Interviewer:  Just say your full name too. {NW}
625:  My name is #1 Fel- #
Interviewer:  #2 {X} # Just- just sit back in your chair
625:  Yeah.{X}
Interviewer:  and relax. That'll pick it all up.
625:  Uh. {NW} {B}
Interviewer:  Okay now go ahead and tell me the story. Start from the first. Relax. Sit back in your chair.
625:  {D: I-} I was born August twenty-first eighteen-ninety-three.
Interviewer:  Okay.
625:  And I was uh- there was {NS} seven we were nine childrens. Seven boys and two girls. and I was the youngest one of the f- nine.
Interviewer:  Okay. Now will you tell me the story about- about how you uh got elected to county treasurer.
625:  Oh I- uh uh I went to public school 'til up 'til the eighth grade and I was out of school for the nearly for three years.
Interviewer:  Okay.
625:  And I had never- I wasn't able to go, my father had been sick and he stayed sick from January the first nine- uh 'til uh July the nineteen fourteen.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And And he had, I heard him say once that there was a there was talk about county treasurer and they said it didn't pay but twenty-five dollars a month, I said what do they do, they {D: doing it} {NW} more money that. Well he said all they had to do is to sign a report that their bank uh kept kept the money for the county they call it the deposit store for the bank. And they make the report and the county treasurer had to sign it. Every three month he had to sign a report.
Interviewer:  Okay.
625:  And so he died uh in {NW} July fourteenth and I'd I had been wanting to go to sc- high to school, high school and I was able.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And then I decided after he died I wa- I decided that I'd uh {NW} I'd try it and I decided to run by for for treasurer. If I could get that pay twenty-five dollars a month at that time I figured I could {X} but for ten dollars a month in my sc- uh laundry'd cost me two or three dollars a month. And my schoolbook would cost me three, four dollars a month at a schooling. {NS} #1 Anyway #
Interviewer:  #2 Yeah. #
625:  I decided to run and uh there was eight of us running.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And uh out of the eight I was a head man. I r- I I led by n- ninety-three, there wasn't but thirteen-hundred and vote in the county at that time, there women didn't vote just uh just uh men.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And um the first party we had
Interviewer:  {D: Now Roy} tell me the story about the well they were digging first.
625:  Well. Well. Uh. So I had been thinking about it me- my buddy and I was waking after stayed with me about two weeks after my father died.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And he stayed with me there and he was working outside about two weeks and I h- h- had him to help cut some weed off or something the field that I wanted {X} and potatoes.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And I happened to think about that about running for county treasurer and going to school then and I sat down on the stoop and told him about it he said well that sounds good but the think about talk about doing it is two things. So I went home and I told my mother about it after dinner and she said she was in very enthused to think that if I could and would be successful.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And she told me to talk to one of my some of my uncle around there and the neighbors and and see what they thought about it so I never had mentioned then there was uh three men that had been working this part {NW} for the {D: Edward Heins lumber company and the mill had closed down and while they were doing it- doing some repair work and a lot of repair there} they got in our fitness putting down a well for one of my uncles.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And I went there one uh Friday morning and I knew everybody was there and there was one man who lives up at Leetown and he was working behind and there's a him and a two more uh men there {D: it w-} it was together in the in the rig and he asked me what I wanted {X} to dinner I told him well I would but I had nothing to run him with. Said well I could use Big 'Q' a man named Indian 'Q' they called him. {NS}
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  {X}
Interviewer:  Go ahead and get that.
625:  It's just a salesman guy.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  Let's see uh I {X}
Interviewer:  Yeah. Well you were telling me about your your father dying.
625:  {D: Uh-huh.} {NS} and uh well my father died and uh then after two weeks laid around there working and cutting some weed in the grass to fix the plot again and I told my brother about it then went home told my mother and the {D: next day then I was out and about} when they was putting down the well.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And there's a man there uh by the name of {D: Harvey Restler} that lived up at Lee County, he had me run him up up there back to dinner.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  Which I did and uh I- I told him I didn't have no way but he said I could use any of his Q's horse and buggy, I said alright. And on the way I begin to tell him the story which is the first man I told to outside my mother.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And I asked him what he thought about that said I want to tell you something I want you to tell me what you think about. And after I got through telling him about uh running for that and going to school he said well he said don't a- don't ask nobody else what they think about it just go ahead and run and you gonna be elected. And he said I'll help you out, and I said I know you be elected. So Monday morning they all gathered around there and about eighteen or twenty men and they were more just a spectator for the very community neighborhood there.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And I walked out there and uh and spoke to 'em and after a while they said uh {B} {X} call everybody's attention, they had me up {NS} {D: Give me a minute}
Interviewer:  {D: Okay will you tell me about Mister Reston?}
625:  {X} Let's see I I left off a uh {NS} I was telling you about it eh.
Interviewer:  {D: Yeah you were telling me about Mister Reston or somebody like that.}
625:  Yeah. {NS} And uh {D: Mister R-Reston} called everybody's attention and told me he had something to tell 'em. And it and they did and they it kinda made me feel kinda funny he said gentlemen said I want to introduce you all I want to int- introduce the candidate to y'all {B} who is running for county treasurer.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And he said he told me he- {D: wanted} {X} told me yesterday Friday when he took me home he was telling me he wanted ask me something or he wanted me to tell him what to do he said that he was thinking about running for county treasurer and if he got that he'd pay twenty-five dollars a month and he thought he could go to school and pay his board and his his tuition and the uh laundry out of that twenty-five dollars.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And at that time what cost twenty-five dollars would go to a lot more money than uh probably a hundred dollars would today though.
Interviewer:  Yeah. Uh-huh.
