13. George W. Peele, Good Man Gone To His Reward

Winchester Journal, 1924


  Since the death of George W. Peele, ninety-two, colored, at Muncie last week, interested persons have made an investigation of the negro register at the court house and find that George W. Peele was given his freedom by his master, Amos Wiley, who moved to Randolph County from North Hampton County, North Carolina, November 1, 1851.

  Mr. Wiley brought with him ten slaves, all of them he gave their freedom at this time. The register states that Mr. Peele was nineteen years old when brought to Winchester and describes him as a negro, five feet seven inches high and well made. Henry H. Neff, who was later a colonel in the Civil War, was clerk of the court when the register was recorded and Nathan Hinshaw witnessed the act. The Wiley negroes are the only ones who ever received their freedom in Randolph County.
  Mr. Peele remained a resident of Winchester until a short time before his death, when he went to Muncie to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. Dan Keith. He was well respected here and was familiarly known to almost every man, woman and child as "Uncle George."