I was married on my brother’s place to Wade Bledsoe in 1870.  He has been dead now about 15 years.  His master had given him a small farm but I do not remember his master’s name.  Yes, I lived in Tennessee until after my husband died.  I came to Canton in 1929 to live with my granddaughter, Mrs. Algie Clark.

I had three children; they are all dead but I have 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren, all living.  No, I don’t think the children today are as good as they used to be, they are just not raised like we were and do too much as they please.

I can’t read or write as none of we slaves ever went to school but I used to listen to the white folks talk and copied after them as much as I could.”

Note:  The above is almost exactly as Mrs. Bledsoe talked to our interviewer.  Although she is a woman of no schooling she talks well and uses the common negro dialect very little.  She is 92 years of age but her mind is clear and she is very entertaining.  She receives an Old Age Pension. (Interviewed by Chas. McCullough.)

Story and Photo by Frank Smith

Topic:  Ex-slaves
Mahoning County, District #5
Youngstown, Ohio

The Story of Mrs. Phoebe Bost, of Youngstown, Ohio.

[Illustration:  Phoebe Bost]

Mrs. Phoebe Bost, was born on a plantation in Louisiana, near New Orleans.  She does not know her exact age but says she was told, when given her freedom that she was about 15 years of age.  Phoebe’s first master was a man named Simons, who took her to a slave auction in Baltimore, where she was sold to Vaul Mooney (this name is spelled as pronounced, the correct spelling not known.) When Phoebe was given her freedom she assummed the name of Mooney, and went to Stanley County, North Carolina, where she worked for wages until she came north and married to Peter Bost.  Phoebe claims both her masters were very mean and would administer a whipping at the slightest provocation.

Phoebe’s duties were that of a nurse maid.  “I had to hol’ the baby all de time she slept” she said “and sometimes I got so sleepy myself I had to prop ma’ eyes open with pieces of whisks from a broom.”

She claims there was not any recreation, such as singing and dancing permitted at this plantation.

Phoebe, who is now widowed, lives with her daughter, in part of a double house, at 3461 Wilson Avenue, Campbell, Ohio.  Their home is fairly well furnished and clean in appearance.  Phoebe is of slender stature, and is quite active in spite of the fact that she is nearing her nineties.

WPA in Ohio
By Albert I. Dugan [TR:  also reported as Dugen]
Jun 9, 1937

Topic:  Ex-slaves
Muskingum County, District #2

Ben brown
Ex-slave, 100 years
Keen St., Zanesville, Ohio