625:  And he said I want to te- I want everybody here to that is supporting to hold their hand up and they all held their hands up to the air {D: and up 'til right here to the lecture.} {X} and I got to telling people about it and uh I made the campaign all over the county {X} {D: but owe to one of my brother} {D: I'd more} uh I ride miles and miles like go maybe I'd spend the night somewhere the next evening I'd come home and change clothes, the next day and go out. And I I I didn't have to pay nothing to stay there a lot of people'd go tell me in the evening they'd tell me to go around see these people is tell me who they were and then come back that night put up and stay with 'em that night and my horse and they'd feed my horse and then my horse'd and so I showed up in the runoff. There was eight of us in the run I was the lead man I I I beat a prominent man there and and uh uh Bay Saint Louis uh ninety-three who were the head of 'em. There wasn't but thirteen-hundred vote in the county at that time though men women vote.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  So uh Thursday after they announced after the first primary they announced who was in the race but my one of my uncle's was on the committee and he went down there and a fella by the name uh {B} uh told him to tell me to meet him there the next next day, he wanted to go to the bay and he tell me to go with him. So I went with him and he told everyone to go see Bill Blaze if he wouldn't come down help run this thing with me. and he goes in front of this place and he stops says you stay here, if I need you I'll come back. {NS} And h- and he went in there and he he wha- he just went in there and come right back out. {NS} He come out and he he come in and he sat down in the in the car and he said that son of a bitch. {NW} I said what's wrong Mr Willy? He said I I told him I said I come here to speak to you on behalf of {B} said if you {D: would} if you wouldn't run the second primary you'd save a hundred dollars or two or more money. Says he he he he whole board don't have the money. Wasn't- hadn't been working. And his father just died. And he couldn't hear good, said can't help that. You haven't got the money I have. He said I slapped that man on the {NW} {NW} And me I got up and said it it takes money to get it {X} says that says that investors got it. Says that if he hadn't got the money {B} had. And he t- he didn't tell him, that's what he told him. He come and we he come he told me that and he says Tell {X} I got a hundred-thousand cash cold dollars and I could be made in the bank. I want you to beat that man if it- regardless how much it takes, if you need someone to go you call me, I'll send a chauffeur with you. And said I want to help you, get out and work and then I go to a {D: lot of face} people that I knew had a lot of influence. And he'd uh talked to 'em and they'd tell me {B} {D: get} around there.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And he had a brother-in-law that had been elected the year before that. Uh uh and he was a doctor too and and a good doctor, a lot of people didn't vote for him on account because they'd rather have a doctor than a uh {D: circuit} court but he was uh mighty good man and and he was elected.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And after the second time uh he was running for reelection. and {D: one of} men running for {D: cessor} told on Willy one day cuz Willy says you know you're going too strong for silver and she liable to hurt {D: dark places} He says I know all about regular {D: damn things} said I don't care if he gets elected or not just so I get {X} elected.
Interviewer:  {NW}
625:  #1 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
625:  {NW} So I went out and when after the election was over then uh the {D: if I can find me a} elector so then the next day I the the the {D: clan there would say} I I figured my duty's to go and se- and meet and see him you know visit him. We
Interviewer:  #1 Uh-huh. #
625:  #2 had # the store and office there. And uh In the meantime I had went that one time and he told me one Sunday. He said today is Sunday. And he said uh you come here one day in the week find out {D:he had Kelly} Clark and you come here says I want to set you up with some clothes if you have enough to go out when you come back change clothes and go out I want you to be Fixed up nice to go. So I went that one day in the week and and went to Bug and he saw it, he didn't actually watch {X} Asked me what size shoes I had, I had a pretty good pair of shoes.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  You got your brand new pair of shoes. About a ha- a half dozen soft {D: half dozen on their clothes} their half dozen shirts pants and everything #1 toge- #
Interviewer:  #2 Wha- #
625:  -ther
Interviewer:  Did anybody's knew would did did you have a suit?
625:  Bo- bought me a suit and everything ge- picked me up with a suit clothes everything and he and he said I'm a put this at course here I'm not gonna charge you any and he says uh anytime I meet you anywhere you need any money you let me know and that uh that I told him I says uh he he said you got any money now I- I- I- I pulled out a out a fifty cent piece and said that's all the money I got to my name. He pull out his bill fold he give me ten dollars. I said I don't uh really, I said I can go travel for a week and don't spend any money them days y- they except for when you went to a picnic a party you know and they hadn't had any yet.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  I say if you go to a picnic or party anywhere you need any money he says you look me up or come by, he said I'll pick you up. Any time I'd need him he'd ask me {X} You need money? I said yes. He'd pull out maybe get me ten- fifteen to twenty dollars you know?
Interviewer:  Yeah. {NW}
625:  And uh so I- I- I- I got elect uh I went to school and so- uh when I went to see him the after the second primary and he call uh the- uh as much as Maggy had to telephone to Bay Saint Louis and a fella by the name of George Rig was cashier there and he was a little friend of mine too. And he said George says I do treasurer the elected treasurer ya and you have to {D: that silver you know?} and they talked about it. And they just ask me when I was going to start going to school I say you know I won't get a check 'til the first of February. Go in the first year. He never said a word, he said uh he'll be down there wh- when school starts September you said you let him have what money he needs to buy {D: things} books and school and everything. When I come down there I'll sign the note. Just 'til he gets his money. {NS} Uh February.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  Now I go there the bank anytime before I leave you the twenty-five thirty dollar {X} before he give it to me he put it down he signed the note, you know? And he was uh I guess he was wes- {NW} A lotta money and and uh I went to school in the ee- uh I went to school three years in the p- money got uh everything went going up so high and I got to crash a little bit one way or another. But I took {NW} {NW} uh {X} {D: your course} And the first job I had {D: by hand} wor- But uh {NS} {NS} little grocery store there worked there a while and then uh I uh A steel logger in the saw mill there about three months then uh man by the name of McCloud running the little saw mill and run the commissary, they wouldn't {D: send their men right} church and I asked he asked me what I was doing I told him. He said come over and see me Thursday night I want to talk with you. Then tell #1 me #
Interviewer:  #2 Uh-huh. #
625:  what he want and I went there and he wanted me to keep his books and run the commissary.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  Well I did that that was in uh in uh {NW} {NW} nineteen eighteen and I I just went uh school two years high school
Interviewer:  #1 Uh-huh. #
625:  #2 I- #
625:  And then I I worked up on the 'til the uh the last part of eighteen uh no the {NW} about uh last part of nineteen nineteen nineteen.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And I had a letter one day from uh a friend of mine He was up {X} at a log camp and bought a a a barge up there and uh he told that {D: Petti- Mister Pettybarn he was assistant general manager told him to write me a letter.} {NW} And tell me be down to kill a few days and you {D:use some of the} call m- on me to keep a set a book that we camped down there there was long {D: canvas see them} look in the mirror
