Miscellaneous life histories and information on slavery.
Folder contains 20 pages compiled for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s.• ~ary E. Livingston .9riter. "UNCLE FED NUNN" • Autauga, County. The psychiatrists attribute to most of humanity some degree of • mental disorders along certain lines. Indeed, according to thei...
| Format: | Electronic |
|---|---|
| Published: |
Alabama Department of Archives and History
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/wpa/id/897 |
| format |
Electronic |
|---|---|
| collection |
WPA Alabama Writers' Project Collection |
| building |
Alabama Department of Archives and History |
| publisher |
Alabama Department of Archives and History |
| topic |
WPA Alabama Writers' Project |
| spellingShingle |
WPA Alabama Writers' Project Miscellaneous life histories and information on slavery. |
| fulltopic |
WPA Alabama Writers' Project African Americans--Alabama--biography; Alabama--Biography; Alabama--Social life and customs; Alabama Writers' Project; Slavery--Alabama; United States. Works Progress Administration |
| description |
Folder contains 20 pages compiled for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s.•
~ary E. Livingston
.9riter.
"UNCLE FED NUNN"
•
Autauga, County.
The psychiatrists attribute to most of humanity some degree of
•
mental disorders along certain lines. Indeed, according to their
diagnoses, only a small per centage are wholly rational. Well,
perhaps many of us, either by inheritance or contraction, po-ssess
marked symptoms of eccentricities. Probably every community
finds a profuse expression of constitutional peculiarity of temperament.
There are a great many very queer people.
In its early history, Autau aville, Alabama, was the domicile of
the arcll-chasm of idiosyncracies in the person of ilie fabled "Uncle
Fed(Theodore)Nunn". Like two illustrious pioneer families, the Carsons
and the Nunns, he located at Autaugaville, Autauga County, rtlabama,
25 miles Rest of Lontgomery and four miles north of old Vernon
Landing, on the Alabama river. By inheritance, he came into possession
of considerable property, real estate etc. Embarking in the mercantile
business, manufacturing, farmin etc. and by hard, continuous
work, and most rigid frugality he succeded in amassin~ B handsome
fortune, consisting of several thousand acres of fertile lands,
hundreds of fine mules, beautiful spans of horses, carriages, a cotton
mill, cotton ginnery, and a number of substantial brick stores, buildings,
and scores of slaves.
Very rough and uncouth, he boasted of very few who understood
him, or were his friends. He was the embodiment of peculiarities.
Ordinarily, he dressed just about like any wanderlust, haggard be~ar
of his day, in unlaundered, amber stained, saegy osnaburg coats, trousers,
and shirts, a slouch hat and heavy, unpolished brass-toed bro~ans •
~. .
Mary E. Livingston
Writer.
- 2 - Autauga Co.
Only once in a great while did he shave. Un one occasion he was
dressed thus, sitting with a crowd of ffien on the front porch of
a store. A strange young traveling salesman approaching them,
pleasantly greeted, "Good morning, ~entlemen." fter a few minutes,
conversation, he tl.rned toward the beggar-looking "Uncle
•
Fed" and said, "Old man, I see you need a hat. Come in here and
I'll buy you one." Walking into the store, he bought a dollar hat
and placed it on the disheveled head, The "old man" accepted with,
"I God Buddie, I thank you." ~n a few minutes a brass-buttoned,
uniformed driver drove up in a beautiful carriage with a spirited
span of h rses. Let's take a little ride." Driving several blocks
to his home, he said, "I God, Buddie, this is mine. "Then,going over
several nice farms and looking at the houses, barns, mules and ne~roes,
he said again, "I God, BUddie, these are all mine." Carrying him by
his cotton ffiill and store houses, he repeated, "I God, BUddie, these
are (Line too." Tradition has it that frequently he hitched two or
more slaves to his carriage or buggy and drove them instead of horses.
Once a circus came to town - was stranded, "Uncle Fed" saw the
camel liked its looks and bought bim. Next Sunday as his good neii>hbars
were at church, prying and exhorti~, "Uncle Fed" decided it
would it would be a good time to attend church or drive slowly by.
He had the camel hitched to the carriage and quietly drove up when the
horses saw what was coming they became frightened, broke loose and
created auch a stampede everybody had to leave the church to quiet
his horse.
Quite often, especially when in a good mood, he rode astride
•
•
•
~ary E. Livingston
riter.
- 3 - u.tauga County.
into either his or some other store. In the event of his wife's
disapproval of anything, he either whipped her or locked her alone
in a room. life-long habit was that of gathering old dry bones of
dead horses, moles, cows or hogs and storing them in the honse lot
adjoining his home.
Once a year, ordinarily at Christmas, he donned a handsome
black broadcloth Prince Albert suit, silk beaver, patent leather
shoes, kid gloves and 601d headed walking cane. Once a year, in
the Sllmmer, he and his family went on a 30 day trip, either to
Florida, Blount or Shelby springs. Invariably he took these trips
in a long, heavy, covered dray, drawn by four or six horses, and
carried all cooking utensils. In his back yard, there was a big
cage, approximately 10 feet square and 20 feet high. In this cage
he kept hundreds of mocking birds. 0nce he watched one of his
slaves eating a roasted sweet potato, observing that the negro
threw the peal on the ground, he said, "You, lesther-headed son-ofa-
gun, how dare you to throwaway that good peal. Now you pick up
that peal and eat it, or I God, Buddie, I'll have you whipped."
On one occasion, in his later years, a nephew became enraged
and called him a d--d lisr, to which "Uncle Fed" replied "I God,
Buddie, its just a question of opinion."
With all of his faUlts, he gave his daughter and grand-daughter
educational advantages. When he was about 75 years of age, he was
burned to death in his own home.
2/6/40
V.W.
I ee~\ endi
LIFE STORY.
llI.8.rch 31, 1959. o -1-
Mre.Emma Shelnut,
12 6 O'Donnell St.Oakdale
osepn ne erson, r er.
Mobile.Ala.
MRS. EMMA SHELNUT.
tter walking trom Ann and Iba Streets down to O'Donnell
Stree. in Oakdale. a suburb ot Mobile, I stopped a. No.1256, Which
house is nearly hidden by trees and bushes. The tront ot the yard is
approxima.ely seventy-tive teet. To one side in the tront yard was
a small bed ot flowers and along the path representing sidewalk was
a hedge. To ,the right was a brickwalk leading up to the steps and on
the other side was a large rose bush. In the neighbor's yard was
a wisteria vine growing allover a large tree and the vine climbing
over into the yard and onto the house where I was Tidting. and I
have seldom seen such beautiful bunches ot tlowers. Mrs. Shelnut said
the yard was not in good order. as she was not able to attend to it
and her brother had Just got up trom a long spell ot sickness. The
north side ot the house was covered with honeysuckls vines.
Sitting on the gallery were Mrs. Emma Shelnut and her
brother Charles Rabby. and when I came up to them a young woman,
a niece ot s. S elnut. came trom the house and brought a chair and
I was asked to sit down. When I was sea.ed. a little girl about tive
years old, whose name was C~cile, came and eased herselt into my lap.
Her hair was sott and wavy and so light tbat it was almost white.
She was a triendly little thing. Her home was next door. A pretty
plain gray ca. with white nose. collar. shirt and boots. oame and
laid down on the steps.
When I asked Mrs. Shelnut it she knew any old legends,
sayings or stories she said she did not remember any, 80 I tried to
get her own story, and she said she hed not much to tell, however,
she told me she was born right here in Mobile and had lived here all
C eek endillg March 31. 1939.
