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According to Sarah Merrell, her mother, Elvira Lee, often talked of her experiences in Kentucky, as a slave, and as a free negro. When she grew large enough her special duty was to care for the master's children. The master was a very well educated man and often taught his children their lessons. Elvira studied as the white children studied and then wheedled them to get their father to hear her lessons each night. Therefore, by the time the white children were old enough to send away to school, the little colored girl had a fair education in the common school subjects.
She was about 16 years old when the Civil War began. The men drilled in a large field belonging to Captain Hall, her master, before they went into camp. There were often times during the war when it was very dangerous for the officers to come home and visit their families.
One night Captain Hall spent most of the night of his visit home in Elvira's cabin as he had received word that the soldiers were going to search his home for him. Next morning as he looked over the stables, Uncle Ed (Elvira's father) saw a man sneaking about the grounds, and warned Captain Hall who immediately left, taking Uncle Ed along, going along a blind trail along Green River.
On this particular occasion, the colored folks soon all learned that the "master" was on a visit home, and of course, all gathered around the big house to see him. They did not yet know that he had slipped away. Soon soldiers came from every direction, and searched the plantation. (Morgan's men were only about 15 miles away). These soldiers questioned all the slaves closely but could find nothing out from them.
They searched everywhere in the "big house", the slave cabins; shot into the trees, and beat the shrubbery. Finally the officer, said, "Old Aunty, here, has told the truth, there is no man here." And away they went.
Another time, Captain Hall was shielded by Mrs. Hall. She told the soldiers that she had a very sick child. When asked what the matter was she said, "The doctor wasn't sure, but he thought that it was small pox."
This dreaded disease was much feared by the soldiers, and they soon left the place.
After the War, Captain Hall gave his negroes one acre of ground for a school and another acre for a church and cemetery. Elvira Lee taught the school, she was one of the first negro teachers. This school was in one of the cabins, before the new school was built. Prejudice ran so high against the negro school that this was burned after a few weeks. The government soon ironed out these difficulties, and says Sarah Merrell, "Mother lived to see the negroes getting an education, as well as the white children. Elvira Lee later married Edward Lee who had been a Union soldier and moved from Hart County, Kentucky to New Albany where she died 6 years ago. She helped organize one of the first negro churches here and lived until all the other charter members had died."
Lennox, Adeline Rose Elkhart, Indiana (This material was found in the files from the Sount Bend Office. Field worker is unknown. 9-13-37)
