Henry Doyl
From:
More Arkansas
Interviewer: Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed: Henry Doyl, Brinkley, Arkansas
Age: Will be 74
Feb. 2, 1938
"I was born in Hardeman County near Bolivar, Tennessee. My mother's
moster was Bryant Cox and his wife was Miss Neely Cox. My mother was
Dilly Cox. Two things I remembers tinctly that took place in my
childhood: that was when my mother married George Doyl. I was raised by
a stepfather. Miss Neely told my mother she was going to sell me and put
me in her pocket. She told her that more'n one time. I recollect that.
"My oldest brother, one older en me, burned to death. My mother was a
field hand. She was at work in the field. When she come to the house,
the cabin burned up and the baby burned up too. That grieved her mighty
bad and when Miss Neely tell her soon as I got big nough she was goner
sell me mighty near break her heart.
"The first year after the surrender my father, Buck Rogers, left my
mother in her bad condition. She said she followed him crying and
begging him not to leave her to Montgomery Bridge, in Alabama. The last
she seen him he was on Montgomery Bridge.
"They just expected freedom. My mother left her mistress and moved to
the Doyl place. She didn't get nothing but her few clothes. I was born
at the Doyl place. She worked for Moster Bob Doyl, a young man. They
share cropped. We had a plenty I reckon of what we raised and a little
money.
"I worked on Colonel Nuckles place when I got up grown. I worked on the
Lunatic Asylum at Bolivar and loaded tires and ditched for the I.C.
Railroad a long time.
"I don't recollect that the Ku Klux ever bothered us.
"My stepfather voted Republican ticket. I haven't voted for a good many
years--not since Garfield or McKinley was our President.
"I come to Arkansas in 1887. I married in Arkansas. I heard that
Arkansas was a rich country. My mother was dead. My stepfather had been
out here. I come on the train, paid my own way. Come to Palestine the
first night then on to Brinkley. I been close to Brinkley ever since.
"The old man died what learned me how to walk rice levies. I still work
on the place. Everybody don't know how to walk levies. It will kill an
old man. Your feet stay wet and cold all time. I do wear hip boots but
my feet stay cold and damp. I got down with the rheumatism and jes' now
got so I can walk.
"I got a wife and three living children. They all married and gone.
"Times is hard for old folks and changed so much. Children used to get
jobs and take care of the granny folks and the old parents. They can't
take care of themselves no more it look like. I don't know how to take
the young generation. They are drifting along with the fast times.
"I applied but don't get no pension."
Next:
Willie Doyld
Previous:
Sebert Douglas
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