SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

"Ma was a house girl. Pa was a field hand. One time trad-
ers come round and ma's owner wanted to sell her and his wife ob-
jected. She wasn't sold that time, I don't know if she was sold
or not,
"I don't know no more about that war than I do about the
German war (World War), I was a little boy when it was all over,
I left South Carolina in 1888, Ma was a part Red Indian and pa
was a half Black Greek Indian, I had two children before I left
South Carolina, I was married back there. I paid my own way and
come to Fargo, I was trying to better my condition. In 1896 I
come to Brinkley. Before that I lived at Dark Corner eight years.
In 1920 ma and pa come to me and died with me. I paid 125.00 for
ray second class ticket to Fargo - in 1888.
"Since 1864 to 1937 I farmed, sawmilled, threshed, run a
grist mill, run a cotton gin and worked about em, I farmed eight
or nine years across the bayou here.
"I own a home. My wife is living. I get 'demodities', no
money, I got two girls living. One girl is in Hew Jersey and
one in Michigan, They make their living,
"I think the world is going on worse than ever I seen it.
Folks can't live without money. They don't try to raise their
living no more. I ain't no prophet. The world going to nothing
way I see it."
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