Document text
Approximately 2,800 words
SOUTH CAROLINA WRITERS' PROJECT
LIFE HISToRY
ITLL CLJUDS BEY0ND
Date of First Writing February 15, 1939
Name of Person Interviewed Jim Kelley (Negro)
Fictitious Name Ham Cloud
Street Address None
Place Blythewood, B. C. (Rural Section)
Occupation Tenant Farmer
No.:43 of Writer
Name of Reviser
John L. Dove
State Offioe
Up and down, up and down an old valkmay flanked with spicy...scented
boxwood in front of an old farm house strode Ham Cloud, an old grey.
haired oopper-oolored Nero. The plaoe, the old Hen Cloud farm is looated
on the old Slythewood-Camden Road, six miles east of Nlythewood, South
Carolina. It was August 18, 1918* and war time. "Uncle Ham: as most
every one in Bear Creek oommuoity called him, had just the day before
said good -"bye to two of his sons, who had been drafted into the Army.
Be was worried,
"Good morning, Uncle Hami" said a white la4y„ past middle age,
2.
who eat on the roar seat of a oar that had just stopped at the end of
the walkway and was unnoticed by the old Negro.
"Honk, honkr the ear horn sounded, as the driver's hand pounded on
the button at the end of the steering shaft.
Pausing in the walkway, ham Gloud stood for a moment with his blido-
inc eyelids thaded with a trembling hand. He then slowly approached the
car at the end of the lane.
"Don't you know me, Uncle Ham?" inquired the lady in the car.
"Bless my life, if it ain't Miss Altos done come back to de old house
ergini" They shook hands.
"Uncle Ham, is there anything to cause you trouble this morning?"
"Miss Alice, I was jes" thinkint 'bout all do trouble dat am caused
at dis place by de debil and he wars."
"You think this war is the work of the devil, Uncle ham?"
"Yes, materna Miss A/ioe„ I 'lows dis mar bizness am de work of de debil.
It sho is, case I members de time when Annie hen hafter give up his three
boys to go to war. He say then de war am de work of de debil. And when
Gintal Sherman and he sojers oome through here, what deycouldn't carry off
day destroy. I's worried 'bout my two boys what lef' here yestiddy for de
war, for day tells me den Germans ain't nebber seed a niciLer."
"Jnele iam, do you remember when General Liberman's army came through
this country, and what they did on this places"
"I members all about it, hiss Alioe. When us heard through some of
Gin'al Wade ilampton's sojers dat de Yankees had done burnt Columby and was
merohile on to de North, stealin' and burnin' as dey go, me and Marse Lien
cot busy. I hope him to hide de things on de place out in de woods and
3.
fields." item then began to laugh.
"What happened then, Uncle Ham?"
"Laud, hab merayi Jest: a whole passel o' Yankees pass here. I was
standin' in die walk one city when a crowd of dam 'top, and one axe me *ler
Jars* ben and all de folks. I say to him, 'I dunne; I jos' one 01 do free
niLLers left to stey in our house and look after our things.'" ham was
then just a pidkaninny twelve years old. But he was faithful, and he had
diplomaey enough to save the Cloud family from loss.
Ham Cloud was born a slave in 1363, on the plantation of Benjamin Cloud
in the bear Creek section of old Fairfield District, South Carolina, his
father is said to have had Arab blood in his veins and to have been a
descendant of uriental royalty. he was the plantat.i.on wheelwright and
blacksmith. His wife, Ham's mother, was a servant in the Cloud home.
:am's early life was spent ar.--Id the kitchen in the "big house" and in the
farm workshop. he, therefore, oame in close contact with the members of
the Cloud household. He was granted many privileges, and they say he learned
rapidly through precept and example. The Clouds taught him to do a little
reading and scribbling.
