“Uncle” Isaam Watts, a 102-year-old Negro patriarch, remains physically and mentally active. He has preached a sermon every Sunday for 71 years. Until he turned 100, “Uncle” Isaam cultivated his farm near Higbee, Missouri. Now, he lives in a small house and rents out the land he once worked to descendants of his former masters.

Despite his age, he stands tall, still has three of his original teeth, speaks with a steady voice, and his eyes are good enough to read the big print in the Bible. In 1867, he found religion, was ordained a Baptist minister, and got married. For the last 27 years, he has been the preacher at the Negro Baptist Church of Higbee, after serving in various other churches.

“Uncle” Isaam is the father of 13 children, with nine still living—five girls and four boys. His oldest child is 67 and the youngest is 30. His wife is 95. Born in slavery on March 11, 1836, in Audrain County, he was brought to Randolph County at six and later to Fayette as a slave of Dr. Jerome Watts, a pioneer physician. Dr. Watts owned many slaves but no large estate, so he rented them out to other plantation owners.

Each New Year’s Day, they were auctioned off in the courthouse yard to work for the highest bidder for a year. “Uncle” Isaam spent much of his time on large tobacco plantations and in a tobacco factory. One of the planters who rented him owned land that now includes “Uncle” Isaam’s own farm.

When the Civil War brought emancipation, “Uncle” Isaam joined the Union Army but deserted the same day due to fear of guerilla bands in central Missouri. He spent a year hiding in the brush and once outran five horsemen near Fayette. When things calmed down, he found steady work in Fayette, got married, and dedicated his life to religion.