|
|
"I was only two years old when my family moved here, from Wilford county, Kentucky. 'Course I don't remember anything of our slave days, but my mother told me all about it."
"My mother and father were named Sidney Jane and William Booker. I had one brother named George William Booker."
"The man who owned my father and mother was a good man." He was good to then and never 'bused them. He had quite a large plantation and owned 26 slaves. Each slave family had a house of their own and the women of each family prepared the meals, in their cabins. These cabins were warm and in good shape. The master farmed his land and the men folks helped in the fields but the women took care of their homes."
"We had our churches, too. Sometimes the white folks would try to cause trouble when the negroes were holding their meetings, then a night the men of the church would place chunks and matches on the white folks gate post. In the morning the white folks would find them and know that it was a warning if they din't quit causing trouble their buildings would be burned."
"There was a farm that joined my parents' master's place and the owner was about ready to sell the mother slave with her five small children. The children carried on so much because they were to be separated that the mistress bought them back although she had very little money to spare."
"I don't know any more slave stories, but now I am getting old, and I know that I do not have long to live, but I'm not sorry, I am ready to go. I have lived as the Lord wants us to live and I know that when I die I shall join many of my friends and relatives in the Lord's place. Religion is the finest thing on earth. It is the one and only thing that matters."
Dempsey, Mary Belle -- Additional Interview
The oldest Negro living in Paulding County is Mrs. Mary Belle Dempsey who resides in Washington Township near the village of Roselms. Her family came to Paulding County in 1852 and settled along the Middle Creek, in the north-eastern part of the county. There were twenty-six members of this immigrating party, all relatives.
Mrs. Dempsey was born of slave parents in Wilford County, Kentucky. The slave master died, and having no heirs, left a will bequesting his entire property to his slaves. Much trouble was aroused among the slaves over the dividing of the estate, so this group of twenty-six members took what they could gather of their share of the property and came to Paulding County. Each family bought eight acres of land, each farm adjoining the other. At the time of this settlement Mrs. Dempsey was a baby two years old.
Most of the Negro population in Paulding County resides in Washington Township around Roselms. The chief occupation of these negroes is farming. The Negroes who lived in Paulding and Latty work mostly at odd jobs. In most cases these Negroes live in poor, dilapidated homes; the ones in Paulding have poor homes, but in the most part are much more livable than those near Roselms.
The only event during the year of importance to the Negro is an annual colored picnic. Even the White people attend this picnic where the Negroes entertain them with preaching and songs.
There are no outstanding Negroes in Paulding County at the present time. However, Mrs. Dempsey's husband, Elias
A. Dempsey, held quite a distinction as a licensed doctor. Willis Dempsey was well known as a minister.
There are no schools or other institutions in the County for Negroes alone.
The voting population of the Negro inhabitants of the county is three hundred and fifty.
Paulding County does not have any historical houses or monuments in memory of the Negro. One thing that can be said in the County's honor is that, for the most part, the Negroes are not resented by the White People. The Negroes are given most of the privileges and rights of the Whites and are, to a certain extent, classed on a level with them.
Consultants:
Mrs. Mary Belle Dempsey, Grover Hill, Ohio.
Mrs. Charles Stahl, Clerk of Courts, Paulding, Ohio.
William Emmons 19/3/170 Ex-Slave Age 93 (District #6 Clark County Racial Group File copied 1-15-41 B.W.)