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  W- When {D: they was going to} {NS} order m- the set a book at the camp and they did. By the week after he come to the {X} call me and told me to meet him there. Seven o'clock that night and I met him there and he then they- he had me to go s- spend a week with the man that {NW} at {D: Numberton} To see what kind of system they had and all that.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And h- he brought me to {D: Poplar} village that day after that. And I stayed there a week and he told me to tell mr McCloud he wanted to hire me not {X} but he thought I had a better future with him you know than I did with him. So the next morning I told mr McCloud about it I kinda hesitated but he was su- such a good man and uh he he was fond of that and he he {D: twice} He didn't say too much, he'd always try try to say the right thing when he ought to you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  We got he I I stayed with him at the house and there they had the um he- had meals there and slept in the {NS} front room {D: that he mailed} {NS} So the next morning we got out {X} walked out I said Mr Mac I says that I have something to tell you this morning and I hate to tell you. Says what's that? And I said that a- a- A I had to meet mis- {B} that night at the the office there and he said he wanted me to you oughta work for him the first and next month and and uh {NS} {D: Over he said} keep a set of book at the loan camp at {D: Reed}
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  He studied a while and I said I hate to leave you this quickly {NW} He said after a while he {D: spoke it up} He spoke quietly. {NS} Is it instead of {D: washing migraines the old man said} {D: he said} I'm sure glad to hear that. Though he said that his business was getting kind of slack, saw mill business is bad and the timber's hard to get where he was and all that and he said he'd been wanting what he was going to do w- he'd been figured set owners a contract for a slack stay {D: bale} slack {D: bale} state you know?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And he said if he got that though he says uh he could pay me as much money as Heinz could. There then they said he'd want me back {D: But he said tell mr Pettybarn if you want a written letter of recommendation I'll write him new} uh recommendation that you been fair and square and honest in all you're dealing with. And uh so he did and I went up to spend a week come back and work another week with him and then he had another week to go and he payed me in full let me go to the end of the month. And I worked behind then I kept book for them 'til they closed {NW} uh {NW} then 'til they closed down in nineteen On the sixth day of February nineteen thirty.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh. {NS}
625:  And uh then uh
Interviewer:  Why'd they close down then?
625:  The the the the cutout the number what they had to Hancock County they still had some in Coal River County. And this {X} they sold some to H. Weston Lumber Company, sold some timber.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  {D: You wonder} Weston run a train up to there (NW} train uh rolled that didn't it? Buy some timber from 'em and they sold enough timber to Hein- uh to {X} {D: lumber} company where m- part of Mississippi.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And I was working uh keeping, I kept books up there mill after uh five years. And I was trying to keep that {X} {D: dead end there} I was keeping book at the turpentine camp up at the uh a new place there up above there. And run the {NW} the kept the books and the uh time keep and all that.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And {X} come there one day and told me to go over there a place where they {NW} sold that timber to, they was {X} me uh uh a time keeper there and to tell him he sat me there and I went there, the men told me if I'd had went the day before they was sent there was a man on the way there and he coming there. And {D: he} that boy said tell him if he wants to find out something about you just call me. So I knew when they closed down then I went to work for went down there and the uh uh I had worked for mr {D: Mctodd} before he died in the meantime he died he'd had a son-in-law knew something about turpentine and uh th- one of his wive nephew they raised him from a baby, his mother died when he was a baby and she raised him.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And he's a finished high school and he's uh little younger than I was, then he has son-in-law was working turpentine in Alabama. So he come over there and and {NW} old man mr McCloud was still running turpentine but he he {D: he'd hurt his comp-} and then uh he had a a colored man there w- working he was a good turpentine man and he {D: got paid} and do everything an- and uh when they sell the gum in the {D: roses} m- McCloud'd get they'd give him seventy percent he'd get the check, give him seventy percent and he'd keep thirty percent you see for the operation and he get thirty percent and uh I worked there with him from that was about thirty thirty-two I believe 'til uh thirty eight. And then from that I went to uh {X} {D: Louisiana and run a store there for hash wood} Hash brothers {X} two brothers.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  I worked there a little over a year.
Interviewer:  That was in Hancock County right?
625:  {NW} Well uh that was in {D: Full River} Louisiana where I worked where I worked for that Hash brothers
Interviewer:  Yeah n- okay.
625:  But uh uh uh they orig- them boys was originally from Hancock County w- {D: Norton is}. Still there
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And then {D: Theodore's} brother. And then when I come back uh in forty-eight uh forty-seven fella by the name of {B} was elected uh sheriff in Hancock County and uh when d- uh {X} when I think between Christmas and New Years he was looking for somebody to keep his book and I had a cousin down there {NW} out from Bay Saint Louis by the name of {B} so at one Sunday it was {D: Sunday} and I believe Wednesday was the last day of the month. The following day December And he was taking off with some uh the next day you see and uh about nine o'clock that night I heard a call Florida ou- outside, I went out and it was {X} Johnson and this fella I said y'all get down and come in. {D: So Fitt said no he says uh get in says uh} I want to talk with you and he told me that uh he's been looking all over the county for a man to keep his books, his record you know? And he said uh you couldn't find nobody and he said he he went {B} and he was a good friend of mine a cousin he lives just a little bit out of Bay Saint Louis. And he told Joe he says you know I can't find nobody keeping my my record in there. Joe said that ain't no trouble to find a man to that said {NW} why? And he said go up there and get {B} says he'll he'll kee- he's he'll he'll keep it right he'll keep your record and keep it right too. He said well you know I never thought about {X} and he comes {D: toward} said if we can get together and we- {NW} I want you to work for me, we talked all I told him I'd I'd do that. I was getting some poles. I had a truck and uh {D: pack mule} and uh I had a {X} I'd bought some timber and I was hauling but I'd haul all I b- {NW} {NW} Uh I had about {NS} seventy-five or eighty poles in the wood and it was so wet that I had to haul then in the mud so I said well that should come in handy. So I went to work for him, I had a nephew drive the uh truck for me so I I told him whatever dried up to haul those uh poles and turn 'em in and then uh {NW} quit and I was gonna sell the truck and I worked there kept the record there four years for 'em and never had no trouble at all. And from that on uh then after that the the another man {NW} sell the land they got like shares and I worked for them for a while but in meantime {NW} tha- the- uh while I worked for him the- NASA come over there and took my property in in the in sixty they come there in sixty-two when they put up that NASA business in Gainesville and {D: its} sixty-three before they got {X} think they didn't give the people what they n- {NW} {D: popped} his word to give 'em what they wanted you know? {NS} But I choose to ride with 'em 'til I I did get a little more than some people did because I don't know if the way I went at it or what you know? And uh then after that I moved over here and I still worked with the sheriff {NW} uh then my wife pa- moved here in sixty-four, May of sixty-four. And I had to tear down all my building over there, I was working in the in the when I quit when I had to quit, I was working in the {D: Commaté} room there with a fellow by the name of Frank Cline.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  I had to quit to tear down all my building and w- take 'em down you know?
