Shepherdsville Afro-American Charitable Institution Society

By Daniel Buxton

At this time there is little known about this organization but what is known is found below. The individuals involved in this organization Neil Simmons, Albert White, Wilson Crenshaw and Charles Swearingen are all African Americans according to the 1900 and 1910 Census. Frank Bayer appears in the 1900 census as Frank McBoyer living in Shepherdsville and he is African American as well.

1900 Federal Census: Kentucky, Bullitt County, Shepherdsville, page 18B, household 359/356
McBoyer, Frank - head, B M 56, born Mar 1844 in KY, parents born KY, day laborer
McBoyer, Ella - daughter, B F 16, born Jan 1884 in KY, parents born KY, housekeeper
McBoyer, Samuel - son, B M 13, born Mar 1887 in KY, parents born KY, day laborer

I believe this to be the same man listed as Frank Bayer in the documents below. Below you will find the organizations Articles of Incorporation and a deed where land was purchased.

Bullitt County Articles of Incorporation Book 1, Pages 45-46

Articles of Incorporation of the Shepherdsville
Afro-American Charitable Institution Society

Article 1: This society shall be known as the Shepherdsville Afro-American Charitable Institution Society and its chief place of business shall be in Shepherdsville, Bullitt County, Ky. Its objects are to promote , promulgate and foster prudence justice love for humanity and temperance, to better mankind and elevate the colored race and for further purpose of ministering to the needy and sick and burying the dead.
Article 2: The officers shall consist of worthy director, president, and Vice- President, Pilot, Secretary, Assistance Secretary, Treasure, Chaplain, Sentinel and Banner Carrier.
Article 3: The founder and one of its incorporators is Frank Bayer, and its other two incorporators are Neil Simmons, and Albert White.
Article 4: The officers of this corporation shall be elected at Shepherdsville, KY on the first Saturday in December in each year.
Article 5: This Society shall have no capital stock.
Article 6: Frank Bayer lives in Shepherdsville, KY, Neil Simmons and Albert White live in Bullitt County and their post office address is Salt River.
Article 7: This society shall conduct business at once and continue for a period of one hundred years.
Article 8: The indebtedness of the society shall not exceed one hundred dollars at anytime and the private property of the members shall not be subject to the payment of corporation debts.

Witness W.B. Tilden

Signed
Frank Bayer

His X Mark
Neil Simmons

His X Mark
Albert White

State of Kentucky
Bullitt County

I W.B. Tilden clerk of the Bullitt County Court in the state of Kentucky certify that the forgoing instrument of writing was on the 15th day of March 1901 produced to me in my office and acknowledged and delivered before me by Frank Bayer, Neil Simmons and Albert White incorporators to be their act and deed it was filed in my office and ordered to be recorded which with this certificate 2 have truly recorded in my office the 19th day of March 1901.

W.B. Tilden Clerk

Deed

Reese Northern to Trustees Afro-American Charitable Institution Society

This deed, between Reese Northern and Mary Northern, his wife, of the first part and Neal Simmons, Charles Swearingen, and Wilson Crenshaw trustees of the Afro-American Charitable Institution Society and their successors in office of the second part

Witnesseth: That the said party of the first part in consideration of Ten dollars $10.00 cash in hand paid to receipt of which hereby acknowledged, do hereby sell grant and convey to the party of the second part, their successors and assigns the following describe property _____ a parcel of land (1/4) of and acre of the south east part of the land of Reese Northern adjoining the land of Taylor Mathis.

To have and to hold the same with all the appurtenances thereon to the second party their successors and assigns forever with covenant of general warranty. In testimony whereof witness our signature this 19th day of April 1902.

His X Mark
Reese Northern

Her Mark
Mary Northern

Witness
W.B. Tilden

State of Kentucky
County of Bullitt

I W.B. Tilden clerk of the county and state aforesaid certify the forgoing deed to trustees of the Afro-American Charitable Institution Society was on the 19th day of April 1902 produced to me in my office and acknowledged and delivered by Reese Northern and Mary Northern his wife to be their act and deed and the same was on the 9th day of January 1909 lodged to be and is with the certificate duly recorded in my office witness my hand this 11th day of January 1909 W.B. Tilden Clerk.

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The Bullitt County History Museum, a service of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is located in the county courthouse at 300 South Buckman Street (Highway 61) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The museum, along with its research room, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday appointments are available by calling 502-921-0161 during our regular weekday hours. Admission is free. The museum, as part of the Bullitt County Genealogical Society, is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization and is classified as a 509(a)2 public charity. Contributions and bequests are deductible under section 2055, 2106, or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code. Page last modified: 12 Sep 2024 . Page URL: bullittcountyhistory.org/bchistory/shepafroamer.html