Charlie Jones
From:
Arkansas
Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed: Charlie Jones
1303 Ohio Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age: 76
"I was borned in '61 in the State of Mississippi August the 15th.
"I member just a little bout the War. Yes'm, I member seein' the
soldiers. They was walkin'--just a long row of em. Had guns across
their shoulders and had them canteens. I member we chilluns run out to
the road and got upon the bars and watched em go by. I think it was
after they had fought in Vicksburg and was comin' back towards
Memphis.
"My mother belonged to the Harrises and we stayed with her and my
father belonged to the Joneses.
"I member how they used to feed us chillun. They had a big cook
kitchen at the big house and we chillun would be out in the yard
playin'. Cook had a big wooden tray and she'd come out and say
'Whoopee!' and set the tray on the ground. Sometimes it was milk and
sometimes it would be potlicker. We'd fall down and start eatin'. Get
out [TR: our?] heads in and crowd just like a lot of pigs.
"After freedom we went to old Colonel Jones and worked on the shares.
I wasn't big enough to work but I member when we left the Harris
place. I know they wasn't so cruel to em. Didn't have no overseer.
Some of the people had cruel overseers.
"I went to school after the War a right smart. I got as far as the
third grade. Studied McGuffy's Reader and the old Blue Back Speller.
Yes'm, sure did.
"I come here to Arkansas wid my parents in '78. Come right here to
Jefferson County, down at Fairfield on the Lambert place.
"All my life I've farmed. I worked on the shares and rented too. Could
make the most money rentin'. I got everywhere from 4c to 50c a pound
for cotton. I had cows and hogs and chickens and raised some corn.
"I made a garden and made a little cotton and corn last year on
government land on the old river bank.
"I heered of the Klu Klux but they never did bother me.
"I voted the Publican ticket and never had no trouble.
"I been right around this town fifteen years and I own this home. I
worked about six months at the shops but the rest of the time I
farmed.
"Heap of things I'd do when I was young the young folks won't do
now."
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Cyntha Jones
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Angeline Jones
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