Descendants of those involved in Dred Scott case gather for daylong event.
by Eileen P. Duggan
The Dred Scott slavery legal case resulted in much division and drama — including the Civil War — but a local foundation has been working for a decade to heal the animosities between the people affected by this and other historical divisions.The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation held its first Reconciliation Conference Dec. 3 at the Frontenac Hilton, bringing together descendants of Dred and Harriet Scott, their former owners, the Supreme Court Justice involved in the case and even descendants of President Thomas Jefferson and Jefferson Davis.
“For more than a decade we have had the concept to meet and find common ground with other descendants of history makers, especially those surrounding the Dred Scott Decision,” said Lynne Jackson, who founded the organization in 2007 with her husband, Brian. “We are grateful that descendants of some of the history makers and many others have come together as the Dred Scott Sons and Daughters of Reconciliation.”
Thomas Jefferson’s 9th generation grandson, Shannon Lanier, joined Lynne as they reviewed some of the 10 years of reconciliation activities. Among the guest at the 11th annual Cherry Blossom Festival was a living DAUGHTER Ira, Gray Jordan, of a Civil War Veteran. That’s right….. 91 years old, her father had her when he was 82 and she reminisced about her father’s days in the civil war before his death when she was almost 9 years old.
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