Simon Douglas facts for kids

Simon Douglas (1843–1950) was an amazing person who was born into slavery but lived to be very old. He became known as the last soldier from the American Civil War living in New Jersey. His life story shows how much the United States changed during his time.

Early Life and Freedom

Simon Douglas was born on January 25, 1843. He was born into slavery on a large farm in Fairfield County, South Carolina. When the American Civil War began, he was still a young man.

In 1862, during the war, Simon went to the front lines. He served as a "body servant" for his owner's son. This meant he helped with daily tasks for the soldier. He was with the Confederate Army at this time.

By 1864, Simon Douglas became a free man. He then traveled north. He worked as a blacksmith, shaping metal with fire and tools. He also became a "bummer" for Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. A "bummer" was a nickname for people who gathered food and supplies for the Union Army. This was called "foraging."

Life in New Jersey

After the war, in 1866, Simon Douglas found a new home. He settled in a town that would later be called Fairview, in Bergen County, New Jersey. He built a life for himself there.

Simon married a woman from the local area. Together, they had a son and a daughter. He was a hard worker and ran his own blacksmith business. He continued to work as a blacksmith even when he was in his 90s!

Simon Douglas lived a very long life. He passed away on March 8, 1950, in Fairview. He was buried in Hackensack Cemetery. His life spanned over a century, from the time of slavery to the middle of the 20th century.