4 r.~
	TEE A~E1~C~AN GUII~	woiwss 1,748
	TOPEKA, KANSAS	~ ‚ iQo%	~	8
	EX SLAVE STORY	INTERVIE~LßR s Iøta Gray
OTTAWA, KANSAS




	“My natne is Bill Stimas.“

	“I was born in Osceola, Missouri, March 16, 1839.“

	“I lived on the farm with n~r mother, and my master, whose name was Simins. I had an older sister, about two years older than I was. My master needed some money so he sold her, and I have never seen her since except just a time or two.“

	“On the plantation we raised cows, sheep, cotton, tobacco, corn, which were our principal crops. There was plenty of wild hogs, turkey, anc~ deer and other game. The deer used to come up and feed with the cattle In the feed yards ‚ and we could get all the wild hogs we wanted by simply shooting them in the timber.“

	“A man who owned ten slaves was considered wealthy, and if he got hard up for money, he would advertise and sell some slaves, like my oldest sister was sold on the block with her children. She sold for eleven hundred dollars, a baby in her arms sold for three hundred do1~ lare. Another sold for six hundred dollars and the other fora little less than that. My master was offered fifteen hundred dollars for me several times, but he refused to sell me, because I was considered a good husky, slave. My family is all dead, and I ein the only one living.

	“The slaves usually lived in a two—room house made of native 1umbei~ The houses were all small. A four or fivé room house was . sidered • a mansion • We made our ~ clotheq~ had spinning wheels and