Interviewer:  Yeah. {#random speaker?}
625:  then after I'd come here and went my wife passed away on the third day of February nineteen-sixty-five. And uh {NW} {NW} then I- and Hash boy got me to do some work down there with the books and I went down there at about six uh five or six week and uh their due before I got to them one of the girls work with the sheriff then uh work wi- wi- uh worked with the two she told me s- sheriff wanted to see me so I before I left I saw him he said he wanted me to go to work for him so I worked for him again, I worked there about I worked all together sheriff's office about uh eleven or twelve years uh and maybe more and I- I kept the books for the county.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  I also kept books for the county there for fellow by the name of Mitchell he was {X} all together I worked about fourteen fourteen years this year {X} and they sh- {D: ruled} in the courthouse there.
Interviewer:  Here in Gulf Port?
625:  In in Hash- in Hancock County
Interviewer:  Oh h- Hancock County.
625:  And I move here in sixty-five in uh April February we moved here in in May of sixty-four. My wife died third day of February sixty-five and then I worked I worked some in the sheriff's office there {X} and I'd go and come from from here you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh. {NS} Yeah.
625:  And I rang it of course I had I- I'd made a going with the {X} I used- when I worked in the Mill off {D: Stack Hill} I'd get up at four o'clock and I'd go feed my I'd go hitch him a horse and I'd plow from about seven o'clock, my wife would call me and I'd go on and get washed take a bath see {D: it what} washed, need raking, go to work go to work by eight o'clock see.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And when I worked in the Bay I- I s- I {NW} {NW} {NW} I'd still do a little gardening, farm a little, sometime I had to hire one of my buddies to help me you know to do some plowing when I couldn't couldn't do it myself.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  But I always raised uh chickens {NS} one time I went and uh back there in uh nineteen forty. There wasn't much work done in going on and {NW} went in the dairy business {NW} I h- I I started at I'm the one that started, I started hauling milk there and uh {NW} first milk I hauled I hauled it to Lee town and uh about half way to {D: Pink Mule} and the man that hauled it into Big Mule he get paid for it and I wouldn't get paid for it 'til about uh uh six weeks after I got a truck.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And then we got more milk and I'd haul it all away and and the first uh first hauling I made {X} I got three dollars and sixty-five cents w- wor- for one day's hauling you know? And uh worst thing ever happened there's a bunch of politician and uh uh people got up they wanted to put a creamery in Bay Saint Louis then.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And at about {D: the last in} in four it went up in in forty-five. {B} fella he's he was dead and gone he was king. They called him King Fisher County. At one time there whatever he said went. Nobody else could say or do anything if he had control of the board of supervisor and for some reason or the other the the voters you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  He uh {D: I know'd they vote for} Uh {NW} I did I vo- when when he run you you run for both supervisor he was a young boy I mean he run for {NW} Uh clerk and a fellow {B} he was uh h- h- h- he was he had been sheriff twice and was second clerk and then and uh the {D: the cessor died.} And he'd run for that and he was elected and when {D: ref} when it come time to run for regular election he run against {B} and beat him. While the he had done uh- a favor really because then {NW} was out for about a year and then he went to work for some {NW} uh runner uh a boarding house in in in um Alabama there.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And the first year he worked there I saw him after that he told me he had he had {D: had} six-thousand dollars cash and money and beside he'd bought 'em two or three-thousand dollars worth of y- {D: utensil}
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And and when he run out he was {X} all the time he served as a a politician there he he he's always in debt. And they and they and when he died he had he owned the a lotta property over there he he worked there five or six years. And he retired and lived several years before after that and he had money and {B} got elected {B} come to me one {X} he wanted to know if I was gonna vote for him or {B} I said red I stayed a year with your momma and d- daddy'd went to school one year. They treated me like one of the family. I stayed in {B} one year and he- they treated me l- went to school and I says uh I'm not going to tell you I'm going to vote for you {X} and I'm gonna you I'm gonna vote for {D: Van} and I was in the race for both supervisor there and he said well that's all I wanna know if um if you if I'm gonna get elected the first time if you're in the second you don't have minimal work on your side, I says I don't care what you do but I'm not going tell you. But I did vote for him and uh now I didn't tell nobody but I figured I'd done Vander a favor and I did because if he'd have stayed in there he'd he'd done like Red he'd died a proper.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And uh so few years after that I went back down there I was {X} {NW} {X} country man he needed some money we need somebody to buy some tool there they were training boys {X} {NS} Went down to see {B} well he told me he said man he said yeah nerve to come in there ask me to help you when you didn't help me? I says well Red let me tell you one thing uh I know he didn't tell this to nobody but I says if I voted for you one time but if god'll forgive me for it I will never do it again. He says I no- I'm not worried about what you can do against me, I said well I always had the pleasure of fa- of fighting you when I win the north And uh but when I went to work for Red for {D: Fitt} Johnson {B} run into {D: Seeko Stanko} there.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And uh I gave 'em to the job to pa- the p- uh the {D: receipt book} for four years and all that time Red wanted me uh {B} and wanted me to give it to somebody else.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  I've had people and Red'd come there it'd be seal this seal that, people says man you wait on Red like that after he all he done to you? I said wait a minute I said just cuz you you go stick your finger to find no reason why I'm gonna do it. And then and uh {D: and when he died I had some patricies made.} He come there about a week before that before he died. Maybe two weeks and he asked me if he'd come in there one night if I'd make his tax receipt uh stay after {X} I said yes. Before he saying he sold some property and he said only by going on the record he could tell tired of making it see he wanted to make it in this fella's name so he could collect for him you know?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  Say yeah I'll do it. He come there and we got to {NS} and after the {X} he said you wasn't signing them things put 'em in their vote and hold 'em 'til I get the money and I he took their amount you know. I say yeah I thought {X} no harm if they didn't pay him all that to did it to guard him {D: stick the bachelor}
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  So about two weeks after that he died. Dropped dead. So about I didn't say nothing about two weeks after that I called his wife. I told her I says I'm sorry to hear about Red's sudden death I know I says I wanted to call you before but I thought I'd wait a while I said I have you you have my deepest sympathy I know what you're going through. We talked for a little while. I says uh {D: did he did he mention anything to you about some patricies I had} for him in the vault? {D: say to find} She said yeah just call by {B} at the {D: Mission} bank and tell him he'll send you a check. So I called and they they sent me a check you know? And uh so it went over I guess so uh
Interviewer:  Ther-
625:  {NW} So what he'd done me? I'd done him a favor a favor which you don't
Interviewer:  Yeah. What about mr Quaid, when did you first meet him? When did you know mr Quaid? {B} Yes.