Lite STORIES SERIES.
o -2-
Mrs.Emma Sbelnut, (White)
~~~~'''ir.;;:lS;;;t:';'~07;ak;;..::daleAla.
arson, r ere
•
MRS. lUII4A SHELNUT.
ber lite. Sbe was born in JUDe 1~61. Her tatber. a seaman, died When
ahe was very amsll and her mother was lett with tive children.
s. Sbelnut's mother was a dressmaker. Mrs. Shelnut said
she had attended the Broad Street Methodist Cburch since she was
"Just about as old as tbs little girl visitor, and ber name is tbe
oldest on the churcb book now." She went to School at Barton cademy.
Her lite as cbild and yonn!! woman was very pleasant and she did not
have anythillg worth tslli!l8.
In 1~~2 she married a Mr. Graham. wIlo was a sailor. They
bad been married eleven years when he was drowned in 1~93. She married
again in l~~. Mr. A.D.Sbelnut. a Civil ar Veteran, who _s a well
educa~ed man. His trade was interior decoratillg and be and his wite
also kept a rooming house. Both ot them were prominent in Lodge work.
and well liked. Mr. Sbelnut died in 1934 at the age ot eighty years.
The Sbelnut house is a une story building containi!l8 two
good size rooms. kitchen and tront gallery. In the tront room were
two beds. one large and one small. There was also an odd sota. age
not known, wbich looked as it two chairs were put side by side, tbe
backs curving. rounded at the top and tinished with a carved border.
This room also contained a large double-door wardrobe witb mirrors.
On a sbelt under the table was an old Bible. about nine by
tive incbes, wnich was more than tour inches thick. and bad very
tine Latin type with this notation on the back ot the Title page.
"Bible entered according to tbe Act ot Congress in tbe year ltl57.
by O.R.Kingsbury in tbe Clarks Ottice ot the District Court tor the
,.
Southern District ot N.Y. About one tourth ot every page was tilled
Week March 31, 1939. o -3-
LIFE S'l'ORIES SERIES.
MRS. EMMA SHELNUr. .
with notes and explanations on the chapters above, but the print was
so tine that it was very hard to read. The turniture is oldtashioned
and somewhat crowded, but clean and orderly. Over the mantel is a
large picture ot Robert X. Lee, painted by Mr. Shelnut. It is quite
a good pio.ure ot the General. The trame is heavy and gilded. There
is •also a crayon picture ot Mrs. Shelnut's tirst husband.
The second, or backroom, also contained two beds, one
large and one small. In these two rooms sleep Mrs. Shelnut, her
brother, her niece and husband, and two children, who were at school.
They are pretty well crowded, but are comfortable.
On the mantel in that room was an old clock about twenty
inohes hisn, which had two taces, one above the o.her. The top taoe
was smaller than the lower one and showed the hours. The lower one
showed the name ot the weekdays, but that part does not function.
It showed the name ot the month "MARCH" in another space,and placed
around the edge ot the tace were the dates ot the month trom One to
ibirty-one. These two parts are in working order. On the lower part
ot the tace above the dates were painted.
H.B.Horton's Patents.
April 18-1865 August 28-1866.
Ithaca Calendar Clock Co.,
Ithaoa, N.Y.
Mrs. Shelnut does not know how old the clock is.
It was given to her about torty years ago as a wedding present and
it was old a. that time, "but" she said, "it still kseps good time".
She then took me out in the kitchen, where her niece,
r Week ending March 31 , 1939.
LIFE STORIES SERIES.
o -4-
MRS. EMI4A SHELNUT.
Nell Rabby was prepairing dinner, to MOW me the back yard. which is
about 125 teet deep, one part is tenoed otf tor the chiokens end
in the other part were a Japanese Persimmon tree and a fig tree,
beside oaktrees and shrubbery, whioh makes the place look like a
little place in the country.
Asking Mrs. Shelnut what she thought about Hitler and the
condition in the world at present, she said that she did not bother
her old brain with those things and she does not like politics,
because there is 80 much wrong done, but she would like to see Mr.
Hartwell Commissioner again.
Mrs. Shelnut is very kindhearted and triendly, and she
does not talk about people unless she has something good to say
about them. Her sight and hearing are good. but she has to use glasses
when reading, her eyes are gray, her hair 18 gray and out short.
She said, "I had very little hair anyhow, so when my niece suggested
to have it cut ott, I said 'yes," and I am not sorry as it is muoh
easier to wash and comb."
Mrs. Shelnut is getting a small pension - 20.00 from
the overnment. She said, "It is not muoh, but my brother has some
property. and with what he Was we are getting along. It I live until
I am eighty I will get Thirty dollars a month. The old veterans
receive Fitty dollars a month, but there are only two more left in
the obile District."
The neighborhood is good. most of the houses need some
paint, but the trees and shrubbery hide the deticienoy. cross the
street trom the Shelnut home is a large modern church built by the
,
- "111 1
Lee Count¥.
II 0
ot • Rd ,1
ali' nil H
III It qD, I uO'J:G o
-Wi
wah
: ~ ,tbe 'early th lrt 1.s.when ;r~se .i;TOhn 1£. lrar~"
oj t,,~, [
lIa l~ing plans for a own at ,(uburn.A:Taba-a,l111 brought
0"1 ,~w
hl. ae a o1Tli anilIfeBr. e 1l'ere Perry becalll
- 1 il' • "t', "-,r" 'L" ber17; it was reputed sne owned a tIl'ousana sraves an'j aJIIbilr
ill nA:tfel a<:ll.Jf'or ..tll1.a he je.lrt.a W&:iY alii
Oil olt! '0. 't t1 f [1 I:J ' en 'J: .f's of ...:t..w:L. _
tune 10 loas th 1J:' oIDe ire an tll 1: ,Jrel' one eg ~
00 a < t' I ' '1' IJ.7 c! 1':;I1:l' in the oloaet, and a dlfhrsnt t IDssa'loug after .nat ,.ne grart-clt£lf,ff'eD
WOui~loo;Iforland fi1d ! ceSs 'rIisfs "tbe 0118ll' ~4'.-'lfar e ,B'6hf
, t' vlI un.. ;:;.. • ~
4auihter, IUse Annette Howard to d. Iii J.8.,..:>. If i
It. viI, . IL :J - '-' .J • other hOlDS 8ft1lt one -hunc1rsd yards 1'l0rth sst Or tie orrs, uslng
...l, d ' _ ,.cl l '.... 1,.. ~d r ee U elave la or,hand hewed timber and pegge ,vieth r. ",
e are etruck with this 10ve17
.LL1. s' • .~ I
beautiful sldded,oak trove a~out two
old ante-bellWD hOlDe sitting up In s
•
°imire 'Yal 0 the sif' lit, t Drake
Avenue,and one bled to the r.l4lht of highway 29,going South. On this lovely
lawn we find the ase-old oaks.cedars,crepe~rtleand beautlt1L old wisteria
vines,clinging to what.ever it touches.
