Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

A front-page article in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper dated Saturday, June 27, 1857, contains descriptions and illustrations of Harriet Scott and her family. The article is based on an interview of Harriet and Dred. Harriet is first described by the reporter as "a smart, tidy-looking negress, perhaps thirty years of age, who, with two female assistants [Harriet's daughters], was busy ironing." (p. 1)

On the following page, the reporter provides an additional description of Harriet: "His wife, very much younger than Dred, is neat, industrious, and devotedly attached to her husband and children, an acceptable member of the church, and would evidently be satisfied with obscurity and repose." (p. 2) The reporter also states that Harriet was Dred's second wife and that together they had four children, two sons and two daughters. The sons were dead at the time of the interview.

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