“After old Master died old Miss hired us out to Ben Deans, but he was so cruel mama run away and went back to old Miss.  I know we stayed at Ben Deans till they was layin the crop by and I think he whipped mama that morning so she run away.

“Yes ma’m, I sho do member bout the Klu Klux—­sho do.  They looked dreadful—­nearly scare you to death.  The Klu Klux was bad, and the paddyrollers too.

“I can’t think of nothin’ much to tell you now but I know all about slavery.  They used to build ‘little hell’, made something like a barbecue pit and when the niggers didn’t do like they wanted they’d lay him over that ‘little hell’.

“I’ve done ever kind of work—­maulin rails, clearin up new ground.  They was just one kind of work I didn’t do and that was workin’ with a grubbin’ hoe.  I tell you I just worked myself to death till now I ain’t able to do nothin’.”

Interviewer’s Comment

Ella Pittman’s son, Almira Pittman was present when I interviewed his mother.  He was born in 1884.  He added this information to what Ella told me: 

“She is the mother of nine children—­three living.  I use to hear mama tell about how they did in slavery times.  If she could hear good now she could map it out to you.”

I asked him why he didn’t teach his mother to read and write and he said, “Well, I tell you, mama is high strung.  She didn’t have no real name till she went to Louisiana.”

These people live in a well-furnished home.  The living room had a rug, overstuffed furniture and an organ.  Ella was clean.

Interviewer:  Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed:  Ella Pittman
                    2417 W. Eleventh Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age:  84
[TR:  Appears to be same as last informant despite different address.]

“Here’s one that lived then.  I can remember fore the Civil War started.  That was in the State of North Carolina where I was bred and born in March 1853.  Mac Williams, he was my first owner and John Strickland was my last owner.  That was durin’ of the war.  My white folks told me I was thirteen when peace was declared.  They told me in April if I make no mistake.  That was in North Carolina.  I grewed up there and found my childun there.  That is—­seven of them.  And then I found two since I been down in here.  I been in Arkansas about forty years.

“When the war come I heard em say they was after freein’ the people.

“My mother worked in the field and old mistress kep’ me in the house.  She married a widow-man and he had four childun and then she had one so there was plenty for me to do.  Yes ma’m!

“I ain’t never been to school a day in my life.  They didn’t try to send me after freedom.  I had a very, very bad, cruel stepfather and he sent all his childun to school but wouldn’t send me.  I stayed there till I was grown.  I sho did.  Then I married.  Been married just once.  Never had but that one man in my life.  He was a very good man, too.  Cose he was a poor man but he was good to me.