In approaching this house we find the unusual I s1:ep eDUancea which
leads to a hiih veranier with Uel in ..an 11 ten,'lI'h1ch BeZ'Ve the two floors,
huini unUJIlIeath a ceGlented &roanl-tloor porch. The largl four square' 001-
USDs,supportina the upper porch rcof-extension,rests on ce.ent 1ounlations,
restins on the areund. The. N/Wln.$ to this frent porch are plasterei ani the
front .-indon reach to the nOll', the green shuttsre against the 1tlite siiing
lani to the old IDBnBion a colonial character. Over the two front entrances,
up and dcwn stairs,a notable feature of the doors being fraeed in Bide glass
liihts and tbe upper porch door being dooble doors and topped with a co.ventional
traneoll. J!:lltering this very spacious hall with h.l4lh ct.Uings •• find
rooms opening into both s14e8 and it has e foot ohair-facins at the
bottoll,end picture 100Uing at the top, tho laGle ..ul plankina 18 ad for floorina
ani ceUing.
•
,
hlLv •
and
B.
·h
I I'i'hs 'or1kinal k1tchen wile thirty jieps fro.. the hODBS and talLf.8:j W'
.0 be brou ' in up ten stepe through the bsssment to the 41n1ng rooa e1glrt- .. 't UJotJ 9- J ..~ "even'l:AeD, f t.1\l room hav.1ng a1mpl.e open f1,rspl.a
L
oea. , ~ ~ ~. 4 • --V, , ~~~ ~ I •
io,hA""~.4 &r J.OOIll roo.. in tlfe basUle t,ofoour•• spent lIluch
~....., ...7T, " .J U4 'Xo ft 1 rIm
f,1IIe, i" th"X:&...And Uo): ~~o~ fsver,fro 1tting Iln t.hL
rr-- =~ t llalllp roo"! ._.,..---, of '" .... '1. • • "I. Y 8 ....
AnrAAil over town.! 014 .Eer~ are.w 4eSllsrate and i1.·sntl.ed
~-r- I 1.r7' 'V,- j .'!i. u l'I." I'S j) ;.,;q ~. tl;v.l"!
U ...a"l'l... (1s ° uired by the resent
~( "'10 'I r
ol.a1JIe and ',II stUl. bet oond1t1sn ...
I 'I~~:Ii::l oL o' au!
1Il0c1ernhe flItd 1t hall nins roollls.
I ... • 'I 1O.u II J a "lUI ,1 oIo edt 11l
l.,,~ two vj,nR be n h~ed l.ately. .anl
~ '~ ~o~ alI u~ '10 iooL bI
J1D~l.1v~;,inl~;,. 0 el rtru esl ,'Ie • D :3
and-aaughh .J"very dl now,l.1vss in
b'" . - ellO tood. ,mOL '1 .0
8ment in WOIll8Il' S cl Db work ,in 1-ears
I ~ ,Iellt 0- 0'1 blL <{,'IO' 'IL e ,Ie
'11 , l/,S 1 war...... s
'rDneges,Als.,and hae bee~'Iqt1."
b
d-elN oIo I vol al. ~ rltl ]iOU'll, 'IJ. 0
osseAs1on a 0 of .Simeon Eer~'s w1l.l..
D '1},aJ! o¥! II evo'I ::/.Bo,b bUs Iu~l:.U"asd
al'I t slw bIo 'tHus d DJIB sIt'I ... eqs'Io ,5'IaOOO, JlBO bIo-slla oM b/ll~ e NV! L
.SMO 01 _I 'IBvolad 01 llalllnlIo,solLlv
doltfw seD 'I::r qat 8
,S'IooIl 0 1 sdt e~
•
IaoauoD sdt ball elt esuod sldt nlrl aO'Iqqa aI
ILl D t rl.l" 'Isllna'I9V nalrl a ot s seJ:
-100 S'1£U s 'IDO~ • ~I ea; • O'1oq '10 I -blLUO~ JJe.;losmeo a nita 1U!' :!II
,sool it bllD 0 ~-so ao ste 'I, ast.a-loo'I '10 '1 q
0'10 lt~ '1 sl 1 'T • au 'Ii ent ao
1 s ,'l:O"Ji , t ot .rl 80'1 8woblLl" itco~~ •
, I ' Ie "Lo dit ot
B aI s· lB al d a~ " L ton ,'11 it & floa
1 D qaoit baa '100 eLduob
Clrlt 8 '1 et.
-itl1flT 00 8
niLleo ntl LIs U 1
1 '100 '.•
.C1 :.la
H
1
nlo.el-'Il 1001 a n as s 1 o'! O'I
Iq a .dit ,q it Slit :ta 1 0 'lIJ it ! q Ii
• lLlLl 0
Russia last
Asia. Bot
Pike and
lreEton U.in
CU;lTIS ilOB:"'<T PD~ Lee Co.
'7)J4._L-~ I . . . r~ I'}>.I"-~M $ . .C ........
7v1'A-''T:t)~ ~...,'.L...tCurtis
Robort Pike wus born Jan.Bth.1914 In Harrls County Ga. Rteearly 11fe
Was spent on a farm at Beulah Ala. ,and got hls grammar and High Sohool eduoat
10n at na-ulah and Palrfn.Ala., but ltkB d ooe ye ar finishing High Sohoo1.
He ~8S 8 good Athe1ete.fond of footba11,basketball and baseba11.Cortl. «0tened
the U.S.Army at Ft.Benning Jan.B,1932,where he spent three years and
was discharged as a Corporal.
He eotered the Mar111es ~ 16,1935 at Uaoon.Ga.80d was Bent to PariB
Island,s.C.,from there to Ca11fornia by the way of Cuba,Cana1 Zooe,from ,
ther~ to HawUan Isles then to .Ph1.111pine Islands where he remained a few
months. He was then ohosen for 4nty aboard "The ADgoata", the f1agBh.1p of
the Asiatl0 fleet, Admiral Yarnell ln oommand.
He went from Phll1ipines to Chlna,Hongkoog,~slngt.o,Shanghal.Slngapore,
Dutob West Indes, on below the equator. then' Japan,and 'lossla, baok to China.
Curtis Pike of BeU1ah,has a ringslde eeat at the preeent 1mbrog110 ln
China and sald rlngslde seat may prevent him from coJlling baok to a stat.ion
in America.
Mr.Pike ie ome of Uno1e Sam's Uarlnes and after a visit. to
summer was slated t.o return to AlllBrlaa,having spent. t.wo yaua ln
aboot the time he got. baok to China t.hB war broke co t an. Marine
his buddies were ordered to atiok around and await deve1op.ents.
liir.Pikll,aboot. 23 years old, ie the son of Llr. and lirs.George Pike of
Beu1ah,Ala. His letters to his famlly telling about his visit t.o Russia and
something about t.he hostilities in the Far East are very interesting.The Lee
coonty man is sssingnsd to t.hB "Augusta,"flagship of America's Aa1atl0 fleet
It will be remembered it W8S the AUgusta which the ~..inese, in th~ eaaly .i stages Of the war,bombed,thinking lt. was a Japanese vessel. Curtis Pika was
aboard at the tiJlle. That was ahortly after the' return of the Augoata from
Vladivostok"Russia,whers wlth three Amerioan destroyers it had gooe on a
"good will viBlt", the latter part. of last June.
Conoerning the 1IIarlnes vialt to Russia, Curtis, wrote hia family;
"Was that plaoe (Vl.adlwostok) a slght. to remember:- Everywhe.re Jl'0Q looked "
there were soldiers and sailors patroling Ua stree'ts wlth flxed bayonets
on thelr rUles. I oertainly llIIl glad I don't have to ll<ve 111 a )lsce like
that: "From oar observat.lon of the people on the street lt.. WIlo1d appear
that wages provide 11ttle,lf anY,more than the. barest neoesslt.le.s of 11fe.
