They brought up their children to speak only Mexican. Mother allus say dose free niggers make de hardes' masters. Us hab chicken and all kinds of good things. A survey I was handling pipes. My father was a field hand, and Mr. Swanson work de fire out dem. Hallelujah! Old Mew Johnson, the preacher, seen to it church went on. Den de chillen holds de bladder in de fire and purty soon, 'BANG,' dey goes. A big place, with 'bout 150 growed slaves and 'bout 50 pickininnies. Fur as I kin 'member I t'ink dey was 'bout 25 or 30 slaves on de place. "One time they had 12 men in jail, 'cused of robbin' white folks. Now, Will, dat de man I's marry to, am younger'n me but he don't know it. January 2002, Navasota city council default on revenue bonds, withdrawing the city from financial participation in the project known as the Pecan Lakes Golf Course, located near the citys airport off of Highway 105. ', 'Kitty, kitty,
I was too little to get on the stand, so they had to hold me up and Mr. Harper bought me for $1,100. All de ole folks, cullud and white, was cryin'. [9], In August 2013, Navasota was named a Go Texan "Certified Retirement Community" by the Texas Department of Agriculture.[10]. "When you ask me is I Pierce Harper, you kind of 'sprised me. "Who I is, how old I is and where I is born, I don't know. Lots of white folks comes and dey eats and drinks wine, dey sings and dances. They made tea out of 'lion's tongue' for the stomach and snake root is good for pains in the stomach, too. But when dey was livin' in Geo'gy, my ma marry a man name' Hawthorne in Geo'gy. Its application scored 17 of 20 points. Hurrah, boys, hurrah! Dat's what my old mother told me 'way back in slavery, before I was ever sold. We was free. Ole mistus he'p me make my weddin' dress outta white lawn. De marster was a sergeant. WebBuilt in 1834 by Henry Fanthorp as a home for his third wife, Rachel Kennard, the Fanthorp home and Inn has been closely connected with events of early Texas history. De white man preacher marry us and mistus she give me 'way. And I said, 'Sister Johnson, dat's 'cause I keep faith with de Lawd. "There was some cullud young men went to the schools they'd opened by the gov'ment. WebSlavery in Texas is a co-curricular project sponsored by the History Department and Center for Community Engagement at Sam Houston State University. Dere am 'bout hundred hawg bladders save from hawg killin'. Missy Elline, she fainted. Dere some old men dat too old to work so dey sot in de sun all day and holp with de light work. There am embers in de fireplace and she fills a pail with dem and when de Klux busts in de door she lets dem have de embers in de face, and den out de back door she goes. ", "I don' 'member seein' no sojers. When eight years old he was sold for $1,150 [Handwritten Note: '?'] WebBy 1836, there were approximately 5,000 enslaved people in Texas. My sister born dere. "De cullud folks has lots of trouble after de war, 'cause dey am ir'rant niggers and gits foolishment in de head. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.39. "After us cullud folks was 'sidered free and turned loose, the Klu Klux broke out. argo parts amazon. Will yous be patient with me?' But I's had two strokes and I ain't able to go to town no mo'. In 1865, a warehouse filled with cotton and gunpowder exploded after it was torched by returning Confederate soldiers. In 2012, the Navasota city council voted to commission a local sculptor to erect a statue of Frank Hamer in front of the new city hall building. She does not know her age, but thinks she was about seven when she was freed. Sometimes you didn't knowed it was goin' on. [12] It served as the primary grid for the local high school football team, the Navasota Rattlers, until the new stadium was constructed in 2006. He allus brung me somethin', jus' like I he own little gal. Eb'ry chile hab a side of watermilion. Dey carry grub and water to de field hands. "We knowed freedom was on us, but we didn't know what was to come with it. Some dem niggers on other plantations ain't keep de head and dey gits whupped and some gits kilt, but us does what massa say and has no trouble with dem Klux. When the nearby historic town of Washington-on-the-Brazos resisted railways, it forfeited its geographic advantage and began to decline after many of its businesses and residents began to migrate to the new railhead 7 miles (11km) to the northeast across the Brazos River at Navasota. ", "Me? came through the window from sister Ella. Dat trader was on his way south with my folks and a lot of other slaves, takin' 'em somewheres, to sell. Lawmen had to hide and watch, and often were afraid of the streets at night. ", "I never git marry 'till way atter freedom come. Us hab chicken and