Interviewee: Allen, Joseph
Allen, Joseph. Mr. Allen has lived in Muncie for about
34 years. At the present time he lives with his daughter and her husband,
Mr. and Mrs. Million and his grandson John Curd, at 1714 E. Kirk Street,
Muncie. Mr. Allen worked at the Muncie Foundry until he was 83 years old,
doing hard manual labor, pushing a wheel-barrow and helping keep up fires.
He was said to be the oldest man working in a factory doing manual labor
in the state at that time. Joseph Allen whose story appears above was freed
in 1865 but did not leave the plantation until two years later. His old
master offered him $40 the first year but never paid him. Toward the end
of the second year he was offered $150 and a horse but did not trust to
any more promises. He left the old plantation and made his way to Glasco,
a town about 45 miles away. He lived here and in the adjoining country
about 15 years and was married. His wife died and he was married the
second time in Carroll County, Kentucky. When Teddy
Roosevelt was elected the second time he came on to Muncie. His second
wife has also gone and he now resides with his daughter Mrs. Celia Million
and husband at 1704 Kirk Street. Joseph Allen will be 87 years of age next
May and walks about without a cane. His health seems to be excellent.
Interviewee: Kelley, Alexander
Dan Hutchings, where we were employed by him for some
time. I grew to be a boy sixteen years of age and mother decided to take
me farther west where I would have better advantages. In the year 1873
we left the Hutchens cabin and traveled out of Carolina on west to Indianapolis,
Indiana. We found quarters to live in and both found work. I got some schooling
and meanwhile I picked up some knowledge in cooking. In the year 1883 I
was employed as Chef at the Grant Hotel in that city.I kept this position
for three years when mother and I and my wife heard of the gas boom at
Muncie. We came on to Muncie and I cooked in the different public stands
and private families until 1894. I was then employed as Chef in the Kirby
House Hotel in Muncie, which place I held for a long period, or until I
retired. I was married while living in Indianapolis. Our family now consisted
of my aged mother, my wife and myself. My ex-slave mother has long since
passed beyond. My wife and I now reside at our home1613 E. Kirk Street,
Whitely, Muncie, Indiana.
Interviewee: Kelley, Bell
Mrs. Bell Kelley who resides with her husband, Alexander
Kelley, in Muncie, Delaware County, at 1630 East Kirk Street, Whitely.
Mrs. Bell Kelley was married in Indianapolis to Alexander Kelley about
the year 1883, when she was about 21 years of age. She and her husband
were attracted to Muncie by the gas boom. She was an expert housekeeper
and her husband a professional Chef in a leading hotel.
Interviewee: Monroe, Woodford
Reference: John Cooper, a son, residing at 501 East
2nd Street, Muncie, Indiana Woodford Cooper, being free, was drafted into
the Union Army but before he was picked up the war was ended and he remained
at home. He was compelled to take out legal papers in order to vote. After
the War he moved with his family to Evansville, Indiana. Here the parents
died and John was forced to face the world alone. John made his way to
Anderson by walking and riding, found employment there a time and came
on to Muncie in 1902. Being born in the atmosphere of slavery the incidents
of the past come to his mind more like a legend, with its lights and shadows.
Interviewee: Parrott, Richard
Richard Parrott, the father of W. F. Parrott of Muncie,
was born on the Ben Smith Plantation, Kentucky. He was the son of Amos
Parrott who fought in the Revolutionary War. This grandfather was a regimental
slave in Virginia and was under old Colonel Parrott with a detatchment
to defend a bridge against the British who were advancing. The enemy arrived
in force and determination but were driven back by Amos and the detatchment
of Revolutionary boys of which he was a member. After the war with England
was over Amos settled in Kentucky on a plantation of Colonel Parrott under
whom he had served as a soldier and a slave. Richard Parrott, the son of
Amos, was born on this plantation known as the Richard Parrott plantation,
named as was the custom after the old Colonel Richard Parrott, whose personal
slave he continued to be. Richard married a wife from the Ben Smith plantation,
and her name, Sarah Smith, was taken from the Ben Smith plantation, on
which she was born. They were married on the Smith plantation and Parrott
gave Richard, the slave, to Ben Smith and this allowed them to live at
the home provided on the Smith plantation.