Houses are congested. Rooms ware seen with bunks jsamel against each
other. BUildlng repalrs wer& long overdue. The street crowds present a
picture of wo%king men andwomen with a look of desperat.e detsrmlnat.lon bnt
bordened too hearily t.o smile. We m1Bsed the. gaiat:y and jOT1al banter of the
AljIErrlcan people. "But they ahowed Us s good tlme. They gave oa tree tickets
to a circus with some good acts. ~ey stagsd a socoer game and a swimming
meet for as and the Russian naval offlcers and city offlcials eDtsrtaine'd the
American officers and pstty offioers at banquets.
"They made uo oharge t.o marines for danoing in the' parke and at tile
theatres they refused oar money and invited ue in to enjpy tha programs.
Suoh lavish entertainment as was giYen us is a rate e~erlenoe for these
people and is evidenos of the Sovie't.'sdllsire to prove t.hlIir hospitalU:y and
fri"ndllhip."
"When we arrived at Tsingtao from Russia we were rushed to Shanghai beoause
of th" Berious ~roubls hsre • We enoountered a typhoon on the wtY and
were hsld up for over a day. Then t.o top it all off,the Chinese thought we
were a Japanese ship and trisd'to bonb us. "JQck for us the bonb just miss-ed
c, us bot it threw shappnel on the ship. We manned the anti-aurefaft guns
and Vlere ready to fire at the planes when they discovered out iilentity•..And
if we had fired,I guarantee we woundn't have missed like the Japs dld:
"Ws (the Augusta marines! made andemergenoy landing when we arrived
here snd have besn hare avsr sinoe,he1ping the 4th L~rines guard Amerioan
livss snd property. We are stationed in a Chinese Catholio Bohool at the
n. JI.
D.
• B 1\ ot. T I .. ~
t. tAl 'I'
h au ., tI'•• t "U7
r , lel, int. h1""
1 0 ~ , 0 r I
• .. r. 1A ottl" t •
, 'I r t 1 ,
r , 01\1 • t
r •• " • • •
11 •
1
Pro j Ict!:rr 2322
•
.. . 1 a e ,1.06.)
Inventory & Appraisement of Slaves belonging 0 es ate
~..M~"-' e.'
of • ilton A. ~ro der, ~hO died in oarbour ~ounty, Ala.
in JUly 1509. Copl-sd f ..... o:n ra~or 01' ?robata .:;ourt J
J'Qoer~~ •. riters project 'm''l-_
• •
! /
tJ:J~')
1
16
~_ "_'."'lS", )~ o~~~ -' {~k ~ w" ...,J '"".,;..... , ".1 ... _'.L •.,,3 approxima tel" one halt'
.Total v:nua cf
the V'llUe of all the pro srty 0 he est t'. . , . . , ~ - ..-
~ r • 1 • •
-:\ \1 il<P::'-3 1 W 3 "' .. '1. 3 .. l tile value 01 S let on ~:llr was c.ea-t_,)
lsd as par-r, or :.he :'or~un G l)! f r.
.l'l '" I - 's I V 1.l9. .;:)'3:{ ~ , I
J 9.J. _an 91 I 00
Graca ~' '14
I 00 .IO~:ln I
LouiS Ken I 19 .1,000.00
I Gb.arlotte .,OLlan 25 1,200.00
~ Man ",3 "l,bOO.OO ... 0 r:'I
"nGslins .. 0 n:a r. 17 1,200.00
311'38 B Y. 1 150.00
I
Victoria 'Jlrl 9 e:J~. 00
!:enry oy. 2 250.00
'a .or • n ~ 14 " .00
v -
Lo el .. O:l:.n I l,60:,JO
;jUS
I I 4 ~50.:)0
I I _0]
\
,
I:Jlea~ \.tir 1 ..... ,..... "0 ,:.v..,· ....
... o·'·~~ 'an ... .. l,3J •
0-1 ...... -. '"
~i\iny oman 30 1,300.:)0
,ill i:eo,,; s DOY 7 50 .00
,inlay '::rirl 4 4- C "" ... .......
proje.ct II ~322 Feneral Writers project ,VPA Page ff 2.
Inventory &0 Appraise .ent of ,naves belon;ing to
estate of Jilton A. Browder.
!:aoe Sex Age Valu9
,
Little eor:p ..... 01~ ., 2:>~.UO
• •
:I'1nkla3S I~3~ 2tl 12UO. 0
yannesa - ria .1 c"...'_~n 33 4:::0.00
Aleck 01 'f 250.00
• el'/ton Boy 6 12 0.00
:.!s:-ipret I Girl 3 HOO .00
all. I Girl :>oo.eo
,
Jcip ·..an 31. • 200.00
•
·..·ewton I Ean 23 500.00 - , ""119,050.00 ,,
•
Old ~aria .. ome.n 29 1 l4~0.00
Dick IBoy 16. .. 1400.00
Van I Boy 12 1100.00
I
I
.lesley I Boy 9 coO.CO
Katy AnI, I ',i .Lrl 900.00 I
:.loses Boy 1 300.00
•
3i:l
I
_an I 32 .. 200 .00
I •
1 JS$ • ~J 15 :.00 ,, .1 o-:a n I I
.. rali:c ....ar. 19 JO.O
Rett .:o~an 19 .. 1000.00 • ,
J~ "'"a Ay 4 .. 1l00.~O
~
•
Sarah Girl 5 400.00
"w Boy 500.00 oJ an
• I
Allen !!an 25 it 1700.::10
,
proj ect ,f ':l31l2 roject, 'UPA page .i :5.
• -
est,ate of Milton A. Browser.
t,o
t:S t'S Sex 1Ige Value.
Y•","al:k .lan 16 1500.00
•
Raenael .. oman 33 800.00
Rosette Girl 2 ::~O • 0
3ig Jio ••an 24 16::>0.00
•• :l .. o~an -4 1.35:.00
'!:luuel 30y 6 15C .::>0
L1~t19 Jr. 'an 30 $ l~CC.CO
De~!~ls .":0 "1a n 30 8::>0.00
Jio -ack _an 2"- • 1~00.00
• ~
'"inty ;'Ioman 22 ~ 1400.00
Violet Girl 9 .. 150.00
!lig John !.Iall 25" f 17.;0,00
•
Rut,n Otlan • 20 f 1400.00
•"
·t.Jelson
.
30y , 4 400.00
... aC1~60n I ;..oy 1 200.00
3ig Jr. I an 40 1600.00
Aaron
1 ...:an 26 900.00
..•. ed ~er.. 40 1:20Q .00 -
;job • au 38 IbOO.OO
Li" ~le Ja e :!an 2::> 17CO.00
Dikes an ,,4 1200.00
Laura Ann •. OID.:! n 25 1400.00
eth ,arl 9 800.00
H" ....y J :lnS :arl 500 .00 ~.
ena C.irl 1 200.00
•
F~a9r91 ~rit9rs Project WPA pag!! # 5.
Inventory &Appraisement of Slaves belonging to
ilton A. Browder.
I
Sex Age Value
•
Ranson /lan • 18 1500.00
•
at1lde :-0 '::len 29 I I 140", .00 ,
Georgia Girl 15 1
1500.00
Lucy :leal Girl 9 800.00
Robert Boy 12 1200.00
.:ethan Boy 12 $ 1200.00
Rosatta Girl 15 w~ 12:;0.00
Total Valuat.ion 01 "Ile necro es ,
\10,550.00.
