"Uncle Jack," Lexington’s only African American inhabitant, is certainly an interesting specimen of the times, "before the war." For many years he has lived on the outskirts of our town, and entertains visitors from town very frequently by his fiddling and stories of his life. He was born a slave, in the eastern part of the United States and encountered various fortunes. Jack now has a little shed in the Scrogin timber just west of the railroad track, and a cozy little place it is too. During the summer he lays in his stores for the winter. Tobacco, wood and groceries are his supplies. He is a permanent republican and always does his share of voting.

On April 7, 1903 Jack Tuner died and the article below is quoted from the Unit Journal Thursday, April 9, 1903.

          Sunday the house of Jack Turner, only colored man in Lexington township, was destroyed by fire. He lived southwest of the city not far from the C & A water tank. At the Men’s meeting at the Baptist church Sunday evening. The Hon. A. J. Scrogin announced the fact of the fire and proposed that money be raised then and there for another house for the old man. Newman Pritt took up the work and Monday morning enough more was subscribed to build him a better house than he had before. The same morning several of the carpenters went to work and by evening the house was nearly completed. The night however he slept in his little smokehouse and the next morning A. R. Carnahan and Charles Devoir upon going to the cabin in order to finish it, looked into the smokehouse, and to their surprise found that Jack Turner was dead. A doctor was summoned who upon examination said that he had been dead at least 7 or 8 hours. The Coroner was notified, and came in the afternoon. From the examination of the body it was decided that his death was from natural causes. Mr. Turner was a very old man and was reared a slave in Missouri. During the war he ran away from his master but was caught and so severely flogged that he bore the marks of the lash to his grave. That did not deter him for he ran away again the next night, and succeeded in making good his escape. He once entered the Union Army and served well his country. Upon his discharge from the army he came north. He was married and raised a family, but all, wife and children have passed to the farther shore except one daughter who lives in St. Louis. Mr. Turner came to Lexington 15 years ago and has resided near this city since. Those who knew him speak very kindly of him. The funeral was held Tuesday evening with services at the grave, the Rev. J. E. Connor officiated. The burial was at the Porteus Cemetery.

          As an interesting follow-up to this man’s story. About a year and a half ago, A gentleman called "The Fort" looking for a Jack Turner and was told we had an obit for him. He came to "The Fort" and brought a pair of cloth dolls that we believe were purchased at an auction in Bloomington. The pair of dolls were a man and a woman and in the man’s pocket was a letter addressed to Jack Turner, Lexington, Illinois. The volunteer that helped the gentleman said that the dolls were very detailed. The male doll was dressed in bib overall, a gold wedding band on his finger, handmade shoes, a tobacco pouch, a watch, a handkerchief, and the letter in his pockets. The female doll had a handmade dress, cotton hose, purse, glasses, a wedding band, her hair was in a kerchief, handmade shoes and earrings. We have always wondered what the letter might have meant? Were these dolls handmade by a family member since they were so detailed? Just what was the story of these dolls? I guess we will never know!