Isaac Crawford
From:
More Arkansas
Interviewer: Miss Irene Robertson
Person Interviewed: Isaac Crawford
Brinkley, Ark.
Age: 75
"I was born the first year of the Civil War. I was born and raised and
married in Holmes County, Mississippi. My parents was named Harriett and
James Crawford. They belong to a widow woman, Miss Sallie Crawford. She
had a girl named Bettie and three sons named Sam, Mack, Gus. Mack and
Gus was heavy drinkers. Moster Sam would drink but he wasn't so bad.
They wasn't mean to the Negroes on the place. They had eight or nine
families scattered around over their land.
"I farmed till I was eighteen then they made me foreman over the hands
on the place I stayed till after I married.
"I know Sam was in the war and come home cripple. He was in the war five
years. He couldn't get home from the war. I drove his hack and toted him
to it. I toted him in the house. He said he never rode in the war; he
always had to walk and tote his baggage. His feet got frost bit and raw.
They never got well. He lived. They lived close to Goodman, Mississippi.
"I heard my mother say she was mixed with Creole Indian. She was some
French. My father was pure African. Now what am I?
"Ole mistress wasn't mean to none of us. She wrung my ears and talked to
me. I minded her pretty good.
"The children set on the steps to eat and about under the trees. Some
folks kept their children looking good. Some let em go. They fed em--set
a big pot and dip em out greens. Give em a cup of milk. We all had
plenty coarse victuals. We all had to work. It done you no good to be
fraid er sweat in them days.
"I didn't know bout freedom and I didn't care bout it. They didn't give
no land nor no mules away as I ever know'd of.
"The Ku Klux never come on our place. I heard about em all the time. I
seen em in the road. They look like hants.
"I been farming all my life. I come here to farm. Better land and no
fence law.
"I come to 'ply to the P.W.A. today. That is the very reason you caught
me in town today."
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Mary Crosby
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Sallie Crane
Informational