turkey and cake. All us stay dere and holp missy all us could. ", "Dey didn' know nuffin' 'bout preachin' and Sunday School in dem times. Webhistorical and genealogical records of Texas; part USGenWeb. You be a good girl and try to git through de worl' dat way.' The dispatcher attended the police academy and had been working at Navasota Police department for some time. Then they knocked their brains out and threw 'em in the river. "Every mornin' de ole mistus took out de big Bible and hab prayer meetin' for jus' us three. "When freedom come my mudder and me pay no 'tention to it. We was happy. I went and he told me goodbye, 'cause he was goin' to run away in a few days. They didn't care what color you was, black, white, yellow or blue. He was born and bred a slave in St. Hedwig, Bexar Co., Texas, the son of slave parents bought in Mississippi by his master, William Gudlow. "In de old days, if de niggers wants de party, massa am de big toad in de puddle. NISD offers instructional support for learners through a variety of programs such as Advanced Academics/GT, Dual Credit College Classes, Dyslexic Services, English as a Second Language Support, Program 504 Support, Special Services for needs such as speech, learning disabilities, and other health impairments, Pre-Kindergarten Classes, Tiered Supports through RtI, and an Academic Alternative School. She was a little, white-hair' woman, what never los' her temper 'bout nothin'. We was all walkin' on golden clouds. Even as he did so, he seemed to smile with those blurred, dead eyes of his. PAULINE GRICE, 81, was born a slave of John Blackshier, who owned her mother, about 150 slaves, 50 slave children, and a large plantation near Atlanta, Georgia. When she come in and say, 'Mandy, shine up de knife and fork and put de polish on de pianny, I allus happy, 'cause I lub to see folks come. #3. We rented a little house and my mother took in washing and ironing. I'll never be a slave
After September 1859, when the Houston and Texas Central Railway built into the town, Navasota became important as a shipping and marketing center for the surrounding area. Dey give each li'l nigger a big iron spoon and us sho' go to it. Planters depended on enslaved African Americans to provide labor for their large cotton plantations. Sometime den us go to chu'ch. They was took away (conscription). In the late 1860s the KKK moved into Navasota, prompting a tense confrontation between federal soldiers and a crowd of local whites on one occasion. Sure 'nough, dere was trouble, heaps of it. You never knowed what he gwine to do. Massa Buford say, 'Yes,' and de trader say he'll be back in 'bout three weeks, soon as he sells all the slaves. It is 71 miles (114km) northwest of Houston. They'd hide in the cabins and then's when they found out who a lot of them Klu Kluxes was, 'cause a lot of 'em was kilt. He came to Galveston, Texas, in 1877. And I'm a-headin' for the Golden Shore!'. As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,643 people, 2,661 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. My ole mistus took me to Sunday school with her and I spruce up in dat hat. [1] Of the Den when extra loud noise come from de cannon, she scream. I can't sell de cotton, 'cause of de blockade.' I heerd my gramma and ma say dey ol' marster wouldn' sell none of his slaves. Molly lives at 3218 Ave H., Galveston, Texas. used the City Charter to revoke the alcohol license and the PD enforced the local laws of the land pushed by the new Police Chief, a Texas Ranger who took over after the past Police Chief and investigator where removed for corruption after an outside the county investigation of the City of Navasota Police department. The master said that Calisy, that my mother, was the best fieldhand he had, and Calvin, that my daddy, was the laziest. He enjoy dat. Navasota was founded by European-Americans in 1831 as a stagecoach stop named "Nolansville." In 1833, a group including the extended family and associates of John Parker, a Baptist minister and veteran of the American Revolution, began to relocate from Illinois to Texas. Horse mint breaks the fever. They played marbles, see-saw and rode. Dey load up my sack and sometime dey bring me stuff in a car right dere to dat gate. They didn't meet 'cept when they heered the Klu Kluxes was coming to get some cullud folks. I State Football Champions in 2014. He served as marshal until 1911. Us been lib here many a year. Slaves were increasing faster than the population as a whole. The law said in black and white no master couldn't whip no slave, no matter what he done. When he git here dey tek care of him 'till he die right dere at Olive. The per capita income for the city was $14,564. Fust de 'federate sojers come and