•
•
•
• |
| title |
Miscellaneous life histories and information on slavery. |
| titleStr |
Miscellaneous life histories and information on slavery. |
| url |
http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/wpa/id/897 |
| id |
ADAHwpa897 |
| thumbnail |
http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/wpa/id/897 |
| _version_ |
1743797184117080064 |
| spelling |
GSU# SG022773_00058-00078SG022773_00058_00078Miscellaneous life histories and information on slavery.Folder contains 20 pages compiled for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s.1939 circa1930-1939African Americans--Alabama--biography; Alabama--Biography; Alabama--Social life and customs; Alabama Writers' Project; Slavery--Alabama; United States. Works Progress AdministrationTextDocumentsAlabama. Dept. of Archives and HistoryWorks Progress Administration filesSG022773WPA Federal Writers' Project of Alabama, Format Changes, re: ProjectAlabama Dept. of Archives and History, 624 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36130EnglishThis material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though ADAH has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.96 dpi tiff•
~ary E. Livingston
.9riter.
"UNCLE FED NUNN"
•
Autauga, County.
The psychiatrists attribute to most of humanity some degree of
•
mental disorders along certain lines. Indeed, according to their
diagnoses, only a small per centage are wholly rational. Well,
perhaps many of us, either by inheritance or contraction, po-ssess
marked symptoms of eccentricities. Probably every community
finds a profuse expression of constitutional peculiarity of temperament.
There are a great many very queer people.
In its early history, Autau aville, Alabama, was the domicile of
the arcll-chasm of idiosyncracies in the person of ilie fabled "Uncle
Fed(Theodore)Nunn". Like two illustrious pioneer families, the Carsons
and the Nunns, he located at Autaugaville, Autauga County, rtlabama,
25 miles Rest of Lontgomery and four miles north of old Vernon
Landing, on the Alabama river. By inheritance, he came into possession
of considerable property, real estate etc. Embarking in the mercantile
business, manufacturing, farmin etc. and by hard, continuous
work, and most rigid frugality he succeded in amassin~ B handsome
fortune, consisting of several thousand acres of fertile lands,
hundreds of fine mules, beautiful spans of horses, carriages, a cotton
mill, cotton ginnery, and a number of substantial brick stores, buildings,
and scores of slaves.
Very rough and uncouth, he boasted of very few who understood
him, or were his friends. He was the embodiment of peculiarities.
Ordinarily, he dressed just about like any wanderlust, haggard be~ar
of his day, in unlaundered, amber stained, saegy osnaburg coats, trousers,
and shirts, a slouch hat and heavy, unpolished brass-toed bro~ans •
~. .
Mary E. Livingston
Writer.
- 2 - Autauga Co.
Only once in a great while did he shave. Un one occasion he was
dressed thus, sitting with a crowd of ffien on the front porch of
a store. A strange young traveling salesman approaching them,
pleasantly greeted, "Good morning, ~entlemen." fter a few minutes,
conversation, he tl.rned toward the beggar-looking "Uncle
•
Fed" and said, "Old man, I see you need a hat. Come in here and
I'll buy you one." Walking into the store, he bought a dollar hat
and placed it on the disheveled head, The "old man" accepted with,
"I God Buddie, I thank you." ~n a few minutes a brass-buttoned,
uniformed driver drove up in a beautiful carriage with a spirited
span of h rses. Let's take a little ride." Driving several blocks
to his home, he said, "I God, Buddie, this is mine. "Then,going over
several nice farms and looking at the houses, barns, mules and ne~roes,
he said again, "I God, BUddie, these are all mine." Carrying him by
his cotton ffiill and store houses, he repeated, "I God, BUddie, these
are (Line too." Tradition has it that frequently he hitched two or
more slaves to his carriage or buggy and drove them instead of horses.
Once a circus came to town - was stranded, "Uncle Fed" saw the
camel liked its looks and bought bim. Next Sunday as his good neii>hbars
were at church, prying and exhorti~, "Uncle Fed" decided it
would it would be a good time to attend church or drive slowly by.
He had the camel hitched to the carriage and quietly drove up when the
horses saw what was coming they became frightened, broke loose and
created auch a stampede everybody had to leave the church to quiet
his horse.
Quite often, especially when in a good mood, he rode astride
•
•
•
~ary E. Livingston
riter.
- 3 - u.tauga County.
into either his or some other store. In the event of his wife's
disapproval of anything, he either whipped her or locked her alone
in a room. life-long habit was that of gathering old dry bones of
dead horses, moles, cows or hogs and storing them in the honse lot
adjoining his home.
Once a year, ordinarily at Christmas, he donned a handsome
black broadcloth Prince Albert suit, silk beaver, patent leather
shoes, kid gloves and 601d headed walking cane. Once a year, in
the Sllmmer, he and his family went on a 30 day trip, either to
Florida, Blount or Shelby springs. Invariably he took these trips
in a long, heavy, covered dray, drawn by four or six horses, and
carried all cooking utensils. In his back yard, there was a big
cage, approximately 10 feet square and 20 feet high. In this cage
he kept hundreds of mocking birds. 0nce he watched one of his
slaves eating a roasted sweet potato, observing that the negro
threw the peal on the ground, he said, "You, lesther-headed son-ofa-
gun, how dare you to throwaway that good peal. Now you pick up
that peal and eat it, or I God, Buddie, I'll have you whipped."
On one occasion, in his later years, a nephew became enraged
and called him a d--d lisr, to which "Uncle Fed" replied "I God,
Buddie, its just a question of opinion."
With all of his faUlts, he gave his daughter and grand-daughter
educational advantages. When he was about 75 years of age, he was
burned to death in his own home.
2/6/40
V.W.
I ee~\ endi
LIFE STORY.
llI.8.rch 31, 1959. o -1-
Mre.Emma Shelnut,
12 6 O'Donnell St.Oakdale
osepn ne erson, r er.
Mobile.Ala.
MRS. EMMA SHELNUT.
tter walking trom Ann and Iba Streets down to O'Donnell
Stree. in Oakdale. a suburb ot Mobile, I stopped a. No.1256, Which
house is nearly hidden by trees and bushes. The tront ot the yard is
approxima.ely seventy-tive teet. To one side in the tront yard was
a small bed ot flowers and along the path representing sidewalk was
a hedge. To ,the right was a brickwalk leading up to the steps and on
the other side was a large rose bush. In the neighbor's yard was
a wisteria vine growing allover a large tree and the vine climbing
over into the yard and onto the house where I was Tidting. and I
have seldom seen such beautiful bunches ot tlowers. Mrs. Shelnut said
the yard was not in good order. as she was not able to attend to it
and her brother had Just got up trom a long spell ot sickness. The
north side ot the house was covered with honeysuckls vines.
Sitting on the gallery were Mrs. Emma Shelnut and her
brother Charles Rabby. and when I came up to them a young woman,
a niece ot s. S elnut. came trom the house and brought a chair and
I was asked to sit down. When I was sea.ed. a little girl about tive
years old, whose name was C~cile, came and eased herselt into my lap.
Her hair was sott and wavy and so light tbat it was almost white.
She was a triendly little thing. Her home was next door. A pretty
plain gray ca. with white nose. collar. shirt and boots. oame and
laid down on the steps.
When I asked Mrs. Shelnut it she knew any old legends,
sayings or stories she said she did not remember any, 80 I tried to
get her own story, and she said she hed not much to tell, however,
she told me she was born right here in Mobile and had lived here all
C eek endillg March 31. 1939.
