Reuben Shipley facts for kids
Reuben Shipley was an important early Black settler in the Oregon Territory. He worked hard to gain his freedom and helped build a new life for himself and his family in the American West.
Early Life
Reuben Shipley was born in Kentucky sometime between 1800 and 1807. He was born into slavery and belonged to a man named Robert Shipley. Later, Robert Shipley moved to Missouri, and Reuben was forced to go with him. At that time, Reuben was considered very valuable, worth about $1,500.
Journey to Freedom
While in Missouri, Reuben got married and had two sons. Sadly, his wife and sons were enslaved on a different farm about 30 miles away. Reuben was only allowed to visit them once a month. He also managed Robert Shipley's farm.
Around 1853, about ten years before the American Civil War, Robert Shipley gave Reuben a choice. He could either move with Robert to the Oregon Territory or be sold to another enslaver for $1,000. Robert promised Reuben his freedom if he helped him move to Oregon and build a new home there.
This was a very difficult choice for Reuben because it meant leaving his family behind. His wife and sons belonged to a different family and could not go with him. But Reuben hoped that if he gained his freedom, he could eventually buy the freedom of his wife and sons.
In 1853, Reuben began the long journey to Oregon. He drove a team of oxen for about 2,000 miles along the Oregon Trail. When he arrived in the Oregon Territory, there were very few Black residents, maybe only about 50 people, according to a count from 1850.
After helping Robert Shipley move and build his new home, Reuben was finally given his freedom. This process is called Manumission.
Building a New Life
Once he was free, Reuben tried to get his wife's freedom. He wrote to the person who enslaved her in Missouri, but sadly, she died before he could free her. He then tried to free his sons, but their enslaver refused. During the Civil War, Reuben lost track of his sons.
Several years after settling in Oregon, Reuben became a landowner. He bought land about four miles west of a town called Corvallis, Oregon.
In 1857, Reuben married Mary Jane Holmes. She was also an enslaved person in Oregon. Even though slavery was officially against the law in Oregon by 1857, Mary Jane's enslaver demanded money for her freedom. He said she could not leave his property unless he was paid. Even though two local men advised against it, Reuben paid the "ransom" that same day. It was a large amount of money, between $400 and $800. Reuben and Mary Jane later had two sons and a daughter.
In 1861, Reuben Shipley donated some of his land to create the Mt. Union Cemetery in Philomath, Oregon. He died in 1872.
A Different Name
Reuben Shipley's gravestone has the name R. E. Ficklin. This might seem confusing, but it was common for enslaved people to use the last name of a former enslaver. It is believed that Reuben Shipley had been enslaved by a person named Ficklin before he belonged to Robert Shipley. Reuben's son, Edward, later chose to use the last name Ficklin as well, even though most of the family used Shipley.
