He told the nurse he had
farmed and worked on the railroad all his life. He was up but wouldn't
tell us anything. He told me, "I don't think I ever voted." We decided
he might be afraid he'd twist his tales and we'd catch him some way.
Interviewer: Mary D. Hudgins
Person Interviewed: John Elliott
Age: 80
Home: South Border (property of brother's estate)
As told by: John Elliott
"No, ma'am. I ain't got no folks. They've all died out. My son, he may
be alive. When I last heard from him, he was in Pine Bluff. But I wrote
down lots of times and nobody can't find him. Brother said, that was
before he died, that I could stay on in the place as long as I lived.
His wife come to see me some years back and she said it was that way.
The comodity gives me milk, and a little beside. I'm expectin' to hear
if I get the pension, Tuesday. No ma'am, I ain't worked in three years.
Yes, ma'am, I was a slave. I was about 8 years old when they mustered
'em out the last time.
My daddy went along to take care of his young master. He died, and my
daddy brought his horse and all his belongings home.
You see it was this way. My mother was a run-away slave. She was from,
what's that big state off there--Virginia--yes, ma'am, that's it.
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