ton to teach free children and such of
the slaves as would be permitted to attend. Some masters granted this
permission, but the greater number refused it. Finally, some "_poor
white_" fellows, unable to own slaves themselves, mobbed the teacher,
rode him on a rail, tarred, feathered, and drove him from town. They
were called black Indians. It was impossible to secure another teacher
in Lexington for a day school, but Mr. George Perry, an intelligent
free Colored man, had the courage to teach Sunday-school, in the
Branch Methodist Church. It is now called Asbury M. E. Church.
Marshall attended, as did his mother and brothers. In 1854 the family
moved to Louisville, looking for a school. Finding none there, they
continued their journey about fifty miles above there on the Ohio
River, and landed at Ghent, a little village in Carroll County, Ky.,
opposite Vevey, Indiana. They indulged a hope that the children would
be allowed to attend the public schools at Vevey, but they were doomed
in this expectation. They spent two years at Ghent. Marshall and his
brother obtained instruction during this period from the little white
children who attended school, after hours, using "an old hay loft back
of a Mr. Sanders's Tavern" for a recitation-room, and paying their
teachers with cakes and candies bought with odd pennies gathered here
and there.

On the 1st of August, 1856, there was an Emancipation celebration at
Dayton, Ohio. Frederick Douglass was advertised to speak, and other
eminent Abolitionists were expected to participate. Marshall's mother
attended it. Soon after her return several slaves mysteriously
disappeared from the vicinity of Ghent. Among them was a very valuable
family belonging to Esquire Craig, of the village. Suspicion fastened
on the old lady who had been off among the "Abolitionists." She was
indicted by the Grand Jury, and thirty-six men filed into her cabin,
and while she lay sick in bed, read the indictment to her. They
ordered her to leave the place. She refused to go, claimed her
innocence, but to no purpose. "They chased Francis with guns and dogs
on the public streets in daylight; shaddowed the cabin and gave
unmistakable evidence of a diabolical purpose." She soon after
returned to Louisville.

Young Marshall became a messenger in the law firm of J. B. Kincaid and
John W. Barr. Here his chances were good, both of these gentlemen
aiding him in his studies. He did his work after school hours at the
o