625:  Oh I been knowing mr {B} ever since I was {D: just} just ever since I could remember for when we first {NW} we moved from out w- west Bay Saint Louis t- in nineteen-fifteen up 'til {X} I lived there I moved away there to here you know?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  My daddy owned some property there, that's where he was born and raised you see.
Interviewer:  What what was that now? {D: Ginn River?}
625:  Jordan River.
Interviewer:  Jordan River.
625:  Bu- above Jordan River above Kiln, we lived about {NW} three and a half to four miles uh northwest to Kiln you seen him? {X}
Interviewer:  #1 Okay. #
625:  #2 before # called Kiln Mississippi there.
Interviewer:  Yeah right, I know where Kiln is. {D: Killan}
625:  You know why the where the Kiln got its name from?
Interviewer:  Yeah that's where they used to uh bake the bake the stuff the wood didn't they?
625:  They {NW} {NW} {D: caught or cut} one {D: coal} {NW} coal. It {NW} and uh charcoal they call it.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And Kill "K" "I" "L" "N"
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  That's uh some peoples Kiln is something like {NW} something like killing somebody but k- ki- kill "K" "I" "L" "N" Kiln they they they they built {D: round} somebody some people that I don't remember the names built uh Kiln right close to to the landing there where they wouldn't have for the move it to put it on a boat you know.
Interviewer:  #1 Uh-huh. #
625:  #2 They'd have # to put it on a boat to ship and ship it to New Orleans.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  It wouldn't get but about ten sets of stacks in there you know? And uh {NW} They cut they claimed they put the the the the four tiers high. And they cut that water about five foot four and they had a five foot pole
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And they'd stack it round the pole and then they'd uh put dirt around it you know? And they'd put uh a pole from the they put one pole in the center and put that one round there and they put one from the ground there out They put a lotta {X} uh around there.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And then they'd uh they put a long pole all the way out And they'd have it far enough that when they got ready to set it a fire they'd take a they'd take a long pole set it on the fire and {D: twirl the slickers} way up in there you know? And left that {D: fire hot} where they put a lotta small wood pieces around it. {NW} Green wood first you know?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And then when that'd catch it they that keep on burning that lighter but burning the the the they'd keep dirt and they had to stay with that thing day and night because they had what they called time they'd blow out you know and they had to put some uh they'd have to have to have have charred wood there ready to throw in there and then fill it up with that and then put some more dirt on it you know? {D: They}
Interviewer:  #1 Uh-huh. #
625:  #2 {D: did it} # just make a blaze and burn out.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And then they used to ship that by schooner loads and New Orleans that's all they use then they didn't have no gas that they used after iron to cook and warm and heat and everything at one time you know?
Interviewer:  Wood?
625:  The coal. Coal.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  They call it charcoal. Cuz when you burn it it was heavier lighter than wood you see.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  But you and then They even had furnace they call it with holes in the botttom and you could put that in there and people on the schooner or you go camping put {X} you make coffee milk cook dinner cook anything on there you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  They'd call that a furnace you know. It had a little hole in the bottom and charcoal and then you raise the {X}
Interviewer:  #1 {NW} #
625:  #2 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #1 #
625:  #2 # People used to use uh they u- uh they used to use that even to iron with it. Put the irons on there you know? Get 'em hot and they'd clean 'em hot and iron with it. It didn't have no in the summertime in the wintertime they'd put there in front of the fireplace you know and uh heat it from the from the fireplace But in the summertime it's hot they'd you could put it out on the porch somewhere and you go there and get 'em and come in and ironing from back in there and they'd keep 'em hot you see.
Interviewer:  Yeah I see.
625:  They didn't have uh what they call uh They didn't have no gas iron or electric iron them days they didn't know what that was you see.
Interviewer:  Yeah. Well uh okay you were telling me about um about about {D: Kiln no} and and uh {D: about Kiln.} And {B} {B}
625:  {D: lived at old} when he {D: caught sitting there on Barley tab} between Kiln coming Kiln going to uh Brockwood there it's a little {D: she met Brachel there now} That bridge that's right about where the the store used to be there. Roll your {X} just a little bit above there and the little bri- bridge small bridge over there you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And I guess uh bridge uh was built there about thirty years ago
Interviewer:  #1 Yeah. #
625:  #2 And # see that bridge there, I guess you crossed all that.
Interviewer:  Yeah uh-huh.
625:  And if and when you go up and {NW} the Kiln and {X} that big house to the right up there was uh {B} {D: how} he built that
Interviewer:  Huh.
625:  It's not all that big a house but them days it good About right were that right where that bridge sat there they had a warehouse a store there and right next to it in that store must have been about eighty foot long by forty thirty or forty foot wide. And they had another warehouse just below it. Was about that low.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  I- and and and the the schooner would come right up in {D: you wouldn't think I'd see that day} And the mill was right there next door, there wasn't uh two hundred feet from that building there where the saw mill was.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And the schooner would come up there and load would bring the grocery they'd get groceries from New Orleans on there. And he'd chip his lumber at the yard as schooners schooners'd come in load that lumber right by that mill there right {X} you wait across from this place. But if you'd go up about uh from {X} to there about eighteen mile up there where they called {X} I remember crossing that dam where they had a bridge there just about thirty foot wide and you go there nights it's about a hundred-and-fifty feet wide, they call that Sand Creek there that's well named. It's sa- it's sandy all the way up there that place is about I bet you two-hundred feet wide right now where they used to have a bridge was about thirty foot wide.
Interviewer:  Is that so?
