Sylvester Magee passed away in 1971 in Columbia, Mississippi. This event might have gone unnoticed if not for one extraordinary detail. Magee claimed to be 130 years old. If his accounts were accurate, he was the last living link to American slavery and the oldest veteran of the Civil War.
His life spanned from the presidency of John Tyler to that of Richard Nixon. He watched the nation transform from horse-drawn carriages to men walking on the moon. Historians and government officials spent years analyzing his memories to verify a story that seemed impossible.
Born Into Bondage
Magee stated he was born on May 29, 1841, in North Carolina. His parents were enslaved workers named Ephraim and Jeanette. He spent his youth on the J.J. Shanks plantation before traders sold him at a market in Enterprise, Mississippi. A plantation owner named Hugh Magee purchased him.
Sylvester adopted the surname of his owner as was the custom. He worked in the fields of Covington County for years. He endured the harsh reality of servitude until the outbreak of the Civil War offered a chance for escape.
A Soldier Without Documents
In 1863, Magee fled his plantation. He enlisted in the Union Army to fight against the Confederacy. He claimed to have participated in the Siege of Vicksburg and the Battle of Champion Hill. Decades later, a historian named Alfred P. Andrews investigated these claims.
No physical service records existed for Magee. However, Andrews found that Magee possessed an uncanny knowledge of the war. The elderly man described specific officers and minute details of the battles. He recalled facts that an illiterate man could not have learned from books. These vivid memories convinced Andrews that Magee had indeed been there.
National Recognition and Fame
The verification by Andrews turned Magee into a national celebrity. He was classified as a Civil War veteran by the state of Mississippi. Governor Paul B. Johnson designated his birthday as “Sylvester Magee Day.” News outlets like Time and Jet magazine covered his story.
He appeared on television talk shows and flew to Philadelphia for interviews. President Lyndon B. Johnson sent him a birthday card to honor his longevity. President Richard Nixon also recognized him. He traveled 650 miles (1,046 km) to appear on the Mike Douglas Show. America was captivated by the man who had lived through three centuries of history.
The End of an Era
Sylvester Magee spent his final years in humble surroundings despite his fame. He died on October 15, 1971. His funeral took place at the John the Baptist Missionary Church. He was buried in the Pleasant Valley Church Cemetery in Foxworth, Mississippi.
For decades his grave remained unmarked. In 2011, the Marion County Historical Society finally placed a headstone to honor him. His life remains a fascinating record of American history. He witnessed the country break apart and come back together. He stood as a unique figure who walked out of the history books and into the modern world.