It is said that benjamin Cloud was a very religious old gentleman
and that he often read the Scriptures to Ham and to other slaves on the
place on Sunday. He encouraged his slaves to fear God and to hate the
devil. Cloud, too, was a believer in the preservation of the Union
durini.:, the controversy concerning Kansas and slavery. In dam's precence
one day, he spoke of war as the murk of the devil. For the remainder of
his life, nam hated war and believed it the work of the devil.
Then South Carolina seceded from the Union in December, 1860,and
4.
began to organise an army, Benjamin Cloud's three sons Lafayette, Henry,
and Oscar •enlisted in the State service. Later, they were sent to Vir-
ginia with General Johnson Hagood's brigade and were with the same when it
made those famous charges which one historian spoke of as the most glorious
chapter in South Carolina's military history. henry Cloud fell at Weldon
Field. Lafayette and Oscar received severe wounds, but they survived the
war and returned home. None were gladder than ham to see them return. They
were his heroes and his idols, especially "erse Fayette," the oldest of the
Cloud brothers.
A few years after the close of the War Between the States Benjamin
Cloud passed away, leaving Lafayette in charge of the old Cloud home.
Lafayette in the meantime had married and taken over the management of the
farm. Jscar Cloud was of a more restless nature, and he traveled for a
number of years before marrying. ham Cloud remained with his young hero,
utiarse Fayette," and helped him to look after "our cows, our hogs, our sheep,
our land, and our business."
During the reconstruction period and the Hampton campaign in South
Carolina, in 1876, Ham Cloud was a member of the Democratic Party. He took
great pride in donninj, his red shirt and at aping his hero, "Ahrse Fayette,"
as an enthusiastic supporter of General Hampton and white supremacy. His
activity in this connection brought dawn on his head the wrath of many of
his race, especially the i'eAaies of the species. It caused him a lover's
quarrel, they say, with his best girl, mho's parents were staunch Repub-
licans.
ihey later buried the political hatchet, however, and were married.
Prior to Ham's marriage, his main job on the Cloud farm was to
attend to the needs of the li,restook on the place. Sheep, in addition to
5.
other domestic animals, were kept. Ham was very fond of a large ram in
the flock which he named Sledgehammer. He was also the family ooachman.
On each Sunday, he accompanied the Clouds to Zion, a nearby Methodist
Churoh, as driver of the carriage horses. ge could have attended the res.
ligious services had he so desired, but Hem usually elected to spend the
hours for worship in sleep in the family carriage or on the ground out in
the grove in front of the Church.
The Cloud sheep would sometimes break away from their fold and ramble
off to Zion Church grounds, and elsewhere, to graze and to get into mis-
chief.
They sometimes caused real embarrassment to their owner. At anY
rate, Ham's pet, Sledgehammer, came to Zion once, to his discomfort. The
late Rev. William Barber, a kinsman of the Cloud family, told about this
years later in a sermon entitled, "Why Should You Question r Right To be
Here?" His comparison and narrative ran as follows,
"It was in midsummer and the weather was clear and warm that Sunday.
It was so warm in the church that it was necessary to the comfort of all
present to have all of the windows and doors open. The wide front entrance
to the church was directly in front of the pulpit, and I could see out into
the grove beyond the front lawn. In fact, I was the only one in the build-
ing could very well have this view and be in a position to note the
things that happened out there during the hour of my message. In the midst
of rrr sermon, I saw Brother Lafayette Cloud's Negro driver, Ham, walk to
a large pine tree and place himself on the ground by the side of that pine.
His head soon began to nod in sleep. Just then a flock of sheep came
bounding into view. Among them, was a large vicious looking ram. He saw
the young Negro, and evidently mistook his nodding head for a challenge to
6.
to physical combat. The ram backed away a few yards to the front of
the sleeping Negro and then ,for a few moments ,he stood facing him.