takes some mules and hosses, den some more come for de corn. He was making a sort of privileged game with a sportive twist out of his handicap of blindness. He was congressman and the white people looked up to him just like he was white. Washington County is in the Blackland Prairies region of southeast central Texas. "Don't you tell nobody dat I use to be a slave. In December 2010 Navasota residents and the town paper reported the appearance of wild hogs in downtown Navasota. Later local business owners used the meat to feed the poor of the city. I stops four years ago and comes out here to wait till de good Lawd calls me home. The United States Postal Service operates the Navasota Post Office. The museum itself is housed in a historic building. I had old Buster, a ox, and he took me about plenty good as a horse. For a ripe, red mouth. Marster asks us to come in and sing dat for de white folks, so we'uns goes in de house and sings dat for de white folks and dey jines in de chorus. School organizations and athletics available to students include Business Professionals of America, FFA, Student Council, National Honor Society, Theatre, Choir, Kickstart, Band, Bass Fishing, FCA, Skills USA, Library Club, Boyz II Men, Princess Code, UIL Academics, One Act Play, HOSA-Future Health Science Professionals, Spanish Club, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Drill Team, Cheer, Basketball, Golf, Tennis, Baseball, Softball, Powerlifting, Soccer, and Track.[23]. Law enforcement from multiple agencies and other Texas counties called in to subdue rioters in Navasota. If I live till December, I'll be 102 years old, and dis ole heart have been pumpin' and pumpin' all dem years and have missed nary a beat till dis las' year. Our master parceled out some land to 'em and told 'em to work it their selves and some done real well. ", "I uster like to go and play 'roun' de calfs, jis' go up and pet 'em and rub 'em. The war weren't so great as folks suppose. The bust was donated to the city by the French government in 1978. Pauline The kids didn't know War was happenin'. The Texas Rangers were once again called in. I got my ticket,
Dat am long time, child. This crime was in the middle of the day on the main street in town. She cry right 'long with me when I cry, 'cause I hurt so. Hundreds of slaves did go to Mexico and got on all right. Many men were left dead and many were wounded after this little known battle, perhaps the greatest race battle ever fought in Texas. I's workin' in de kitchen and dey tol' me to cook heaps of ham, chicken, pies, cakes, sweet 'taters and lots of vegetables. The rooms have random-width puncheon floors. I went there after the war for a while and then I looked 'round and decided to get back. Den I goes to Dallas and cooks for private families, and wo'ks for Marster James Ellison for 30 years. "Durin' de War, things was 'bout de same, like always, 'cept some vittles was scarce. Dey wasn't so bad after women. Li'l befo' she die her husban' come. My mammy, Emily Budle, she cook and clean up mistus log house cabin. Den she make me say de Lord Prayer for her jus' like she allus make me say it for a night prayer when I lil' gal. Dey sho' dead.' "Not long after dat, Marster sol' my mammy to his brudder who lived in Fort Worth. He was nice one day and mean as Hades de next. She gits over it, but she am de diff'rent woman. The city of Navasota earned a 2011 Gold Leadership Award from the Texas Comptroller's Office for efforts in transparency. [4] In 2005, the Texas Legislature designated Navasota as the "Blues Capital of Texas" in honor of the late Mance Lipscomb, a Navasota native and blues musician.[5]. "How did you know the end of the war had come?" In the late 1990s Citizens for Action in Navasota (C.A.N. If they got so they made good money, and had a good farm, the Klu Klux would come and murder 'em. The young folks is makin' their mark now. And heat of the South,
The investigation started after an out-of-town newspaper (The Eagle) in Brazos County reported on the possible corruption. Hung him on a tree in his front yard, right in front of his cabin. Visit our sister site at Grimes County, TXGenWeb Table of Contents Maintained By: Whoever git de girl's pie eat it with her. He relentlessly fought the various power factions, and one day fought one perceived local warlord in the mud on main street, throwing him in jail and defying all comers, as the rest of the troublemakers began to search for cover. In 2009, Navasota was selected as a "Visionaries in Preservation" city by the Texas Historical Commission to protect the numerous historic structures in the city. WebSlaves were 40 percent of Virginias population. Dey say I's got high blood pressue.". Den all de other niggers