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The other Negro men and some of the women worked in the fields. Some of the Negro women had special work to do and were not required to go to the fields.

Hattie was the cook, and Pattie was the housekeeper who cleaned up the house, set the table, washed the dishes, and made clothes for the Negroes. We white girls made our own clothes.

Lum was the personal servant of Mother.

The special duty of Julie was to take care of the little Negroes while the larger ones were at work.

Aunt Pollie, the wife of Haskell, had general charge of the milk and butter, the garden, and the spinning and weaving. Several women did the work under her direction. Using the whole milk she made two blocks of cheese per week, about 14 inches square. In summer about 40 cows were milked and in winter about 30. The Negroes were given milk and butter, both meal and flour, molasses and meat. Our house, where money was kept, and our smoke house, where meat and provisions were kept, were never kept locked. Our Negroes never stole anything. The plantation produced everything consumed except sugar, coffee and salt. Great quantities of sorghum molasses, Irish and sweet potatoes were stored away for winter use, while turnips were planted at several different times during the year.
 


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The History of Clarksville and Old Red River County
Pat B. Clark   1937