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Biscoe, Arkansns
Age 30?
"Great-grandmother was part African, Indian, and caucasian. She had two girls before slavery anded by her own
master---Master Temple. He was also caucasian (white). She was cook and housemaid at his home. He was a
bechelor. Grandmother's name was Rachael and her sister's name was Gilly. Before freedom Master Tample had
another wife. By her he had one boy and two girls. He never had a caucasian wife. In fact he was always a bachelor.
Grandmother was a field hand and so was her sister, Gilly.
"But after freedom grandmother married a Union soldier. His took-on name was George Washington Tomb. He was
generally called Parson Tomb (preacher). He met Grandmother Rachael in Arkansas.
"When Master Tample died his nearest relative was Jim McNeilly. He made a will leaving everything he possessed
to Master McNeilly. The estate had to be settled, so he brought the two sisters to Little Rock we think to be sold.
They rode horseback and walked and brought wagons with bedding and provisions to camp along the road. The
blankets were frozen and stood alone. It was so cold. Grandmother was put up on the block to be suctioned off and
freedom was declared! Aunt Gilly never got to the block. Grandmother married and was separated from her sister.
"Whether the other three children were brought to Arkansas them I don't know but this I know that they want by the
name McNeilly.
They changed their names or it was done for them. They are all dead now and my own mother is the only one now
living. Their names were John, Tom, and Netline. Mother says they were sold to Johnson, and went by that name
too as much as McNeilly. They remained with Johnson till freedom, in Tennessee.
"My mother's name is Sarah.
"They seem to think they were treated good till Master Temple died. They nearly froze coming to Arkansas to be
sold.
"I heard this told over and over so many, many times before grandmother died. Seemed it was the greatest event of
her life. She told other smaller things I can't remember to tell with sense at all. Nothing so important as her master
and own father's death and being sold.
"Times are good, very good with me. Our African race is advencing with the times."
Teacher in Biscoe school. Father was a graduate doctor of medicine and in about 1907, '08, '09 school director at
Biscoe.
Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden"
