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Ref. (A) Mrs. Lizzie Daugherty---Madison, Indiana
(B) Mr. John Daugherty---Madison, Indiana
Mrs. Daugherty's mother experienced one of the saddest events that could happen to any mother. While in slavery, she was compelled to go clean up a vacant house before her Mistress would move.
This place was over a hill and about a half mile from the little slave cabin. There were two small children, which were quite a problem, as there was no one to stay with them, and it was out of the question to take two babies to an uninhabited house in the dead of winter. Thinking to save the children from getting out in the weather and taking cold, the latch was securely fastened and the fire fixed, before they were left alone.
When the anxious mother reached the top of the hill on her way home from her day's cleaning, she was shocked to see only a smoking mass where she had left her babies in their home. She still had hopes that someone had discovered the fire in time to save the children, but alas her hopes were false. She was now childless, homeless and with nothing except the clothing she was wearing.
Mrs. Daugherty said that her mother felt as if her very heart had been crushed and for weeks and weeks she felt as if she just couldn't speak to anyone. (A)
The Daughertys seemed to regard this calamity as just an accident not in any way to reflect on the mistress who had caused the young mother to be away so long from her children. They felt that slavery was wrong but considered it was only due to unenlightenment and therefore the owners were not to be censored for any evils that took place. (A)
(B)
Mr. Daugherty said. he knew and every one else to-day would know it was not right for his mother to wade in snow to her knees, getting wood to cook the meals while grown white men sat around the fire. Often the oxen would step on her feet mashing her toes badly, but this kindly old man overlooked the cruelty because he said they Just hadn't read the "Scriptures" enough to know that it was wrong to hold human beings in bondage. (B)
Duncan, Rachael New Albany, Indiana (Iris L. Cook Floyd County, Indiana)