625:  See them days they didn't have the they had rain {X} they didn't have the entire uh {NW} {D: ways} ditches and thing and the run the water in the creek so fast it the creek uh it'd take it take maybe a a hard rain'd take it a week for the creek to come high enough to get out of bank.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And and uh then it wouldn't wash the dirt so fast but the sand
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  But since they put these uh highways ditches that run all these into these branches that run there it washed that place there {NW} it'd be amazing if you'd go there and see that how wide it is.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And this sand on that place I bet you down there uh like I said the {X} used to come right there where that bridge is there. #1 Me #
Interviewer:  #2 Uh-huh. #
625:  big schooners loaded down with the lumber.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And you couldn't {X} wade across there. Right now. All and and
Interviewer:  #1 Because #
625:  #2 the #
Interviewer:  the sand all washed out of it then?
625:  The sand washed out of it. Uh that's it washed somewhere up above you see.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  {D: Yeah.}
Interviewer:  So you think that's good or bad?
625:  Well uh it's uh
Interviewer:  You can't get schooners there anymore.
625:  You can't get schooners in there no more well the the {D: there is} no more uh need for schooners {X} have no use for 'em. But a little further down in it it run into uh I don't know, I haven't been down there but I {NW} about a I guess uh about a mile further down there they used to have a turpentine place there and the and {NW} same same bayou run down there.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And it's deep there. I remember {D: kneeling} Doctor Craig in there {D: carry I stayed the school I} at his place {D: at the bay one} you hadn't went to school with him. And when I worked uh uh running by a cemetery there one day and we went in the {X} across to the boat there and we tied it coming back summertime he says that He says {D: pleasure} let's go swimming. I say Doc this place look mighty black he said there ain't nothing here We we got in the place there there wasn't no road around there nobody {X} pulled our clothes off and jumped in went swimming {D: that man that} I kinda uneasy but the {NW} you could be {NW} dive down there and never hit bottom you come back up you know. Dark as it could be you know? I wouldn't go in there now for no money in the world.
Interviewer:  #1 {NW} #
625:  #2 {NW} #
Interviewer:  #1 {NW} #
625:  #2 {NW} # We uh we swim during the summertime hot we stayed in there and after a while we got out and {X} got in the boat, put our clothes on went uh over in where the car was got in went home.
Interviewer:  Yeah. {NW}
625:  He was a good he was a good sport {D: he good} {NW} mighty good man. I stayed at his place one night one m- {NW} whole year and went to school he had two boys three boys two of them would be big enough we'd come from the from the school we'd stop at the courthouse, we'd record deeds by on the typewriter, them days they wouldn't that's the way we'd do it write 'em and then {X} and we'd take 'em with {D: compare} we'd we'd write the one'd read and the other followed. {NW} And if we {NW} The one'd read the deed and if we had a mistake we'd put a symbol there and make the notation correction you see?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  {D: within} there And uh we did that that whole year there. {X}
Interviewer:  Huh. {NS} Now {D: can you do} where were you where were you born though? Were you born at Kiln?
625:  I was born {NS} uh uh {NW} At Kiln, just above Kiln there on o- on what they called {D: Offered} Creek.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  {X} Yeah. {X}
Interviewer:  But did you say you lived some at Bay Saint Louis before that?
625:  I {NW} I uh I was at born there in eighteen-ninety-three and ninety-five we moved down to we moved down to uh uh E-
Interviewer:  Were you were born okay? {NS}
625:  {D: What's that} what what {NS} {D: that's} what was the last thing I told you?
Interviewer:  You were telling me where you're born.
625:  Well.
Interviewer:  Where you was born.
625:  {X} I was born uh {NS} just above about three and a half four miles above Kiln
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And uh in eighteen-ninety-three, in eighteen-ninety-five my daddy sold a hundred and sixty acres of land there he went down {NW} eight and a half miles west of Bay Saint Louis and bought a hundred and sixty acre there on what they call the old Gainesville road.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And that road run from Bay Saint Louis to Gainesville where the where the {test site is now {D: since}
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And uh the reason he did that {NS} at that time the {D: Elenden} railroad was just going through there and there's a lotta work going on there.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And uh he had uh couple of ox team and they'd h- they'd {NW} {D: they they'll} plan a business for piling and the saw mill logging and things like that you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And uh. He lived there 'til the nineteen fifteen. He sold his timber, some of it. And then he moved back up to where uh uh {NW} uh where his daddy used to live there where I was living when them there moved me out of there.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And uh so he and then he died in nineteen uh fourteen.
Interviewer:  Yeah. {NW} Yeah.
625:  #1 {X} #
Interviewer:  #2 And #
625:  my {NW} at one time I don't know if you got this down, at one time Pearl River and Hancock County was one county.
Interviewer:  Is that so?
625:  That's right. And the and the county seat was at Anna They call it Anna up at at uh at where they call Caesar up there
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And and the and uh I think it's in the must have been in the early in the late nineteen hundreds. That they built that they separated two county I I I tried to find out and I don't know what year they did. But the first county seat in Hancock County was at Gainesville.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And then uh the other uh- made {NW} the other ones at Poplarville you see in Pearl River County.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And {NW} the the record uh the county seat {D: in in d- in uh Jamesville burnt up.}
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And then after it burn up I don't remember what year that was but it must've been in uh right around the just before the nineteen hundreds because I remember going to to the Bay Saint Louis and I just can remember they had a a wooden building in front of the courthouse.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And they had a big uh porch on the front. And I went there with my daddy and the only thing {X} I can remember of that building the first time is going there with my daddy and going up there on th- on that s- {NW} front porch and looking out.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  I don't remember how we got there, when we got there I was s- so young I wouldn't know a difference but how old I was but I know I wasn't very old so It was built in the late {D: opposite end of} in the late nineteen hundred I- uh right at I don't I wouldn't say when. {D: And then then} they went to county moved county seat from Gainesville to Bay Saint Louis and they had to get all a lotta record they had to get it from Washington {D: sorta record} you know and Jackson {X} reestablished the record in Hancock County there.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh. Well um this morning can you tell me a little bit about the history of Hancock County? About uh you know what you know about Hancock County? {NS} Wa- when it was founded and who who founded it and everything?
625:  No I I I I didn't I don't remember the be- the only I think the best I can remember a fella by the name of uh Hancock uh settled there.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And that's why {NW} uh in in Bay Saint Louis.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh. Okay uh. Now w- can you do you know where your grand your grandfather was born? Your father excuse me, le- let me start with your father.
625:  Yes.
Interviewer:  Uh. Your father, where was he born?