For every nod of Ham's head, the lar7e sheep mould oive a nod of his head
in return,in such a may that his brute mind may have prompted him to ask:
'ay should you question my right to be here?' They nodded until the ram
could stand it no lork7,er. lie lowered his head, dug his rear hoofs into the
around, and oharged. *even though ham was not physically damaged, he was
awakened by the compact to the danger of sleep at such a place and at such
an ho!fx."
thile it may have required a sledgehammer blow from a huge ram's
head to arouse Ham loud to his sense of duty on the Sabbath day, he did
soon after the heady encounter begin to think and plan for the future. He
was not too old to dream dreams, and he was not too young to see visions.
As the story goes, Ham's best 3.1•1„ Corrie Perry, refused to marry him
until he joined the church and became more religioue ninded. He complied
with the demand by loininc at Shady Grove, the colored :,ethodist Church, in
1878. Corns married hin soon thereafter. Uarinc the sumer of this same
year, after ',-Tam's and Corrie's weddinc, the colored Aethodiets held a big
revival neetimr at Shady Grove. The: had a lot of preachinr, about the
devil and damnation. They shouted. Ham, too, saw vici s and shouted on
the crowded floor. In one of uis hallelujah mooOs one daz.., he bounced
too hich. Ae butted his head wainst a low Blanc joist. Even thouch no
dare war; done either nea!, or joist, this ended shoutini.. uld cost
him a part of his ruli,j,m,to boot. He is said to have cursed t.ie deacons
for havin such a danerous object so near the heads of converted sinners.
At the beginning of 1379, Ir. Lafayette Cloud sold to }dam, on credit,
7.
good plow mule. He also set aside one of his best tenant ferns to Hants
and Corrie's use, as renters. In a farther desire to assist Hams Mr. Cloud
cave aim and eorrie,
as a weddine present, one of his hest -rade Jersey
milch cows, named Cramp. and ,oreie were young and strong, and they
started to farmine with a vim.
's hopes for his future aeccess were
hi •de eoeld vieealizo hinself the areed eerier of broad acres and fine
fat cattle. Ae wanted cattle and other livestock to help in the realiza-
tion of his drears, and it was his wish that fdre-ep find heifer calves for
him in arder that he mieet expand his dairy herd.
;elle eam and Carrie had 7ood luck with their planting operations
derine their first flow years as runters, 1lam was doomed to disappointment
in two of his anbitions.
named emee.
Carrie's first born was es. dauehter, which they
Crump, at aboat ehe sane tine, prosented Ilia with a bull calf.
A year later, Gerrie presented him with another deeehters and Crunp found
him another bull calf. ha&s luck then took a tern for the better. elm
Eiorniae, in 1332, a son shined upon him. ',Then he went
that mernine to look after the need of his leveetoee,
eeifer calf tee in ewer at Creep's udder. iecee
-r
out to his barnyard
he foend a new-born
)f jor 'ee so full
that he °pule think of u.tii.u: other thee. to -an and report 11 eeed for-
t me
Yi ree r, arse eve felloming was
his report, and the cenversatlen tee:. elec.
"'terse Tayette, eeee eou norther 'bout de rabbit es kilt in de grave-
yard year eefo' las'?"
z,veg, tani h&t WhZ, do yu flak?"
"eit like
;Jame eayette. I. been oarrein' de left front foot
off dat rabeit in r re-lit-hand-pantc pocket ever since, and luck done
8.
chance around."
"That has happened now, Ham?"
"I in cone to havinl boy babies and cal calves to come to my house."
"I'm glad to hear of your Good fortune, lam. 'Whet are you going to
nale your son?"
