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(Brassfield, AR. Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden.)
"I was born in Releford County (1862) on old Major Ross place. I was born durin' a battle between the North and
South at Murfreesboro. The house was on the battle ground. Mama had five children. Her name was Susanna Wade.
Papa's name was Amos Ross. He belong to Major Bill Ross. Major Ross had ten houses - one at the edge of the
thicket, two on Stone river, and they was scattered around over his land. Major Ross never went to war. Papa went
with Major Billy to bury his gold. It stayed where they put it till after the war they went and dug it up. I seen that.
When they brought it to the house, it was a pot - iron pot - full of gold. I didn't know where they had it buried nor
how they fixed it.
"My folks was all field hands. They muster been blessed cause they didn't get mixed up with the other nations.
Grandfather's mother - Grandma Venus - come from Africa. She'd been in bondage about a hundred years. I
recollect her well. My folks all lived to be old people, over a hundred years old. They was all pretty well, all
Africans.
"I have seen the Ku Klux quarter mile long and two breasted on horses. They scared me so bad I never had no
experiences with them. They run my uncle in. He was a big dancer. One time they made him dance. He cut the
pigeon-wing for them. That was the name of what he danced.
"I never was sold. I was give way. One of the Wades married into the Mitchell family. Mama belong to the Wades.
They give me and Mama and Aunt Sallie - she wasn't my aunt but I called her that - to Wade's daughter. She was
the young mistress. The Wades wasn't so good to their slaves. When freedom was declared, Papa come and got me
and Mama and took us on over to his place agin. We started sharecroppin' at Major Ross's place. In 1881 Chick
McGregor paid my way. I come to Arkansas. I farmed all my life till 1922 to 1933 I been here in Brassfield
sawmilling. They took the mill away from here. I cain't plough, I'm not able. I pick and hoe cotton. I work day
labor. I never have got on the Welfare."
