African Jackson Cemetery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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African Jackson Cemetery
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Gravestones in the cemetery
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | North of Piqua on Zimmerlin Rd. |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001475 |
| Added to NRHP | December 16, 1982 |
The African Jackson Cemetery is a special old cemetery in Ohio. It's a historic place where many people who were once enslaved found their final rest. These people were set free by a man named John Randolph of Roanoke and came to Ohio to start new lives. This cemetery is one of the last remaining parts of a community called Rossville, which was a settlement for Black people near Piqua, Ohio. It's important because it tells us about the history of free Black people in Ohio before the American Civil War.
Contents
A New Start in Ohio
John Randolph's Will
A long time ago, in the 1820s, a man named John Randolph of Roanoke lived in Virginia. He was a US Congressman and owned many enslaved people. In his will, he planned to set free over 600 of them. He also wanted to give them money to move to a free state like Ohio. He wanted them to buy land there and start new lives.
The Journey to Freedom
After Randolph died in 1833, there were legal challenges to his will. It took twelve years for the courts to decide. Finally, it was agreed that his enslaved people would be freed. They would also be given help to travel to a free state. Western Ohio was chosen as their new home.
Building a Community
Money from Randolph's estate was used to buy 2,000 acres of land in Mercer County. However, the freed people faced difficulties there. Because of unfriendly treatment from some white residents, they soon left. About 383 of them moved south to Miami and Shelby counties.
They created a new settlement called Rossville. It was just north of Piqua. Rossville became one of many Black communities in Ohio before the Civil War.
Life in Rossville
The people of Rossville worked hard to build their community. They started their own church in 1864. It was a Baptist church. A few years later, they established their own cemetery in 1866. They also opened a school in 1872. The African Jackson Cemetery was used for many years, well into the 1900s.
Why the Cemetery is Important Today
By the early 1980s, much of the original Rossville settlement had changed. It became part of Piqua. The African Jackson Cemetery is one of the main things left from that historic community. It helps us remember the people who lived there.
Because of its important history, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history. Another important building from this community, the York Rial House, was added to the list in 1986.
