War Memories

“My father remembered coming through Alabama.  He remembered the soldiers coming through Alabama.  They didn’t bother any colored people but they killed a lot of white people, tore up the town and took some white babies out and busted their brains out.  That is what my father said.  My father died in 1910.  He was pushing eighty then and maybe ninety.  He had a house full of grown children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He wasn’t able to do no work when he died.  It was during the War that my father ran away into Georgia with me, too.

Breeding

“My father said they put medicine in the water (cisterns) to make the young slaves have more children.  If his old master had a good breeding woman he wouldn’t sell her.  He would keep her for himself.

Worship

“When they were praying for peace they used to turn down the wash kettles to keep the sound down.  In the master’s church, the biggest thing that was preached to them was how to serve their master and mississ.

Indians

“My grandmother was a full-blood Indian.  I don’t know from what tribe.

Buried Treasure

“People used to bury their money in iron pots and chests and things in order to keep the soldiers from getting it.  In Wabbaseka [HW:  Ark.] there they had money buried.  They buried their money to keep the soldiers from getting it.

Ku Klux

“The Ku Klux Klan came after freedom.  They used to take the people out and whip them.

Just After the War

“Immediately after the War, papa farmed.  Most of it was down at the Cummins place.  When he ran away to Georgia, he didn’t stay there.  He left and came back to Mississippi.  I don’t know just when my papa came to the Cummins’ place.  It was just after the War.  After be left the Cummins’ place he worked at the Smith place.  Then he was farming agent for sometime for old man Cook in Jefferson County.  He would see after the hands.

Voting

“I ain’t never voted in my life.  I know plenty men that used to vote but I didn’t.  I never heard of no women voting.

Occupation

“I used to do field work.  I washed and ironed until I got too old to do anything.  I can’t do anything now.  I ain’t able.

Support

“I get the old age pension and the Welfare give me some commodities for myself and my sick daughter.  She ain’t been able to walk for a year.

Marriage