State: Arkansas
Interviewee: Teague, Sneed Teague, Sneed Brinkley, Arkansas Age 68 Occupation Works on
railroad
"My owners was Miss
Betsy and Master Teague. Miss Betsy had a sister
lived with them. Her name was Miss Polly. They was French folks from the old
country.
"My ma had belong to
the Cox before the Teagues owned her. The Teagues had three families of
servants.
"I remember them - yes
mam - they was very saving people. They made everything that they used. The
shettle, the carding machine, the spinning wheel and all, they made em. They
had a carding machine different to anybodys in the country. It worked by a foot
treadle. Another thing wasn't like nobody elses in the whole country was the
bed. It had four tall post. The head board a little higher than the one at the
foot but instead of using slats across from the railings it was mortised
together and hemp ropes wove bout a inch apart. It was strong and didn't seem
to give (stretch) much.
"They raised sheep and
they wove and spun wool altogether. They didn't fool with cotton. Never did,
not even down to my time. That carding machine I'm telling bout turned out
rolls of wool. It was right pretty. They made all kinds of wool things and sold
them. The old man had three or four boys. Mr. Jim Teague
run a wood and blacksmith shop. He sold plows, wagons, hoes. They made spoons,
knives, and forks out of sheets of some kind of metal. Everything they used
they made it and they sold mighty near every thing folks wanted. The servants
stayed on after the war. My ma stayed till she died. My family had a little
dispute when I was twelve years old and I left. Ma died and I never went back.
I come to Forrest City and got work. I been farmin' and working on the
railroad. I have done track work. I got 10 acres land and a house. I don't need
on the relief. If I need it I would want it. The reason I ain't got a garden
and cow is I work out and not there to see after it.
"Some times I vote. You
make enemies cause they all want you to vote for them and I can't do that. I
don't care nothin' bout votin'. I don't enquire no more bout politics.
"The fellow what raises
things to sell is better off with prices high but if he is working for money,
times is hard for him. Cause the money is hard to get and hard to keep now. The
young folks morals ain't like young folks used to have. Seemed like young folks
too smart to be trained in morals like they was when I was comin' up."