Henry Snyder had enlisted in the Federal Army and had fought throughout the war.  He had entered or leased seven acres of good land seven miles below Owensboro, Kentucky, and on those good acres of Davies County farm land the mother and her three sons were reunited.

John Rudd had never seen a river until he made the trip to Owensboro with his brother Henry.  The trip was made on the big Gray Eagle and Uncle John declares “I was sure thrilled to get that boat ride.”  He relates many incidents of run-away Negroes.  Remembers his fear of the Ku Klucks, and remembers seeing seven ex-slaves hanging from one tree near the top of Grimes-Hill, just after the close of the war.

When John grew to young manhood he worked on farms in Davis County near Owensboro for several years, then procured the job of portering for John Sporree, a hotel keeper at Owensboro, and in this position John worked for fifteen years.

While at Owensboro he met the trains and boats.  He recalls the boats; Morning Star, and Guiding Star; both excursion boats that carried gay men and women on pleasure trips up and down the Ohio river.

Uncle John married Teena Queen his beloved first wife, at Owensboro.  To this union was born one son but he has not been to see his father nor has he heard from him for thirty years, and his father believes him to have died.  The second wife was Minnie Dixon who still lives with Uncle John at Evansville.

When asked what his political ideas were, Uncle John said his politics is his love for his government.  He draws an old age compensation of 14 dollars a month.

Uncle John had some trouble proving his age but met the situation by having a friend write to the Catholic Church authorities at Springfield.  Mrs. Simms had taken the position of God Mother to the baby and his birth and christening had been recorded in the church records.  He is a devout Catholic and believes that religion and freedom are the two richest blessings ever given to mankind.

Uncle John worked as janitor at the Boehne Tuberculosis Hospital for eight years.  While working there he received a fall which crippled him.  He walks by the aid of a cane but is able to visit with his friends and do a small amount of work in his home.

Federal Writers’ Project
of the W.P.A. 
District #6
Marion County
Anna Pritchett
1200 Kentucky Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana

Folklore
Amanda Elizabeth Samuels
1721 Park Avenue

Lizzie was a child in the home of grandma and grandpa McMurry.  They were farmers in Robinson County, Tennessee.

Her mother, a slave hand, worked on the farm until her young master, Robert McMurry was married.  She was then sold to Rev. Carter Plaster and taken to Logan County, Kentucky.

The child, Lizzie was given to young Robert.  She lived in the house to help the young mistress who was not so kind to her.  Lizzie was forced to eat chicken heads, fish heads, pig tails, and parsnips.  The child disliked this very much, and was very unhappy with her young mistress, because in Robert’s father’s home all slave children were treated just like his own children.  They had plenty of good substantial food, and were protected in every way.