Jared Maurice Arter facts for kids
Jared Maurice Arter (born January 27, 1850 – died 1930) was an American who was born into slavery. He later became a writer, a Christian missionary, and a teacher. His life story shows how he overcame many challenges to achieve his goals.
Growing Up in Slavery
Jared Maurice Arter was born into slavery in Jefferson County, Virginia. This area is now part of West Virginia. His father, Jeremiah Arter, worked in mills. Because he was enslaved, he could not be a big part of Jared's early life. When Jared was about seven, his father died after an accident at a mill. Jared's mother was Hannah Frances Stephenson Arter. She was also enslaved.
Jared grew up near Harpers Ferry. When he was nine, he saw a sad event. He witnessed the hanging of four men who worked with John Brown. John Brown was an abolitionist, meaning he fought to end slavery. A few years later, during the American Civil War, Jared saw soldiers from both sides marching near his home.
In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. This important document freed many enslaved people, including Jared's family. Soon after being freed, Jared's mother moved most of their family to Washington, D.C. There, a family named Wealch helped Jared for a short time.
Getting an Education
In 1865, Jared's mother received an offer from a New York businessman. He offered to educate her two older sons. The condition was that they would work for him until they turned 21. Jared was very eager to get an education. He spent several years working for the Ayer family and starting his schooling.
Even after leaving the Ayer home, Jared kept learning for many years. He worked while he studied. He attended private schools in Newfield and Ithaca, New York. He also studied in Washington, D.C., and at Storer College in Harpers Ferry. Later, he earned a PhD from Pennsylvania State College. He also received a BD degree from Hillsdale College and Chicago Theological Seminary.
His Career and Teaching
In 1873, Jared Arter became a Christian. He decided to dedicate his life to his faith. In 1887, he became a gospel minister. He began working at Curtis Free Baptist Church. From 1895 to 1898, Arter taught at the Virginia Theological Seminary and College in Lynchburg, Virginia. He also taught at Storer College. He was also the superintendent of a school in Hilltop, Fayette County, West Virginia.
After getting his own education, Jared Arter spent his life teaching others. He did not finish his own studies until 1894. While he loved teaching about the Bible, he also enjoyed history, biology, and literature. He was very interested in modern missions and how Black people could advance. When asked about his thoughts on human progress, he said: "Urge above all things else regenerated lives and loyalty to God, patriotism, true home building, economy, education, race consciousness and unceasing efforts to deserve and to secure all rights."
Arter also wrote a book about his experiences as an enslaved person. It was called Echoes From a Pioneer Life. In 1921, he was still serving as a pastor at Curtis Free Will Baptist Church in Harpers Ferry.
Family Life
Jared Arter was married two times. His first marriage was on July 10, 1890, to Emily Carter. His second marriage was on December 29, 1910, to Maggie Wall. With Emily, he had five children. Sadly, four of them passed away before they turned 20. Jared Arter was a member of the Republican political party. He was also a missionary Baptist and a Mason.