Lite STORIES SERIES.
o -2-
Mrs.Emma Sbelnut, (White)
~~~~'''ir.;;:lS;;;t:';'~07;ak;;..::daleAla.
arson, r ere
•
MRS. lUII4A SHELNUT.
ber lite. Sbe was born in JUDe 1~61. Her tatber. a seaman, died When
ahe was very amsll and her mother was lett with tive children.
s. Sbelnut's mother was a dressmaker. Mrs. Shelnut said
she had attended the Broad Street Methodist Cburch since she was
"Just about as old as tbs little girl visitor, and ber name is tbe
oldest on the churcb book now." She went to School at Barton cademy.
Her lite as cbild and yonn!! woman was very pleasant and she did not
have anythillg worth tslli!l8.
In 1~~2 she married a Mr. Graham. wIlo was a sailor. They
bad been married eleven years when he was drowned in 1~93. She married
again in l~~. Mr. A.D.Sbelnut. a Civil ar Veteran, who _s a well
educa~ed man. His trade was interior decoratillg and be and his wite
also kept a rooming house. Both ot them were prominent in Lodge work.
and well liked. Mr. Sbelnut died in 1934 at the age ot eighty years.
The Sbelnut house is a une story building containi!l8 two
good size rooms. kitchen and tront gallery. In the tront room were
two beds. one large and one small. There was also an odd sota. age
not known, wbich looked as it two chairs were put side by side, tbe
backs curving. rounded at the top and tinished with a carved border.
This room also contained a large double-door wardrobe witb mirrors.
On a sbelt under the table was an old Bible. about nine by
tive incbes, wnich was more than tour inches thick. and bad very
tine Latin type with this notation on the back ot the Title page.
"Bible entered according to tbe Act ot Congress in tbe year ltl57.
by O.R.Kingsbury in tbe Clarks Ottice ot the District Court tor the
,.
Southern District ot N.Y. About one tourth ot every page was tilled
Week March 31, 1939. o -3-
LIFE S'l'ORIES SERIES.
MRS. EMMA SHELNUr. .
with notes and explanations on the chapters above, but the print was
so tine that it was very hard to read. The turniture is oldtashioned
and somewhat crowded, but clean and orderly. Over the mantel is a
large picture ot Robert X. Lee, painted by Mr. Shelnut. It is quite
a good pio.ure ot the General. The trame is heavy and gilded. There
is •also a crayon picture ot Mrs. Shelnut's tirst husband.
The second, or backroom, also contained two beds, one
large and one small. In these two rooms sleep Mrs. Shelnut, her
brother, her niece and husband, and two children, who were at school.
They are pretty well crowded, but are comfortable.
On the mantel in that room was an old clock about twenty
inohes hisn, which had two taces, one above the o.her. The top taoe
was smaller than the lower one and showed the hours. The lower one
showed the name ot the weekdays, but that part does not function.
It showed the name ot the month "MARCH" in another space,and placed
around the edge ot the tace were the dates ot the month trom One to
ibirty-one. These two parts are in working order. On the lower part
ot the tace above the dates were painted.
H.B.Horton's Patents.
April 18-1865 August 28-1866.
Ithaca Calendar Clock Co.,
Ithaoa, N.Y.
Mrs. Shelnut does not know how old the clock is.
It was given to her about torty years ago as a wedding present and
it was old a. that time, "but" she said, "it still kseps good time".
She then took me out in the kitchen, where her niece,
r Week ending March 31 , 1939.
LIFE STORIES SERIES.
o -4-
MRS. EMI4A SHELNUT.
Nell Rabby was prepairing dinner, to MOW me the back yard. which is
about 125 teet deep, one part is tenoed otf tor the chiokens end
in the other part were a Japanese Persimmon tree and a fig tree,
beside oaktrees and shrubbery, whioh makes the place look like a
little place in the country.
Asking Mrs. Shelnut what she thought about Hitler and the
condition in the world at present, she said that she did not bother
her old brain with those things and she does not like politics,
because there is 80 much wrong done, but she would like to see Mr.
Hartwell Commissioner again.
Mrs. Shelnut is very kindhearted and triendly, and she
does not talk about people unless she has something good to say
about them. Her sight and hearing are good. but she has to use glasses
when reading, her eyes are gray, her hair 18 gray and out short.
She said, "I had very little hair anyhow, so when my niece suggested
to have it cut ott, I said 'yes," and I am not sorry as it is muoh
easier to wash and comb."
Mrs. Shelnut is getting a small pension - 20.00 from
the overnment. She said, "It is not muoh, but my brother has some
property. and with what he Was we are getting along. It I live until
I am eighty I will get Thirty dollars a month. The old veterans
receive Fitty dollars a month, but there are only two more left in
the obile District."
The neighborhood is good. most of the houses need some
paint, but the trees and shrubbery hide the deticienoy. cross the
street trom the Shelnut home is a large modern church built by the
,
- "111 1
Lee Count¥.
II 0
ot • Rd ,1
ali' nil H
III It qD, I uO'J:G o
-Wi
wah
: ~ ,tbe 'early th lrt 1.s.when ;r~se .i;TOhn 1£. lrar~"
oj t,,~, [
lIa l~ing plans for a own at ,(uburn.A:Taba-a,l111 brought
0"1 ,~w
hl. ae a o1Tli anilIfeBr. e 1l'ere Perry becalll
- 1 il' • "t', "-,r" 'L" ber17; it was reputed sne owned a tIl'ousana sraves an'j aJIIbilr
ill nA:tfel a<:ll.Jf'or ..tll1.a he je.lrt.a W&:iY alii
Oil olt! '0. 't t1 f [1 I:J ' en 'J: .f's of ...:t..w:L. _
tune 10 loas th 1J:' oIDe ire an tll 1: ,Jrel' one eg ~
00 a < t' I ' '1' IJ.7 c! 1':;I1:l' in the oloaet, and a dlfhrsnt t IDssa'loug after .nat ,.ne grart-clt£lf,ff'eD
WOui~loo;Iforland fi1d ! ceSs 'rIisfs "tbe 0118ll' ~4'.-'lfar e ,B'6hf
, t' vlI un.. ;:;.. • ~
4auihter, IUse Annette Howard to d. Iii J.8.,..:>. If i
It. viI, . IL :J - '-' .J • other hOlDS 8ft1lt one -hunc1rsd yards 1'l0rth sst Or tie orrs, uslng
...l, d ' _ ,.cl l '.... 1,.. ~d r ee U elave la or,hand hewed timber and pegge ,vieth r. ",
e are etruck with this 10ve17
.LL1. s' • .~ I
beautiful sldded,oak trove a~out two
old ante-bellWD hOlDe sitting up In s
•
°imire 'Yal 0 the sif' lit, t Drake
Avenue,and one bled to the r.l4lht of highway 29,going South. On this lovely
lawn we find the ase-old oaks.cedars,crepe~rtleand beautlt1L old wisteria
vines,clinging to what.ever it touches.
