UNCLE JAKE AND HIS CABIN
[Jake Chamberlain]
The Pioneer Magazine
December 1903
Without doubt,
the oldest living resident of Collin County is "Uncle" Jake Chamberlain, a
typical old-time Southern darkey, whose humble cabin stands about one and a
half miles southeast of McKinney. Uncle Jake claims to have first seen light
of day July 10th, 1798—more than 105 years ago. His venerable appearance,
gray locks and bent form bear out this claim of over a century's existence.
Indeed, some of the county's oldest citizens, among them Manse and Hy
Wilmeth, D. L. McKinney and Jesse Shain, are positive that he has reached
the century mark. He was an old negro, familiarly known as "Uncle" Jake, in
their earliest boyhood days. Though bent by the weight of many years, his
memory is remarkably clear, his eyesight very good and all his physical
faculties are retained to a surprising degree. He was born in slavery on
Holston river, in Granger County, Tennessee, three miles below the Horse
Shoe Bend. He was taken by his mater, Jeremiah Chamberlain, to Lexington,
MO., and sold to Joseph Fisher. The latter brought him to Texas, where the
slave's ownership passed to Joe Dixon, who later sold him to Elder J. B.
Wilmeth, father of Manse and Hy Wilmeth, of near McKinney, for the sum of
$400. Uncle Jake married five times; two of his wives died and two were
separated from him in the course of events incident to slavery times. He is
the father of numerous children. He married his last wife, who still resides
with him, in the early fifties; both belonged to Elder J. B. Wilmeth, whose
son, Elder J. R. Wilmeth, now of Mills County, Texas, officiated. For
seventy-five years Uncle Jake was a Baptist preacher, doing local
ministerial work among the members of his race. He never had but one severe
spell of illness, and that after being brought to Texas. Dr. Smith, father
of H. Q. and C. W. Smith, the druggists, attended him. Uncle Jake owns a
little piece of about 30 acres, upon which he lives. When the Pioneer
Magazine representative and photographer called at his cabin, they found him
at the wood pile at work. Uncle Jake's old black face never fails to beam a
welcome, more cordial and eloquent than words can convey, to any white
friend or stranger who may pause at his humble cabin door for a word of
cheer to its occupant, who possesses the distinction of having lived in all
three of the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Surname Index
Recommended Citation:
"Uncle Jake [Chamberlain] and His
Cabin, EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].