.4011, -arse ?ayette, names my first ohile *try, and my next ohile
lertha. So I reckon 1 hafter call die one Lazarus."
iith Liz'. Cloud aiding and abetting, Use and Carrie made progress
with their farninc operations and bosoms highly respected in the Bear
Creek corraunity. he worked hard during those years* It was along a-
bout 1386 that ;tam, in all probability* did the hardest day's work of
his life. He bound into bAndles seven &ores of high...yielding oats,
which was cut that same day with a grain cradle by his brother -in -Lew,
Aajor -erry. ;le told later that he was so tired when night came that
the witches rode hin in his aleep that nicht to Camden, fifteen miles
from his home. 4uite Incidentally, on this same night, Aajor Perry
preached in his sleep* And for the remainder of his life he was a soi.
nambuliatio preacher. A few years after the oat -cutting =perfume,
,ajor Jerry moved to Oaluda ;odnty. ie was later with a traveling show,
and became widely known for his habit, or affliction. The most remark.
able part of it was that he outlined his text verbatim and preached in
perfect inclish, despite his inaoilit..7 to read or write.
The tie of friendship that had developed betWINMI ,,an and "'arse
Illyette" in their yw,er life followed them throuch the years. Lam,
they say, alma7s depended on tr. Cloud in the time of his troubles, and
he was sold a denied. n the other iuLtd, it was always .dan Cloud
The Antes Joe. 9# 10, 12, 1906.
9.
waited daring his later years to acoompany his when he traveled from
home on business or other missions. They were at Ridgeway one day
during an exciting political rally. It SSA in the early days of the
Tillman campaign, and the lines were strongly drawn between the pro's
and the con's. nr. Cloud became involved in a friendly argument with
one not sharing, his view of the situation. When the argument became a
little heated Aun butted in as follows.
"White folks, if you finds you can't Bettie de argumentation vidout
havinl to use your fists, please don't hit Narse Fayette; hit dim agor."
The long companionship between Lafayette and Ham Cloud came to an
end a few months after Aam'a demonstration at Ridgeway. The friendship
and Ham's loyalty, however, lasted to the end. In the fall of 1894,
1,afayette -loud accidentally lost his balance and fell from a wagon
piled high with new --mown hay. Liam it was who reached him first. And it
was dam who picked up his broken body and bore him to his deathbed. Ar.
Cloud passed away two weeks later and was buried in Zion churchyard.
soon after the death of Lafayette Cloud, his family began to drift
away from the Bear Creek community in search of their fortunes in other
fields. A few years later, ors. Cloud, his wife, passed away. The old
home ties being then broken, the reulainder of the Cloud ohildren left the
community. Ilam and his family, however, re-ained on the Cloud farm and
were later given pernissibn to occupy the "big house."
After an absence of many years from jeer creek, a daughter of the
late Lafayette cloud visited her old home. This was on August 18, 1918,
during the orld ar. he found Jam walking up and down the old walk-
way in front of her old hone. le was in rief over the loss, as he felt,
10.
of his two sons, Lazarus and Jcod, who had
drafted into the United States Army. When
as she was always known to him, his cup of
but he did not allow himself the luxury of
deterninedly till he could Leigh acain.
According to information furnished by "Ass Alice," who is now nearly
eiLlty years old, and living in Columbia, South Carolina, Ham Cloud raised
eicht children, and sent them to school as much as his income would permit.
.',11 of them are married and are proving themselves useful citizens in their
chosen fields. L;everal -vent North, where they received college educations.
hie of his sons owns and operates a splendid farm in Richland County. An-
other son, .eod Cloud, while still's. tenant, is considered one of the best
furers in Jeer Creek.
In 1032, at the a6e of seventy-nine years, Ram cloud passed away at
the old -loud home. JAG mnny f'riends, both white and blaok, came from far
and near to attend his funeral. he was buried at shady Grove, only a short
distance fron Zion, liCtJrc sleeps ".,:arse jen end :arse ;sayette." An old
broken lump was put on his _ro-co by one of his children. They say it was
one inod Payette loud as a roadinc lamp, and sometimes they put
flowers in it. orchance it, throa,n a friendly spirit, enabled ifamto see
the light on the lAblets te chi s of 4m7i, ,artha, and Lazarus. however
that mint be, the old lamp now Lives light on the Clouds beyond.
just the day before been
he recognised "Miss Alice,"
joy once more was filled.
tears; he fought them baok