In 1843, Louisiana slave owner Jonathan H. Koen, heavily in debt, was forced to sell eleven slaves to Charles Cappell. The following year Koen's son-in-law, Lorenzo Lewis, purchased the slaves and returned them to Koen as a gesture of goodwill and family loyalty. Koen, however, fled with the slaves to Bradley County, Arkansas, changed his name to Kolen, and remained there until his death in 1853. In his last will and testament, Koen, under the name of Kolen, freed the slaves and bequeathed the bulk of his property to them. When members of the family learn of Koen's death and the contents of the will, they protest and file suit to regain possession of his property, including the slaves.
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Repository: Bradley County Courthouse, Warren, Arkansas
