The old Irishman from Louisiana
February 24th, 2008 by victoria AberHe came to the bayou of Louisiana, Pointe Coupee Parish, and lived among the people of the small area. He met my great grandmother and fell in love with her. He married her and had many children. There offspring were mixed raced (african-american) Irish. They lived in the rural area of Louisiana where the old Irishman acquired property. Older members of the family remembered his bright red hair and his wonderful songs. He was a great farmer and helped many people in the area. My great grandmother was a wonderful baker and he often invited visitors to the home for teacakes and coffee. My great grandfather was Johnnie Coleman and he gave us the gift of songs and stories. I have heard many stories about his incredible mathematical abilities. He was able to mentally compute and ” could never be cheated” by larger land owners in the areas. He also was a champion of the poor and a fierce defender of his family and the poor people who worked for him. When asked where he had come from, he often responded mysteriously and longingly stating that he had come from the hills of Ireland. He loved music and told stories to entertain his children. I only wish that someone had written some of the stories. Today I only remember and share with my children that the old Irishman came from some distant hills of Ireland and that my daughter inherited his some things that had were prominent for him. One of my two daughters shares the semblance of color of the old man’s hair. However time, and many generations of blending genes, has left her with only the beautiful reddish brown highlights. However, she has enjoyed the gift of gab. Today she practices law and writes extensively. So goes the story of the old Irishman who came to Pointe Coupee Parish located in the bayous of Louisiana and settled among the people, sang his songs, and told stories of some far away place in the hills of Ireland. May his spirit continue to be reborn in the generations yet unborn.
Tags: african american irish, bayou of Louisiana, beautiful irish story, beautiful Irish storybayou of Louisiana, great-great grandfather story, Irish American Grandfather, Irish American Louisiana, irish american tale, irish cointributions to american life, irish red hair, Johnnie Coleman, Lakes of Ponchartrain christy moore, old Irishman story, pointe coupee parish
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March 16th, 2008 at 12:57 am
The colemans are a big name in county Sligo , famous for their music making especially fiddle playing. Do your family know the song the Lakes of Ponchentrain” a song of an irish boy travelling in the south and finding shelter from ” a creol lass on the shores of …. ” The notion of irish and White being one is an old myth but only a myth . god bless joe b
March 19th, 2008 at 6:50 am
I found your story while looking for links to my Aber family. It caught my eye because my own father was a big red head who sang and had great math abilities. I just wondered what part of the Aber family you are attached to. It was a lovely description of your great grandfather and made me remember my own father when he was younger.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:42 am
Actually, the name Aber is my husband’s name. My husband was the grandson of a Polish Jew who immigrated to this country in the early 1900s. The name Aber, used by immigration officials, was formerly “Eber.” I was under the impression that “Aber” is a Welsh name? Is that correct? Certainly, the Irish, Welsh, and Scots are all Celtic people.
Stories of my great grandfather were always recounted with such enthusiasm. My mother, who was the granddaughter of Johnnie Coleman, had interesting reddish-brown hair with complementary reddish skin tone. Thank you for your inquiry. I hope you continue the search for the Aber family.
March 31st, 2008 at 5:02 am
I have heard some of the words of the song. I appreciate that you shared some background on the Coleman clan, location and avocation. It is so nice to know the love of music lives on. My younger daughter is quite a vocalist and she can bring you to tears with some of the Irish and Irish-American ballads she has sang over the years.
March 31st, 2008 at 5:34 am
I have heard some of the words to the song that you have described. I appreciate that you shared some background on the Coleman clan, location and avocation. It is so nice to know the love of music lives on. My younger daughter is quite a vocalist and she can bring you to tears with some of the Irish and Irish-American ballads she has sang over the years at her concerts and recitals. Yes there is Irish ancestry in diverse groups and my family is not unique. Hopefully, my children will embrace the memory of the old Irishman and gain strength from his legacy. Thank you for your kind response.