Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society

Historical Perspective

by David W. Jackson

Friends at last meet again

“Gone With the Wind” premiered here 70 years ago this year. The following local history item put me in mind of two of the leading female heroines of that epic Civil War story.

Whatever has been written in fiction or story about the bond of affection between mistress and slave, none has a more substantial foundation than that which brought together Emma Florence Cockrell Follin, of Bowling Green, Ky, and her former slave, Alice Harris, who in 1901, lived at 612 Cottage Lane, Kansas City.

Follin visited Kansas City around Thanksgiving and spent an entire day with the African-American woman whom she had not seen for nearly 40 years.

When the Civil War broke out, Mrs. Follin was then Emma Florence Cockrell, daughter of T. N. Cockrell, of Glasgow, Mo. The Cockrells owned 25 to 30 slaves. Just before the War “Miss Florence,” as all the slaves called her, was 8 years old. At this time, a female was born in one of the slave cabins. The child was named Alice, and she was given to Miss Florence. Until she was 5 years old, Alice was almost constantly with Miss Florence.

At the close of the rebellion, Alice was taken by her father and mother to Leavenworth, Kan., where she grew up and married. She came to Kansas City in 1883. In the meantime, the Cockrell family had separated, Miss Florence marrying Mr. Follin and removing to Kentucky.

Alice always had a vague remembrance of her young mistress, and as she grew older the longing to once more see her became stronger. On Feb. 22, 1901, Alice wrote a communication to The Kansas City Star explaining the facts, and asking for Miss Cockrell’s address, should any one know it. She received several answers, two being from Texas. All told the circumstances of Miss Cockrell’s marriage and her address in Kentucky. A correspondence followed. Mrs. Follin visited Glasgow and wrote that she would come on to Kansas City to spend Saturday night and Sunday with Alice. It was there a reporter for The Star found her.

Mrs. Follin was about 50 years old and spoke with an accent characteristic of native Missourians and Kentuckians. The Harris home in which she visited was scrupulously clean and neat.

“It has been my desire for years,” said Mrs. Follin, “to see some of the slaves from the old place, and especially Alice, but I presumed I should go down to my grave without having my wish gratified. So you see how glad it made me when I discovered where she was. We were always together, she being my particular property. There were no white children near, and even if there had been I doubt I should have chosen them for playmates over Alice. There was no distinction of color. I remember once I was swinging Alice and she called out ‘Higher, Miss Florence.’ I obeyed and down she came, unconscious. Gracious, there were two frightened mothers – hers and mine. Another time we were playing in the attic and Alice crawled into an empty trunk. The lid fell and locked her in. I shall never forget how I wrestled with that lock and the joy I felt when I managed to open it. That time Alice was nearly smothered.” She chatted thus for some time with an occasional remark from Mrs. Harris.

As time goes by and more information from the past becomes more readily available and searchable online, we hope to uncover more personal, local stories that have significance to our history. If your family has personal stories to share, make sure they get recorded.

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