thinks dey should git land, too, but dey don't, and it make dem git foolishment and git in trouble. For other uses, see, This populated place has portions in adjacent county or counties, This populated place has portions in an adjacent county or counties. De preacher, he was big, jolly man, he come to de house 'bout one Sunday in every month. Dey serve cake. Hamer faced down, chased down, and beat down the Navasota toughs until the streets were quiet, and children could once again go downtown. He wouldn' sell him to Marse Norsworthy when he come to Texas. [19], The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the O.L. They got together and organized the militia and had leaders like reg'lar soldiers. We'uns cullud folks jined in and was singin' out in de back, 'Massa's in de Col', Har' Groun'. If he cotch dem tryin' play off sick, den he lay into dem, or if he cotch dem loafin'. He served as marshal until 1911. Seasonal festivals attract crowds each year, with live music being a large part of the draw. [8] Famed lawman Frank Hamer, then 24 years old, was hired from the Texas Rangers to become the City Marshal. When de body comes home, dere's a powerful big funeral and after dat, dere's powerful weepin's and sadness on dat place. Cook says, 'If a houn' got 'em, 'twas a two-legged one, 'cause de plate am gone, too.' But, first, let me ask you this: Is you all a white man, or is you a black man?". Males had a median income of $28,585 versus $21,731 for females. Dat makes me 102 come nex' December. "De place I am borned am right near Atlanta, in Georgia, and on dat plantation of Massa John Blackshier. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Us all eat outer one big pan. "Like I jes' say, I knows what I's talkin' 'bout, 'cause I use to be a slave myself and I don't know how to read and write. By 1865, the population of Navasota was about 2,700. "She can't sell de cotton. [citation needed], In 2012, Navasota was named by the Union Pacific Railroad as "Train Town USA". It never git real ha'd but stay kinder slushy. Well, that's how it was with us. "Den one night I 'member jes' as well, me and my mother was settin' in de cabin gettin' ready to go to bed, when us hear somebody call my mother. "Den massa come home and say, 'Yous gwine be free. "Yes, sir, I'm Felix Haywood, and I can answer all those things that you want to know. Dey didn' hab no freezer den, jus' a big pan in some ice. They gits de idea de white folks should give dem land and mules and sich. They seemed to want to get closer to freedom, so they'd know what it waslike it was a place or a city. "To de bes' of dis nigger's mem'randum, de feed am good. Jane am lots of woman, wide as de door and tall, and weighs 'bout three hunder pounds. ", "Dey raise dey own t'bacco on de place. Don't you be a-mindin' him, mister.". In 2013, the British documentary project known as Vague Direction visited Navasota and interviewed local residents Misslette The Singing Cowgirl and hog trapper Steve Stribling.[11]. Sometime he hab a wagon load of watermilion haul' up from de fiel' and cut 'em. The Inn is of clapboard-covered log construction. Dat ol' press had dem long arms a-stickin' down what dey hitch hosses to and mek 'em go 'roun' and 'roun' and press de bale. Course, I don't blame him for dat, 'cause dere ain't anythin' lazier dan a lazy nigger. "Mr. Swanson use to own de big plantation in Palestine. A wild hog was trapped at the free food bank in downtown Navasota. She's wo'kin' for Jack Ditto and I's pleased to see her. I holp my mother dust and clean up de house and peel 'tatoes. Alex Buford don't sleep in de house for one whole summer. And there was the key note to the old Negro's character and temperament. Hamer became more widely known in 1934 as one of the men who shot Bonnie and Clyde. They had a post in the public square what they tied 'em to and a man what worked for the county whipped 'em. De weddin' feas' was strawberry ice cream and yaller cake. WebIn 1937 Reynolds shared her memories of slavery with a member of the Federal Writers Project for the WPA Slave Narrative Project. He mus' still be sellin' 'em, 'cause he never comes back so far and there I am and my folks am took on, and I is too li'l to 'member 'em, so I never knows my pappy and mammy. You know everybody and everybody know you.' I says, 'I's got no 'lasses.' Not long afterward, the town was struck by a deadly cholera epidemic. [14] Other attractions include art galleries, the Horlock House Artists-in-Residence program and museum, live music venues, food truck parks and several murals that present great selfie locations for area visitors. I been always trying to help my people to rise 'bove their station and they are rising all the time, and some day