625:  He was born he was born up right up there uh where where we moved from in section fifteen township seven south {D: ray} fifteen.
Interviewer:  {NW}
625:  {D: First} {X} and and uh uh his daddy owned his daddy owned thirteen forty there.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And five of 'em was in section uh section fifteen and uh eight of 'em was in se- sixteenth section.
Interviewer:  So your father uh your father and your grandfather both lived in the same place?
625:  {NW} {X} That's where my father was raised there and and uh uh {NW} my daddy my granddaddy lived there and and {NW} then my f- father when he worked built there he built over in section twelve about about two miles from there kinda nor- north east from there.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And {D: you spent} a hundred-sixty acres there. And that's where he he {D: boosted hid debt} he sold it and went down down to uh um {X}
Interviewer:  #1 Now this #
625:  #2 {X} #
Interviewer:  #1 #
625:  #2 # west to Bay Saint Louis and he bought a place there from a fella by the name of Charl- {B} sixty acres of round timber you he sold it two-hundred acre over here for two-hundred dollar and he paid three-hundred dollar for it and sixty acres {D: of it} uh timber uh land down there all all the timber.
Interviewer:  Okay. Um. Now where was this where was y'all's place now in relation to the rest of the rest of the town you said? {NW} was it near Kiln?
625:  It's about three and a half miles west of northwest of Kiln.
Interviewer:  Okay. And uh you said he uh homesteaded it?
625:  Yeah. Homesteaded hundred-and-sixty acres. It's about {NS}
Interviewer:  Okay. Uh now your grandfather, you know anything about him? Was he born there? On your mo- on your father's side.
625:  On my father's side.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  I I I don't know I I n- {NW} I do know wha- I know some of his uh uh brothers' names.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  It was uh {D: one by the name of John Mooran, he lived at} {D: Mandalay} way down at {D: Ansley}
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  He had one by the name of Edward, he lived right there not too far from that big hotel is on the uh {X} there on the {NW} on this side of lake you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And uh and he had uh {NS} {NW} My grandfather's name was {B}
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And uh he had uh he had an- another one by the name uh {NW} {NW} the only thing I remember now they used to nickname people I don't know if you i- if if you're familiar with that or not. They even had he even had one brother {NW} {D: they call him Uncle Mooran that's why they call him Mooran you know?}
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And that's all I ever did know him h- and he was dead so long I never did ask nobody what was his name. And uh he had a sister name of that was married to a man {D: Callow Slander}
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And he lived up down below uh between here and and and and Poplarville up toward Poplarville there.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And he had a sister that uh I can't remember her family name or who she married, used to live in in in Biloxi there. In Biloxi. Uh uh I went there to visit her uh with {D: Carn} my s- one of my sister and someone else but uh uh to tell you her family name I couldn't tell you that.
Interviewer:  Okay. So your father and your grandfather both did timber work on that land?
625:  Well yeah
Interviewer:  #1 Around #
625:  #2 Yeah. #
Interviewer:  Kiln?
625:  Yeah.
Interviewer:  Okay. They were both timberman.
625:  The reason was my grandfather he bought half of sixteen section west of his place, he had at one time {X} I said he had around ten twelve hundred head of cattle.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And three four h- thousand head of sheep. {D: Arrow} there was a {NS} few big stock over there and Old Man Callows {D: lather} had a lot of he- cattle and sheep and uh then there was uh uh my granddaddy there and then that's below {D: may} there was a fella by the name of of j- uh Jack Lot live across Jordan river.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  Across the Jordan River, he had as much cattle, they passed when they start painting they started Old Man Callow a slap me. They come to {D: my grandfather Mooran.} And then there's there's {X} uh Old Man Jack Lot called Jordan River.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And then from there they go to {B} is my great uncle la- Andrew and then they go to {B} Lake Shore
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And all them fellas uh and uh the did uh {NW} {D: At at at Pullington a fella by the name of R-} {B}
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  {D: He get} {D: bored with}
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And he had uh he had uh {NW} thousand twelve-hundred or more head of cattle. And uh then from there they go to my uncle {B} down at {D: Auntmade} they they he's better known by the people who used to know him by the name of they call him {D: Rockfille} now where they got that name I don't know. {NS}
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  But i- he's uh he's buried in the tombstone right there in the {D: Rodden} uh cemetery
Interviewer:  Okay. {NS} Alright now so um so your grandfather and your father were both lumberman and farmers right?
625:  That's right.
Interviewer:  Okay. And uh w- what about your mother? Can you tell me where she came from? {NS}
625:  Well uh my mother {NS} my mother was a {D: doogason} and uh {NW} her father's name was Joe {B} and uh he was he was born on the nineteenth day of January eighteen-twenty. He died on the fifth day of Januar- uh but he was born on the eighth on the nineteenth uh of of March did I say January?
Interviewer:  #1 Yeah. #
625:  #2 Grand- # -dad, on the nineteenth day of of March eighteen-twenty. That's correct.
Interviewer:  That's your grandfather?
625:  My grandf- {B}
Interviewer:  On y- okay
625:  And then he died on the tenth day of January nineteen-twenty-two. If he'd have lived that following March nineteen he'd have been a hundred and two years old.
Interviewer:  Whoa! He lived to be a hundred and one?
625:  But died on the tenth day of January. He'd have been January the tenth in March of nineteen he'd have been a hundred and two.
Interviewer:  {NW} Uh. Well uh now about y- your your mother you said w- where was she from?
625:  She was raised right here on {NW} between here and the Kiln over there on the on on the Rotten Bayou they call it.
Interviewer:  Okay. And uh now let's see what about your uh your maternal grandparents? That's your grandparents on your mother's side. Do you know anything about them?
625:  Well
Interviewer:  Where they came from?
625:  Yes. I can tell you a story about that.
Interviewer:  Okay.