In approaching this house we find the unusual I s1:ep eDUancea which
leads to a hiih veranier with Uel in ..an 11 ten,'lI'h1ch BeZ'Ve the two floors,
huini unUJIlIeath a ceGlented &roanl-tloor porch. The largl four square' 001-
USDs,supportina the upper porch rcof-extension,rests on ce.ent 1ounlations,
restins on the areund. The. N/Wln.$ to this frent porch are plasterei ani the
front .-indon reach to the nOll', the green shuttsre against the 1tlite siiing
lani to the old IDBnBion a colonial character. Over the two front entrances,
up and dcwn stairs,a notable feature of the doors being fraeed in Bide glass
liihts and tbe upper porch door being dooble doors and topped with a co.ventional
traneoll. J!:lltering this very spacious hall with h.l4lh ct.Uings •• find
rooms opening into both s14e8 and it has e foot ohair-facins at the
bottoll,end picture 100Uing at the top, tho laGle ..ul plankina 18 ad for floorina
ani ceUing.
•
,
hlLv •
and
B.
·h
I I'i'hs 'or1kinal k1tchen wile thirty jieps fro.. the hODBS and talLf.8:j W'
.0 be brou ' in up ten stepe through the bsssment to the 41n1ng rooa e1glrt- .. 't UJotJ 9- J ..~ "even'l:AeD, f t.1\l room hav.1ng a1mpl.e open f1,rspl.a
L
oea. , ~ ~ ~. 4 • --V, , ~~~ ~ I •
io,hA""~.4 &r J.OOIll roo.. in tlfe basUle t,ofoour•• spent lIluch
~....., ...7T, " .J U4 'Xo ft 1 rIm
f,1IIe, i" th"X:&...And Uo): ~~o~ fsver,fro 1tting Iln t.hL
rr-- =~ t llalllp roo"! ._.,..---, of '" .... '1. • • "I. Y 8 ....
AnrAAil over town.! 014 .Eer~ are.w 4eSllsrate and i1.·sntl.ed
~-r- I 1.r7' 'V,- j .'!i. u l'I." I'S j) ;.,;q ~. tl;v.l"!
U ...a"l'l... (1s ° uired by the resent
~( "'10 'I r
ol.a1JIe and ',II stUl. bet oond1t1sn ...
I 'I~~:Ii::l oL o' au!
1Il0c1ernhe flItd 1t hall nins roollls.
I ... • 'I 1O.u II J a "lUI ,1 oIo edt 11l
l.,,~ two vj,nR be n h~ed l.ately. .anl
~ '~ ~o~ alI u~ '10 iooL bI
J1D~l.1v~;,inl~;,. 0 el rtru esl ,'Ie • D :3
and-aaughh .J"very dl now,l.1vss in
b'" . - ellO tood. ,mOL '1 .0
8ment in WOIll8Il' S cl Db work ,in 1-ears
I ~ ,Iellt 0- 0'1 blL <{,'IO' 'IL e ,Ie
'11 , l/,S 1 war...... s
'rDneges,Als.,and hae bee~'Iqt1."
b
d-elN oIo I vol al. ~ rltl ]iOU'll, 'IJ. 0
osseAs1on a 0 of .Simeon Eer~'s w1l.l..
D '1},aJ! o¥! II evo'I ::/.Bo,b bUs Iu~l:.U"asd
al'I t slw bIo 'tHus d DJIB sIt'I ... eqs'Io ,5'IaOOO, JlBO bIo-slla oM b/ll~ e NV! L
.SMO 01 _I 'IBvolad 01 llalllnlIo,solLlv
doltfw seD 'I::r qat 8
,S'IooIl 0 1 sdt e~
•
IaoauoD sdt ball elt esuod sldt nlrl aO'Iqqa aI
ILl D t rl.l" 'Isllna'I9V nalrl a ot s seJ:
-100 S'1£U s 'IDO~ • ~I ea; • O'1oq '10 I -blLUO~ JJe.;losmeo a nita 1U!' :!II
,sool it bllD 0 ~-so ao ste 'I, ast.a-loo'I '10 '1 q
0'10 lt~ '1 sl 1 'T • au 'Ii ent ao
1 s ,'l:O"Ji , t ot .rl 80'1 8woblLl" itco~~ •
, I ' Ie "Lo dit ot
B aI s· lB al d a~ " L ton ,'11 it & floa
1 D qaoit baa '100 eLduob
Clrlt 8 '1 et.
-itl1flT 00 8
niLleo ntl LIs U 1
1 '100 '.•
.C1 :.la
H
1
nlo.el-'Il 1001 a n as s 1 o'! O'I
Iq a .dit ,q it Slit :ta 1 0 'lIJ it ! q Ii
• lLlLl 0
Russia last
Asia. Bot
Pike and
lreEton U.in
CU;lTIS ilOB:"'<T PD~ Lee Co.
'7)J4._L-~ I . . . r~ I'}>.I"-~M $ . .C ........
7v1'A-''T:t)~ ~...,'.L...tCurtis
Robort Pike wus born Jan.Bth.1914 In Harrls County Ga. Rteearly 11fe
Was spent on a farm at Beulah Ala. ,and got hls grammar and High Sohool eduoat
10n at na-ulah and Palrfn.Ala., but ltkB d ooe ye ar finishing High Sohoo1.
He ~8S 8 good Athe1ete.fond of footba11,basketball and baseba11.Cortl. «0tened
the U.S.Army at Ft.Benning Jan.B,1932,where he spent three years and
was discharged as a Corporal.
He eotered the Mar111es ~ 16,1935 at Uaoon.Ga.80d was Bent to PariB
Island,s.C.,from there to Ca11fornia by the way of Cuba,Cana1 Zooe,from ,
ther~ to HawUan Isles then to .Ph1.111pine Islands where he remained a few
months. He was then ohosen for 4nty aboard "The ADgoata", the f1agBh.1p of
the Asiatl0 fleet, Admiral Yarnell ln oommand.
He went from Phll1ipines to Chlna,Hongkoog,~slngt.o,Shanghal.Slngapore,
Dutob West Indes, on below the equator. then' Japan,and 'lossla, baok to China.
Curtis Pike of BeU1ah,has a ringslde eeat at the preeent 1mbrog110 ln
China and sald rlngslde seat may prevent him from coJlling baok to a stat.ion
in America.
Mr.Pike ie ome of Uno1e Sam's Uarlnes and after a visit. to
summer was slated t.o return to AlllBrlaa,having spent. t.wo yaua ln
aboot the time he got. baok to China t.hB war broke co t an. Marine
his buddies were ordered to atiok around and await deve1op.ents.
liir.Pikll,aboot. 23 years old, ie the son of Llr. and lirs.George Pike of
Beu1ah,Ala. His letters to his famlly telling about his visit t.o Russia and
something about t.he hostilities in the Far East are very interesting.The Lee
coonty man is sssingnsd to t.hB "Augusta,"flagship of America's Aa1atl0 fleet
It will be remembered it W8S the AUgusta which the ~..inese, in th~ eaaly .i stages Of the war,bombed,thinking lt. was a Japanese vessel. Curtis Pika was
aboard at the tiJlle. That was ahortly after the' return of the Augoata from
Vladivostok"Russia,whers wlth three Amerioan destroyers it had gooe on a
"good will viBlt", the latter part. of last June.
Conoerning the 1IIarlnes vialt to Russia, Curtis, wrote hia family;
"Was that plaoe (Vl.adlwostok) a slght. to remember:- Everywhe.re Jl'0Q looked "
there were soldiers and sailors patroling Ua stree'ts wlth flxed bayonets
on thelr rUles. I oertainly llIIl glad I don't have to ll<ve 111 a )lsce like
that: "From oar observat.lon of the people on the street lt.. WIlo1d appear
that wages provide 11ttle,lf anY,more than the. barest neoesslt.le.s of 11fe.
