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(Interviewer Miss Irene Robertson, Wheatley, Arkansas. Age 62.)
"My mother was born in southwest Georgia close to the Alabama line. Her mother come from Virginia. She was
sold with her mother and two little brothers. Her mother had been sold and come in a wagon to southwest Georgia.
They was all field hands. They cleaned out new ground. They was afraid of hoop-snakes. She said they look like a
hoop rolling and whatever they stuck a horn or their tail in it died. They killed trees.
"Mama said she druther plough than chop. She was a big woman and they let her plough right along by her two
little brothers, Henry and Will Keller. Will et so many sweet potatoes they called him 'Tater Keller.' After he got
grown we come out here. Folks called him 'Tate Keller.' Henry died. I recollect Uncle Tate.
"I was born close to Mobile, Alabama. Mama was named Sarah Keller. Grandma was called Mariah. Banks Tillman
sold her the first time. Bill Keller bought them all the last time. His wife was named Ada Keller. They hed a great
big family but I forgot what they said about them. Mack climbed up in a persimmon tree one day and the old man
hollered at him. 'Get out of that tree 'fore you fall.' 'Bout then the boy turned 'loose and fell. It knocked the breath
out him. It didn't kill him. Three or four of Miss Ada's children died with congestive chills. Mama said the reason
they had them chills they played down at the gin pond all the time. It was shady and a pretty place and they was
allowed to play in the pond. Three or four of them died nearly in a heap.
"One of the boys had a pet billy-goat. It got up on top mama's house one time. It would bleat and look down at
them. They was afraid it would jump down on them if they went out. It chewed up things Aunt Beanie washed. She
had them put out on bushes and might had a line too. They fattened it and killed it. Mama said Mr. Bill Keller never
had nothing too good to divide with his niggers. I reckon by that they got some of the goat.
"They lived like we live now. Every family done his own cooking. I don't know how many families lived on the
place.
"I know about the Yankees. They come by and every one of the men and boys went with them but Uncle Cal. He
was cripple and they advised him not to start. Didn't none of the women go. Mama said she never seen but one ever
come back. She thought they got killed or went on some place else.
"Mr. Keller died and Miss Ada went back to her folks. They left everything in our care that they didn't move. She
took all her house things. They sold or took all their stock. They left us a few cows and pigs. I don't know how long
they stayed after the old man died. His children was young; he might not been so old.
"I recollect grandma. She smoked a pipe nearly all the time. My papa was a livery stable man. He was a fine man
with stock. He was a little black man. Mama was too big. Grandma was taller but she was slick black. He lived at
Mobile, Alabama. I was the onliest child mama had. Uncle 'Tate Kellar' took grandma and mama to Mobile. He
never went to the War. He was a good carpenter and he worked out when he didn't have a lot to do in the field. He
was off at work when all the black men and boys left Mr. Bill. He never want back after they left till freedom.
"They didn't know when freedom took place. They was all scattering for two years about to get work and something
to eat.
Tate come and got them. They went off in a wagon that Tate made for his master, Bill Keller. We come to Tupelo,
Mississippi from Mobile when I was a little bit of a girl. Then we made one crop and come to Helena. Uncle Tate
died there and mama died at Crocketts Bluff. My papa died back in Mobile. Alabama. He was breaking a young
horse and got throwed up side a tree. He didn't live long then.
"I got three boys now and I hed seben---all boys. They farms and do public work. Tom is in Memphis. Pete is in
Heleza and I live wid Macon between here (Wheatley) and Cotton Plant. We farm. I done everything could be
thought of on a farm. I ploughed some less than five year ago. I liked to plough. My boy ploughs all he can now and
we do the chopping. We all pick cotton and get in the corn. We work day laborers now.
"If I was young the times wouldn't stand in my way. I could make it. I don't know what is the trouble lessen some
wants too much. They can't get it. We has a living and thankful for it. I never 'plied for no help yet.
"I still knits my winter stockings. I got knitting needles and cards my own mother had and used. I got use for them. I
wears clothes on my body in cold weather. One reason you young folks ain't no 'count you don't wear enough
clothes when it is cold. I wear flannel clothes if I can get holt of them.
"Education done ruint the world. I learnt to read a little. I never went to school. I learnt to work. I learnt my boys to
go with me to the field and not to be ashamed to sweat. It's healthy. They all works."