Interviewee: Parrott, Richard
W. F. Parrott, the son, whose name is used in the reference,
was graduated from High School at Mitchell, Indiana, and from the State
University at Bloomington. He taught in the colored schools ten years at
Spencer Indiana. He was an instructor in the schools at Ghent, and at Carroliton,
Kentucky. He has a daughter in Washington, D.C. and a son finishing in
Ball State College, Muncie, Indiana.
Interviewee: Polk, Nelson -1826 Hindes Street, Whitely, Muncie, Indiana
Polk, Nelson Her family was her ambition and highest
objective and they enjoyed, when freed, at once the education and cultural
advantages that could be had by worthy effort. Rev. J. B. Polk is a local
minister among his people and came to Muncie less than a year ago. His
mother represented the best type of the vanished slave-period.
Interviewee: Watkins, Hettie
Reference: Miss Hettie Watkins, 813 south Pershing
Street, Muncie, Indiana.
Watkins, Hettie..........When he was freed his parents
were informed of that fact by their master and was given their choice of
remaining on the plantation with wages or to go elsewhere. None went away
in any haste, but took time to relocate in the adjoining villages where
they found work and wages. Louis was about twelve years of age when his
parents went to Coltewah, a small village, to live. After the War had well
passed Louis found work, married and established a home. Three children
were born to them. He brought his family to Muncie, Delaware County, in
the year 1907. His wife being deceased he resides with his daughter, Hettie,
at 813 South Pershing Street, Muncie, Indiana.
Interviewee: Watkins, Louis
Reference: Miss Hettie Watkins, 813 South Pershing
Street, Muncie, Indiana.
Watkins, Louis.........When he was freed his parents
were informed of that fact by their master and was given their choice of
remaining on the plantation with wages or to go elsewhere. None went away
in any haste, but took time to relocate in the adjoining villages where
they found work and wages. Louis was about twelve years of age when his
parents went to Coltewah, a small village, to live. After the War had well
passed Louis found work, married and established a home. Three children
were born to them. He brought his family to Muncie, Delaware County, in
the year of 1907. His wife being deceased, he resides with his daughter,
Hettie, at 813 South Pershing Street, Muncie, Indiana.
Interviewee: Young, Anthony
Reference: Mrs. Oscar Evelyn Day, 522 East Second
Street, Muncie, Indiana
Young, Anthony............Anthony grew up on this plantation
and never left it until after the war. He did not run away to the north
or join either army since he was a little too young, although at that time
his master made him drive the ox teams and follow the plow. He was married
early to Mary Young, a slave girl on the same plantation, but not until
after they had their freedom. When he was freed he did not know of the
event but was kept in ignorance, until one day his overseer was preparing
to whip him. He hid in the home of a white neighbor and while there, this
neighbor spoke in this manner to him: "Anthony, why do you run from him?
He does not dare to touch you; you are a free man. If he whips you you
can have him arrested for assault and battery. You are now a citizen of
America. Go home and tell him this and he will not touch you." When the
master found that Anthony demanded wages he promised to pay him $10 if
he would stay and work a year. He stayed but at the end of the first year
he could not get the money. Then his employer told him that if he would
work another year he would pay him $15 and hand him the ten he owed him
which would make $25 for the two years labor. This was a large sum of money
in the eyes of Anthony so he remained and worked another year. At the end
of the second year the money was withheld as before. The ex-slave then
walked away, going to Bowling Green, Kentucky. When he got settled he married
Mary Young, an ex-slave from the same plantation. He reared a family and
came to Muncie about 37 years ago. He died in the year 1935 at his home
located at 710 East Main Street, at the age of 102 years..
Original data : Works Project Administration- Federal Writers Project.