in Company E of the 5th Regiment United States Colored Cavalry.

Fighting for their freedom and a better life for the people they loved, Bush was one of 24,000 men of color from Kentucky who joined the Colored Cavalry. It didn’t take long for them to discover that joining the Army didn’t result in being treated with respect and dignity or that more value was placed on a horse than a colored solder. But their loyalty to the Union and bravery in battle eventually earned the respect of the white soldiers.

For Bush and the troops in the Colored Cavalry, the fighting didn’t end when the Civil War was over. They had endured slavery and risked their lives to preserve the Union, yet they spent the rest of their days in fear of being harassed and killed while fighting for freedom and equal citizenship.

Co-sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council & The Friends of the Library.

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Minutes, January 26 2013, at Wrather West Kentucky Musueum

President Dr. Bob Lochte called the meeting to order. The minutes were presented and Charles Bobbit moved we accept the minutes and it was seconded and approved.

Marvin Dowling presented the financial report. It was moved that we accept the report by Charles Bobbit and it was seconded and approved. Membership costs were discussed: $15 for individual membership and $20 for a family membership to the Jackson Purchase Historical Society.

The spring meeting will be held at Wickliffe on Saturday, April 27 in the meeting room of the Wickliffe City Hall. Dr. Kit Wesler will present the program.

Wickliffe Mounds is now part of the State Park System and Carla Hildebrand will conduct a tour for anyone and it will be at a discounted rate of $3.00 instead of $5.00.

Currently the summer meeting plans are in the process of being organized. Many have expressed an interest in a tour of an historic church.

The meeting portion was adjourned and the group welcomed the speaker, Dwain McIntosh. He was later offered a complimentary annual membership to the Jackson Purchase Historical Society. The program was titled “High School Basketball in the early 1950’s.” Basketball was “King” in the Jackson Purchase at that time for many area basketball teams, such as Cuba, Brewers, North Marshall and Augusta Tilghman High School. The program was very informative and well received by the audience.