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An Interview with Mrs. Corinna (t) Williams,
2026 0 St.
(Rev. Burckhardt had told me her addre,s was about 8th and Ge
and I spent over an hour looking for her, in that neighborhood)
Mrs. Williams proved to be a pert, slender, grey-haired lady,
quite intelligent. The upstairs rooms were rather cluttered and
upset, for there were several piokanninies around. Her daughter,
dressed in shorts, Gams to the door.
She said her father, William Walker, was one of the first to
oome to Cherry Co., living first at Overton. Rev. BurIckhardt said
it was 1909 when they moved to Cherry Co. All of these people took up
claims. She mentioned each having 640 acres (but 1 always thought a
section was 360). She said there were enough negroes there to fill
township 36 mis. square, with few whites. There mere around 176-180
negroes there. It was a very peaceful settlement. "hey had their
awn post office with grooery store, miil carrier, school, ohurch and
cemetery. Her father is buried there. All of the colored people
have left there, her sister, Mrs. Roy Hays, being the last to leave
to go to Valentine. They all left to educate their children. he
spoke of her brother-in-law a Mr. Stith, (who Mr. Burckhardt said
workod at the Jarmal here) having three sons educated, one to be a
chemist, another a minister, and another, a otor. ihree of her
daughters became teachers, the one meetine me at the do 'r being one.
She admittiod that they could have mot the depression muoh better
up there. The men mostly worked for themselves; they took big contraots
of haying and the ranches bought from them. They raised many potatoes
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and beans, turnips, musk -melons. One lady grew a 540.4b. pumpkin.
Potatoes averaged 500 or 600 bu. to the acre. Oae potato/A might
weigh a pound. One hill would feed 10 people. They threw away
and wasted vegetables that were better than those they could buy
here in the stores. Xhey raised chickens, turkeys, and pigs. They
had all they wanted of wild gamii,duok and pheasants. Tho game warden
would help them hunt and fish with seines, eatching large fishImmong
them catfish.
She said everybody was good to them. If they wanted work, they
had no diffioulty i getting it and with good pay. 4he often helped
at the ranch kitchen. Her father's claim adjoined one of the largest
ranches I do not remember the name, but I think one of the names
was Stedman.). -he would get a dollar a day and could have her ohild
with her. She must have dons washing for the ranch boys or cowboys oa
a large soale. Someone would bring the washing for the whole outfit'.
They told her to charge enough and they never questioned her charge,
but always "shelled" the money out. -.owl timesoboys brought up oattle
for a meal, and if she hadn't anything ready, they'd lay dawn in
the shade and wait, and they always paid her well, leavin:: a dollar or
80. Ihe people must have been very generous and somewhat prosperous.
She said when they butchered at the ranch, they f,lways gave her father
so much of the leat. The ranches went together to put up ice. They
could get all the ice they wanted, if they had time. The mail wasAbm
carried their milk, and cream to the r.r. charging 25 oents for the
25 mis. I tho't before she had told me the r.r. was 35 mis. away),
and the exnress to Omaha was .25. 6he mentioned getting $11.25 either
from cream; milk, or eg;s at Omaha, one time, I don't know which.
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Sometimes someone would sal: for watermelons which they grew. they
told them to help themselves and after the people had taken a couple,
they would leave a dollar. They had no trouble with thievery, etc,.
I think the colored people were of a high type, as suggested by Rev.
Burokhardt.
6he slimed me a picture of their sod church, square with frame
rocf, with the people standing in front. The homes and school were
also sod. Their schools were good. 4ihe mentioned a Joy Conrad
finishing the 12th grade there and entering the Univ. with no
difficulty. (I had thought she had said there was only the 8th
grade, but that was probably in the country) later going to Chicago
to take up art.
hs for entertainment, they had their parties, at which the old.
fashioned dmoss were danced (no beer, as today, she informed me).
Sunday School, church and class meeting meant much to them. Lfter
church they'd go visiting or have oompany. Twenty.five people for
Sunday dinner meant nothing to her -with chicken, bread, milk, oakey
pie, all they wanted. he mentioned the wonderful pure water there,
never staining a container. She mentioned the beautiful scenery.
They could go about 25 mis. for all the wood they wanted.
Ms said 3.4 families now lived in Valentine. There were
"Piles" of negroes living in Alliance for it was a r.r. center.