John Noland facts for kids
John Noland (born 1844 – died June 25, 1908) was an enslaved man during the American Civil War. He worked as a personal helper for William C. Quantrill, a leader of a group called "bushwhackers." Bushwhackers were like guerrilla fighters who fought during the war.
John Noland was a chattel slave, which meant he was treated as property. He was owned by Francis Asbury Noland in Jackson County, Missouri.
In 1863, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This important order declared many enslaved people free. However, it did not apply to states like Missouri, which were "border states" that stayed with the Union but still allowed slavery. So, slavery was still legal in Missouri and Kansas at that time.
It's not clear if Francis Asbury Noland ever officially freed John Noland. In 1863, John Noland might have helped scout the town of Lawrence, Kansas. This was before the terrible Lawrence Massacre, where Quantrill's men killed over 143 people.
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John Noland and Quantrill's Raiders
Some historians believe that several white men in Quantrill's group had the same last name as Noland. They might have been related to him. During this time, it was common for slave owners to send enslaved people to camps. They would perform tasks or be "hired out" to others. We don't know exactly how John Noland became William Quantrill's personal servant and horse caretaker.
Noland's Role in the Lawrence Raid
In a letter from 1904, a man named William H. Gregg wrote about talking to John Noland. Gregg asked Noland about his part in the Lawrence raid. Noland confirmed that Asbury Noland had once owned him. He said he didn't want to cause trouble by talking about the event. However, he admitted he was sent to Lawrence to spy. He also said he did not meet with Quantrill before the raid happened.
Andrew Walker, another person from that time, wrote about Noland in his own story. Walker called Noland a "brave, resourceful fellow." He also made it clear that "no negro ever fought with us as a regular member of the band." Walker explained that Noland was not a fighter. But he believed John would have fought if Quantrill had allowed it.
Life After the War and Noland's Death
After the Civil War ended, John Noland continued to be part of the group. Pictures taken after the war show Noland, who was African-American, sitting with his old comrades. These were at reunions of Quantrill's Raiders. Noland tried to go to most of these reunions. He was well-liked by the other veterans, who called him "a man among men."
A newspaper article from 1905, which covered a reunion, and Noland's obituary, both talked about his strong loyalty to Quantrill. They highlighted his role as a personal servant.
John Noland passed away at the Kansas City Poor Farm when he was 64 years old. During his life, Noland experienced many changes in America. He lived through 21 years of chattel slavery (from 1844 to 1865). Then came 12 years of Reconstruction (from 1865 to 1877). This was a time when the country tried to rebuild after the war and give rights to formerly enslaved people. Finally, he lived through 31 years of Jim Crow laws (from 1877 to 1908). These laws created segregation and discrimination against African-Americans.
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