In the character of a rough wench he excelled.
Of late years Mr. Sheffer has been working in vaudeville with his daughter, a young lady of unusual talents.
“Buck” Sheffer was born in Baltimore, Md., January 25, 1857.
Harry Blakely (Blacklock) joined Sheffer about 1880, and together were one of the greatest teams of their day in the characters of plantation negroes. Prior to Mr. Blakely’s stage appearance, he was a page in Congress for many years, and was a man of unusual intelligence.
Harry Blakely was born in Alexandria, Va., 1859; he died in New York City, June 1, 1891.
John Blackford, a most excellent portrayer of the plantation darky, was with Cleveland’s Minstrels season of 1895-96, and 1898 he was a member of Haverly’s last minstrel company; he subsequently joined Al. G. Field’s Minstrels, where he remained until his death.
Mr. Blackford’s “Coon from Arkansaw” was one of the gems of latter day minstrelsy.
John Blackford died at Charleston, W. Va., December 7, 1903; age 46 years.
Fred A. Bell (Herrick) with his partner, Sam Howe, created considerable stir by dancing a clog on a marble pedestal and turning a somersault in the air. He was with Barlow, Wilson, Primrose and West’s Minstrels in 1881, and the following season joined the Barlow, Wilson Minstrels.
Fred A. Bell was born in Toledo, Ohio; he died in Louisville, Ky., March 17, 1884; age 27 years.