625:  When I I uh in nineteen-thirty-eight when I tur- uh I was working in in {NW} uh Paul River running the store for them Hash boys
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  They come in the paper there one day it said that uh there's two uh {NS} Now I I I I s- I started this wrong. Uh one day after I worked I worked for {X} and the- there but them Hash boys didn't come back {NW} I had a one of my grandfa- Billy's son brother lived at {X}
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And he died, he was seventy-five years old when he died. I went I was there to see him him twice, my mother visited him there several times. And uh after he died and uh uh let's see about uh I guess about eighteen years ago then I got a letter from one of my my my oldest brother got a letter from one of our cousins over there, from one of my uh uncle uh {B} granddaughter you know?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And same as our generation you see? And uh {NW} she she wrote him a letter and told him that uh that the {D: Doogason} had the lawyer told her that the {D: Doogason} had a Spanish {D: train} between uh {NW} Lake Pontchartrain and and uh and uh Covington there. It had nine hundred acres in it that a lawyer told her that it belonged to the {D: heir to Doogasol} and he says uh all they had to do was go put a claim for it you know?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  So I went over there and so I took 'em one day and went over there with the letter and found them. And she told us all about it. And uh she had a book she got from the customer out from New Orleans.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And that book said that there was a there was uh a a man by the name of {B} and a fella by the name of {D: Doogalné} That came here from France. To get her. And they bought him bought a piece of the bought some land right there {NS} uh not far from Lake {NW} Pontchartrain there and it {NW} cuz this is nine-hundred acres. And it said where the Spanish grant was it's what a man'd walk around I don't know how in how many hours. How many time and mark it. And and uh describe it and uh Spanish'd give him a {NW} deed for it you know and they'd call it a Spanish grant.
Interviewer:  Hey I didn't know that.
625:  {NW} And they they did that.
Interviewer:  Okay.
625:  Alright. And uh she said she they said the lawyer told him didn't see why they didn't go ahead and put a {D: train in it.} {NW} All they had to do and uh it was between uh Lake Pontchartrain and Mandeville.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And I'd went through Mandeville most of all and uh so so what you did when I come back after that I I went around and made a few dollars and I got a lawyer to go up there with me. Fella by the name of {B} here's a lawyer there in the Bay. We went over there and checked and uh before we went I talked to a fella by the name of {B} He was a freshman live at {D: DeLille} there. And he's a lawyer. And he and and me and one of my cousins he died I said down there in New Orleans. We went there and talked to him about it. Well he said that uh at one time his Spanish grant he said he wrote him one for some people there in in in in Mississippi.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  But he says since then he said they change the law and he said what it was when they give you a grant they were free from being taxation the the government the United States government there had nothing to do with it you
Interviewer:  #1 Yeah. #
625:  #2 know? #
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  But later on uh the colonize and had {D: on} {NW} control all over the United States and the government and all that established so so then they they made this land subject to taxation even subject for us say for taxes, you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And he told us that when we would talk to him he said we can go check into him but he was pretty sure that there wouldn't be nothing to it {D: says that} {X} {D: the western boy ain't see}
Interviewer:  In other words the government had the government had taken it?
625:  The government passed a law where it could be sold you see?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  When they get paid that grant they realized they couldn't sell it you see?
Interviewer:  Uh-
625:  #1 They #
Interviewer:  #2 huh. #
625:  had to go stay the family for generation after generation you see?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  But then they went ahead like he told us, said they done told us that that they'd they'd changed the law {D: you hear?} And he had one number before they {X} he won one before they changed the law.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And so we went over there and then when we and uh {NS} so this lawyer now we found and they they uh changed they had a different way of system there they uh we asked the man there and they explained to us then after they told us we both woulda to look into it. I said man you oughta check here you go by section and index you see.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  But old daddy go by name every day but so we looked it up. It's uh {NW} anyway {D: Doogan} there and and {D: Doog's} son bought that place and they had a difficulty mis- mister mr {D: Grayman} and {D: New sons} bought {NW} {D: Doogal they} out you see.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  So later on the then uh in the second generation I believe uh {NW} {D: Doogason} sold out.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  He after he died his heir sold out.
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  And he give the name of everyone that s- that's signed the deed and one of them signed it in {X} his name was {B} and right today I I had a first cousin died last January and his mother was a {D: Doogesol} and she was raised at the past {D: Christian} they lived there. And uh I heard before people say before that they was two sets of {D: Doogesol in here}. But this Eugene is one of the great heirs of {B} uh {NW} {D: Doogesol} to first come here you see? And he come over here and settle in in uh {D: Dellilia} Well. And uh this idea was two cent but the children there {D: all that} {D: ripened that} {B} sh- sho- uh sign his uh deed in in the in {D: past Christian} They had two schooners they had uh they took inventory of everything in the house. Clock and house- gun and household goods whatever it was they valued it and they sold it to the schooner and everything. So the lawyer that was with me said not He knew the law and and Louisiana you had to have a power of attorney to to complete the sale you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  Now I said if we can't find a cu- the power of attorney he said we might have some. So he asked uh we went in there and asked one of the man {X} {NW} where could we find a power of attorney, he brought it there and he showed us in what Everyday we found it and we looked and we found it you know?
Interviewer:  Uh-huh.
625:  So it's we showed where they had the power of attorney to sell it and there was things so that completed it you see.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And uh that uh so there was nothing to it you see that uh it said there was law to it but {D: they're} not uh uh
Interviewer:  So they'd already sold it? The government had already
625:  #1 sold it. #
Interviewer:  #2 {NW} #
625:  It was legally sold too you see. You in- inquired the law there in Louisiana said it was at that time it was legally sold. See?
Interviewer:  {D: So Doogesol was your grandfather?}
625:  Yeah. {X} {B} was the great great great grandfather you know?
Interviewer:  Oh I see. Now uh so your mother uh your mother's parents had lived in Hancock County for how long then?
625:  Well i- uh uh uh uh they had {NW} my mother house my grandpa's house I don't remember I believe that that I believe the house was in hou- house was in Hancock County and the and the kitchen was in in in Harrison County. {NS} And and the line run back between and they had the house made in the porch face {NW} most face north you know?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  And the line run right half right halfway between the two houses.
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  That's as I guess you'd call that a coincidence in the in the building, you never did hear of it before or since
Interviewer:  On that line? It ran right on the line?
625:  {X} {D: the Harrelson} {X} and the and the Hancock line r- run half between the hou- house and the kitchen.
Interviewer:  {NW} Uh do you know how long they had lived there? Like do your had your grandparents been born there? {NS}
625:  Uh my uh no my well no my grand uh all my mothers and her family was born there and th- I believe they had uh in fact I even remember, I believe they had eleven or twelve children in the family.
Interviewer:  Yeah. {NS} And uh A- and what did mr Doogisal do?
625:  My grandfather?
Interviewer:  Yeah.
625:  Well he he farmed and r- raised cattle and uh {NW} done a little farming. That's about all he did all his life. He'd probably done a little public work them days people do a little work outside