they'll be free.". Investigators looked into if the Navasota Police Employee falsified government records during the city's hiring process for the dispatcher and police officer positions. My mother and sister run away to the Yankees and they paid 'em big money to wash for 'em. Some cullud people started to farmin', like I told you, and gathered the old stock. Slavery was integral to the local economy. My father come nex' day and jine us. "It 'bout two year after freedom mammy gits marry and us goes and works on shares. William now lives at 910 E. Weatherford St., Ft. Worth, Texas. WebThe slaves are said to have belonged to John Thomas. Not long afterward the town was struck by a deadly cholera epidemic, which was followed in 1867 by an even more dangerous epidemic of yellow fever. The racial makeup of the city was 52.4% White, 38.4% Hispanic or Latino, 30.6% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 2.1% from two or more races. One day I seen my old daddy get whipped by the county and state 'cause he wouldn't work. Some white woman said someone had stole something of hers so they put them young men in jail. My friends is good to me and lets me stay with dem. 'Course, Will ain't so young heself, but he's born after de war and I's born durin' slavery, so dat make me older. Den us go to Houston and Louisiana for a spell and I hires out to cook. De year 'fore surrender, us am short of rations and sometime us hongry. Web1 language. I's sev'ral times needed a whuppin', but de marster never gives dis nigger more'n a good scoldin'. Reported in the Navasota Examiner and Bryan Eagle paper. I's pleased to see my mammy, but after a few days I wants to go back to Marshall with Marster Zeke. He wasn't no eddicated man, but he was what he calls himself a piano man. He told me once he lived in New York and, "I's borned in Grimes County, ninety years ago. The master reads us de paper right after dat and say us free. "Somebody run 'way all de time and hide in de woods till dere gut pinch dem and den dey have to come back and git somethin' to eat. Back in slavery you couldn' let 'em ketch you wid a chew of t'bacco or snuff in your mouf. Then he chuckled to himself and said: "'Warmth of the wind
Everyone was a-singin'. Den I know he almos' home and I holler and wave my han' and he holler and wave he han' right back. 'Bout 20 year since us come here from Georgia and works de truck farm. De ol' mistus she a pretty good doctor. All during the Civil War, all the marketable goods produced in the region were brought to Navasota, then the furthest inland railhead in Texas, to be shipped south to Galveston, where it could be transported by steamboat from the Texas coast and up the Mississippi River to the war effort, or exported to Mexico or overseas to Europe. "There was a cullud man they taken, his name was Jim Freeman. Will am 'bout de laziest one in de bunch. "I's never been sick abed, but I's had mo' misery dis las' year dan all my life. "Every Christmas 'fore ole marster die he fix me up a tree out de woods. WebOld Slave Cemetery Fannin County Hosted at Fannin County Texas TxGenWeb Oakhill Cemetery Annex St. Marks Cemetery Union Cemetery Fayette County Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery (hosted at TexasEscapes) Gonzales County Hosted at Gonzales County TXGenWeb Project Denton Creek Cemetery Ellis Cemetery Elm Slough Cemetery This resolved a long investigation by Local Police. ", "Dey feed us good back in slavery. She jus' walk 'round de yard and twist de hands and say, 'Dey sho' git kilt. De sojers done took de rations. My father had his own brand, 7 B, and we had a herd to start out with of seventy. The Horlock Art Gallery and History museum has history exhibits relating to the citys past. She was Mrs. Ella Thompson, Felix' youngest sister, who had known only seven years of slavery. But we didn't do it. Work, workdat all dey know from time dey git up in de mornin' till dey went to bed at night. Near as you kin guess, dat was 'bout 50 year' ago. About 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Everybody in dat part de country knowed him. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. ", "Yas, I 'member de house I was raise in. Dere's six slaves on dat place and I coul' beat dem all a-hoein'. After September 1859, when the Houston and Texas Central Railway built rails through the town, Navasota became an important shipping and marketing center for the surrounding area. [13] A statue of Frank Hamer stands in front of city hall, honoring the time he served as city marshal. The city is also home to the Willy 98.7 FM and 1550 AM radio stations, which are owned and managed by Bryan Broadcasting in Bryan, Texas.
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