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Eighteenth and Virginia, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age 82
"I was six or seven when they begin goin' to the Civil War. We had a big old pasture opposite and I know they
would bring the soldiers there and drill 'em.
"Oh my God, don't talk about slavery. They kept us in so you know we couldn't go around.
"But if they kept 'em a little closer now, the world would be a better place. I'm so glad I raised my children when
they was raisin' children. If I told 'em to do a thing, they did it 'cause I would always know what was best. I got here
first you know.
"People now'days is just shortening their lives. The Lord is pressin' is now tryin' to press us back. But thank God I'm
saved.
"Did you over see things like they is now?
"I looks at the young folks and it seems like they is all in a hurry--looks like they is on the last round.
"These here seabirds, (a music machine called seaburg--ed.) is ruinin' the young folks.
"I feels my age now, but I thank the Lord I got a home and got a little income.
"My children can't help me--ain't got nothin' to help with but a little wishin'. My daughter been bustin' the buds for a
livin' 'bout thirty-two Mrs now.
"I never went to school. My dad put me to work after freedom and then when schools got so numerous, I got too
big. Ain't but one thing I went to learn this side of the River, is to read the Bible. I wants to confirm Jesus' words.
"The fus' place we went after we left the home place durin' of the war, we went to Wolf Creek. And then they
pressed 'em so close we went to Red River. And they pressed 'em so close again we went to Texas and that's where
we was when freedom come.
"That was in July and they closed the crap (crop) and then six weeks 'fore Christmas they loaded the wagons and
started back to Arkansas. We come back to the Johnson place and stayed there three years, then my father rented the
Alexander place on the Tamo.
"I stayed right there till I married. I married quite young, but I had a good husband. I ain't sayin' this just 'cause he's
sleepin' but ever'body will tell you he was good to me. Made a good livin' and I wore what I wanted to.
"He come from South Carolina way before the war. Come from Abbeville. They was emigratin' the folks.
"I tell you all I can, but I won't tell you nothin' but the truth."
Owns her home and lives on the income from rental property.
Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden"
Jackson, Clarice -- Additional Interview
"My daughter's got a big old black snake on her arm. I got scared of a snake. I was goin' across some water on a log
and a little bit of a snake was comin' toward me.
"I tell you the truth, I seen a man---his name was Meyers Edwards and he worked for my husband down on the
Johnson place---he had a whole snake started on his neck. The snake's head p'inted to his head and just come right
down over his shoulder under his arm."
Age 82
Jones, Eliza 610 E. Eighteenth Pine Bluff, Arkansas (Mrs. Bernice Bowden)
Jackson, Clarice -- Additional Interview
"My daughter's got a big old black snake on her arm. I got scared of a snake. I was goin' across some water on a log
and a little bit of a snake was comin' toward me.
"I tell you the truth, I seen a man---his name was Meyers Edwards and he worked for my husband down on the
Johnson place---he had a whole snake started on his neck. The snake's head p'inted to his head and just come right
down over his shoulder under his arm."
This information given by Clarice Jackson; Place of residence - Eighteenth and Virginia, Pine Bluff, Arkansas;
Occupation - None; Age - 82.
Name of Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden"
Jackson, Clarice -- Additional Interview
1738 Virginia Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age 84
"Was I here in slavery days? Well, I remember when the soldiers went to war. Oh, I'm old -- I ain't no baby. But I
been well taken care of -- I been treated well.
"I was bred and born right here in Arkansas and been livin' here all the time 'cept when they said the Yankees was
comin'. I know we was just closin' up a crop. They put us in wagons and carried us to Wolf Creek in Teras and then
they carried us to Red River. That was because it would be longer 'fore we found out we was free and they would
get more work out a us.
"Old master's name was Robert Johnson and they called him Bob.
"After freedom they brought us back to Arkansas and put the colored folks to workin' on the shares. Yes'm they said
they got their share. They looked like they was well contented. They stayed three or four years. We was treated
more kinder and them that was not big enough to work was lot go to school. I went to school awhile and then I had
a hard spell of sickness -- it was this slow fever. I was sick five or six weeks and it was a long time 'fore I could get
my health so I didn't try to go to school no more. Seemed like I forgot everything I knowed.
"When I was fifteen I got tired of workin' so hard so I got married, but I found out things was wusser. But my
husband was good to me.
Yes ma'm, he was a good man and nice to me. He was a good worker. He was deputy assessor under Mr. Triplett
and he was a deputy sheriff and then he was a magistrate. Oh, he was a up-to-date man. He went to school after we
was married and wanted me to go but I thought too much of my childun. When he died, 'bout two years ago, he left
me this house and two rent houses. Yes ma'm, he was a good man.
"They ain't nothin' to this here younger generation. Did you ever see 'em goin' so fast? They won't take time to let
you tell 'em anything. They is in a hurry. The world is too fast for me, but thank the Lord my childun is all settled. I
got some nieces and nephews though that is goin' too fast.
"Yes'm, I'm gettin' along all right. I ain't got nothin' to complain of."
Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden"
