MieSie8ippi Federal Writers	;	j

Slave Aut obiographie5




	Jim Allen, West Point, age 87, lives in a eb.ack furnished by the city. With him lives his second wife, a much older woman. Both he and lits vif. have a reputation for being *queer~ and do not welcome outside visitors. However, he readily gave an inter— view and seemed most willing to relate the story of hie life.


	9~as, ma‘i‘~t, I ‘members lots about slav‘ry time, ‘cause I was old nough.

	“I was born in Russell County, Alabamy, an‘ can tell you ‘b out my ~n mammy an ‚ pappy an ‚ sisters an ‚ brudders.

	“M~flUfly‘8 name was Darkis an‘ her Marster was John Bussey, a reg‘lar old drunkard, an‘ my pappy‘s name was John Robertson an‘ b‘longed to Dr. Robertson, a big farmer on Tombigbee river, five miles east of Columbus. De doctor hisseif lived in Columbus.

	•~4 sister Harriett and brudder John was fine fiel‘ hanô an‘ ~rster kep‘ ‘em in de fiel‘ most of de time, tryin‘ to dodge other white folks.

	“Den der. was Sister Vice an‘ brudder George. Befo‘ I could ‘member much, I ‘members Lie King had a saloon close to Bob Allen‘s store in Russell County, Alab~d~arse. John Bussey drunk \~—;;~U;: I ~ ~.e~ng tuk her an‘ my brudder George