Benjamin K. Sampson

Benjamin Kellogg Sampson, educated through New York Central college, was certainly one of a kind. Benjamin was considered a Mulatto according to 1870 census records. Sampson, came from a wealthy family in North Carolina. His family's value today would be about $400,000. As well as studying at New York Central College, he also went on and graduated from Oberlin College. Oberlin during the mid 19th century was a one of a few avenues besides New York Central College for black and white students to be co educated. After his final days at Oberlin, he would go on to be prominent in educating other African-American students. Sampson, was also becoming an advocate for higher education as a means to "progressing".