Houses are congested. Rooms ware seen with bunks jsamel against each
other. BUildlng repalrs wer& long overdue. The street crowds present a
picture of wo%king men andwomen with a look of desperat.e detsrmlnat.lon bnt
bordened too hearily t.o smile. We m1Bsed the. gaiat:y and jOT1al banter of the
AljIErrlcan people. "But they ahowed Us s good tlme. They gave oa tree tickets
to a circus with some good acts. ~ey stagsd a socoer game and a swimming
meet for as and the Russian naval offlcers and city offlcials eDtsrtaine'd the
American officers and pstty offioers at banquets.
"They made uo oharge t.o marines for danoing in the' parke and at tile
theatres they refused oar money and invited ue in to enjpy tha programs.
Suoh lavish entertainment as was giYen us is a rate e~erlenoe for these
people and is evidenos of the Sovie't.'sdllsire to prove t.hlIir hospitalU:y and
fri"ndllhip."
"When we arrived at Tsingtao from Russia we were rushed to Shanghai beoause
of th" Berious ~roubls hsre • We enoountered a typhoon on the wtY and
were hsld up for over a day. Then t.o top it all off,the Chinese thought we
were a Japanese ship and trisd'to bonb us. "JQck for us the bonb just miss-ed
c, us bot it threw shappnel on the ship. We manned the anti-aurefaft guns
and Vlere ready to fire at the planes when they discovered out iilentity•..And
if we had fired,I guarantee we woundn't have missed like the Japs dld:
"Ws (the Augusta marines! made andemergenoy landing when we arrived
here snd have besn hare avsr sinoe,he1ping the 4th L~rines guard Amerioan
livss snd property. We are stationed in a Chinese Catholio Bohool at the
n. JI.
D.
• B 1\ ot. T I .. ~
t. tAl 'I'
h au ., tI'•• t "U7
r , lel, int. h1""
1 0 ~ , 0 r I
• .. r. 1A ottl" t •
, 'I r t 1 ,
r , 01\1 • t
r •• " • • •
11 •
1
Pro j Ict!:rr 2322
•
.. . 1 a e ,1.06.)
Inventory & Appraisement of Slaves belonging 0 es ate
~..M~"-' e.'
of • ilton A. ~ro der, ~hO died in oarbour ~ounty, Ala.
in JUly 1509. Copl-sd f ..... o:n ra~or 01' ?robata .:;ourt J
J'Qoer~~ •. riters project 'm''l-_
• •
! /
tJ:J~')
1
16
~_ "_'."'lS", )~ o~~~ -' {~k ~ w" ...,J '"".,;..... , ".1 ... _'.L •.,,3 approxima tel" one halt'
.Total v:nua cf
the V'llUe of all the pro srty 0 he est t'. . , . . , ~ - ..-
~ r • 1 • •
-:\ \1 il<P::'-3 1 W 3 "' .. '1. 3 .. l tile value 01 S let on ~:llr was c.ea-t_,)
lsd as par-r, or :.he :'or~un G l)! f r.
.l'l '" I - 's I V 1.l9. .;:)'3:{ ~ , I
J 9.J. _an 91 I 00
Graca ~' '14
I 00 .IO~:ln I
LouiS Ken I 19 .1,000.00
I Gb.arlotte .,OLlan 25 1,200.00
~ Man ",3 "l,bOO.OO ... 0 r:'I
"nGslins .. 0 n:a r. 17 1,200.00
311'38 B Y. 1 150.00
I
Victoria 'Jlrl 9 e:J~. 00
!:enry oy. 2 250.00
'a .or • n ~ 14 " .00
v -
Lo el .. O:l:.n I l,60:,JO
;jUS
I I 4 ~50.:)0
I I _0]
\
,
I:Jlea~ \.tir 1 ..... ,..... "0 ,:.v..,· ....
... o·'·~~ 'an ... .. l,3J •
0-1 ...... -. '"
~i\iny oman 30 1,300.:)0
,ill i:eo,,; s DOY 7 50 .00
,inlay '::rirl 4 4- C "" ... .......
proje.ct II ~322 Feneral Writers project ,VPA Page ff 2.
Inventory &0 Appraise .ent of ,naves belon;ing to
estate of Jilton A. Browder.
!:aoe Sex Age Valu9
,
Little eor:p ..... 01~ ., 2:>~.UO
• •
:I'1nkla3S I~3~ 2tl 12UO. 0
yannesa - ria .1 c"...'_~n 33 4:::0.00
Aleck 01 'f 250.00
• el'/ton Boy 6 12 0.00
:.!s:-ipret I Girl 3 HOO .00
all. I Girl :>oo.eo
,
Jcip ·..an 31. • 200.00
•
·..·ewton I Ean 23 500.00 - , ""119,050.00 ,,
•
Old ~aria .. ome.n 29 1 l4~0.00
Dick IBoy 16. .. 1400.00
Van I Boy 12 1100.00
I
I
.lesley I Boy 9 coO.CO
Katy AnI, I ',i .Lrl 900.00 I
:.loses Boy 1 300.00
•
3i:l
I
_an I 32 .. 200 .00
I •
1 JS$ • ~J 15 :.00 ,, .1 o-:a n I I
.. rali:c ....ar. 19 JO.O
Rett .:o~an 19 .. 1000.00 • ,
J~ "'"a Ay 4 .. 1l00.~O
~
•
Sarah Girl 5 400.00
"w Boy 500.00 oJ an
• I
Allen !!an 25 it 1700.::10
,
proj ect ,f ':l31l2 roject, 'UPA page .i :5.
• -
est,ate of Milton A. Browser.
t,o
t:S t'S Sex 1Ige Value.
Y•","al:k .lan 16 1500.00
•
Raenael .. oman 33 800.00
Rosette Girl 2 ::~O • 0
3ig Jio ••an 24 16::>0.00
•• :l .. o~an -4 1.35:.00
'!:luuel 30y 6 15C .::>0
L1~t19 Jr. 'an 30 $ l~CC.CO
De~!~ls .":0 "1a n 30 8::>0.00
Jio -ack _an 2"- • 1~00.00
• ~
'"inty ;'Ioman 22 ~ 1400.00
Violet Girl 9 .. 150.00
!lig John !.Iall 25" f 17.;0,00
•
Rut,n Otlan • 20 f 1400.00
•"
·t.Jelson
.
30y , 4 400.00
... aC1~60n I ;..oy 1 200.00
3ig Jr. I an 40 1600.00
Aaron
1 ...:an 26 900.00
..•. ed ~er.. 40 1:20Q .00 -
;job • au 38 IbOO.OO
Li" ~le Ja e :!an 2::> 17CO.00
Dikes an ,,4 1200.00
Laura Ann •. OID.:! n 25 1400.00
eth ,arl 9 800.00
H" ....y J :lnS :arl 500 .00 ~.
ena C.irl 1 200.00
•
F~a9r91 ~rit9rs Project WPA pag!! # 5.
Inventory &Appraisement of Slaves belonging to
ilton A. Browder.
I
Sex Age Value
•
Ranson /lan • 18 1500.00
•
at1lde :-0 '::len 29 I I 140", .00 ,
Georgia Girl 15 1
1500.00
Lucy :leal Girl 9 800.00
Robert Boy 12 1200.00
.:ethan Boy 12 $ 1200.00
Rosatta Girl 15 w~ 12:;0.00
Total Valuat.ion 01 "Ile necro es ,
\10,550.00.
•
•
•
•http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/wpa/id/897 |