Sebert Douglas
From:
More Arkansas
Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed: Sebert Douglas
610 Catalpa Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age: 82
"I was born in Lebanon, Kentucky. Gover Hood was my old master. His
wife's name was Ann Hood.
"I 'member Morgan's Raid. I don't 'member what year it was but I 'member
a right smart about it. Cumberland Gap was where they met.
"The Rebs and Yankees both come and took things from old master. I
'member three horses they taken well. Yankees had tents in the yard.
They was right in the yard right in front of the Methodist church.
"My mother was Mrs. Hood's slave, and when she married she took my
mother along and I was born on her place.
"I was the carriage boy in slave times. My father did the driving and I
was the waitin' boy. I opened the gates.
"I 'member Billy Chandler and Lewis Rodman run off and j'ined the
Yankees but they come back after the War was over.
"Paddyrollers was about the same as the Ku Klux. The Ku Klux would take
the roof off the colored folks' houses and take their bedding and make
'em go back where they come from.
"We stayed right there with old master for two or three years, then we
went to the country and farmed for ourselves.
"I went to school just long enough to read and write. I never seed no
use for figgers till I married and went to farmin'.
"Since I been in Pine Bluff I done mill work. I was a sash and door man.
"I used to vote every election till Hoover, but I never held any office.
"The younger generation is bad medicine. Can't tell what's gwine come of
'em!"
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Henry Doyl
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Tom & Sarah Douglas
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