Ben Hite
From:
More Arkansas
Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed: Ben Hite
1515 Ohio Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age: 74
"Well, I didn't zactly live in slavery times. I was born in 1864, the
4th of July. They said it was on the William Moore place four miles from
Chattanooga but I was in Georgia when I commenced to remember--in Fort
Valley--just a little town.
"I been in Arkansas sixty-five years the first day of January. Come to
the old Post of Arkansas in 1873. I been right here on this spot
forty-three years. Made a many a bale of cotton on the Barrow place.
"Went to school three weeks right down here in 'Linkum' County. I could
read a little but couldn't write any much.
"I been married to this wife forty years. My fust wife dead.
"I lived in 'Linkum' County eight years and been in Jefferson County
ever since.
"Three years ago I was struck by a car and I been blind two years. I can
just 'zern' the light. When I was able to be about I used to vision what
it would be like to be blind and now I know.
"Yes'm, I just come here on the eve of the breakin' up. I seed the
Yankees in Georgia after freedom. They called em Bluejackets.
"All my life I have farmed--farmed."
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Betty Hodge
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Charlie Hinton
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