Early Black Families in Meeker County

If you’ve visited the G.A.R. Hall or are familiar with Meeker County history, you might know the name “Van Spence.” Albert Van Spence and his family called Meeker County home for over two decades. While the family was in the minority, they weren’t the only Blacks in Meeker County at the time. A look at the 1880 US Federal Census shows four Black families working at the Ames brickyard northeast of Litchfield in Darwin Township. This included James and Clara Malone, Jeremiah Vader and family, Albert Van Spence, and James Blair.

Van Spence roasting an ox. At least two other black men can be seen in the background.

These men and women had more in common than working together, in fact, they all came to Meeker County from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Starting in the 1860s, Fond du Lac had a successful brick-making factory. By 1878, production was on the decline, and the factory soon closed. It’s not too much of a stretch to imagine Van Spence and company working together, losing their jobs together, and relocating to Meeker County together.

James and Clara Malone were recorded in Meeker County only in 1880 and returned to Fond du Lac a few years later. Clara was Native American, and the couple would later live on an Indian Reservation in Wisconsin.

Jeremiah “Jerry” and Lois Vader were probably well acquainted with the Malones, even appearing as witnesses for the Malones’ wedding. Jerry served in the US Army in the 1870s. The couple had two children when they came to Meeker County, where they remained until at least 1883, when the birth of another child was recorded in Litchfield. By 1885, the family had moved to Minneapolis.

The last two Black families in 1880 Darwin Township were the Blairs and the Van Spences. These two families were linked by more than just circumstances—they were related! Albert Van Spence’s wife, Missouri, was the sister of James Blair. When the 1880 census was recorded on June 3, only Albert and James were listed in Darwin Township. Their wives, Missouri and Priscilla, were still in Fond du Lac with their children. But just seven days later, Missouri was in Meeker County, giving birth to daughter Orah. We assume Priscilla and her children came here around this same time. By 1885, the Blairs had moved to Minneapolis, where they were once again neighbors with the Jerry Vader family.

Occasionally, Blair family members would visit the Van Spences in Litchfield, and the local newspapers would remark on the return of the former residents. James and Priscilla Blair had at least eight children. Their eldest daughter, Lulu, was quite an accomplished woman. She was determined to graduate high school, despite facing many obstacles along the way. But Lulu prevailed and was one of the first Black students to graduate from Minneapolis High School with high honors. She would go on to have a lengthy and notable career in social welfare in Minneapolis.

As for the Van Spence family, much has already been written about them, and we invite you to the Museum if you are curious to learn more.