James Redd

REDD

Posted By: J. Breen (email)
Date: 10/1/2020 at 10:07:54

Jim Redd Last of His Generation of Negro Residents of Washington

In the death of Jim Redd there has gone from the Washington scene the last of his generation of Negro men and women who lived in this community.
The generation of which he was one, gave some interesting characters to this community. Of the citizens who called this home for 50 to 60 years or more, the older residents will recall George and Sally Davis, Carson and Caroline Mackey, Dan Haines and wife, Ned Skinner, Stephen Coe, George Black, George Turner, Sam Hall and wife, Mose Hall, Fred Mott and wife, Jeff Armstrong and his wife, Mrs. Lindsay, Lewis Wallace, Lewis Guinn, Henry Campbell, Wesley Moore, and probably there are others whose names do not come to mind immediately.

This list will revive interesting memories to many of the older residents. They came during and following the Civil War. Some of them had hard days in slavery and others delighted to tell of the good days under “Massa” and “Missus” in the south before the war. Others were bewildered by their freedom and life in the north. Each had distinctive characteristics. No two were alike. Peaceable and law abiding, they made their contributions of service to the community.
Jim Redd had an individuality which was his own. It is not likely that he knew his exact age. His replies to questions asked about his age were “cute” and did not give any information.

An able writer, if he knew the man and some of the facts about his life, could make and interesting biography.

Source: Washington Evening Journal, June 8, 1940

Washington, Iowa, on Saturday lost one of it’s most unique and unusual characters when Jim Redd died at the County Home where he had been taken few days before.

Poor old Jim, had not been the same since his old pal and partner, Mose Hall, died, in fact not since his they gave up their old barber shop over here where the Journal building is today, and moved to another street. Jim and Mose were an interesting pair of negroes with a keen philosophy and sense of humor, which made their barber shop a popular place. Jim was much in demand when men were sick, for he took his little satchel and no person was ever more tenderly taken care of, than when Jim did it. His infectious little laugh was a part of him of him for he laughed all over.

I can see Jim Redd yet as he ambled down the street. He was loose jointed and walked all over the walk, his faithful, beloved little dog watching every move he made. When he had “just a wee drap too much” his movements were uncertain and people walking behind him had no idea he would ever land anywhere, but every body liked him and spoke kindly of him, and I am sorry Jim is gone. He furnished amusement for tired “out of sorts” folks, indeed I have never seen any one so out of humor that his movements did not amuse them. And now Jim and Mose are both gone, and their old friend Nate Black, is away from home for treatment. Washington is not the same.

Source: Washington Democrat Independent, June 5, 1940

James Redd Headstone
 

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