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Note: Name posssibly John. Sir: I saw the story of Father Tolton on the internet of Quincy Education, and thought that I would send to you the history that I have researched on this man. (reproduced below) In the first place the owner of this man was my Great-Great-Grandfather, his name was Stephan Edward Elliott, and his wife's name was Anna Savilla Manning Elliott, her Father was John Manning. The story reads that Stephan B. Elliott was the original owner, and his wife was Susan Kendrick Elliott, this is a misconception, as this Stephan was a nephew of the right Stephan Edward Elliott. The tombstone in this history is also wrong, as this is the stone of Stephan B. Elliott in St. Peter's Cemetery in Ralls county, Missouri. The rightful owner of Father Augustine Tolton is buried with his wife Anna Savilla Elliott, in St. Paul's Cemetery in Ralls County, Missouri. I thought maybe you would like the information that I have spent about 28 years compiling on my Elliotts. My Sister, Jane Kidd and I have spent a lot of time in the library here and and also I spent a week in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Historical Society there. Sincerely, Shirley [Elliott] Sherman FATHER AUGUSTINE TOLTON The ELLIOTT History would not be complete without the story of Reverend Father Augustine Tolton. Father Tolton was the first black Priest in the United States. Augustine Tolton was born April 1, 1854, his parents were slaves. Augustine's Father was owned by STEPHAN EDWARD ELLIOTT, and his Mother was owned by the neighbors of the ELLIOTT'S, their name was Yates, they lived in Ralls County, Missouri, near Brush Creek, Missouri. Augustine's Father's name was Peter Paul Tolton, this name originated from a Missionary Priest who had baptized Peter Paul when he was an infant, his name was Father Peter Paul Lefever. Peter Paul Tolton had been owned by Protestants in Hannibal, and was later sold to STEPHAN EDWARD ELLIOTT, when he came to Missouri from Kentucky, and settled on a farm Southwest of Monroe City, Missouri. The Mother of Father Tolton was named Martha, she had no last name because she was a slave, until after she married Peter Paul Tolton. Martha had been owned by a Catholic in the State of Kentucky, and was baptized in infancy. When Peter Paul and Martha Tolton got married it was understood by both ELLIOTT and the Yate's families that any children born to this couple would be owned by the ELLIOTT'S. Augustine Tolton was baptized on May 29, 1854, in the limestone church of St. Peter in Brush Creek, Missouri. ANNA SAVILLA ELLIOTT, wife of STEPHAN EDWARD ELLIOTT, was his Godmother. Augustine Tolton was taught to read and write by Anna Savilla Elliott, and also he was raised a Catholic, and she took him to Church with her. When the Civil War broke out, Augustine was seven years old, his Father Peter Paul fled from Ralls County, and made his way to St. Louis, so he could join the Union Army, and he took sick and died there. Then Martha Tolton decided to leave and find her way to freedom. Martha somehow made her way to Hannibal, which was 20 miles away to the East of where she lived. Martha took with her, all three of her children, the youngest was only 20 months old, then next Augustine at age seven, and the oldest boy was nine years old. Martha managed with the help of Union Soldiers to obtain a row boat, and she proceeded across the Mississippi River to the Illinois Side of the River, knowing she would be free if she could get there. Martha managed somehow to get all the way to Quincy, Illinois, and when she arrived, Martha and the oldest boy found work in a Tobacco factory. In Quincy, Augustine attended the segregated Public School, but had a lot of trouble, so his Mother sent him first to St. Boniface, and then tried St. Peters School, then he attended St. Francis [Quincy] College for the 1878-1879 and 1879-1880 terms. The Franciscans at the College became interested in him and he was accepted by the College of Sacred Propaganda in Rome, in March 1880. Father Tolton was ordained in the Church of the Lateran on April 24, 1886, by Cardinal Parocchi. Father Augustine Tolton, the United States first Negro Priest, returned to Quincy in 1887, and was at once assigned to take care of the city's black population at St. Joseph's Church, it was founded in 1877 on the Southwest corner of Seventh and Jersey. Father Tolton became well known at this Church, for his excellent sermons and his splendid education, and also his eloquent voice. Although the young priest succeeded in attracting many whites to his services, as well as blacks, the ugly face of prejudice soon appeared again. His success brought down on him not only jealousy of some of the white Priests, but also the envy of some of the black ministers. This combination was too much for him, and he bowed to prejudice and left Quincy, accepting an invitation to found a Negro Church in Chicago, Illinois. Success seemed to be within the reach of Father Tolton, then only 43 years old, and after a lifetime of frustration caused by the color of his skin. Father Tolton was sought by Bishops and Cardinals who wanted him to establish black churches in their diocese. He also had been invited to preach in the Cathedral of Baltimore. Then, during a heat wave in Chicago, on July 9, 1897, Father Tolton collapsed on the street and died of a Heat Stroke. Father Tolton's remains were brought back to Quincy, as he had requested. Since there was no lot to bury him in, a kind White Priest offered to let him be buried on a lot that belonged to him, and this was in the Center of St. Peter's cemetery. Father Tolton was buried deeper then ordinary so that when the White Priest died, he would be buried on top of Father Tolton. I do not know what the white Priest's name was, but it is on the front of the tombstone, and Father Tolton's is on the back of the stone. Father Tolton while attending College in Quincy, had worked at J.J. Flynn Soda Manufacturing Works, and Mr. Flynn was a Pall bearer at Father Tolton's Funeral. [Part of this Story was originally written by Carl Landrum] Some parts were researched by myself and my Sister, Jane [Elliott] Kidd. STEPHAN EDWARD ELLIOTT AND ANNA SAVILLA ELLIOTT were our Great-Great-Grandfather and Grandmother, our Father was CARL MANNING ELLIOTT. Shirley Ann [Elliott] Sherman E-mail: sasherman@socket.net <mailto:sasherman@socket.net>
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