Green Flake

Family Background

1828. January 6: Born into slavery on the Jordan Flake plantation in Madsburr, Anson County, North Carolina. Married Martha Crosby (later known as Louise, "Liz," Hazel), daughter of Vilate Litchfield. They had two children, Abraham Green Flake and Lucinda Viiate Flake Stephens. The Flakes also raised Lewis Flake, a white foster son.

Mormon Convert

1844. James M. Flake, Green's owner, was baptized in Mississippi during the winter of 1843-44. After visiting Illinois in the spring of 1844, the family decided to move to Nauvoo. John Brown recorded in his pioneer journal that he "baptized two black men, Allen and Green, belonging to Brother Flake," in April, 1844.

Black Pioneer

1847. "When Brigham Young commenced fitting out a train to take the first of the Pioneers across the Great Plains, he needed the very best teams and outfits to be had. James M. Flake, who had put his all upon the altar, sent his slave, Green, with the mules and mountain carriage, to help the company to their destination. He told Green to send the outfit back by some of the brethren, who would be returning, and for him to stay and build them a house. Like the old slaves he faithfully carried out his instructions."

One of three black servants in the pioneer company, Green drove James Flake's white-topped carriage used by Brigham Young during the trek and entrance into the Salt Lake Valley. By Green's own account, he was "in the first wagon through Emigration Canyon."

Human Tithing

1850. When Green's owner was killed in an accident in California, Mrs. Flake moved to San Bernardino with Charles C. Rich and Amasa M. Lyman. Before leaving Salt Lake, she gave her "Negro slave Green Flake to the Church as tithing. He then worked two years for President Young and Heber C. Kimball, and then got his liberty."

Settler

1851. A free man, Green moved his family to the Union area of Salt Lake County, where he farmed and mined ore from the Cottonwood Canyons. He was an active member of the Union Ward. Friends and neighbors remembered his neighborly deeds, his fine singing voice, and his participation in dances at the old Union Co-op Hall.

1885. Upon the death of his wife, he moved to Gray's Lake, Idaho, to be near his son Abraham's family. He returned to Salt Lake in 1897 to attend the Utah Pioneer Jubilee on July 24, where he received a certificate honoring him as a surviving member of the Brigham Young pioneer company.

Death

1903. October 20: Died in Idaho Falls, Idaho, at the age of seventy-five. Buried in the Union, Utah, Pioneer Cemetery.

Sources
Brooks, Juanita, ed. On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout. 2 vols. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press/Utah State Historical Society, 1964.
Brown, John Zimmerman. Autobiography of Pioneer John Brown: 1820-1896. Salt Lake City, 1941.
Carter, Kate B. Our Pioneer Heritage. Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1959.
Flake, Osmer D. Life of William Jordan Flake. Salt Lake City: Church News, 1948.
Lythgoe, Dennis L. "Negro Slavery in Utah." Utah Historical Quarterly 39 (1971):40-54.
Madsen, Steven K. Interview, 21 October 1979.
Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Church Archives. William J. Flake to Church Historian's Office, 14 February 1894.
Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Genealogical Society Library. Jordan Flake Will. North Carolina Wills, Anson County, 1751-1942.

	A Book of Mormons Richard S. Van Wagoner and Steven C. Walker Copyright 1982, Signature Books Salt Lake City, Utah Contents


	Green Flake (1828-1903)

		Green Flake was a black pioneer and "human tithing." Photograph courtesy Utah State Historical Society.


	Family Background 1828. January 6: Born into slavery on the Jordan Flake plantation in Madsburr, Anson County, North Carolina. Married Martha Crosby (later known as Louise, "Liz," Hazel), daughter of Vilate Litchfield. They had two children, Abraham Green Flake and Lucinda Viiate Flake Stephens. The Flakes also raised Lewis Flake, a white foster son. Mormon Convert 1844. James M. Flake, Green's owner, was baptized in Mississippi during the winter of 1843-44. After visiting Illinois in the spring of 1844, the family decided to move to Nauvoo. John Brown recorded in his pioneer journal that he "baptized two black men, Allen and Green, belonging to Brother Flake," in April, 1844. Black Pioneer 1847. "When Brigham Young commenced fitting out a train to take the first of the Pioneers across the Great Plains, he needed the very best teams and outfits to be had. James M. Flake, who had put his all upon the altar, sent his slave, Green, with the mules and mountain carriage, to help the company to their destination. He told Green to send the outfit back by some of the brethren, who would be returning, and for him to stay and build them a house. Like the old slaves he faithfully carried out his instructions." One of three black servants in the pioneer company, Green drove James Flake's white-topped carriage used by Brigham Young during the trek and entrance into the Salt Lake Valley. By Green's own account, he was "in the first wagon through Emigration Canyon." Human Tithing 1850. When Green's owner was killed in an accident in California, Mrs. Flake moved to San Bernardino with Charles C. Rich and Amasa M. Lyman. Before leaving Salt Lake, she gave her "Negro slave Green Flake to the Church as tithing. He then worked two years for President Young and Heber C. Kimball, and then got his liberty." Settler 1851. A free man, Green moved his family to the Union area of Salt Lake County, where he farmed and mined ore from the Cottonwood Canyons. He was an active member of the Union Ward. Friends and neighbors remembered his neighborly deeds, his fine singing voice, and his participation in dances at the old Union Co-op Hall. 1885. Upon the death of his wife, he moved to Gray's Lake, Idaho, to be near his son Abraham's family. He returned to Salt Lake in 1897 to attend the Utah Pioneer Jubilee on July 24, where he received a certificate honoring him as a surviving member of the Brigham Young pioneer company. Death 1903. October 20: Died in Idaho Falls, Idaho, at the age of seventy-five. Buried in the Union, Utah, Pioneer Cemetery. Sources Brooks, Juanita, ed. On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout. 2 vols. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press/Utah State Historical Society, 1964. Brown, John Zimmerman. Autobiography of Pioneer John Brown: 1820-1896. Salt Lake City, 1941. Carter, Kate B. Our Pioneer Heritage. Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1959. Flake, Osmer D. Life of William Jordan Flake. Salt Lake City: Church News, 1948. Lythgoe, Dennis L. "Negro Slavery in Utah." Utah Historical Quarterly 39 (1971):40-54. Madsen, Steven K. Interview, 21 October 1979. Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Church Archives. William J. Flake to Church Historian's Office, 14 February 1894. Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Genealogical Society Library. Jordan Flake Will. North Carolina Wills, Anson County, 1751-1942.