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Brinkley, Arkansas
Age 86
I was born 3 1/4 miles from Abbeville, South Carolina, in sight of Little Mountain. I do remember the Civil War. I
never seen them fight. They come to about twenty or thirty miles from where I lived. They didn't bother much in the
parts where I lived. All the white mon folks went to war. My mama's master was Edward Roach and his wife was
Miss Sarah Roach. My papa's master was Peter Radcliff and Miss Nancy Radcliff. They give me to her niece, Miss
Jennie Shelitoe. When she married she wanted me. After freedom I married. In 1866 we come to a big farm close to
Pine Hluff. Then we lived close to Mampnis and I been living here in Brinkley a long time.
The Ku Klux put down a Governor in South Carolina right after the war. They rode everywhere night and day
scaring everybody. They wouldn't let no colored people hold office. That governor was a colored man. The Ku Klux
whipped both black and white folks. They run the Yankees plumb out or that country.
No sir ree I never voted and I ain't never goner vote! Women is tearing dis world up.
The ex-slaves was told that they would get things, different things. I don't know what all. I know they didn't get
nothing and when freedom come they took their clothes and left.
They scattered out and wont to different places. It was hard to get work and there was no money cept what the
Yankees give am. When they all got run off there was no money.
My-husband was a Yankee soldier and he docided he wanter come to this country. We come on the train and on the
boat to Pine Bluff. We farmed. I got three children but just two living. One boy lives at Fargo and the girl lives at
Chicago. My husband died. Me and my sister lives here. I bought a place with my penshion money. That since my
husband died.
The present times is hard. I don't know nuthin about these young folks. I tends to my own business. I ain't got
nothing to do with the young folks. I don't know what causes the times to be so hard. Folks used to wear more
clothes than they do and let colored folks have more ironing and bigger washings too. The washings bout played
out. Some few folks hire cooks.
I farmed and washed and ironed and I have cooked along some here in Brinkley.
I am supported by my pension my husband left me. It ain't much but I make out with it. It is Union Soldiers Pension.
Interviewer Mary D. Hudgins"
