By: Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
Sylvester Magee, who is thought to have been born in or around May 1841, and widely recognized as the last living former American slave, captivated the nation with his remarkable life story.
Magee’s early years were spent on the J.J. Shanks plantation in what is believed to be Granville County, North Carolina. Born to enslaved parents Ephraim and Jeanette, Magee was purchased at age 19 by plantation owner Hugh Magee in Enterprise, Mississippi, just before the Civil War began.
Magee’s life took a dramatic turn with the outbreak of the Civil War. Initially conscripted to fight for the South, he escaped from the Steen plantation in 1863 and subsequently enlisted in the Union Army, participating in the crucial assault on Vicksburg, Mississippi. His unique experience of serving on both sides of the conflict made him a notable figure in American history.
By 1971, Magee, reportedly 130 years old, was celebrated as the nation’s oldest living citizen, former slave, and Civil War veteran. His milestone birthday was honored with a grand celebration in Collins, Mississippi, featuring a five-layer cake with 124 candles. Governor Paul B. Johnson, Jr. declared the day “Sylvester Magee Day,” and Magee’s life drew significant national attention. He was featured in Time and Jet magazines, appeared on the Mike Douglas Show, and received recognition from Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon.
Magee’s longevity was extraordinary. He had four wives, three of whom predeceased him, and fathered seven children, with his last child born when he was reportedly 107 years old. His family also demonstrated notable longevity, with his father purportedly living to 123 and his mother to 122.
Although Magee’s claimed age of 130 could not be verified due to the lack of birth records from his time, historian Max Grivno noted that while such an age was “possible,” it was “extremely unlikely” given that only one case of someone living into their 120s has been documented. Despite this, court records from 1859 do list Magee and his father, lending some credibility to his advanced age.
In his later years, he found joy in trout fishing, a pastime he cherished. Sylvester Magee passed away on October 15, 1971, in Columbia, Mississippi, after suffering a stroke. Magee’s life spans an extraordinary and nearly unbelievable journey through history—from slavery and the Civil War to Reconstruction, the Jim Crow era, both World Wars, and much of the Cold War.
Born before Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress, Magee lived almost to Richard Nixon’s resignation. His remarkable story, marked by its rich historical context and intriguing personal experiences, continues to captivate historians and the public alike.
