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FOLNW4F
Mrs. fildgerton Arnold 0P.
County, Texas
Djwtrjct 8
CCRSULTAIlft Mrs. 11,13. Willie. WeAo• Texas
No. words 1256
ile No. 240
Page No. 1
REmiNis=as OF MRS, M4B, WILLIS
My parents, Mr. And Mrs, Mosee Balwinwere natives of "lobelia. 4:hey grew up in the
some tn. Both married. My mother marrying a 4. Datio After a few years my mothers
first hhOWnd died. She loft 21abeea and went to live la hianarieid. LoulommavAtere
she met ny father (whose wife had also died) and a year after the meeting they were
married.
My father and mother decided to leave Louisianna and onme to Texas, They, with
two half-broths:rat:1nd two half-sisters (children by my fathers previous marriage) with
a bout one hundred slaves went directly to L'old Springs, San Tancinto county* Texas,
where rr father bought a vary large farm. TIOD years a fter they had settled in Cold
Springs, I was born, November 8, 19.554 I was named Amanda, but sines that was also
my mothers name it was shortened to "Wennieli and Nhnnie I have remained all my life.
My childhood was very happy. My niece (daughter of of my half-sister) and I were
almost the same age, and I remember that my father gave each of us a girl slave who
was about our own age, It *as the custom to give each child a slave near their own
age so they could grow up together, there were also "ma nudes" who had the complete
charge of us. My awn brother who was a year or so older than I, also had a slave.
We children were taught at hone until we were old enough to go to school in Gold
Springs. Ihere was no school for the slaves, whatever they learned, they learned
from us.
I cannot remember much about the war. My two half-brothers fought in it, but
my fathers health was so bad that he could net take an active part*
I remAmber very distinctly one morning going into the dining room, and seeing on the
dining table stacked piles of silver dollars. My father and mother were standing at
the head of the table and grouped arourZ.weim the heeds of the famlies of slaves.
FOLKWAY
Mrs. idgerton Arnold,P.W.
Mamie= County, Texas
District 8
File No 240
Page No. 2
Be was explaining to them that the mar was ended and that they wore free and could
lea ve if they so desired, but if they wanted to say and work on, he mould give them a
contract. Suet two of them desided to leer...the coadhmen and my mother's seamstress,
wham she had favored more than any of the others.
The following spring ny father died, and nymother had a trying time. The farm was so
large, andthe people began coming to our farm and hiring the negroes.
The following year we began to at school in "old bprings. My brother would tdke
ne with him on his horse. It was through his teachings that I became a fine horsewoman.
As we grew up horseback riding was our chief sport, and our next favorite past -tine was
the anies of crochette and dancing, though nymother would not let ne atten many dances
as she thought too frequent attendance would make a ypung lady common.
Upon finishing school in 'old 'springs, I was sent to lace to attend what was then
Waco University.. ,which began quite an interesting period in my life. I MB clever
but not very studious. Our recreation in those clays was picnics, and it was at one of
these given on the Baptist EncenTment grounds that ny husband first naw me. lie told
the boys that some day soon he was going to know me. Then came a big event...a grand
soiree was given and it was there we met. A feu days later Professor Burleson announced
in Chaple that we were to be given a big picnic, but there was not to be any pairing
off, if any one VEB caught disobeying that rule, they would be sent home. here were
about six couples incIwiingMr. Willis and nyself who were very much in love, and we
determined not to let a rule interfer with us being together. 4-.)o after arriving an the
picnic grounds, and at the first opportunity, we slipped off. Mr.Willis took ne to
the bank of the creek rbere he had hialiddem some ice cram, and we were sitting there
eating it and having a lovely time, when Professor Burleson walked up and caought us.
In n very stern manner he said,"Miss Baldwin, you are to return hone immediate, and
are not to have any dinner." When I got to the bus, which was driven by Perry Green,
I found that the other girls had been caught too, me were being sent home from the
picnic. In some way the boys reached home before we did, and Mrs Caldwell, who was
then Molly Hayes,
FOLEVE,
ldrs. Edgerton Arnold sP.W.
McLennan County, Texas
District 8
File No. 240
Page Nos 3
fat no sorry for us that she fixed up a nice dinner and invited the boys to join us. 80
we had a nice time in spite of ProfeseeelMolaaon.
In June I returned home and in a few days Mr. Willie came to my home and asked my
mother for her cpnsent to our na)riage. Ly borther had made investigations and found
that he was a splendid young man of sterling worth, son of a prominent physician in Waco,
who had been in practice with his father for a little nom than a yes:L..114 had been edu-
cated in Virginia and Washington where he had won the Greek Certificate and was given
a beautiful letter from General Lee commanding him for his outstanding work. Leaving
Washington he attended Bellview Medical College in New York where he took his radical
camases graduating with high honors.
In November we were married and after a short honeymoon spent in Galveston we came
to Waco which was then known as Waco Villa -13e. It was very crude but the people were
friendly. Our first home WUS a little cottage located out on 'outh Fourth Streek.,It
faced open gretleite. caw air thebrizAtt Attereaddsvebeittlisgs %aft /Inteekstost arastidd
%gob virrantiselikialowdmi ihnotlier tkingladt %Mt ithe and mileamb %efts /zit cat Wiwi.
awe was the theater parties. We often gave them at the old Garland Theater which was
oneof wacoteleading theaters in those days, even though it was built over a livery
stable.
The Suspension bridge was also a great event for Aim. The crossing of the river
he:,d, been accam lished in a flat bon t sines the settlement of Waco. The ferry was at
the same spot store the bridge now stands, and the sight admired by thousands who croes-
ed on that ferry was the beautiful Wet0 pring. It used to fall over two shelves of
rock...arliniture cataracts of two or three yards in width, glittering in the mom.
Jug sun like a sheen of diamonds. 5;'here were no malaweappenies and the spring was
free to
e had five children, they came very rapidly. One died in infamy. 14 husband
FOLKRAY
Mrs lidgortanArnold,P.W.
MeLonnnu County, Texas
Dsitrict 8
File No. 240
'Age No 4
died at the age of 37 leaving me the responsibility of roaring four babies, the
youngest was two years old and the oldest ten years old. Being a firm believer in
education I was determined with the help of God to have my children thcronelly ed-
ucated. Each of my children have from two to three degrees to their credit. I have
been quite active in the religious, civic and social life of Waco. I was one of the
organizers of the, pow ASSOCia tion of Waco (Old Ladies Home) I have been quite
active in club work and am an honorary member of the Literary Club, When in View I
attend the Austin Avenue Methodist church.
I devide ray time bekAeen my daughter who lives it Bryan, Texas and by son Fudge
JO. Willis of Waco, Temps. Life has given me many blessings for which I ammost
t hankful.