Mrs. Allie R. Robertson has in her possession the suit worn home from the war, by her father Joe Arrasmith.  He was in the company of Morgan’s men.  It is made of coarse cotton and was in a most deplorable condition when he came home.

MONROE CO.  (Lenneth Jones)

(Uncle) Edd Shirley: 

I am 97 years and my name is Uncle Edd Shirley and I am still working as janitor and support my family.  My father was a white man and my mother was a colored lady.  I was owned three different times, or rather was sold to three different families.  I was first owned by the Waldens; then I was sold to a man by the name of Jackson, of Glasgow, Kentucky.  Then my father, of this county, bought me.

I have had many slave experiences.  Some slaves were treated good, and some were treated awful bad by the white people; but most of them were treated good if they would do what their master told them to do.

I onced saw a light colored gal tied to the rafters of a barn, and her master whipped her until blood ran down her back and made a large pool on the ground.  And I have seen negro men tied to stakes drove in the ground and whipped because they would not mind their master; but most white folks were better to their slaves and treated them better than they are now.  After their work in the fields was finished on Saturday, they would have parties and have a good time.  Some old negro man would play the banjo while the young darkies would dance and sing.  The white folks would set around and watch; and would sometimes join in and dance and sing.

My colored grandfather lived to be 115 years old, and at that age he was never sick in his life.  One day he picked up the water bucket to go to the spring, and as he was on his way back he dropped dead.

The Story of Mrs. C. Hood: 

Once upon a time during the Civil War my grandmother was alone with just one old faithful servant.  The Union troops had just about taken everything she had, except three prize saddle horses and one coal black mare which she rode all the time.  She was very fond of the mare and valued it very much.  One night my grandmother heard a noise, and called old Joe to go to the barn and see what was the matter.  As he was nearing the barn someone yelled “Halt”; and Joe being a black man and a servant, stopped just where he was.  My grandmother, who had also heard the command, paid no attention whatsoever; she went straight through the dozen or more Union soldiers who were stealing her stock to the one who appeared to be the leader.  He was holding her mare; she jerked the briddle from his hand, led her mare back to the kitchen door, where she held her the remainder of the night.

A Story: