Uncrowned Community Builders

Charles Deputie was born in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio on March 9, 1809. His parents moved to Pennsylvania in 1810. Both of his parents died before he reached his tenth year. Before he arrived to the age of manhood, he began to work in the iron works of Barre Forge, where, by accident, the large sledge-hammer, used in pounding the ore for smelting, fell upon him breaking one of his legs in two places and the other in three. He came to this country (Liberia) on a visit in 1852. Being pleased with the condition in which he found the country, he came to the conclusion to make it his home. He returned to American in the early part of 1853 and embarked again for these shores, with his wife and six children, landing in Monrovia, December 18, 1853. He and family removed to Marshall. From thence he went as one of the first volunteers to Carysburg, to which place he moved his family in February, 1858. He embraced the religion of our Lord at the age of twenty-five years and joined the M.E. Church of which he was a useful member for many years, but the last five years of his life he was connected with the Presbyterian Church. Charles Deputie died, at his residence in Carysburg, on the afternoon of August 8th 1868, of dropsy. Mr. Deputie was 58 years, 5 months. He leaves a widow and six children to mourn his loss.

Extracted from the African Repository

Christian Recorder
October 8, 1874

ââ?¬Å?A Missionary Family

On the tenth of November 1853, a number of colored emigrants sailed from New York City, in the barque ââ?¬Å?Isle de Cubaââ?¬, for Liberia in West Africa. In the list we find the name of Charles Deputie of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. He was accompanied by his wife, Mary Ann, and his six children, namely: James H., aged 16 years, John aged 10, Hannah, aged 9, Robert, aged 6, Mary, aged 4 and Margaretta, aged 2. In the same vessel, Rev. Samuel Williams and family of Johnstown, Pa., Thomas Lillason and family of Blairsville, William Nesbit of Hollidaysburg and others sailed. Twenty one years have passed by. Charles Deputie and his wife have fallen asleep in Jesus. The six children are all living and all married. Three sons, James, John and Robert are ministers of the Gospel; and Hannah is the wife of Rev. Thomas E. Dillon; making four missionaries in African out of six children. Hannah has four children, 2 boys and 2 girls. John has 3 boys. Robert has a son and daughter. Maggie has a daughter. Mary has none. In all sixteen children. Summary for 21 years; 2 deaths, 6 marriages, 16 births, 4 missionaries! A few hundred of such families would greatly promote civilization and Christianity in Africa.ââ?¬

Letter from Charles Deputie

Monrovia, January 10, 1853
Dear Friend, through a kind Providence we landed here on the 6th instant, in forty days from Baltimore. All well. I went ashore and met for the first time in my life on the same platform with all men and the finest people in the world. I never met with more kindness in my life, and every attention is paid to visitors. On Sabbath day there were seven flags flying in the harbor. I attended the Methodist Sabbath School and found it interesting was invited to address it, and made some remarks. There were 75 scholars in the school. I have been up the St. Paulââ?¬â?¢s River. It is the finest country in the world. Mr. Blackledgeââ?¬â?¢s sugar farm is splendid. Dined with Mr. Russell, Senator of New Virginia, and think his land somewhat better than some of the rest. The river is sixty feet deep. Every thing is getting along well, and all that is wanted is industrious men and good mechanics. I would say to my friends, that everything that I have seen surpasses my expectations. Should I be spared to return, you shall see some articles that I intend bringing with me. I wish you would try to make some arrangement with the Society to let me off with a free passage home, as I want to labor for the cause, and my means will be far run by the time I get to Philadelphia. Brother Williams intends doing all he can for the cause. We intend to go into the coffee business. Our object is to get 500 acres of land in one plot, and have it settled by none but respectable people from Pennsylvania; and I think that if you could send some from Philadelphia it would have a good effect.
President Roberts is nominated for President again; Judge Benedict is his opponent.
Time will not permit me to write for publication, but you can make some remarks from this letter.
Now, in conclusion, on my return from Cape Palmas I intend taking up my land; return home to be ready by fall; come back with such of my friend as will come. I want them to come and those who will not come must remain, for this is our home. I have had very good health since I saw you. I am eight pounds heavier than when I left home.
Respectfully yours, in the cause of liberty,
Charles Deputie