Richard Stanhope
Richard Stanhope, with his family, settled on the William Atkinson land, in 1812, the only colored family in that day in the neighborhood. He was a very honest man and quite a good farmer, yet very illiterate, with no advantages of an education. He was nevertheless affable and good natured, with the politeness peculiar to his race. James Guy was then one of his nearest neighbors, and practiced a good many little jokes on Richard, one of which we will mention. All the early settlers cultivated flax for the fiber, which was converted into clothing. This crop was always sown in a certain change of the moon. The following Friday after this change was the proper time, which happened to be Good Friday. Mr. Guy informed him that Good Friday of that year came on Sunday. Being a religious man, Stanhope was unwilling to desecrate the Sabbath, so he sowed his flax late on Saturday evening. Mr. Stanhope was a slave of Gen. George Washington, and was with him during the Revolutionary war. He subsequently sold his farm on the Plains and removed to Urbana, in 1836, where he died, it is claimed at the advanced age one hundred and twenty years. He married and became the father of at least three children, one son and two daughters. One of the latter, Sallie, is now residing in Mechanicsburg, the only survivor of the family.
From History of Madison County - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]