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Madison, Arkansas
Age 73
"I'll tell you what I heard. I was too little to remember the Civil War. Mama's owner was ______ Dillard. She called
him 'Master' Dillard. Papa's owner was ______ Smith. He called him 'Master' Smith. Mama was named Ann and
papa Arthur Smith. I was born at West Point, Mississippi. I heard ma say she was sold. She said Pattick sold her.
She had to leave her two children Cherry and Ann. Mama was a field hand. So was grandma yet she worked in the
house some she said. After freedom Cherry and Ann come to mama. She was going to be sold again but was freed
before sold.
"Mama didn't live only till I was about three years old, so I don't know enough to tell you about her. Grandma raised
us. She was sold twice. She said she run out of the house to pick up a star when the stars fell. They showered down
and disappeared.
"The Yankees camped close to where they lived, close to West Point, Mississippi, but in the country close to an
artesian well. The well was on their place. The Yankees stole grandma and kept her at their tent. They meant to take
her on to wait on them and use but when they started to move old master spicioned they had her hid down there. He
watched out and seen her when they was going to load her up. He went and got the head man to make them give her
up. She was so glad to come home. Glad to see him cause she wanted to see him. They watched her so close she
was afraid they would shoot her leaving. She lived to be 101 years old. She raised me.
She used to tell how the overseer would whip her in the field. They wasn't good to her in that way.
"I have three living children and eleven dead, I married twice. My first husband is living. My second husband is
dead. I married in day time in the church the last time. All else ever took place in my life was hard work. I worked
in the field till I was too old to hit a tap. I live wid my children. I get $8 and commodities.
"I come to Arkansas because they said money was easy to get---growed on bushes. I had four little children to make
a living for and they said it was easier.
"I think people is better than they was long time ago. Times is harder. People have to buy everything they have as
high as they is, makes money scarce nearly bout a place as hen's teeth. Hens ain't got no teeth. We don't have much
money I tell you. The Welfare gives me $8."
Interviewer Samuel S. Taylor"
